Jpn. J. Crop Sci. 91（3）：246―250（2022）

Information
Young Scientist Forum of ACSAC10 ONLINE:
Let’s Talk about Young Scientist’s Presents & Futures
Takao OI*1）, Haruka ARATANI2）, Sotaro HONDA2）, Marina IWASA3）, Akihiko KAMOSHITA2）, Mana KANO-NAKATA1）,
Keisuke KATSURA4）, Dinh Thi Ngoc NGUYEN5）, Jesish OJHA6）, Takanori OKAMOTO1）, Rachana OUK1）, Shristi SIWAKOTI6）,
Daisuke SUGIURA1）, Mohammad Marouf SULTANZADA7）, Terufumi TADA8）and Tomoaki YAMAGUCHI3）（1）Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan，2）

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan，3）

United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan，
4）

Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan，
5）

Faculty of Agronomy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam，
6）Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal，

7）

Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan，
8）

Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan）

In the beginning of the Forum, the background and aims ofIntroduction

the Forum were explained by the facilitator. Previous ACSACs

The Young Scientist Forum of the 10th Asian Crop Science

were held onsite, and we gathered in one place, listened to

Association Conference (ACSAC 10), ONLINE from Nagoya
Japan was held 17:00 – 19:00 (JST) on 8th September 2021,

research presentations, and talked to one another with eating,following the Keynote Lectures and Symposium on the first day

to gather in Nagoya, eat Nagoyan foods, drink sake, and talk aof the three-day session. The Forum was announced on the

lot. Unfortunately, we could not enjoy them since ACSAC10ACSAC10 website and participants joined through the meeting

Nagoya was changed to be held online, and parties or mixers

link sent after pre-registrations. 48 people pre-registered, andwere omitted due to the pandemic of COVID-19. Therefore, thethe final number of participants was 33 (Figure 1 and Table 1). It

facilitator set the theme of the Forum as “Let’s Talk about Youngseems that the diversity of participants was higher in the Forum

Scientist’s Presents & Futures” and tried to create an

participants than in the overall ACSAC10.

opportunity to talk with each other.

drinking, and sometimes singing. Originally, we were supposed

The Zoom meeting’ (https://zoom.us) was prepared for the

Subsequently, how to talk and discuss in the Forum was

Forum independently from the Conference system, by Dr. Takao

introduced by the facilitator. The participants were divided

Oi who was one of the steering staff of ACSAC10 and was inrandomly into eight groups of four using breakout rooms’ of thecharge of a facilitator of the Forum. We note that the Zoom

Zoom meeting, and had free discussions for about 15 min forwebinar’, in which general participants cannot show their faces

each topic; the three topics as stated below were prepared. The

and talk freely, was used for the Keynote Lectures, Symposium,

participants shared their experiences, opinions, and ideas. Afterand Oral sessions.

discussion, each group reported the summary of what they

Figure 1

Diversity of the participants of Young Scientist Forum of ACSAC10.

Received, February 28th, 2022．*Correspondence：Takao OI

oitaka@agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp

OI et al.―Report of Young Scientist Forum of ACSAC10 ONLINE
Table 1

List of the institutions of the participants of Young Scientist

Forum of ACSAC10.

247

Most people have used Zoom not only to attend theconferences but also to make discussions with colleagues.

Institution

Zoom enables us to communicate with foreigner or people inAgriculture and Forestry Univ.

2

far places, especially people work/study home. We agreed toHalu Oleo Univ.

1

Iwate Univ.

2

this idea and anticipated that Zoom will have being used after

Kyoto Univ.

3

Mie Univ.

1

Nagoya Univ.

5

NARO

2

Okayama Univ.

1

information with one or many people, as it allows smoothTakasaki Univ.

1sharing of materials and the use of the chat function for

The Univ. of Tokyo

6

questions, but it is a bit inadequate for the free discussion andTohoku Univ.

2interaction between an unspecified number of people. One ofTokyo Univ. of Agriculture and Tech.

4

the attractions of conferences is not only the presentations,

Utsunomiya Univ.

1

Vietnam National Univ. of Agriculture1

but also the free discussions outside the framework. In

Yezin Agricultural Univ.

