From November 5 to 24, Sophia University hosted Sophia Open Research Weeks 2025, an event designed to share the university’s diverse research activities with audiences both inside and outside the university. Organized by the Sophia Research Organization, the program featured 22 initiatives from research institutes and centers under the organization, Affiliated Research Organization, and various on-campus research projects. More than 1,800 participants joined interactive sessions held in person, via Zoom and etc. while streaming programs attracted nearly 600 views.
For more information about Sophia Open Research Weeks, click here.
The Sophia Researcher Matching Project
A total of 71 researchers—from graduate students to faculty members across diverse fields—participated by presenting their research posters. The Sophia Researcher Matching Project features posters composed of one image and three sections: “This is what my research looks like,” “Here’s what I’d like to know, discuss, or learn from others,” and “Ask me about this.” Visitors engage by leaving comments or reactions using sticky notes and stickers, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.
Originally launched at Kyoto University, this initiative is now implemented at universities nationwide. At Sophia, this was the second time hosting the event. Compared to last year, the venue was expanded to include not only the first floor but also the third floor of Building No. 6. Throughout the exhibition, many visitors stopped to explore the posters in detail.
This year, an online platform was also introduced to encourage web-based interaction, and an in-person networking session was held for poster presenters. Serving as a hub for sharing Sophia’s broad spectrum of research and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, the event continues to grow in scale.
Walking Through Sophia’s Forest: Research Presentations by Early-Career Researchers
This program, now in its third year, featured presentations by early-career researchers (Post-doctoral fellow and Research Assistants) affiliated with research institutes under the Sophia Research Organization. Over two days, they introduced their research in a way that was accessible to the general public and researchers from other fields. During the discussions, questions came not only from the audience but also from the presenters themselves, creating a lively exchange and offering presenters an opportunity to deepen their interest in research beyond their own disciplines.
In addition, early-career researchers served as speakers in other programs, such as “Contemporary Linguistics and Issues of Negation” organized by the Linguistic Institute for International Communication and “Scenes of Connection Among Muslims” presented by the Institute of Islamic Area Studies.
Furthermore, graduate students in the Biological Sciences Division of the Graduate School of Science and Technology gave poster presentations at the “Midterm Research Presentation for First-Year Master’s Students.” Together with the Sophia Researcher Matching Project, Sophia Open Research Weeks continues to grow as a platform for young researchers to share their work with audiences both inside and outside the university.
Programs by Affiliated Research Institutes
Since 2022, Sophia Open Research Weeks has included programs organized not only by the Sophia Research Organization but also by affiliated research institutes. One example this year was a lecture hosted by the Institute of Inclusive Community titled “The Importance of Mental Performance and the Power to Overcome Challenges: Insights from a Deaflympics Athlete.” The event featured Dr. Skip Flanagan, who served as the USA Mental Performance Coach at the Deaflympics held in Tokyo for the first time this year, and was organized with the cooperation of the U.S. Embassy.
The venue offered simultaneous interpretation in both Japanese and English, as well as sign language interpretation in both languages, creating an inclusive environment for diverse participants. One student commented, “It was an invaluable experience to listen in a space unlike anything I had encountered before.”
Dr. Flanagan’s talk, which drew on his own experiences, provided practical insights on building resilience in everyday life. Many participants—from high school students to members of the general public—shared that they gained meaningful tips for their own lives. The event served as a platform to advance the institute’s mission of promoting a multicultural and inclusive society.
Feedback from High School Students and General Participants
Throughout the event, high school students actively participated in several programs, asking questions and engaging in discussions. Survey responses included comments such as “I was able to explore a variety of research fields” and “It broadened my interests and curiosity.” Online programs also attracted participants from outside the Kanto region, offering opportunities for people in distant areas to experience Sophia University’s learning and research.
General participants likewise expressed high satisfaction, sharing impressions such as “I gained an image of a university that is truly open to society” and “The programs addressed fundamental issues and challenges, making it a very Sophia-like initiative.”
Sophia Open Research Weeks will continue to serve as an open platform for sharing research with both internal and external audiences, contributing its outcomes broadly to society.