The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry (JSBBA)

Hisashi Miyagawa, Chairperson of the 2022 Annual Meeting Executive Committee

Hisashi Miyagawa

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been spreading worldwide since last year. Similarly, in Japan, COVID-19 has raged this summer. Although the pandemic has been coming to a temporary lull since the end of September, we believe that this pandemic is far from being stamped out. 

JSBBA canceled the 2020 Annual Meeting and held that of 2021 online, except for some sessions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope this difficult situation will have improved by March 2022, when the next annual meeting is planned to be held. However, we have decided to hold the next year's session online as well, considering the restriction that many participants should not get together in a hall. 

It is unfortunate again that we will not be able to discuss our findings and exchange information while visiting the site of venue and enjoying a scholarly atmosphere. On the other hand, the online meeting will reduce travel expenses, adjust flexibly in schedules, and offer an easy-to-view presentation. We will try our best to make the most of these advantages. Hence, we appreciate your continued support and look forward to your active participation in the meeting. 

Considering the opinions received from the participants of the previous meeting, we have decided that the 2022 Annual Meeting will be held on weekdays-4 days beginning on the 15th (Tuesday) to the 18th (Friday) of March. On the first day, i.e., the 15th, an award ceremony and lecture(s) by concerned people will be live streamed online using the Zoom platform from the RIHGA HOTEL KYOTO. Unfortunately, we will refrain from social gatherings, which means that we will also not be hosting the celebratory party.

Same as before, research papers will be available in an on-demand mode anytime during the meeting. We will request that the authors attach audio commentary which begins with a summary to their presentation materials. This would help to increase the chance of viewers to look into the papers. Subsequently, during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session, which is to be held between 16th and 18th of March using the Zoom breakout room function, direct communications between presenters and questioners will be achieved. Additionally, an "online virtual resting room" will be set up throughout the period of the meeting for the participants to continue pending discussions that may arise during the Q&A session, thereby creating an avenue to exchange a wide variety of information.

Similar to every year, approximately 20 symposiums are proposed to be held during the real-time Zoom webinar. Meeting schedules will also be arranged to avoid clashes between Q&A sessions of research papers. Additionally, we plan to hold sponsored seminars (previously referred to as luncheon seminars) at noon, focusing on the latest research topics and new experimental methods and techniques.

On day 2, Nougeikagaku Meeting for High-school Students will be held as an annual event. Last year, probably due to the convenience of online, we had 84 presentations from 69 high schools all over Japan. Their presentations would also be distributed in the same way as above on-demand this year. However, considering the opinion "time was too short to sufficiently communicate" received from the previous participants, we plan to spare more time, enabling the participants to communicate and exchange information. Excellent presentations will be commended. Therefore, we are looking forward to the participation of as many as possible.

We recognize that the online mode of meeting can lead to a low performance at the exhibition. The significance of exhibiting instruments, reagents, and books is that it provides visitors with a place for collecting information directly from exhibiting companies while seeing actual products with their own eyes. Therefore, we endeavor to address the disadvantages of the online mode by introducing a software that will achieve a higher realistic feeling, thereby encouraging companies interested in our exhibition to actively participate in this event.

Furthermore, we are planning to hold the JSBBA 'Chemistry and Biology' Symposium and Frontiers Symposium, which have been held concurrently with the annual meeting, will be moved to a different time of the year. This decision was made considering the easy-to-participate scheduling, higher effective implementation methods, and to avoid program clashes. We are also discussing whether various events, which were held to get opportunities provided by the gathering of many people, would be held online during the meeting or if they should be separately rescheduled. Everyone is implored to pay attention to updated information on these symposiums.

Lastly, though the 2022 Annual Meeting will be held under restrictions, we are making the best efforts to provide participants with a significant opportunity that can facilitate the dissemination of information and interaction among participants. If COVID-19 can be appropriately controlled before the meeting, we may have a public opinion that "the annual meeting could have been held face-to-face." Then, the members of the executive committee would have no choice but to apologize. But it is indeed greatly desirable for us to experience such a time where the pandemic is totally under control, and we do hope such a situation will come true. 

We are looking forward to the participation of many researchers and students in this annual meeting.

Finally, we cordially ask members and nonmembers alike for their support and cooperation in attending exhibitions and placing advertisements, sponsored seminars, etc.