Jelper Club’s Post

Summer is here and that means holiday season! Finding it hard to decide where to go? 🧠 New tools and techniques developed by Christian Ruff at the University of Zurich are being used to understand the #brain's thought processes in real time, as subjects face complex social choices. Discover more 👉 https://bit.ly/3YjYVYQ You can also read this article in Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano & Polski. Just click on the link and then select the language option at the top of the page. #FrontierResearch

I just finished “Global Perspectives” class at Globis University, the last class before the graduation.  I am glad to take it as it is the great segway to think of the post-graduation.     In each class, we analyzed various countries and region’s performance and discussed strategies and context behind over a few decades. All cases were quite complexed and there were no single answer. However, it was extremely useful for me not only to learn how to analyze them, but discussed how each of us evaluate performance beyond economic perspective. What is the happiness for us?   The last class discussion was about Japan. How Japan could grow so much after the war, but why Japan has been struggling for the last 30 years. We discussed the current challenges and potential directions to overcome. Although no one has a right answer, it is extremely important to discuss and to get involved where we can.   My ‘kokorozashi (personal mission)’ is to support building more inclusive working environment in Japan for future generations. It is one of big challenges in our society. I will see how I can contribute.   Thanks to professor Kawajiri-sensei and all classmates for the fruitful 3 months! 

IF I COULD TOUCH THE STARS... The JCS( Japanese Chinese Store ) is in my opinion the coolest community close to the university campus where I learn. It's a symbol of how I get to learn different perspectives and cultures. I've always been fascinated by the power of diversity. I've always wanted to build monuments in people's hearts. Which practically means creating impact that begets impact. In all the people I admire I've noticed this as an underlying trait. I see it in my lecturers Gilbert Mwale , Eddie Nyimbwa as well as friends of family like Victor Amedzo Kanyama. Then there are people who I've only been afforded the opportunity to meet in person once like Joshua Nott (I'm super grateful that he introduced me to Chris Welhoelter and James Savage ), Masiliso Mutumba & Muloongo Muchelemba and how can I forget Chris Maurice ? As things should be, some of them are my peers ( Chileleko Mapiki , Chifula Nambela , Alicia Johnson and Alinase Nyirenda ). Truthfully the list is endless. I've gotten really curious about the world and some of the problems that exist (Or maybe I've been watching too much of the news). Some of them keep me up at night such as knowing that Internet Accessibility is still a significant barrier to accessing information. And there are still issues to do with net neutrality. There are also people that I interact with virtually that in a way have become just as important to me even though I am not always consistent with my responses. People like Thomas Beutel, Joel Zaslofsky and Eden Tadesse. Often on my night time walks home from school, my mind tends to get flooded by many questions. Some of which are : Will my long hours in the library add up to the career I desire and deserve? How much of the world will I actually get to experience? Am I worthy of success? What is my personal identity based on? In a way, that's the beauty about human existence. The future is what it is because we cannot predict it ( at least not completely anyway).

I'm excited to share that I recently participated in a fantastic webinar on the Japanese language!. The session provided invaluable insights and practical knowledge that will greatly enhance my understanding of this beautiful language. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and eager to continue exploring more enriching experiences like this. Looking forward to applying what I've learned and embracing more opportunities for growth in the future! #Japanese #spacezee #Webinar SpaceZee

Exactly 10 years ago (yesterday, I missed it by one day dammit) marks the beginning of my journey through the German research system! It's my Germaversary 🇩🇪, no... maybe Deutschiläum 🎊, no... perhaps bureaucratopocalypse 📚. It doesn't really matter! Some thoughts: I arrived: - fresh faced - bright eyed - with a PhD - full of hopes and dreams - with a relatively embarrassing understanding of German ✅ 10 years later and I am: - bit more grizzled (but strangers still call me "young man" on the street) - some bags under the eyes, kinda tired actually... - with a Habilitation (don't ask) - fewer hopes but many more dreams (from napping on the desk maybe?) - with broadly tolerable attempts to speak German. "Tolerance" of course being in the eye of the beholder! 🤔 About 1 1/2 years ago, let's say 8 1/2 years into this journey, I started full-time full-professor-ing, not permanently yet, but let's face it, apart from the title and the job security, I basically made it to the top of the ladder. Not bad at all. 🪜 Now, being (i) white, (ii) heterosexual, (iii) male (i.e. privileged), obviously there were far fewer obstacles ever placed in my way, compared to some of my colleagues and friends. On the other hand, being (i) immigrant, (ii) foreigner, (iii) first generation academic, it certainly wasn't always easy either. For someone like me to succeed like this only reflects the help and support I had along the way. From bosses, mentors, colleagues, friends. I don't believe in celebrating individuals in science. On the other hand, when a good team comes together, we can really achieve a lot! So colleagues, it's my anniversary. 🎊 I stuck around for 10 years, we had a lot of fun and did some good science together, and it's thanks to many of you reading this. 10 more years? Let's see what the future holds! Do I at least get a commemorative pile of paperwork to fill out from the government or something... #science #research #academia

