Lab meeting May 12th

We held the lab meeting in the new RS Research Building - very nice!

Points of discussion:
1. Active Ranger jobs available in Naha and on Ishigaki. Ask Tsuchiya-sensei for details.
2. Part-time jobs for conferences: a. Sperm conference, June 24-29 - ask Takemura-sensei.
b. Toxicology conference, June 16-18th - ask Yamasaki-sensei.
3. We can "officially" move into the new RS building on May 19th, when internet and the phones are connected.
4. Two 3rd years (MN, SN) have unofficially entered the lab, we still have space for one more.
5. May 29th - English children's reef walk and picnic at Toguchi, if you are interested in helping see JDR.
6. Don't forget to keep your shoes out of the middle of the hall for the cleaning lady to be able to move her cart by our lab.
7. June 25th, Nishihira-sensei (famous coral reef biologist) will give a special presentation on coral reef biodiversity.
8. Taiwan summer exchange program - (see poster above), if you are interested contact JDR.

Lab meeting on April 21st, 2010

1. Please download skype on your computer!

2. Please upload homepage!

3. Opening ceremony of the new building will be held on April 27th. Time: 1:30 pm~2:00 pm.

4. Moving to the new building- microscopes, samples etc..

5. Inoue scholarship- Please check the information if you are interested.

6. Make sure dive rulues.

7. Diving! on Thursday (contact JR) and Saturday (contact OT).

Lab meeting on Nov. 11th, 2009

1. Tanks this week: TN
2. Please check the diving rules on message board.
3. MO made a manual on a seminar poster. Please refer to it, especially the third year students.
4. If you don't have a pair of slipper for Room 354, feel free to use MISE common slippers.
5. PC for the third year students has no softwares like Word, Excel, Power point... Can we order?
6. We got a new freezer for DNA yesterday.


Today's photo; Acrozoanthus in Green island, Taiwan

Things to remember while JDR is in Aus!

All lab members: Get Skype, then we can talk for free while I am in Australia! Ask MO, CA, or YI for my Skype address.

Things to remember while I am in Australia:

1. JCRS presenters (MO, YM, TF, YI): If you have a poster, do not forget to a. check it with me, and b. make a reservation to print it. You can print it using my "公費（教育）” that the Biology Office manages.
2. All lab members: Please help with formalin clean-up. Today's participants know how, so ask them. As well, we may be able to pay some money for helping!
3. YI: you are the chair for the next seminar on December 2nd. Don't forget the posters and PDFs!
4. Jobs in December - we will do paperwork in November by email while I am in Australia. Please remind me if you get the chance, I may forget!
5. M.Hirose will start work from November in the lab; please help her if she has any questions.
6. Work for lab members while i am gone:
a. MO - lab management, etc. Also, the freezer if it arrives.
b. YM - sclerites, DNA (COI, ITS, MutS) complete data sets (pink, purple, green morphs). Begin thesis!
c. TF and YI: continue as is. TF and YM need to help with my class (Nov. 18, 25).
d. CA - continue as is.
e. MH - check DNA data; begin thesis!
f. YH - data collection, begin thesis!
g. YS - DNA analyses, begin thesis!
h. HS - sampling! If you want, begin DNA (ask someone to help you).
i. MK - DNA extraction, examining Symbiodinium DNA.
j. OT - continue snail and host sampling.
k. TN - learn sampling and field ID.
l. MM - DNA results? Also, begin cnidome analyses if you want (ask TF or YI to help).

Good luck!

Swimming off to the distance at Manza.

Lab meeting Nov. 4th

Lots of things today!

Present: YM, OT, TN, YH, MM, JDR
Absent: MO, TF, YI (Taiwan), CA (OIST), YS (fight!), MH (practical course), HS (class), MK (...)

1. JDR's specialty class will be taught by Kurihara-sensei on the 18th, Kimura-sensei on the 25th. YM and TF will arrange to help show them the room and help set up and take down. Yoroshiku!
2. Tanks this week: OT
3. Part-time jobs: a. Paperwork for MO, YM, YI, TF on their desks. Due Nov. 10th @ Biology Office.
b. December jobs: will do paperwork from Aus (JDR there Nov. 8th- Dec. 1st).
4. Health Check: Submit paperwork by today; free health check for those of us who dive lots.
5. Seminar: Don't forget the next one is Dec. 2nd - YI (chair), MM and MK (presenters).
6. Formalin help: today after seminar, in front of Fukugoto! Bring gloves.
7. While JDR is in Aus: a. continue experiments as much as possible
b. A new freezer (may??) come; MO will be in charge if it arrives while JDR is gone.
8. 3rd years PC: coming soon (Windows machine)
9. Camera: We have a new Canon G11 and housing - feel free to use, but please make sure you put it in freshwater soon after, and wash the weights carefully!
10. Research discussions before JDR goes: YM and TN: today, OT and YH: Friday, MK: tomorrow, HS and MM: will let me know after.

