Guidance Seminar Report – February 28, 2025

Location: Western Region Campus (named as Pashchimanchal Campus), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara

On February 28, 2025, the Western Region Campus (WRC) of the Institute of Engineering, Pokhara, hosted a productive Guidance Seminar focused on the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship. The event brought together faculty and students from various engineering disciplines to discuss international research opportunities and the benefits of the JSPS Fellowship. The seminar provided valuable insights into the fellowship’s application process and its relevance in different fields of research.

Program Schedule and Activities:

Opening Remarks

The seminar began with Assistant Prof. Deepak Thapa, Vice President of the Tribhuvan University Teachers' Association, Pashchimanchal Campus, who chaired the session. Assistant Prof. Dinesh Bastakoti, the host of the seminar, welcomed the attendees and outlined the seminar’s objectives. He emphasized the importance of international research collaboration and highlighted the unique opportunities the JSPS Fellowship offers to Nepali researchers, encouraging participants to explore the global research landscape.

Duration: 10 minutes

Team Introduction

Assistant Prof. Durga Bastakoti introduced the Nepal JSPS Alumni Association (NJAA) team. The team members introduced included Dr. Ram Chandra Tiwari (Secretary of NJAA) and Dr. Mandira Singh Shrestha (Member of NJAA).

Duration: 5 minutes

Presentation by Dr. Mandira Singh Shrestha

Dr. Mandira Singh Shrestha, from NJAA, delivered a 30-minute presentation titled "JSPS Guidance Seminar and Climate Change Impacts in the Himalayan Region." In her presentation, she highlighted the importance of research on climate change impacts in the Himalayan region, a crucial area of study for global environmental sustainability. She also provided an overview of the JSPS Fellowship, detailing its various research opportunities across multiple fields. She shared key insights about the history of NJAA, its goals, activities, and how the association is actively supporting Nepali researchers to engage with the JSPS Fellowship.

Duration: 30 minutes

Q&A Session

A lively 30-minute Q&A session followed the presentation. During this session, Dr. Mandira Singh Shrestha answered numerous questions posed by the participants. Attendees actively engaged with the speakers, asking about the JSPS Fellowship, the application process, and how to navigate the research landscape in Japan. The interaction was insightful, and she addressed the participants' concerns in detail, deepening their understanding of the fellowship program and piquing their interest in applying for it.

Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks by Dr. Ram Chandra Tiwari

The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Ram Chandra Tiwari, who expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to conduct the seminar in front of such an engaged audience. He acknowledged the diverse participation from various engineering disciplines, including Rock and Tunnel Engineering and Infrastructure and Management from the Master's level, as well as Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the Bachelor's level—both students and faculty members. Dr. Tiwari encouraged participants to explore more about the JSPS Fellowship and consider applying for international research opportunities.

Closing of Program: Assistant Prof. Deepak Thapa

The seminar concluded with closing remarks by Assistant Prof. Deepak Thapa, who thanked the participants for their active involvement and encouraged them to explore the JSPS Fellowship further as a tool for enhancing their academic and professional development.

Participants:

The seminar was attended by approximately 30 participants, including faculty and master's students from various engineering disciplines such as Rock and Tunnel Engineering, Infrastructure and Management (Master's programs), and Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's programs). Participants had the opportunity to introduce themselves and engage with one another, fostering a sense of collaboration and enhancing networking opportunities among students and faculty members.

Outcome of Guidance Seminar:

The seminar was a highly successful event, providing comprehensive information about the JSPS Fellowship and stimulating interest in international research opportunities. The active participation during the Q&A session and the insightful discussions further highlighted the seminar’s success in raising awareness and clarifying key aspects of the fellowship.

This seminar successfully advanced the NJAA’s objectives by:

1. Promoting scientific exchange between Nepal and Japan.

2. Assisting Nepali researchers in understanding the JSPS application process and identifying research opportunities.

3. Fostering collaboration between Nepali and Japanese researchers.

4. Providing valuable insights into the JSPS Fellowship and how it can support various fields of research.

Overall, the seminar not only raised awareness about the JSPS Fellowship but also contributed to strengthening ties between Nepali researchers and Japanese research institutions, encouraging the exploration of global research opportunities.

JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program 2025: call for applications

(Date of posting: 10 December 2024)

We are pleased to inform you that JSPS will be providing one awardee to NJAA, under the JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program for 2025.

Under this Fellowship, the selected candidate will be allowed to conduct a research in Japan with a host researcher to be proposed by the applicant, for which an agreement has to be sought from the host researcher. The Fellowship allows for a visit to Japan for the research work for a period of 14 to 30 consecutive days. Under this fellowship, revisit to Japan is to start during the period July 1, 2025 through March 31,2026.

We are thus pleased to invite the interested candidate(s) to apply for this fellowship. If you are interested, please complete Form A (application), which can be downloaded from <here>; and Form B (Agreement by the Host Researcher in Japan), which can be downloaded from <here>. Completed Form A and Form B, along with your CV should be sent by email to njaa.nepal@gmail.com with a copy to krishna.pahari@ndri.org.np. The deadline for submission is 10th January 2025.

