Asst. Prof. Hamamoto Attended the International Coral Reef Symposium in New Zealand!

From July 19 to 24, 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the 16th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Auckland, New Zealand. Held every four years, ICRS is a major international conference that brings together coral reef scientists from around the world. Following the previous meeting in Bremen, Germany, this was the second in-person symposium since the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning its seasons are the opposite of those in Japan. While I had always known this, experiencing it firsthand was something entirely different. The moment I arrived at the airport, the chilly winter air reminded me that I was far from home. Having left Japan in the middle of summer, I was surprised to find myself shivering in the cold.

Researchers from coral reef regions around the world attended the symposium, presenting studies from a wide range of marine environments, including the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea. The research topics and methodologies were equally diverse, ranging from traditional laboratory and field experiments to large-scale genetic analyses and even cutting-edge studies employing genome editing technologies.
 
The symposium also provided valuable opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and friends from around the world. Many unexpected reunions made the meeting especially memorable and offered a chance to renew old friendships and strengthen professional networks.

I presented our research on the ongoing tropicalization of the western coast of Shikoku, Japan, as well as the results of our bacterial community metabarcoding analyses. Presentations at the symposium were allocated either 5 or 15 minutes, and I was fortunate to be assigned a 15-minute oral presentation slot.
 
The symposium featured an impressive 1,480 presentations in total, including both oral and poster sessions. Across 14 parallel session rooms, lively discussions took place from morning until evening throughout the conference. Simply keeping track of the presentations I wanted to attend and moving between rooms was a challenge in itself.
 
Among the many highlights of the meeting, one particularly memorable experience was the opportunity to speak with Dr. Cody Clements of the Georgia Institute of Technology, whose recent work on sea cucumber ecology and biology has attracted considerable attention. Meeting researchers whose papers I had been following closely was both inspiring and motivating.

As one might expect from New Zealand, a country renowned for its dairy industry, the food was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed every meal throughout the trip. Sharing meals with colleagues and fellow researchers provided a wonderful opportunity to discuss not only our research but also many other topics in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
 
Unfortunately, I did not have much time to explore New Zealand beyond the conference venue during this visit. However, the experience left me eager to return in the future. Next time, I hope to venture further afield, including a visit to the South Island, and experience more of the country's remarkable natural beauty and culture.

Overall, attending the symposium was both an enjoyable and highly rewarding experience. In addition to sharing our research, I had the opportunity to learn from leading scientists, exchange ideas with researchers from around the world, and build new connections that will undoubtedly benefit my future work.
 
The next International Coral Reef Symposium is scheduled to be held in Brazil in 2030. By then, I hope to continue advancing my research and contribute findings that will surprise and inspire the scientific community. The experience in Auckland has provided renewed motivation to pursue exciting and impactful research in the years ahead

Contributed and written by: Asst. Prof. Kohei Hamamoto
Posted by: Jomel Limbago