The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Alumni Conference 2023

Venue: Tokyo

Dear members of The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Alumni, speakers and guests, I welcome you all most warmly to Tokyo.

I have been looking forward to meeting you, and I am delighted to welcome you all today, into the family of intellectual adventurers and passionate visionaries.The concept of “One World One Family “of The Nippon Foundation symbolizes our idea and commitment of building a better world by working together, transcending diverse backgrounds and situations.

Our scholarship program is not just about providing funds for your studies, it is about becoming a part of the Alumni network that fosters knowledge and bonds among the members after your studies are completed. In fact, our wish is to continue this ever expanding network where all the alumni are joined together closely as one family supporting each other and growing together for life.

I would like to now mention about the 2019 international competition in the deep-sea exploration and mapping technologies, the “Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE” as it serves as a living example of the power of the Alumni Network and the value of collaboration and cooperation. The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO formed a joint core team consisting of 16 fellows from 13 countries and successfully won the grand prize. The team’s victory reconfirmed the importance and the necessity of having people from diverse backgrounds work together. It is expected that through strengthening the Alumni Network and sharing information at this Conference it will accelerate the elucidation of the yet unknown seafloor topography.                       

Today, amidst the growing advancement in space exploration there is, unfortunately, a lack of sufficient attention to the mysteries of our oceans. However, we must never forget that the oceans are essential to the survival of humanity. The exploration of the seafloor topography that you are pursuing not only satisfies intellectual curiosity but provides vital information such as the distribution of marine resources, the state of marine ecosystems, the mechanism of tidal currents, tsunami predictions, safety in maritime navigation and maritime rescue operations.

I hope that through this NF-GEBCO Alumni Conference your solidarity will be strengthened further, so that you will continue to work together for a sustainable and prosperous future of our oceans.Thank you.