While preparing and submitting your application, please refer to the guidelines (refer to the link <here>)by the JSPS, which includes details regarding the eligibility of the applicant, eligibility of the host researcher, terms of the fellowship and entitlements.

Following are the criteria for selection of candidate for this purpose:

1) The applicant should demonstrate concrete evidence of his/he active involvement in our association. Applications who have not participated in any activities of the association will not be preferred for the selection.

2) Applicants who have come back and spent at least three years in our country after completing the JSPS fellowship will be given preference.

3) The applicant must be an active researcher engaged in research work working at a university or a research institute.

4) The applicant should amply prove through his/her application that he/she will significantly contribute to creating, sustaining and/or strengthening scientific network between our country and Japan.

5) The applicant should show proof of pre-visit communication between the applicant and the proposed host researcher and provide a concrete activity plan established between them.

6) The letter of acceptance by the host researcher to host the applicant must be submitted with the application.

7) The applicant should preferably provide a No Objection Certificate for the visit from his/her current employer/organization.

8) The research proposal should not be related to military affairs.

9) No preference shall be given to the applicant’s age, specialty or destination institution.

10) Utmost care shall be taken not to leak the applicant’s personal information.

11) If required, the nominating committee will have authority to prepare, approve and implement the necessary framework and guidelines.

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Notice on the selection of HOPE participants

NJAA is pleased to announce that Miss Bimala Dhimal and Mr. Nabin Munankarmi have been selected to participate in the HOPE meeting 2025. Congratulations Ms. Dhimal and Mr. Munankarmi.

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Call for Applications from Ph.D. students and/or young researchers to participate in the 16th HOPE meeting in Yokohama-city, Japan (9 to13 March 2025)

Deadline for applications: 30 August 2024

The 16th HOPE Meeting with Nobel Laureates is being organized by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) from 9 to 13 March, 2025 in Yokohama-city, Japan. An overview of the HOPE meeting and other details are available at the following links:

https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-hope/index.html
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-hope/overview.html
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-hope/meetings/hope16/outline16.html

Nepal JSPS Alumni Association (NJAA) is going to nominate up to two excellent PhD students and/or young researchers (who received their PhDs within the past 5 years as of 1 April 2024). Those interested and eligible to participate in the 15th HOPE Meeting are invited to apply by August 30, 2024 with the following content:

1, Fully completed Application Form: Download the Application Form from <here>. The instructions to fill the Application Form can be downloaded from <here>.

2. Your CV with academic achievements and publications along with the application

Please send your application and CV to njaa.nepal@gmail.com with cc to krishna.pahari@ndri.org.np

You may also write to these addresses in case you have difficulty in downloading any of the documents.

Eligibility and Criteria

1. Be a PhD student or young researcher (received PhDs within the past 5 years*; after 2 April 2019) with a record of excellent academic performance

*Past 5 years excluding periods of maternity/paternity, and childcare leave.

2. Have not been selected to participate in a past HOPE Meeting

3. Have an excellent record of research and a high level of interest in the societal influence of scientific knowledge and its application

4. Have a strong interest in a wide scope of science and research

5. Be expected to go on to advance future research in the Meeting’s subject field(s)

6. By participating in the meeting, be expected to initiate joint research and/or build collegial networks in the future

7. Have a strong desire to participate actively in the Meeting’s exchanges and discussions

8. Possess ample English proficiency to do so

9. Be able to participate in the entire Meeting program from 9 to 13 March 2025

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Dr. Ranjan Dahal has been awarded the JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship to participate in a collaborative research programme in 2024

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JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program 2024: call for applications from NJAA members

Deadline for submission of application to NJAA: 15 January 2024

We are pleased to inform members of Nepal JSPS Alumni Association that JSPS will be providing one awardee to NJAA, under the JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Program for 2024.

Under this Fellowship, the selected candidate will be allowed to conduct a research in Japan with a host researcher to be proposed by the applicant, for which an agreement has to be sought from the host researcher. The Fellowship allows for a visit to Japan for the research work for a period of 14 to 30 consecutive days.

We are thus pleased to invite the interested candidate(s) to apply for this fellowship. If you are interested, please complete Form A (application), which can be downloaded from <here>; and Form B (Agreement by the Host Researcher in Japan), which can be downloaded from <here>.

Completed Form A and Form B, along with your CV should be sent by email to njaa.nepal@gmail.com with a copy to krishna.pahari@ndri.org.np. The

deadline for submission is 15th January 2024.

While preparing and submitting your application, please refer to the guidelines (refer to the link <here>)by the JSPS, which includes details regarding the eligibility of the applicant, eligibility of the host researcher, terms of the fellowship and entitlements.

Following are the criteria for selection of candidate by NJAA for this purpose: