Tag: conference

  • Connecting the Pacific with the SOI Asia community: SOI Pacific joins the 61st SOI Asia Meeting

    Connecting the Pacific with the SOI Asia community: SOI Pacific joins the 61st SOI Asia Meeting

    SOI Pacific joined the 61st SOI Asia Meeting and SOI Asia 30th Anniversary Conference, held at Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Bandung, Indonesia, from 31 August to 2 September 2026.

    As a sister project of SOI Asia, this marked SOI Pacific’s first participation in the annual meeting, providing an opportunity to introduce its early activities, share experiences from the Pacific, and connect with members of the wider SOI Asia community.

    The meeting brought together SOI Asia partners from across the region to reflect on 30 years of collaboration, share ongoing activities, and look towards the future. For SOI Pacific, the gathering provided an opportunity to build new connections with the SOI Asia community while continuing to develop its activities in the Pacific.

    Participants of the 61st SOI Asia Meeting in Bandung, Indonesia.

    From 30 years of SOI Asia to a new chapter in the Pacific

    The SOI Asia Meeting is an annual gathering where partners from across the region come together to share activities, experiences, and ideas. This year’s meeting was especially significant as it marked the 30th anniversary of SOI Asia.

    Bandung also holds a special place in the history of SOI Asia. ITB was among the first universities connected through the AI³ project in 1996, and the university has continued to play an important role in the development of the SOI Asia community.

    For SOI Pacific, participating in the meeting in Bandung provided a meaningful connection to this history. The project builds on the experience and relationships developed through SOI Asia at Keio University, while bringing together the long-standing work and regional perspective of UH TASI. The meeting also marked the first opportunity for the UH TASI team to join the SOI Asia community, meet partners from across Asia, and introduce TASI and SOI Pacific to a wider audience.

    Sharing SOI Pacific’s first steps

    On the first day of the meeting, SOI Pacific gave a presentation introducing the history and activities of UH TASI, as well as the vision and early activities of SOI Pacific.

    The presentation began with a personal connection to ITB. Dr. Christina Higa shared a photograph from her time as a student, when she had previously visited ITB. Dr. Ginger Porter then introduced TASI and its work, drawing on her perspective and experience as someone from the Pacific. She shared insights into the region and the unique circumstances that shape life and collaboration across the Pacific, while also reflecting on the significance of TASI’s long-standing work in the region.

    Dr. Christina Higa (UH) introduces TASI and its work in the Pacific.

    The presentation then turned to SOI Pacific’s activities since its launch in 2026, including its work and ongoing discussions with partners in Palau and Fiji. The team highlighted its first field visit to Palau in June and ongoing discussions with the University of the South Pacific (USP) and Fiji National University (FNU), as well as plans for further engagement in 2027.

    Looking ahead, the team introduced plans for continued activities in Palau, further engagement with partners in Fiji, and possibilities for student and faculty exchange and other regional collaborations.

    The presentation was followed by an open discussion, where participants exchanged ideas and shared perspectives on SOI Pacific’s activities and future directions. As the conversation developed, unexpected shared interests and potential opportunities for collaboration emerged.

    Introducing TASI and SOI Pacific to the SOI Asia community.

    New conversations and possibilities for collaboration

    The meeting also provided an opportunity for the UH TASI team to introduce its work to the SOI Asia community for the first time and discover areas of shared interest. Conversations touched not only on education and digital connectivity, but also on TASI’s work in areas such as medicine, health, and meteorology.

    These exchanges suggested possible areas for future collaboration between SOI Asia, SOI Pacific, TASI, and partner institutions, while creating new connections between activities and expertise in Asia and the Pacific.

    Connecting through the project showcase

    SOI Pacific also participated in the project showcase held alongside the 30th Anniversary Conference. The showcase brought together projects and activities from across the SOI Asia community, providing an opportunity for the team to introduce SOI Pacific’s early activities and exchange ideas with participants from different institutions and regions.