Wow...lots.

Today's pic: Tree frog helps with sampling, Costa Rica.

Lab meeting Sept. 9, 2009 and updates

Summer!

Everyone is out in the field, or so it seems. Still, we need to update the blog. Here is the latest info:
1. Taiwan expedition and symposium: JDR and MO participated along with Hirose-sensei in sampling in both southern and northern Japan. We all also gave presentations at the special symposium (see posting earlier). All in all a great trip; we need to visit there more often! Big thanks to Shanky, Chen-sensei, and Nozawa-sensei for all their help!

Stay tuned for updates on this topic.

2. YK09-12 cruise at the Japan Trench: FS, CA, and TF finished the cruise with many samples despite the bad weather. In particular, many octocorals were collected.
3. 5th NCB: Being held in northern Japan now. TF and YI are participating, as well as sampling in the Japan Sea! Brrr.... Next NCB will be here in Okinawa.
4. JDR is now an associate editor of WoRMS - more info later.

Lab meeting today:
1. Tanks this week: YS
2. DNA classes next week: MO, MH, YS, MM participating!
3. YI wants a cheap new automatic car. Anyone with info please contact her.
4. Diving Friday at Sunabe: JDR and MH.

Have a great week!

Today's pic: Acrozoanthus in Kenting.

Lab meeting April 15th, 2009

Absent: YS, YH, MH, MO

1. Tanks keeper: Marie

2. 'Writing class' will start from this week! Time: after master & doctor seminar ~ 17: 50

3. Research update reports: YI & TF Next week: CA & YM

4. We have wireless network but we can't use it now. We have to finish paperwork...

5. MO will explain how to use Microscope next week.

Picture: Unknown zoanthid from Mizugama, Okinawa, Japan Photo by JR

By Yuka

Lab meeting 2009.1.28

Present: all but YS and YH.

1. Tanks this week: MO.
2. Habu - be careful! They are active even in winter.
3. Cars without entrance permit stickers need them by Feb. 27th. Get applications from the 2nd floor office.
4. CA is angry her scholarship money was reduced. BOOOOO! to the Japanese Ministry of Education and the 2nd floor office for a poor explanation.
5. JDR will go to Churaumi and Sesoko on Feb. 6th - let him know if you can go.
6. NCB - book ASAP (more details on this next week).
7. Suda-sensei's student Daphne will be working in our lab until the end of March sorting samples.

FS: Crane (NOT stork) pictures - very nice, but looks cold in Kagoshima!

Today's picture is of some zoanthids at Teniya last weekend (JDR, CA, TF).

Lab meeting 2009.1.21

Present: All but MH.

1. Tanks this week: YH.
2. Going to the beach; JDR and YH on Jan. 23rd as well as Kadena Marina. Let JDR know if you are interested.
3. Shopping? Slates ordered. Will order sterilizing tape.
4. FS - fondue tonight in the MISE lab from about 18:30 or 19:00. Mmmm... cheese.
5. Seatopia may be closing in March!
6. NCB - let JDR know if you can go, the dates for reservations are drawing close.
7. YM - his fish tanks are clean, so if you need a break check them out.

Next week: FS pictures of storks in Kagoshima.

Today's picture is of an Epizoanthus sp. These guys are cool, they look like aliens.

Lab meeting 2009.1.14

Sorry for the delay on posting; JDR has been swamped with work and tests to mark. But finally things are looking better...

Anyways, there are a backlog of information posts, so here is the first one.

Meeting Weds., Jan. 14, 2009

Present: all

1. Tanks this week: MH
2. Center University Entrance examinations this weekend; only students with permits are allowed on campus.
3. JDR is going to the ocean on the 16th with YS and YM. Interested people contact JDR.
4. 15th pm, CA will do experiments.
5. 20th am, JDR, CA, YM, YI, TF will go to Kadena Marina to look at wetsuits.
6. From next week lab meetings will be from 16:20 now that we have no seminars. This way CA can attend after her Japanese class.
7. ES and TF will go to Odo this week.
8. YM: according to Okinawa Pref., permits are needing for soft coral sampling when SCUBA diving, evidently since last year, but nothing is yet enforced. We may submit permits in the future through the Biology office.
9. FS will go to Hokkaido Feb 20-28th, then March 1-3 in Chiba, and Japan Cnidarian meeting (NCB) March 4-6. Diving on March 7th. Interested people contact him.
10. FS is also thinking of Ogasawara during Golden Week.

