With fall well on its way it’s the perfect time for some more Nerd Nite Kyushu. This time we are collaborating with KYURIOUS a student support organization at Kyushu University’s School of Agriculture. The theme this time is “It’s about time.” Join us on November 7 (Fri) from 18:30 at Kyudai Ito Tsutaya Books Art Lounge right down the road from Kyushu University’s Ito campus!
Where
Speakers
Mai Pen Rai: The Thai Way of Letting Time Flow
by Rinka Nakao
Intro
Thailand is known for its relaxed attitude toward life — but where does this mindset come from? From monks getting seats on the train to pink elephant statues (Ganesha), Buddhism shapes how Thai sees time, patience, and impermanence. This talk explores how the “mai pen rai” spirit (“never mind” or “it’s okay”) reflects the Thai Buddhist philosophy of letting go and living in the present.
Bio
Rinka Nakao is a third-year student at Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture, International Undergraduate Course. She is one of the representatives from the student-led organization called KYURIOUS which aims to support students and researchers to improve their quality of life at Kyushu University. Having spent 11 years in Bangkok, she grew up surrounded by Thailand’s vibrant culture, traditions, and Buddhist-influenced values. Now studying in Japan, she loves exploring how cultural differences shape the way people think and live.
Surrounded by Corn: A New View of Climate Change
by Sohta Harigai
Intro
Struggling to predict the weather for next season? Imagine trying to forecast how climate change will affect our food decades from now. The uncertainty is immense. My research tackles this by focusing on a key crop: corn. I explore how corn’s physiological response fluctuates with climate shifts. By understanding how our crops actually experience climate change, we can better protect our food systems and build a sustainable society, a goal that extends far beyond the agricultural field.
Bio
As a research student, I went to the vast cornfields of Illinois in the U.S. to study how corn responds to climate change. Honestly, I spent more time surrounded by corn than I did with people that summer. My motivation for the research is also personal, because I love tacos. My research on corn just happens to be a great way to protect the main ingredient of my favorite food.
The double-edged sword of time in cells
by Samantha Sastrawidjaja
Intro
Time is both the creator and saboteur in life and in cells. Every cell carries its own clock, a power that drives growth, repair, and aging. Inside us, time is not just something that passes. It’s something our biology feels, records, and fights against. But what happens when that clock goes wrong and the memories written in our cells start to fade? My work explores how we might gently nudge these cellular clocks. A story about how science is learning to edit time within itself, and what it means when time, at the molecular level can both heal and harm.
Bio
Hi! My name is Samantha. I came from Indonesia to Japan to study molecular sciences 5 years ago as an undergraduate student in Kyushu University. While research stimulates me, outside of school I look for small stories in every activities, memories and relationships I make. I love people and I love nature, so you can find me outside often biking from one beach to another around Itoshima. Another passion of mine is food. I will basically try anything, and I love learning about cultures and stories behind the development of food culture around the world.