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On July 2, we had the honor to host Professor , currently director of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science London Office, for a special seminar. Prof. Hara is an internationally renowned researcher who has led cutting-edge research at RIKEN and Tokyo Institute of Technology (now Institute of Science Tokyo) focusing on materials science, nanotechnology, scanning probe microscopy, and origins of life, among others. He was also the keynote speaker at the FY2025 HIRAKU-Global Annual Conference, where he¡¡discussed how to build and lead international collaborative networks. Before the seminar, he visited the Executive Vice President for Research and the International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter () in their new building. 

The seminar was attended by 27 participants, among them HIRAKU-Global researchers from different universities. Professor Hara explained how his research evolved in several stages, with a goal of understanding ¡°natural intelligence¡±, leading finally to explore the connection between art and science in an experimental way. This research connects to fundamental questions about humans, machines, and even life and its origins. He ended his talk with an introduction of the programs provided by JSPS for the promotion of international collaboration throughout different career stages, pointing out that the ¡°Kaken¡± familiar to all researchers is just one of many possibilities.

We would like to thank Professor Hara again for taking the time to provide this inspiring talk.