Shopping: Underwater writing slates (5 or 6).

Today's photo is of YH working at Odo marking Palythoa colonies.

Lab meeting 2009.1.7

First meeting of the new year!

Present: All.

1. Party tomorrow from 19:30 - JDR's parents are in town! Meet at the izakaya at the North Gate.
2. Laser pointer - has anyone seen it since the last seminar last year?
3. Tests - the university is closed to students from Jan. 17th to 18th due to entrance tests. If you wish to come to the university, get paperwork from the 5th floor, fill it out and hand it in to the 2nd floor. Please be quiet on these days even if you are here.
4. Tank monitor: YS.
5. Cleanup after the meeting - boxes and paper.
6. TF and MO will go to Sesoko tomorrow if the weather is OK (it wasn't, and the trip was cancelled).
7. FS will go to Hokkaido in Feb - contact him if you are interested.
8. Pay MO money for presents to YI's parents from Korijima trip.
9. 4th years - make reservations at Kikibunseki Center for poster printing (done; Feb. 18th at 2pm).
10. MO - his first paper was accepted! Congratulations!

Lab meeting 2008.12.24

Asides from JDRs big adventure at the bonenkai, there is lots of news!

Present: All!

1. Party - wow. If you can donate 700 yen to the JDR fund, please do!
2. Over the winter holidays, the weather may turn bad, and/or we have to be careful about locking the doors. Don't forget to lock up and watch your valuables!
3. From January, JDR will have a new job and title. He may be suddenly busy, so do not believe his schedule, and if you make plans, try to invite other people too so that if JDR has a meeting it does not spoil your plans.
4. Korijima - MO, YI, TF, CA, JDR, and YM (snorkeling) will go to do a survey in this area from Dec. 28th to 29th. The weather looks good, so on the 27th we will get tanks from Seatopia. We will leave early on the 28th, and come back the 29th at night, staying at YI's house in Nago. There will be a meeting today after the seminar.
5. On January 3rd, we will go deep-sea fishing. Itg is 10500 JPY per person. Anyone who wants to come contact JDR!
6. XMA party at JDRs house from the vening of the 25th. Anyone welcome!
7. Anyone need a second screen for their PC? Let JDR know.
8. There are now 8 second years who are interested in MISE. Please invite them on sampling trips anytime.
9. Tank monitor this week: ES.
10. FS will go to an izakaya tonight, all welcome.
11. Sesoko tanks - After ES graduates, it would be good if someone can use them. Please think about this and contact JDR.

Merry Christmas!!!

Lab meeting 2008.12.17

Updates from MISE:

Present: all but FS, who is still lost in Osaka (note - he has since come back).

1. Tanks this week: YI.
2. Koryo Japan-Taiwan scholarship due by end of this month for any students interested. Could be a good chance to go to Taiwan for some research.
3. Don't open the cooler on the deck - JDR has maguro guts in there!!
4. Don't forget your lab fees, 200 yen/month. We have been using it a bit lately as uni budget office is INCREDIBLY innefficient...
5. 4th years - first draft of your grad thesis due on the 20th - Saturday - at midnight!
6. Lab party (bonenkai) on the 21st. We will have a BBQ with maguro and mahimahi if the weather is nice. YH and JDR will organize.
7. Sunabe or Odo - diving and colony marking. YH and JDR will go on the 23rd. If you are interested please let us know.
8. YM will go to Sesoko Thursday or Saturday - again let him know if you can go.
9. Dec. 28th-29th; survey around Korijima. We will use YI's dad's boat. MO, YI, CA, TD, and JDR will go, and maybe YM will come to snorkel from shore.
10. Three more 2nd years have looked at the lab! Now have 8 people who are interested in potentially joining from next year!
11. JDR has a new job from January 1st - the lab will be able to do more research! Yah!
12. December 25th - XMAS - feel free to visit M and m at home in the afternoon. Bring some food if you can!

Today's photos were by TF, who talked about his "Ecological Survey of Ants in Room 352". Very well done! Next week FS and Osaka photos.

Today's image is of a marked P. tuberculosa colony at Sunabe by YH.