1

Total

33

COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, there are some concerns;
Zoom is not suitable to develop new personal relationships
with whom we’ve not met before.
It was pointed out that Zoom is very useful for sharing

addition to Zoom, a social audio application Clubhouse’(https://www.clubhouse.com) that allows us to talk freely withstrangers could be utilized for free discussions to expand
one's view of one's own research.

discussed briefly (1 to 3 min per group, total 15 min). The

An application called Gather’ (https://www.gather.town) may

members of each group were swapped at every topic. All of thealso help to create more active interactions, In Gather, eachparticipants were allowed to talk (to unmute at talking time) andparticipant can become a character (an avatar) and act freely

were recommended to use video showing their faces, but notin the virtual world. It can be used, for example, to approachmandatorily. We also used an online white board, calledother people while having a voice chat with them. The system

Jamboard’, a free tool provided by Google (https://jamboard.

was used at the Society of Trans-disciplinary Plant Sciences

google.com). The Jamboard slides were prepared for each groupmeeting (https://www.tdps.jp/tdps001), where people could

to share information with each other and to summarize ideas.

enjoy chatting with each other as just like at a real conference.

The Jamboard slides were also used for looking back at what we

As a case study of Crop Science Society of Japan (CSSJ),

discussed.

Zoom was utilized to prepare a meeting for the Young
Scientist Association of CSSJ, which is held regularly in the

1. Think about Communication among the Young
Scientists & Students in Asia

CSSJ conference. 4-6 members from various institutions
throughout Japan worked voluntarily as steering staffs, which
made it difficult to prepare the meeting previously. Thanks to

As the first topic, we discussed new communication styles.

online tools, it becomes easier for steering staffs to prepare

Although our activity is restricted by COVID-19, ourthe conferences. Although it is difficult to make a close

communication technologies are improving dramatically. Many

relationship with whom we have not met before, Zoom is a

powerful tools such as Zoom, Teams, and Skype, have made itvery powerful tool when we have solid objectives.

possible to meet and talk at the same time online. In addition,

The roles of SNS among young generation in this pandemic

social networking service (SNS) is also one of the mostera are also discussed. Although face-to-face teaching,important communication tools for our young generation;

learning, and discussion are the best practice, there are manyotherwise the simple email system is still one of thebenefits of SNS. In the case of Myanmar, as a developing

fundamental communication tools. There are many available

country, the people who cannot afford to study abroad ortools that we have not known yet.

attend international conferences can study and communicate

In this session, we shared our experiences about how towith researchers from all over the world.

communicate without face-to-face talk, and what tools we

Asian countries share many common agricultural issues, andusually use. Besides, the facilitator highlighted how young

active exchange of young people is necessary to solve them.

generation, especially beginner students, can establish new

Although recent advances in information technology and thepersonal relationships without the opportunity of face-to-facespread of SNS are helpful for networking, face-to-faceconferences. Through the session, we got the following ideas;interaction is also important. Even if young scientists and248Japanesse Journal of Crop Science Vol. 91, 2022

students organize opportunity for interaction, their activity

inconvenienced and discouraged by the small number ofwill remain small scale as long as they work at the individual

female faculty staffs at Japanese universities. Increasing thelevel. Official or semi-official support from ACSA is necessary.

female ratio of faculty staffs at universities must be required.
Gender discriminations were found in the working situation

2. Think about Women Roles in Agricultural Sciences inAsia

in developing countries. In the case of Myanmar, women wererestricted from getting the highest position in government
institutions. Some policy makers think that women lack

Before discussing the second topic, the facilitator shared thestrength and specific skillsets. However most women can

information about ACSAC10. The international committee ofstand abreast with their counterparts. In the next generation,

ACSAC10 consists of 15 members, with only one female

it is very important to balance the role of men and women

member. Similarly, the gender imbalance was also present in the

because the ratio of female worker has increased in mostorganizing committee that consists of 49 members, with only

countries.

three female members (http://www.acsac10.org/committees.

In the previous case of Nepal, most of the agriculturalhtml). On the other hand, more women participate in ACSAC10,

activities used to be limited to men. Due to the limitation/

wherein 40% of the Forum participants were also women.

absence of agricultural machinery (tractors, disc harrow,

In the second session, we shared the gender issue around us

rotavator, etc.), farm implements (oxen, spade, shovel, etc.),

and discussed what we can do to diversify the crop science

which required much of physical strength, were main tools forcommunities across Asia. Through the session, we got various

field preparation and were used mostly by men. However,following ideas;

recent modernization and mechanization of agriculture let
women to join to more farm-related works than before. SomeIn the Asian, many women are engaged in agriculture. Female

women handle large scale farms, earn for themselves, and beresearchers would be able to hear their actual voices better

independent and provide job opportunities to both men andthan male researchers. Thus, the role of female researchers

women. The number of female students enrolled in thein field research is probably quite significant.

agricultural universities (undergraduate/graduate level) has

The number of female members in the committee does not

improved and hopefully develop more in the near future.

represent the actual state of a women’s role in any sector.

