Affiliation and position are as of the interview date: November 2021
(Written and Photographed by Yoshitaka Arafune, science writer)

Addressing Unsolved Problems

Gathering in front of a 65-inch monitor, the participants occasionally write equations while engaging in discussions. In another room, researchers in Kyoto join the conversation online. From November 24 to 26, 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic showed signs of abating, the event known as the "Super Smash Program Workshop (SSP WS)" took place at iTHEMS.

On the first day, during the initial session, five researchers, referred to as "Smashers," each presented a problem from their daily research that they had been unable to solve. The topics were varied, including mathematical issues related to quantum mechanics, problems concerning self-play in reinforcement learning, and the problem of turbulence in space.

"At iTHEMS, we have four main research cells where researchers hold discussions. For this workshop, we tried to present problems from the research areas covered by these four cells as evenly as possible," said Hiroyasu Miyazaki, one of the organizers.

Let's Just Try It

The organizers of the workshop were Hiroyasu Miyazaki, Keita Mikami, and Ryosuke Iritani. The idea for the SSP WS emerged after Miyazaki and Mikami attended a workshop in September 2021 organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) focusing on unsolved problems in mathematics. They mentioned the JST workshop in a casual conversation with Iritani, and that led to the decision to hold the SSP WS.

The JST workshop was held to promote interactions among young mathematicians. Participants discussed the problems they brought, leading to mutual understanding and friendship. "At iTHEMS, where researchers from various fields such as mathematics, physics, and biology gather around the keyword of mathematical sciences, we thought that holding a similar workshop would certainly be exciting," the conversation expanded.

"Such things tend to vanish if postponed, so we decided to hold the event in November, even if it was just a prototype," Miyazaki said.

Takashi Tsuboi, Deputy Program Director of iTHEMS and a mathematician involved in the JST workshop, welcomed the initiative of the young researchers. "Opportunities to explain your own problem to others and hear opinions from different perspectives are rare. The expansion of such circles is a good thing, and I believe that iTHEMS exists for this purpose," he said.

Sense of Accomplishment in a Long-Awaited Discussion

After the presentations of five Smashers concluded, participants divided into groups based on the problems at hand and discussions began. Entrance was free, with participants allowed to join in mid-way or move to another room where different problems were being discussed. To prevent the spread of infection, rooms were separated by problem and had a capacity limit, but online participation was also available. Some rooms had just two people deep in conversation, while others included online participants in lively exchanges. During the three-day event, over 20 researchers participated both on-site and online, deepening discussions on five problems. The researchers who attended as Smashers all said they had enjoyed their participation.

"Talking with Miyazaki and others helped me find a way to solve problems that were difficult for me to tackle alone," said Don Warren. "I usually don't use much math, but it was helpful to learn from experts," added Naomi Tsuji.

There were significant gains, but some also felt the challenge of explaining their research to non-experts.

"Mathematics researchers sometimes told me that 'in reinforcement learning, the rules are set, so a solution must exist.' However, I wasn't interested in knowing whether a mathematical solution exists, but rather how to actually find that solution. It took some time to get this point across," explained Akinori Tanaka.

Due to the impact of the pandemic, iTHEMS had mainly operated remotely for the past two years, leaving little opportunity for researchers to gather and talk. Although there was online participation, this event provided an opportunity to discuss research face-to-face, and most attendees seemed to have a fulfilling time.

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere for Colleagues

Ryosuke Iritani shared another goal of the workshop: "When remote work is the norm, it's hard to make friends at work and start joint research projects. I think this event can help people make friends and perhaps lead to something new." This goal was met, as Kazuki Kannaka said, "I've been at iTHEMS for almost a year, and this was the first time I had such an opportunity. Discussing with non-mathematical researchers and teaching each other was stimulating. I got to understand what interests researchers from other fields."

The hybrid format of the SSP WS, combining in-person and online participation, was a rare chance for iTHEMS researchers to have face-to-face discussions. Attendees shared comments like, "Just having face-to-face discussions is enjoyable," and "I think this is real research. It feels like the first time in a long while that I've had a proper discussion with someone."

Mr. Miyazaki had a contented expression and said, "There were many discussions for each problem, and some issues seemed to have made significant progress, which is a relief." Keita Mikami added, "As organizers, we also had fun solving the problems. I think others had a similar enjoyable experience."

Iritani commented, "Through this workshop, we got to know our fellow researchers better and added depth to their profiles. I think it has made it easier for us to talk to each other." The SSP WS may not always lead directly to papers or joint research but understanding each other's interests can potentially spark new collaborations. Creating an atmosphere where individual researchers can be active will invigorate the entire research organization. This workshop reminded researchers of the importance of interaction and may serve as a fertile ground for new research to sprout.

(The photos show the workshop held at RIKEN Kobe from November 24 to 26, 2021.)