Event Report: K-Med (co-hosted by KGRI) Symposium "A Scientific Approach to the Coronavirus Crisis" (Held on September 24, 2020)
Event Date
Event Venue
2020.09.25
Report on the K-Med (co-hosted by KGRI) Symposium: "A Scientific Approach to the Coronavirus Crisis"
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, from 17:30 to 19:30, the K-Med (co-hosted by KGRI) Symposium "A Scientific Approach to the Coronavirus Crisis" was held online. We had 83 registered participants, not only from the university but also from a wide range of industries and age groups, indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic is a matter of widespread public concern. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all who participated.
The symposium began with an explanation from Professor Kenjiro Takemura of the Faculty of Science and Technology about the activities of the Keio Med-Tech Design Project (K-Med) and the purpose of this symposium. He explained what motivated the members to come together in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the significance of sharing their activities over the past six months with everyone.
Next, Professor Norihisa Miki and Professor Miwa Nakanishi of the Faculty of Science and Technology introduced the motivation for taking a scientific approach to the crisis and the concept of risk management. They explained how the university should overcome the coronavirus crisis from its perspective, including the concepts of protective safety and productive safety.
Furthermore, Professor Tomoaki Okuda of the Faculty of Science and Technology reported on his six months of work from the perspective of an environmental chemistry expert, focusing on mask performance evaluation and droplet dispersion assessment. He provided a comprehensive overview centered on the measurement data he collected and the information he disseminated.
Finally, Associate Professor Genya Ishigami of the Faculty of Science and Technology reported on the emergency manufacturing response that supplied face shields to Keio University Hospital, and he spoke about the possibilities of engineering under numerous constraints. He also reflected on the lessons learned from this experience, emphasizing the importance of transitioning from a temporary emergency response to fostering a continuous collaborative framework and mindset.
We are sincerely grateful to have had the opportunity to introduce K-Med's activities over the past six months to all participants. We look forward to your continued guidance and support.
A video of this symposium is available here .
A scene from the discussion among the speakers