Thanks to scientific advancements, agriculture has

Sometimes women have to sacrifice their careers to take caretransformed itself into mechanical-based work from a labor-of family and to deal with other responsibilities, resulting in

intensive manual work. Therefore, the logic that the

fewer women pursuing a higher position in any sector.

agriculture requires lots of physical power and is unfit forFirstly, only a few women want to pursue a doctoral degree

women sounds unreasonable today. Science has made it easy

regardless of the field, due to the difficulty to take time off forto guarantee appreciable participation of women. The rapidly

work-life balance, the difficulty in finding a partner in doctoral

growing population of the present world actually requires

programs, and the physical burden caused by childbirth.

more participation of women in every aspect of agriculture

Possible solutions to these difficulties are an improved(production, processing, management, research, andmarriage activity system and enhanced parental leave.

innovation).

Secondly, researchers are required physical strength,

In the case of Vietnam the roles of men and women are equal

especially in research fields, which is a heavy burden for somein sciences. Both genders can be placed in managerial

women. Particularly in Japan, the division of roles among

positions and apply to get projects to research on agriculture.

researchers, workers, technicians, etc. is unclear, so

For example, in the faculty of agronomy, Vietnam National

improving such conventional systems could solve theUniversity of Agriculture, there are more female lecturers

problem.

than male lecturers, and the current president is female.

The domestic situation of gender equality was discussed

However, there is also time limitation to women for doing

among Japanese participants. There is clear skewed genderscience because they have to spend time taking care of theirratio especially in Japanese universities, however it isfamilies.

unfortunate that gender prejudices seem to have played roles

As a participant’s personal experience, when he was studying

in a few of the recent faculty selection process. Since open

at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) a few years

recruitments for Japanese universities are irregular andago, his two supervisors were both women with Ph.D.

limited, many women may not want to pursue such an

degree, and the deputy director of IRRI was a woman. The

unstable post. Moreover, female students sometimes feelother laboratories in IRRI also seemed to have rather more

OI et al.―Report of Young Scientist Forum of ACSAC10 ONLINE

249

female researchers than in Japan.

through the conference for free talking. Participants also need

Although some participants thought that gender equality

to prepare questions in advance and discuss fruitfully in amust be respected and more female researchers should beshort time.

welcomed, other participants have the question whether the

An online-onsite hybrid meeting is one idea. We now know

job recruitment limited to women is surely equal. Developingthat both online and onsite have advantages (online: costand maintaining the equability should be promoted with moresaving, easy to attend from all over the world; onsite: face-to-frequent and active discussions.

face talking, easily make interactions with each other, real site

In summary, the situation surrounding female’s participation

tour, can feel the atmosphere). Listening sessions and Q&A

in agricultural sciences is different from country to country. In

can be conducted online. However, face-to-face opportunities

Japan, the number of female agricultural scientists andare still important for close discussions (like poster sessions

university staff (professors) seems to be quite small, withor outside conferences). Some participants said that weonly a few female researchers in crop science in Japancannot feel the aura and the passion from each person throughcompared to other countries in Asia.

online, so face-to-face interaction definitely helps us get
stimulated and motivated by others.

3. Think about Future of ACSAC for Young Scientists

It would be better to prepare some communication tools forlong-term in addition to the conference period. Conferences

Finally, we discussed the future of ACSAC. For only academic

period is short, and it can be difficult to know each other andpresentations, we can do well with online tools. We can get thediscuss deeply only during the period. If additionallatest knowledge via online. We can connect with people all overcommunication tools were approved by ACSA, it would be

the world at the same time. We don’t need to travel abroad foreasier for students or young scientists to improve theiracademic knowledge. From this point, we can also say “we don’t

relationships.

need to gather at ACSAC anymore”. If we think “we still need

If we have an online social platform for active talk andonsite ACSAC”, what do we consider as the important thing?, orcommunication between scientists, it would help everyone

if we want a new style to communicate with each other, what we

especially young ages to share their idea and thoughts. It is

can do?

suggested to use online message tools in ACSA CSSJ web or

We discussed the future of ACSAC, based on previous

other SNS such as LINE, Facebook as are already established.

