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The Academia Circle of the Inochi Forum was established following the Osaka University Partner Summit in 2021, where university presidents and researchers from Osaka University’s six strategic global partner institutions convened to define a shared vision for the university’s role and responsibilities amid the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the summit, participants agreed to showcase their collaborative achievements at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025 through researchers partnerships.

The Academia Circle operates as part of the Inochi Forum—a platform for people to raise their voices, engage in dialogue on social issues, and collaborate on solutions aimed at shaping a better future society. Over the past three years, the Academia Circle members have discussed key challenges and actions needed to build that future and have developed a set of action guidelines in three focus areas: Health, Well-being, and Sustainability. These guidelines reflect their ongoing commitment to creating a society that values and respects every inochi—every life.

This mini-symposium provides an opportunity to share those discussions and action guidelines with fellow Academia Circle members and a broader audience. It is an opportunity to embrace diverse perspectives and reaffirm our collective path forward. A summary of these discussions will be icluded at the Inochi Declaration Festival on 11 October, 2025, at the World Expo site.

Date and Place

Date: Thursday 5 and Friday 6 June 2025
Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm JST / 9.30am – 11.30pm UK / 10.30am – 12.30pm CET / 4.30pm – 6.30pm China / 3.30pm – 5.30pm Asia Bangkok / 4.30am – 6.30am EST
Place: The University of Osaka Nakanoshima Center 5th Floor / Online

Program

Thursday 5 June
Timetable (JST):
5.30pm
Opening address by Prof. Takuo Dome, Senior Advisor to the President, The University of Osaka / Chair of Inochi Forum Executive Committee

5.35pm Health/Food Group
“To lead food systems transformation, improve nutrition, and tackle climate and health challenges, toward a healthier, more equitable future”
– Co-chair Emr. Prof. Eric Brunner, University College London
– Co-chair Emr. Prof. Hiroyasu Iso, The University of Osaka / Institute for Global Health Policy Research, National Center for Global Health and Medicine
– Professor Chizuru Nishida, Former Head, Unit of Safe, Healthy and Sustainable Diets Unit , WHO / President, Asia-Pacific Clinical Nutrition Society

5.55pm Comments & discussion
6.25pm End of the session

==Break==

6.30pm Well-being Group
“Leveraging data and ICT technologies towards enabling resilient, inclusive, and connected communities”
– Co-chair Emr. Prof. Shinji Shimojo, The University of Osaka / Aomori University,
– Co-chair Prof. Yanjun Dai, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
– Assoc. Prof. Yohei Yamaguchi, The University of Osaka
7:20pm Comments & discussion
7.30pm – End of the session

*********************************************************

Friday 6 June
5.30pm Sustainability Group
“Flourishing Inochi: developing Integrated Flourishing Measures (IFMs) to capture non-material aspects of societal well-being, such as emotional resilience and cultural vitality”
– Co-chair: Presentations by Prof. Andrej Zwitter, University of Groningen
– Co-chair: Prof. Takuo Dome
5:50pm Comments & discussion
6.30pm End of the session

==Break==

6.40pm Wrap-up chaired by Prof Genta Kawahara, Vice Chair for the Academia Circle,
– All the members of the three groups and guests
7.25pm Closing remarks by Prof. Takuo Dome
7.30pm End of the mini-symposium