Presentation of the Commemorative Medal of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to Prof.Dr. Masaharu Motokawa and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Katsuyuki Eguchi

11/05/2026

On May 4, 2026, at the Institute of Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) held a ceremony to present the Commemorative Medal of VAST to Prof. Dr. Masaharu Motokawa (Kyoto University) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katsuyuki Eguchi (Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan). The ceremony was attended and chaired by Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha – Vice President of VAST.

Prof. Dr. Masaharu Motokawa is currently working at the Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University. He is a renowned scientist in the field of mammalian taxonomy. Since 2005, he has participated in and led numerous field research programs in Vietnam, contributing to the discovery and description of many new species, including endemic species of high conservation value in the Truong Son region, the Central Highlands, the Northwest, and coastal islands. He has also made active contributions to the development of the Journal of Biology. His studies have provided important data for basic surveys, the development of Red Lists, as well as IUCN and CITES dossiers and biodiversity conservation policy planning. In addition, he has played the role of a focal point for cooperation between leading scientific organizations of Japan and Vietnam. Through training and exchange programs, he has not only helped improve the professional capacity of domestic researchers but also fostered a sustainable and friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katsuyuki Eguchi is currently working at Tokyo Metropolitan University and is a leading expert in entomology, particularly in the taxonomy and biodiversity research of ants and other invertebrates in Asia. During more than two decades of cooperation in Vietnam, he has published numerous important studies on tropical biodiversity and made active contributions to the development of the Journal of Biology. In particular, he has also played an important role in educational cooperation by directly training, mentoring, and supporting many young Vietnamese scientists to conduct research in Japan, thereby contributing to the development of high-quality human resources in the field of biodiversity.

On behalf of VAST, Vice President Chu Hoang Ha presented the Commemorative Medal to Prof. Dr. Masaharu Motokawa (far right) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katsuyuki Eguchi (far left)

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, VAST decided to award the Commemorative Medal to acknowledge the dedication of the two scientists to the development of science and technology, while affirming the effective and sustainable cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan in biodiversity research and conservation.