On 19th February 2026, Rina Keboushi (M1) from the Shimada Research Group, Department of Systems Innovation, received Best Poster award in Network Science Seminar 2025.
Best Poster award
This award recognizes the most outstanding poster presentation at the Network Science Seminar 2025. It was selected from approximately 25 presentations delivered on the first day of the event.
About awarded research
In the presentation titled “Network Analysis of Humpback Whales Visiting the Okinawan Breeding Grounds” (Rina Keboushi (Univ. Tokyo), Nozomi Kobayashi (OCF*), Haruna Okabe (OCF*), Sachie Ozawa (OCF*), and Takashi Shimada (Univ. Tokyo)), we analyzed the social relationships of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) observed around Okinawa. Using individual identification data collected through visual surveys, we built a social network based on how often individual whales were seen together in the same group. While humpback whales are known for gathering in breeding areas, little research has explored how they are socially connected in these environments. Our study aims to better understand their breeding strategies by applying mathematical and statistical methods. Our findings suggest that relationships among individual whales are not random. We also discovered clear differences between males and females in key network measures, such as how centrally they are positioned within the social network. These results indicate that differences in male and female breeding behavior are reflected in the overall social structure of the population. Going forward, we plan to develop more detailed mathematical models of humpback whale breeding strategies and test them through further analysis.
(*OCF: Okinawa Churashima Foundation)
Your impression & future plan
This was a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers working in network science across many different fields. I am truly honored and delighted to receive this award for research on cetaceans, a field I am deeply passionate about. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Shimada for continuous guidance, as well as to all members of our laboratory. I am also deeply thankful to Kobayashi, Okabe, and Ozawa of the Okinawa Churashima Foundation for offering opportunities for collaborative research and for sharing their invaluable insights into humpback whale ecology.
Ryotaro Kobayashi (M1) , Department of Systems Innovation, received Excellence Award at the JSAI 37th Annual Conference
Daiki Ikuta (M2), Department of Chemical System Engineering, received SCEJ 91st Annual Meeting Excellent Student Award
