News in Brief

Toward the Integration of Two Universities On July 17, Presidents Sugioka of Kyushu University and Yoshida of the Kyushu Institute of Design signed an agreement and memorandum concerning the integration of the two universities. The proposed integration had originally been announced on February 20 of this year and was followed by discussions eventually leading to the agreement.
The agreement leaves open the name of the integrated university, and it is stated that the Institute of Design's present campus remains for the foreseeable future, with actual integration scheduled for October 2003.

Invitation to Earth Science
---The past, present and future of the Earth
The Kyushu University Museum presents a special exhibition from July 16 to September 14 (except for Saturdays, Sundays, and during August 13-17) in the exhibition room on the 3rd floor of the Kyushu University Memorial Auditorium. Admission is free. This special exhibition showcases the work of Kyushu University researchers on various subjects, including: the origin of the Earth and other planets, the beginning of the Earth and its subsequent evolution, the beginnings of life and its evolution, the shape and movement of the present solid Earth, changes in the ozone layer and climate, Space weather, and Interaction between the Sun and the Earth, among others.

For more information, please call 092-642-4252.

Kyushu University Grants Honorary Degree to Korean Consul General Seo
President Sugioka recently granted an honorary degree to Seo Hyun-Seop, the Korean Consul General of Yokohama former Consul General of Fukuoka, in honor his achievements in strengthening the academic bonds between Japan and Korea during his tour in Fukuoka from May 1998 to February 2001.
After the ceremony, Consul General Seo gave a lecture at Kyushu University Memorial Auditorium in which he remarked, "Without reconciliation, neither Korea nor Japan can be internationalized. I hope the relationship between the two countries will be stimulated to further growth in the same manner as the soccer teams from both countries. The younger Korean generation doesn't harbor much hostile feeling toward Japan, and I believe they are the hope for a new Korea-Japan relationship. From now on, I would like to make efforts to increase the cultural exchanges between the two countries as a member of Kyushu University."