The 39th Annual Conference of the Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology / The 16th Asian Symposium on Microbial Ecology 【Kochi】

Conference Highlights

A joint international conference covering fundamental and applied microbial ecology

Researchers studying microorganisms from diverse ecological perspectives will gather to share recent findings and promote discussion across disciplinary boundaries. By combining the annual conference of the Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology with the Asian Symposium on Microbial Ecology, the event aims to strengthen scientific exchange among Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other countries and regions while providing early-career researchers with international presentation and networking opportunities.

Event Information

• Japanese Conference: The 39th Annual Conference of the Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology
• Joint International Symposium: The 16th Asian Symposium on Microbial Ecology
• Date: September 27 (Sun.)–30 (Wed.), 2026
• Format: In-person conference
• Venue: Eikokuji Campus, University of Kochi and Kochi University of Technology
• Address: 2-22 Eikokuji-cho, Kochi, Kochi 780-8515, Japan
• Host: Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology
• Co-hosts: Kochi University of Technology and University of Kochi
• Organizing Committee Chair: Keizo Nagasaki, Kochi University
• Organizing Committee Vice Chair: Yuki Morono, Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, JAMSTEC

Joint International Conference

• International Symposium: The 16th Asian Symposium on Microbial Ecology
• Planned International Sessions: ASME Young Scientist Symposia, ASME plenary sessions, ASME oral presentations, and ASME symposia
• Participating Regions: Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other Asian countries and regions
• Presentation Languages: Japanese or English for general oral and poster presentations
• English Presentations: Presenters are encouraged to deliver oral presentations in English whenever possible
• Japanese Oral Presentations: Presenters speaking in Japanese are encouraged to prepare their slides in English
• Posters: Posters, titles, and abstracts are encouraged to be prepared in English whenever possible

Participant Registration

• Registration Status: Open
• Early-Bird Registration Deadline: August 31, 2026, at 23:59 JST
• Regular Registration Period: September 1, 2026, at 00:00 JST through September 30, 2026, at 17:00 JST
• Registration System: Participants register and make payment through the external Payvent platform
• Symposium and Organized-Session Speakers: All speakers are required to complete participant registration
• Cancellation Policy: Registration fees are non-refundable after registration

Conference Registration Fees

• JSME, MSK, or TSME Member: JPY 12,000 early-bird / JPY 20,000 regular
• Student Member of JSME, MSK, or TSME: JPY 6,000 early-bird / JPY 10,000 regular
• Non-member: JPY 23,000 early-bird / JPY 31,000 regular
• Non-member Student: JPY 12,000 early-bird / JPY 16,000 regular
• Invited Speakers and Honorary Members: Free
• Undergraduate Students: Free when attending without presenting
• High School Students and Accompanying Teachers: Free
• Free Registration Categories: Advance registration remains required so that a participant badge can be issued

Title and Abstract Submission

• Submission Period: June 26–July 24, 2026, at 23:59 JST
• Title Registration: Conducted through Google Forms
• Abstract Submission: Conducted through Kochi University’s OneDrive system
• Required Files: A Word document and a PDF file
• Presentation Formats: General oral presentation, Young Scientist Session, or poster presentation
• General Oral Presentations: Japanese or English
• Young Scientist Session: English only
• Poster Presentations: Japanese or English
• Presentation Assignment: The final presentation format may differ from the applicant’s preferred format because of program scheduling
• Membership: Presenters whose membership registration or 2026 membership-fee payment is incomplete must complete the required procedures

Young Scientist Session

The English-language Young Scientist Session is intended for students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists who wish to present their research at an international conference and gain experience discussing their work in English with researchers from diverse backgrounds.

• Presentation Language: English
• Eligible Participants: Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists
• Objective: To promote academic exchange among young researchers from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other regions
• Selection: When applications exceed the number of available oral-presentation slots, presenters may be selected based on their abstracts
• Poster Assignment: Applicants not selected for oral presentation may present the same research as a poster
• Awards: Outstanding presentations will be recognized by the ASME Organizing Committee and the JSME Committee for Career Development and Diversity Promotion

Poster Awards

Outstanding presentations will be recognized in three categories when the title, abstract, and poster are prepared in English. Oral explanations at the poster may be provided in Japanese.

• Undergraduate and Master’s Student Category: Undergraduate and master’s-course students
• Doctoral Student Category: Doctoral-course students
• Postdoctoral Researcher Category: Postdoctoral researchers
• Eligibility: The title, abstract, and poster must be prepared in English
• Award Ceremony: Scheduled for September 28, 2026, from 18:15

Tentative Schedule

• September 27: Committee meetings and a special public lecture
• September 28: General oral presentations, Young Scientist Session, ASME Young Scientist Symposium, ASME plenary sessions, poster presentations, high school student posters, award ceremony, corporate luncheon seminar, exhibition, and banquet
• September 29: General oral presentations, Young Scientist Session, ASME Young Scientist Symposium, ASME plenary sessions, poster presentations, ASME luncheon seminar, exhibition, and organized sessions
• September 30: General symposia, ASME symposia, award lectures, award ceremony, and closing ceremony
• Schedule Notice: The schedule may change depending on the number of submissions and final program organization

Special Public Lecture

• Speaker: Ken Takai, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Lecture Title: Why Must We Learn? Why Do We Study? The Real Answer Explained
• Title Note: The English title above is an editorial translation of the official Japanese title
• Date: September 27, 2026
• Doors Open: 13:30
• Lecture: 14:00–15:00
• Discussion with Secondary School Students and Parents: 15:10–16:00
• Venue: Room A105, Education and Research Building, Eikokuji Campus
• Participants: Junior and senior high school students, parents, JSME members, and other interested participants
• Registration: On-site participation is possible, but advance registration is recommended because seating may be limited

High School Student Poster Session

This educational program provides high school and junior high school students with an opportunity to present investigations and research related to microorganisms and receive scientific advice from specialists in microbial ecology.

