Nine members and alumni of the Global Young Academy (GYA) participated in the 23rd Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum, held in Kyoto, Japan, from 4–6 October 2026. The annual gathering brings together scientists, policymakers, representatives of international organisations, and industry leaders from around the world to explore how science and technology can address major global challenges.
Founded in 2004, the STS Forum provides an international platform for dialogue and collaboration between science and society. Its discussions address pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, global health, climate change, sustainability, and renewable energy, fostering exchanges across disciplines and sectors.
Throughout the three-day meeting, the following GYA participants contributed their knowledge and perspectives to discussions across the Forum:
- Alumna Dalal Najib (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, United States)
- Alumni Mirabbos Hojamberdiev (University of Southern Denmark, Denmark)
- Alumni Mitsunobu R. Kano (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan)
- Member Natalia Montellano Duran (Universidad Católica Boliviana San Pablo, Bolivia)
- Member Pooja Devi (CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, India)
- Member Thashree Marimuthu (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)
- Alumnus and Founding Member Wibool Piyawattanametha (King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Michigan State University, Thailand and United States)
- Alumna Yoko Shimpuku (Hiroshima University, Japan)
Members and alumni also had opportunities to engage directly with established scientists, policymakers, and industry representatives.
For early-career researchers, events such as the STS Forum provide valuable opportunities to raise their voices in high-level discussions, expand their international networks, and develop collaborations beyond academia. Such exchanges help strengthen the connections between research, policymaking, and industry, ensuring that young scientists can contribute to shaping solutions to global challenges.