discussion above two topics. Through the session, we got theWe can also make groups based on subject, and everyone canfollowing ideas;

ask questions or reply to a question.
ACSAC could organize more frequent online meetings for

At ACSAC10, online streaming at the keynote lectures andyoung researchers to make it easier to discuss with them.

oral presentations worked well; clear sounds and slides, good

It would be great if (1) young scientists’/scholars’ groups inaccessibility, and less troubles. However online poster

other countries (Korea, Taiwan, China etc. where the country’s

sessions often made participants unsatisfied. We need tocrop science society has a young scientist group), (2) general

improve a way to facilitate “poster sessions” at online

young oversea participants, and (3) overseas students in Japan

conference; e.g. changing to short-oral presentation instead of

could join next ACSAC. Leaders of CSSJ’s Young Scientists

online poster, holding only poster session at onsite, etc..

Group could ask help from senior members of ACSAC

Online conferences are limited in two aspects. Firstly, one oforganizers for contact information of other countries’ young

the important purposes of international conference is not only

scientist groups as well as potential invited guest speakers

to exchange opinions, but also to feel the atmosphere of the

who may have their younger scientists and graduate students.

research environment of the host country, which cannot be

Online conferences, such as ACSAC10, contribute to shareachieved online. As a partial solution to this problem, it is

the research findings with scientists who are unable to attend

suggested to organize something like an online tour of theconferences held overseas due to problems such ascountry or university's research facilities. The second

participation fees and travel expenses.

limitation is that there is not enough time to talk with

Although the live discussion using Zoom is useful andindividual participants about their research topics. Although

effective for knowledge sharing among scientists during theonline applications allow us to share the information withpandemic period, the best method is face-to-face learning,many participants efficiently, the tools have disadvantages forteaching, and communication. In that regard, financial

individual talks or out-of-the-box conversations. Therefore, it

supports for students or scientists in developing countries are

is suggested to keep the separate breakout rooms open

necessary to encourage them to attend conference, seminars,

Japanesse Journal of Crop Science Vol. 91, 2022

250

Figure 2

The group photo of all participants of Young Scientist Forum of ACSAC10, a screenshots of the Zoom meeting.

or trainings for sharing knowledges and learning skills.

recording.

ACSAC has waived registration fee to participants from

Although the conference reports are stored in the official

developing nations. This should be continued by ACSA in

website of ACSA (http://www.cropscience.jp/acsa/conference.

forthcoming days and other academic institutions should alsohtml), most of them are written in Japanese and unavailable for

initiate the same kind of privilege. It would attract more

Asians other than Japanese. Young Scientist Forum in ACSA has

attendees from developing countries.

started from the ACSAC1 1), however, only a few reports

Although ACSA is for all Asian crop scientists, majority of thementioned it1, 2, 3), and we cannot find any information in English.

participants have been Japanese. The diversity of theWe hope this report will help future young scientists to thinkparticipants of ACSAC should be improved. We hope thatabout ACSA.

A C S A C s h o u l d b e m o re i n t e r n a t i o n a l b y h a v i n g

Acknowledgements

announcements besides the website and the poster
announcement and distributing them to all collaboration

This meeting was supported by the Working Group fororganizations.

Fostering Young Scientists & Gender-Equal Participation, Crop

ACSAC10 was conducted for all the agriculture enthusiasts,

Science Society of Japan (CSSJ).

researchers and young leaders from all over Asia, however

References

we noticed the largest number of participants were fromJapan. ACSAC should focus on bringing more diversified

1) Ookawa T. 1993. Report of Young Scientists’ Forum in 1st Asian Crop

participants from different Asian countries to really find out

Science Association Conference. Japanese Journal of Crop Science 62

the scenario of Agriculture in Asia since only the condition ofAgriculture in Japan doesn't represent the whole Asia.

(2): 326. In Japanese.
2) Horie T. 2010. Establishment of Asian Crop Science Association andHope for Young Crop Scientists. The 230th Meeting of the Crop Science

Closing remarks

Society of Japan pp 418-419. In Japanese with English title. https://doi.

This Forum was a free discussion event, so there is no3) Hirooka Y. 2014. Report of 8th Asian Crop Science Association

conclusion. However, we believe that above opinions are worth

Conference . Japanese Journal of Crop Science 84 (2): 223. In Japanese.

org/10.14829/jcsproc.230.0.418.0