From October 27 to 31, I attended the IASS 2025 (International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures) symposium held in Mexico City. During the conference, I presented my research on novel curved surface structural systems and AI-based construction planning systems. I had the opportunity to exchange the latest insights with several prominent figures, including Prof. Juan Gerardo Oliva Salinas, the symposium chair and a leading authority in structural architecture; Dr. Toby Mitchell, a practitioner-researcher working at the intersection of mathematics and structures; and Prof. Kam-Ming Mark Tam, who specializes in integrating AI with structural design.
Following the conference, I traveled to Princeton University in the United States. On the morning of November 4, I met with Prof. Liuchi Li, a distinguished young researcher in materials science. In the afternoon, I gave a presentation to the members of the Form Finding Lab, led by Prof. Sigrid Adriaenssens, and deepened our connection over dinner. On November 5, I held research meetings with Prof. Daniela Mitterberger, who researches human-robot collaboration, and Prof. Andrej Košmrlj, a specialist in materials engineering. That evening, I had dinner with Prof. Adriaenssens. As a global leader in spatial structures who has kindly remembered me since my time as a master’s student, she provided me with an invaluable opportunity to discuss my research career. Each of the researchers I met was not only a world-class scholar but also remarkably approachable, engaging in proactive communication across disciplinary boundaries—qualities I found highly inspirational for my own professional path.
On November 7, I visited the OMA New York office, where I was given a tour by Mr. Taro Awano, an alumnus of Kyoto University. I hope this connection with alumni active on the global stage will serve as a bridge for them to share their experiences with the Kyoto University community through future lectures and other initiatives.
Next, I moved to Boston and stayed at Northeastern University from November 10 to 14. I met with Prof. Demi Fang, an expert in structural sustainability. Although we have known each other’s work since we were both master’s students, we had not had the chance to meet since the COVID-19 pandemic. A major achievement of this trip was our agreement to jointly apply for a research grant after spending time deepening our mutual understanding of our respective expertise. Furthermore, on November 14, I delivered a 100-minute guest lecture in her class, covering topics related to a workshop I will lead in Japan next year, thereby laying the groundwork for that upcoming project.
On November 16 and 17, I participated in a design workshop as part of AAG 2025 (Advances in Architectural Geometry). Under the guidance of Prof. Mark Pauly, a world-renowned researcher bridging computer science and material physics, I fabricated a beautiful curved structural model using elastic deformation. Observing how he guided participants to link scientific principles with physical models was highly instructive for my own role in education. During the main AAG conference on November 18 and 19, I presented my research on timber kerfing for controlled deformation into target curved geometries. It was particularly meaningful to discuss my latest work with Prof. Caitlin Mueller (MIT), who served as my supervisor during my three-month exchange as a master’s student. Finally, on November 20 and 21, I attended SCF ’25 (Symposium on Computational Fabrication) to stay updated on the latest trends in manufacturing technology.
Although the schedule was extremely demanding, the trip was highly productive, successfully fulfilling my primary objectives of strengthening existing networks and forging new professional connections.