November 6 - 7, 2025
Ms. Alejandra Pizarro, Director National of the Chilean National Agency for Research and Development (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo: ANID), visited the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus and held an exchange of opinions with Executive Vice President Hiroaki Aihara. Director Pizarro noted that ANID places emphasis not only on basic science but also on applied science and collaborative research. She expressed her expectation that strengthening global partnerships would significantly expand opportunities for Chilean universities and students, also referred to the 5th Chile-Japan Academic Forum held in Kyoto in late September 2025. Executive Vice President Aihara mentioned that, although academic exchange with Chile began in the field of astronomy, there are also expectations for collaboration and cooperation in a variety of other fields.
The following day, November 7, she visited the Institute of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, at the University of Tokyo's Mitaka campus. Prof. Kotaro Kohno, Director of the institute, gave an overview of its activities. Then, Prof. Takashi Miyata, Director of the Atacama Observatory, introduced the University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) Project. Subsequently, she toured the laboratory building where the telescope instruments are being developed and evaluated. Director Pizarro viewed the development site with keen interest and asked many questions. Following the tour of the TAO laboratory building, she paid a courtesy visit to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) .
This visit provided an opportunity to exchange opinions on the potential for research and educational exchanges in various fields, including astronomy, and to foster mutual understanding. It was also a very fruitful opportunity to develop future collaborations and strengthen relationships.