Lab meeting 2008.12.10

Winter (Okinawa-style) is here. The 4th years are busy furiously writing their papers, and I am fighting a cold.

Here is this week's news from the lab meeting. Everyone here except FS, who is obviously lost in Osaka...
1. Tanks this week - TF.
2. Lab year-end party on the 21st in the evening. We will do something in the lab. YH and JDR are party planners. If the weather is nice, maybe a BBQ?!?
3. YI, TF, CA, MO, and JDR will go diving around Korijima on December 28th and 29th to conduct some surveys of benthos. It will be fun - if the weather cooperates. Other people are more than welcome to come and do some shore diving or snorkeling.
4. This Friday (12th) YH, CA, and JDR will go diving to practice sampling. Anyone else is welcome.
5. Today's pictures were by ES of Iejima - very nice. Makes me want to go there...

Lab orders this week: erector set, dictionary.

Today's image - a huge dust storm from the Sahara heading towards the Caribbean. From the NOAA site. Wonder if anyone has looked in detail at things like this in Okinawa with all the Gobi dust we get?

That's all for now.

Lab meeting 2008.12.3

Another short meeting today, but many things happening!

Present: YS, YM, YI, ES, TF, MH, JDR, MO, YH, CA
Absent: FS (Osaka...)

Items for discussion:
1. YI and her dad, along with JDR and whoever else can come, will do a survey of the benthos around Korijima Island towards the end of this month. YI will check and see what dates are possible. Likely we will go around the 27th or 28th of Dec.
2. Tank monitor this week: CA.
3. YM can drive this Saturday a.m. for JDR's "kiso zemi".
4. Don't believe the 2nd floor! Well, at least check with senseis or the 5th floor first; there have been many mistakes lately by the office there...
5. DNA extractions tomorrow; CA, YI, MO, YM will participate with JDR.
6. Christmas/Bonenkai: JDR invites all lab members to his house on the afternoon of Dec. 25th for XMAS fun. Also, we will have a bonenkai on the 21st, after the 4th years have handed in their report (first draft).
7. Shopping: Erector set, lights for tanks, lights for microscopes, scales, sample nets, counter, etc.

Have a great week.

Today's picture is a cool image from Haeckel - one of his old textbooks I think.

Lab meeting 2008.11.19

Lots of small notices today...

Present: YS, TF, MH, YH, ES, YI, YM, CA, MO, JDR
Absent: FS (Europe)

1. New dissecting microscope and camera have arrived. Set up will be done this week, so ES can start work on Palythoa gametes. The camera can be mounted on the microscope, and there is also an underwater housing. Macro of 1 cm, and 12.1 MP, so we can really zoom in on the smaller reef denizens.
2. Lab fees: 200 yen/month. Please pay if you have forgotten.
3. 3rd years: Slippers, lab rules (YS), and please make a webmail address for seminar PDFs etc. (YS, YH).
4. Please tell JDR your IP addresses so he can keep track of them in the future.
5. If you are interested in studying overseas (undergrads only), please check with the student office ASAP - much info there.
6. To buy: computer locks, erector set for drying wetsuits. Please keep the lab windows locked at night for safety!
7. We will throw away the large green shelf outside the lab.
8. Primers - order by 11/30. YM wants new soft Concepcion et al 2008 coral primer set, CA and JDR will make some others too.
9. Nozawa-san from Kuroshio Lab will visit Thursday.
10. TF, YI, YM and JDR will go the 11th Japan Coral Reef Conference in Shizuoka this weekend. Check here for updates!
11. 3rd years and Masters seminar: Please prepare resumes, and send PDFs of the paper you are studying to the chair so it can be distributed to all members.
12. Tanks: this week: MO

13. Today's pictures were of Churaumi Aquarium training by YI. Next week, YS.

Picture above is of bubble anemone at Sunabe last week.

Lab meeting 2008.11.12

Present: MO, TF, YI, ES, YM, YS, MH, YH, CA, JDR
Absent: FS (Europe)

Not too much again today - everyone is busy with seminar preparation etc.

