Social sciences

Two papers by researchers and policy practitioners provide evidence-based suggestions so that Japan’s health system can continue to flourish, even as its population rapidly ages.

Researchers at SUTD show that AI can reliably identify behavioural cues in parent–child interactions, but interpreting what they mean remains a task for human experts.

SUTD researchers built an AI agent that individuals could train to voice their own end-of-life wishes, and asked what role such a system should responsibly play in rapidly ageing societies.

- Development Foundation Chair Choong Kon Lee throws the ceremonial first pitch, while Student Council President Chowoo Seo delivers the ceremonial first hit, underscoring the spirit of shared growth between the university and its foundation

- DGIST secured one Science Research Center (SRC) project and three Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) projects, taking the lead in addressing national challenges in science and technology - DGIST reaffirms its world-class convergence research capabilities spanning AI, robotics, and advanced biotechnology

Research led by the Singapore University of Technology and Design finds that comfort in Singapore homes depends not only on air-conditioning and building design, but also on airflow, daily routines and how families share their living spaces.

Researchers from the University of Osaka found that the human brain represents social relationships learned through drama viewing, especially antagonistic ties. Participants watched six episodes of SUITS and underwent fMRI scans before and after viewing. Brain activity patterns after viewing reflected rivalries and conflicts among characters, particularly in regions involved in social cognition. The findings suggest that negative relationships help structure the brain’s internal social maps.

- Promoting technology transfer and commercialization of DGIST’s outstanding intellectual property - Advancing practical collaboration through intellectual property information sharing, identification of prospective companies, and professional training

Multifunctional facility associated with more frequent stays among residents

A field experiment with the Japan Marrow Donor Program showed that adding one factual sentence to HLA match letters—telling potential donors that compatible registered donors are limited—raised progression to confirmatory typing by 7.3%. The intervention was low-cost and simple, while combined messages weakened the effect. The result could help reduce donor dropout and improve stem cell transplant coordination.

- Together with Harvard, MIT, and Caltech, DGIST Achieves the Highest Score for Two Consecutive Years Among Just 11 Universities Worldwide. - Korea’s Only Specialized Tech University to Match This Achievement Reaffirms Its Global Research Impact.

Location Optimization Plan associated with higher caseloads in small municipalities

Researchers at the University of Osaka found that direct survey questions may overstate negative attitudes toward the news media in Japan. In two web-based randomized experiments, 45.1% of respondents agreed that “the mass media are harmful to society” when asked directly, compared with an indirect estimate of 29.7% from a list experiment. The findings suggest that, where media criticism is easy to express, direct questions may inflate anti-media sentiment.

The art of Japanese flower arrangement, known as Ikebana, is not only pleasing to the eye but pleasing to the mind. Studies have shown that it promotes creativity and mindfulness. However, ikebana is not a hobby for the faint-hearted. It takes many hours of apprenticeship with an experienced instructor. With instructor numbers on the decline as well, the mental benefits of ikebana seem more inaccessible than ever. However, a research group has developed a new augmented reality system called HanaARange that provides visual guidance whilst students practice on physical flowers.

- Proposes a “ZeroSwap” technology that overcomes the memory limitations of embedded AI, significantly enhancing the safety of autonomous driving and robotic control systems - Eliminates latency by utilizing SSDs as GPU memory, reducing response time by up to 3.2 times

- Selected for the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Promising Convergent Technology Pioneer program, DGIST will develop “collective intelligence” that enables robots to autonomously share roles and collaborate - By integrating large language models (LLMs) and vision-language-action (VLA) models, the project aims to secure foundational technologies for next-generation robots deployable in disaster response and industrial settings.

- Named a Distinguished Engineer by the University of Connecticut School of Engineering - Recognized for research achievements in digital holography, intelligent imaging, and AI-based bioimaging - Expected to strengthen DGIST–UConn international collaboration and expand international collaborative research

A Hiroshima University-led study conducted with Rakuten Securities finds that practical digital skills, positive financial attitudes, and self-protection are more consistently associated with lower old-age anxiety than traditional financial knowledge alone.