• Date: September 28, 2026
• Poster Core Time: 16:15–17:45
• Format: In-person A0-size poster presentation
• Eligibility: Individual students and student groups from senior high schools; junior high school students are also welcome
• Research Areas: Environmental microbiology, ecology, fermentation, food, nutrition, antimicrobial activity, and other microorganism-related topics
• Participation Fee: Free for students and accompanying teachers
• Society Membership: Not required
• Published Submission Period: June 26–August 6, 2026, at 23:59 JST
• Submission Instructions: The official instructions also request that specified presentation and abstract materials be sent by July 24; applicants should follow the latest instructions on the official page
• Award Ceremony: Poster awards are scheduled from 17:45 to 18:15
• General Program Access: Student participants may also attend general lectures, poster sessions, and symposia during the conference

Conference Banquet

• Date: September 28, 2026
• Starting Time: 19:00
• Venue: Sansuien
• Capacity: 300 participants
• Regular Fee: JPY 8,000
• Student Fee: JPY 4,000
• Registration Deadline: September 23, 2026, at 23:59 JST
• Capacity Limit: Registration will close earlier if the maximum capacity is reached
• Cancellation Policy: Banquet fees are non-refundable after registration

Childcare Service

• Service Period: September 27–30, 2026
• Eligibility: Children aged three months through the third grade of elementary school whose guardian is a conference participant
• Older Siblings: Older siblings in the fourth grade or above may also be accommodated when attending with an eligible younger child
• Location: Eikokuji Campus
• Fee: Free of charge
• September 27: 12:30–17:30
• September 28: 8:30–18:30
• September 29: 8:30–19:45
• September 30: 8:30–16:00
• Application Deadline: September 10, 2026
• Advance Application: Required
• Capacity: Applications will close when capacity is reached
• Health Requirement: Children with cold symptoms, including cough, runny nose, or fever, cannot be accepted

Main Research Areas

The following topics summarize major research fields relevant to microbial ecology and do not represent the final official session list.

• Environmental microbiology and microbial ecology
• Soil microorganisms and plant-associated microbial communities
• Marine, river, lake, groundwater, and subsurface microorganisms
• Extremophiles and uncultured microorganisms
• Microbial community structure and metagenomic analysis
• Microbe–microbe interactions and microbial social behavior
• Biofilms and quorum sensing
• Environmental viruses and phage ecology
• Microbial carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and other biogeochemical cycles
• Microbial electrochemistry and bioenergy
• Fermentation, food, brewing, and agricultural microbiology
• Pathogenic microorganisms and host–microbe interactions
• Human, animal, and plant microbiomes
• Bioremediation and environmental restoration
• Microbial-resource discovery, cultivation, and industrial applications
• Single-cell analysis, omics technologies, and bioinformatics

Who Should Attend

• Researchers in microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, and applied microbiology
• Researchers in agriculture, fisheries, marine science, soil science, and Earth sciences
• Researchers in medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, and food science
• Research and development professionals from biotechnology, fermentation, food, agriculture, and environmental companies
• Undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers from universities and research institutions
• Companies providing sequencing, omics, microbial analysis, cultivation, and bioinformatics technologies
• Companies supplying analytical instruments, laboratory equipment, reagents, culture media, and consumables
• Junior and senior high school students, science teachers, and science-education professionals

Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology

The Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology brings together researchers studying the physiology, ecology, evolution, and interactions of microorganisms, together with specialists in applied microbiology and environmental biology across agriculture, fisheries, medicine, engineering, and the natural sciences. Through conferences, academic publications, specialist research groups, support for early-career researchers, and international exchange, the society promotes the development and social application of microbial ecology.

Overview

Microorganisms support global biogeochemical cycles, climate processes, plant growth, food production, human and animal health, fermentation, infection, and environmental remediation. This conference considers not only the physiology of individual microorganisms but also microbial communities, symbiosis with hosts, interspecies interactions, viruses, environmental responses, evolution, and spatial distribution across ecosystems. Research combining cultivation, microscopy, genetic analysis, metagenomics, single-cell methods, mass spectrometry, mathematical modeling, and bioinformatics will provide insight into how microorganisms survive, interact, and function in natural and engineered environments.

Publication Status

• Conference Overview: Published
• Participant Registration and Fees: Published and registration open
• General Title and Abstract Submission: Open through July 24, 2026
• High School Student Poster Session: Applications open
• Special Public Lecture: Speaker, date, time, and venue published
• Tentative Schedule: Published
• Childcare Applications: Open
• Banquet Registration: Open
• Detailed Program: Under preparation
• Floor Map: Under preparation
• Symposium and Organized-Session Details: Under preparation
• Program Changes: The timetable and program remain subject to change

Access to the Venue

• From JR Kochi Station: Approximately five minutes by car or taxi
• From JR Kochi Station: Approximately 20 minutes on foot
• From Harimaya Bridge: Approximately five minutes by car or taxi
• From Harimaya Bridge: Approximately 20 minutes on foot
• From Kochi Ryoma Airport: Approximately 35 minutes by car or taxi
• From Kochi Ryoma Airport: Approximately 50 minutes by airport bus and local transportation
• From Kochi Expressway: Approximately 15 minutes by car from Kochi Interchange
• Address: 2-22 Eikokuji-cho, Kochi, Kochi 780-8515, Japan
• Travel Times: All travel times are approximate and may vary depending on traffic conditions

Official Links