[Okayama University] 13th Meeting of 'Microbe Explorers' Held, Aiming for Interdisciplinary Fusion and Research Hub Formation

On March 11, 2026, Okayama University (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City, President: Yasutomo Nasu) held the 13th meeting of 'Microbe Explorers,' a research group established to promote interdisciplinary fusion and the formation of research hubs. The meeting took place at the Institute of Plant Science and Resources (IPSR) in Kurashiki City, part of the university's Higher Advanced Research Institute. Following the theme of the 12th meeting focused on microbes, this workshop was co-hosted with the IPSR International Collaborative Research Support Project 'Mini-Workshop.' Professors Yoji Kawano and Akio Tani invited five researchers from Taiwan to discuss plant stress and plant-microbe interactions. The morning session featured student presentations, while the afternoon session included lectures by researchers from Academia Sinica (IPMB) and National Taiwan University on topics such as genome editing, plant immunity, drought response, and disease management. Approximately 40 faculty, students, and coordinators participated in active discussions. The 'Microbe Explorers' initiative aims to foster collaboration among internal researchers, share equipment, and strengthen the research foundation through the creation of new joint projects and research centers. This information was released by Okayama University on April 17, 2026.