We asked the two students who were selected for the 2023 Integrated Research Project about various aspects of the project. Please take a look!
(Left) Mr. KANEKO Kojiro from the Graduate school of Science
(Right) Mr. Tham Yik Foong from the Graduate schoold of Information Science and Electrical Engineering
Q1. What prompted you to start this joint research?
Through the Fusion-of-intelligence Courses, we have discovered that Kojiro’s interesting current work on the simulation for the vortical order of bacteria stabilized by geometrical constraints shares some commonalities with Tham’s previous thesis (Using Reinforcement Learning to model Collective and Adversarial Behaviours with Active Brownian Particles). We both had a discussion on Kojiro’s work via the online discussion on Slack, and decided to reach out to each other for joint research. An investigation on the combination of self-propelled rods system with intelligent agent can potentially create dynamical systems that provide more insights into the self-organization of active matters. After our first offline meeting, we decided to merge our previous research topics and elevate them into a unified framework.
Q2. How did you feel about being selected for the Integrated Research Project?
Originally, the concept leading to the current joint research was just an idea we came up with. Integrated Research Project sounds difficult, so it was challenging for us, but we decided to apply because it’s a fortunate opportunity for SPRING students to try collaboration with researchers in other fields. When we heard of the success, of course we were delighted, and we also thought that it was important to keep trying.
Q3. What is the current progress of your joint research?
The progress would be around 20%-30%. First, we performed Literature Review to confirm that our research will have some degree of novelty. Next, we shared the knowledge and assets we have had. Now, we are in the phase for trial and error to seek interesting results.
Q4. What new “insights” have you gained while conducting joint research?
Kojiro: In my research in physics, I often see studies that introduce ideas or methods from other fields. I have also tried to study other fields following my own interest and have obtained some concepts from them. However, conducting joint research with the researcher in other fields provides me further insight. While it is important to learn what I want to know by myself, I believe it is also very important to collaborate with other researchers.
Tham: It is definitely refreshing to step out of comfort zone to work on something slightly outside of my field. It introduced me to more aspects of the physics field, specifically the study of Active Brownian Particles, and how they self-organize. After all, self-organization is a central theme in my primary research topic, and viewing it from a different perspective has certainly provided me with many insights.
Q5. What are some of the difficulties of joint research that you did not think of when you were planning (applying for) this project?
The primary difficulty we encountered when applying for this project was that the deadline had already passed, a few days before we decide to collaborate. Kojiro sent an email to the SPRING office, as Tham does not speak Japanese. Fortunately, we were informed that there would be a second call for applications at a later date. We were very lucky to have this second call, even though it was a coincidence. After the selection, we often have struggled with communication due to Kojiro’s poor English skills. However, we are getting through this challenge by trying to communicate somehow when researching.
Q6. What is the reaction of your academic advisors and the members around you in the lab?
I had discussed the joint research with my supervisor, so he simply celebrated, but my lab mates were surprised at first. They couldn’t expect anything because I didn’t appear to intend to join collaborative research before taking SPRING program. I think SPRING program could be a great starting point for course students to collaborate.