- Served as an opportunity to integrate with local residents via a history lecture by Taeseong Choi and a traditional music performance by Soak - Contributed to spreading an open campus culture, which brings science and technology together with humanities and arts

- Forum held on June 11 at Daegu Scale-Up Hub (DASH), bringing together industry, academia, research, and government experts to discuss localization and demonstration strategies for public-use UAM aircraft - Blueprint presented for a three-dimensional transfer system linking the Daegu Industrial Line, the new airport, and vertiports

A research group led by Dr. Keiko Ueno, Assistant Professor at the Innovative Clinical Research Center, Kanazawa University, has revealed the status of collaboration between fire-based emergency medical service (EMS) agencies *1) and community-based long-term care *2), welfare *3), and health organizations *4) in Japan. The study identified six key practical measures essential for building a collaborative model that sustains long-term coordination between medical care and social support needs.

Does a depressive mood inevitably lead to more pessimistic thinking or over-analysing? A global meta-analysis, the largest of its kind examining the relationship between a depressive mood and reality judgment, co-conducted by the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University has found that the key lies in the nature of the judgment. Overall, individuals in a depressive mood generally make more accurate judgments when handling self-referent tasks or complex issues requiring deep analysis. However, their accuracy is impaired as regards understanding others and interpreting interpersonal relationships. Researchers noted that the findings clarify a decades-long academic debate in psychology regarding whether a depressive mood allows individuals to perceive reality more objectively, and will aid in designing more targeted intervention strategies. The paper was published in Clinical Psychology Review, a top international academic journal in clinical psychology.

- Lecture under the theme “Beyond Connectivity: AI-RAN, 6G, and the Future of Intelligent Network Infrastructure” on June 4th - Inviting a top expert with extensive experience in both academia and industry, including serving as an IEEE Fellow and vice president of Samsung Electronics

- Proceeds from the “Cherry Blossom Day” tree-planting event were used to donate KRW 5 million for children with cancer - About 550 loaves of handmade bread were delivered to facilities for vulnerable children and the elderly in celebration of Family Month

- Recruiting companies for the “2026 Emerging Tech Global Launchpad” program until June 19 - Providing full-cycle support for global growth, such as overseas PoC, investment strategy, and linkage with international conferences - Expanding the technology startup ecosystem based on the Daegu–Gyeongbuk region, the central region, the Honam region, and the southeastern region

- DGIST was selected as the lead R&D institution for the “2026 Nano and Materials Technology Development Project: Infrastructure Development (Fab Advancement),” organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea. - Development of process technologies, equipment stabilization, enhancement of MPW and foundry services, and strengthened technical support for industry-academia-research institute cooperation

What happens when luxury brands known for exclusivity and prestige communicate with consumers through memes? Research suggests that luxury-branded meme ads are perceived as funnier and generate stronger social media sharing intentions because consumers view the combination of luxury brands and memes as unexpected.

PHABCON 2026, advanced research on human-animal bonds as pathways to healing, care, and connection.

Researchers map careers as rivers to show how independence evolves over time

To understand how parenting styles influence adolescent mental health, the Department of Psychology at Lingnan University, collaborating with researchers from the School of Psychology of South China Normal University and the Department of Applied Psychology of Guangdong University of Education, conducted a one-year longitudinal study. The research findings show that when parents use psychological control to manage their children, such as forcing compliance through guilt induction or love withdrawal, a tactic widely regarded as emotional blackmail, this can impair an adolescent’s capacity to regulate their emotions. This then exacerbates depressive symptoms and heightens the risk of self-harm, particularly in girls. Researchers point out that preventing adolescent self-harm requires not only addressing individual emotional issues but also improving family dynamics. The study was published in the international academic journal “Child Psychiatry & Human Development”.