1. Money from Hedo and/or JCRS flights: YM and YH.
2. CA - trip to Osaka? Check with Intl. Student Office.
3. Friday a.m., go to the beach depending on weather for YH's research. YH, JDR, CA, ES, TF.
4. Jisshu: Friday night - Odo Beach during low tide... YM and JDR, TF will come along.
5. Tank this week: YS.
6. Makeman shopping: lights for TF and MH; salinity meter, blank DVDs, tissue. JDR will go Thursday p.m.
7. Part-time job: JDR needs transcription of Japanese interviews - TF will do it.
8. Pictures: Oops, YI and JDR mixed up, JDR showed pictures of Australia, next week is YI.
9. Computer (Windows XP with PAUP, net, Adobe Illustrator, etc.) now in lab, microscopes are moved to center table. Dissecting scope and mount ready to go but waiting for digital camera to arrive.
10. We have 36 l of tax-free ethanol (99%) = not for molecular but good for preserving etc. When you use it please fill out the paperwork in the lab by the formalin paperwork. If you have questions ask MO.

Today's picture is from the soft coral gardens during Friday's dive in Sunabe...

Lab meeting 2008.11.5

Short and sweet today.
Present: YM, YI, MH, YS, YH, CA
Absent: FS, TF (Chiba), MO (Tokyo), ES (Yokohama)

1. Internet - no illegal downloading please! Big Brother is evidently watching.
2. Car accident last weekend on the university loop - be careful, especially after rain.
3. Tank manager this week is YI.
4. Any lab things needed? Pincettes (ES and YM), light (MH), waterproof notes (all), specimen labels (how much?).
5. Taiwan/Aus collaboration potentail - check www.koryo.or.jp, and also discuss at JCRS.
6. Two 2nd year students are interested in our lab, so please invite them as buddies for trips to the ocean, and they can help while learning about our lab.
7. YM - presentation on glitter orchids - great! Thanks.
8. JDR back from Aus, great time!

Next week YI and Churaumi pix.

Today's picture is a giant giant clam (70 kg maybe) at the GBR, taken by JDR last week.

Lab Meeting 2008.10.1

End of summer, fall semester is almost here...

Notes from today's meeting:
Present: FS, MO, YM, ES, TF, JDR
Absent: YI (touring Okinawa), MH & YH (visiting home), YS (broken motorbike)

1. Tanks: The two common tanks will have a "monitor" every week to make sure they are OK. As well, the monitor will make sure there is enough ocean water, and take steps to ensure that people get water. Also, occasionally water should be changed, as otherwise salt content will become higher and higher. For individual's tanks (YM and TF), you are responsible for your own tank!

2. "Normal" lab meetings with short (5 min) presentations will start Oct. 15th - if he is here, MO will show Singapore pictures.

3. The student room key is now on your right side when you enter the experiment room, on a hook. Don't panic if you can't find the key in its old location.

4. Don't forget to pay lab money.

5. We have some extra budget, so if there is anything you need write it on the "wish list" on the student room fridge.

6. When you know your 2nd term schedule, please tell JDR, so we can arrange a lab seminar. For this term, 3rd years and Masters students will all do the seminar together. 4th years are also welcome to attend, of course.

7. CA arrives this weekend! We made desk space for her, and discussed going to the airport to pick her up. FS, YI, ES, and JDR et al. will go welcome her. We will have dinner earlier at the airport too. Probably (if the weather is fine) we will go to the student festival on Sunday.

8. FS and YM will get an inkan ordered for CA. JDR will take her to the bank.

That's all for now, have a great week.

Today's picture is YH taking a picture of a lion fish at Oku during the camp trip.

Lab Meeting 2008.9.17

Lots to discuss today...

1. Lab camping next week at Cape Hedo-misaki. We have rented a bungalow for two nights - everyone can come except MO, who will be in Singapore at Raffles Biodiversity Museum. Camping details...
a. Groups of two people will be responsible for one meal each. JDR will get some meat for BBQs this weekend. All food costs willl be divided evenly.
b. We need 28 tanks!!
c. Bring sleeping bags, fun stuff, and drinks too (juice, etc.).
d. JDR, FS, YI, and YM will drive cars.
e. Each person needs to pay about 1500 yen for the two nights to JDR.

Also, normal meeting items...
2. Slippers for the lab for YH and YS. YH needs to explain lab rules to YS.
3. JDR and YS will snorkel at Convention Center this Friday from 10am - Zoanthus spp. identification practice and snorkeling practice.
4. FS kindly asks that when you are doing experiments to put your slippers back on the shelf to not crowd the entrance.
5. ES, MO, and YM will get ocean water for the lab tanks from Sesoko. If this doesn't work we will switch back to weekly responsibility for everyone.
6. Please write your name on the hub end of the LAN cables in the student room. The hub has 7 ports, and there are 9 students - this is necessary to avoid disconnecting people from the net inadvertantly. Another hub has been ordered and should arrive soon.

Picture today of an Epizoanthus illoricatus colony at 30m at Manza.