This week I write about the inevitable, ubiquitous, and almost always specious comparisons between the Cultural Revolution — on the minds of so many after Netflix released its adaptation of Liu Cixin's "The Three-Body Problem" (or, more accurately, "Remembrance of Earth's Past"). The parallels, either to the "woke left," DEI, and campus activism or to Xi Jinping's China, happened despite the quite accurate depiction of the Cultural Revolution in Benioff and Weiss's adaptation because important context was missing. Let me know what you think! https://lnkd.in/eaayF_Qe

HELLO WORLD!, I really believe the 21st Century is the Century of Ideas and here's why: A little while back, sitting in a room with some of my friends, and question was popped which happened to spark a controversy. In a split second, i felt like stopping the heated argument but as i stood there, i realised something. 1)The diversity of the human nature is something that provides the uniqueness within us, the will to think and to define from our perspectives. It also shows our inner nature to always be in control of every situation. 2)Human beings have an insatiable need for knowledge and that comes from deep within us, the only difference i sthe source of that knowledge. As they say "Knowledge is Power" and only those who know where to get the right contents can truly be on top. 3)Even in diversity, there is a uniform mindset towards solving the particular problem ,for example (when USA and RUSSIA) started the race for the space program, although they had different ideas of how to do it, their overall goal was to explore the possibilities of space and that led us to where we are today. So you see , even in our diversities we are still more alike, the only thing is that we must not allow our conscience of "diversity" lead us away from the moral path.This is very essential and striking at the heart of our today's WORLD. (P.S I Stopped them eventually, although it involved me taking a few yabs😅 )

Now, more than ever, there is an urgent demand for creativity skills, methods, and tools that empower us to adapt and respond in the face of rapid changes and uncertainties of our time. This morning, Aalto University launched an open online course called Diving into Radical Creativity. It is your personalized learning journey into creativity and we welcome everyone to participate. To celebrate the launch, we invited brilliant minds to share their insights. Thank you for joining us Miklu Silvanto Anne B. Heli Hytönen Oskari Tinkanen What makes me super happy is that dozens of Finnish organizations, both public and private, have joined us to support the initiative and take part. I think Finland has all the prerequisites to grow into a trailblaizer in radically creative thinking. It’s a bold and transformative approach that challenges the norms but it’s also a skill we all can learn. At Aalto University we make research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, spark the game changers of tomorrow and create novel solutions to major global challenges. I think this online course on radical creativity is exactly what is all about.

Phuong Bach '24, a Business Administration major with a concentration in International Business, has conducted research on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), exploring attitudes toward GenAI in higher education across different cultures. Bach's work highlights that Vietnamese individuals view GenAI more positively than Americans, and students generally perceive more benefits and fewer risks than non-student groups, such as faculty, staff, and working adults. Learn more about Summer Research Grants for Undergraduate Students: bit.ly/3XVwPB0

"I've gained a new perspective on the potential application of my research in electronic information," Zhao Zhouhao, a second-year master's student at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS), shared his experience of befriending US student Andre Ramsey, who is working on social sciences and American minority studies. 😘 "Our conversations made me realize that electronic information technology could also be applied to social science research😎, such as using big data for ethnic behavior analysis or even employing artificial intelligence💫 to assist in policymaking," Zhao added. Their exchanges happened earlier this month during the #Harvard Summit for Young Leaders in China (#HSYLC), a 19-year-old liberal arts summer program and Harvard's largest overseas exchange initiative. What places did the American students visit in China and what have they learned?🧐 Click the link to learn more! https://brnw.ch/21wLXQ8 #StudyInChina #EncountersWithChina