    Scenes from the project showcase at the SOI Asia 30th Anniversary Conference.

    A shared commitment for the future

    The 30th Anniversary Conference also marked an important moment for the wider SOI Asia community with the signing of the Bandung Declaration. The declaration brought together 28 signatories who expressed a shared commitment to continuing collaboration and working towards a more connected and resilient future.

    Signatories of the Bandung Declaration.

    David Lasner, President Emeritus of the University of Hawaiʻi, was among the signatories, marking the participation of the University of Hawaiʻi in this shared commitment.

    Thirty years of SOI Asia have shown how relationships built across institutions and regions can grow into a lasting community. For SOI Pacific, the gathering in Bandung provided an opportunity to connect with this community while continuing to develop activities and relationships in the Pacific.

    SOI Pacific team members, Dr. Jun Murai, and SOI Asia members with connections to Hawaiʻi share a shaka in Bandung.

    As SOI Pacific looks towards the next chapter, we continue to build connections where local wisdom meets global connections.

  • SOI Pacific’s First International Presentation at APAN 62

    SOI Pacific’s First International Presentation at APAN 62

    From 10 to 14 August 2026, the SOI Pacific team participated in 62nd Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN 62) in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, New Zealand. APAN 62 marked SOI Pacific’s first international presentation since the initiative was launched jointly by Keio University and the University of Hawaiʻi.

    Representatives from both universities introduced SOI Pacific at APAN 62 and shared findings from recent fieldwork in Palau and Fiji. The University of Hawaiʻi team also introduced its Telecommunications and Social Informatics (TASI) program and activities in the Pacific.

    Prof. Keiko Okawa (Keio) introducing SOI Pacific at APAN 62.

    The presentation introduced SOI Pacific to the research and education community and explored how knowledge, cultures, and perspectives from the Pacific could connect with Open Science.

    From Pacific Fieldwork to Open Science

    SOI Pacific joined a session with SOI Asia’s Digital Humanities Asia/And Science Hub (DHASH) project as part of APAN’s e-Culture Special Interest Group (SIG).

    Umerang Imetengel (UH)  introducing the Telecommunications and Social Informatics (TASI) program and its activities in the Pacific.

    The presentation drew on SOI Pacific’s 2026 fieldwork in Palau and Fiji, with a focus on knowledge and culture, and the role younger generations could play in interpreting and sharing them.

    One example came from a workshop with high school students in Palau, where students were asked to imagine Palau in 2036 through the theme “Let’s Create a Souvenir for Future Palau.” The workshop showed a combination of strong local cultural identity and a global perspective. Students expressed different views on Palauan culture and its future, while also thinking beyond Palau and expressing interest in studying or living abroad.

    These observations raised a question for the SOI Pacific team: Could this combination of strong local cultural identity and a global perspective create new opportunities for younger generations to interpret and communicate their own cultural heritage?

    Riho Suzuki (KEIO) sharing observations from SOI Pacific’s fieldwork in Palau and Fiji.

    This question also suggested a possible connection with DHASH. While still exploratory, future collaboration could examine how the perspectives of Pacific youth might contribute to community-centered approaches to digital cultural heritage, documentation, and preservation.

    Palauan senators who met the SOI Pacific team during the fieldwork also highlighted the use of technology for cultural preservation, providing additional local context for the question raised at APAN. Further dialogue with communities and stakeholders will be needed to explore its relevance.

    Looking Ahead

    APAN 62 gave SOI Pacific an opportunity to engage with researchers, educators, and the research and education networking (REN) community across the Asia-Pacific region. Keynotes and sessions covered Open Science, digital infrastructure, cultural heritage, and regional collaboration.

    As an initiative still at an early stage, SOI Pacific continues to focus on listening to local communities and understanding local contexts. APAN 62 provided a platform to share these early observations and begin wider discussions with SOI Asia, DHASH, and the Open Science community as SOI Pacific works toward its vision of a Connected and Resilient Pacific.