A Summer of Serendipity: Science, Adventure, and Unexpected Connections
Andrii Vasylyshyn
Medical student, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University
Participated in the 2026 IBRO-RIKEN CBS Summer Program
My Japan expedition began with 1 a.m. ramen in a random restaurant surrounded by Tokyo salarymen before I took the bullet train to Kyoto to explore traditional Japan. My journey then took an unexpected turn in Kamakura, where I surfed the Pacific coast and met a professional surfer I still keep in touch with and hope to visit again.
On the fourth day, I found myself back in Tokyo, this time trading the Pacific waves for the RIKEN CBS 2026 Summer Program. I was incredibly impressed by the hospitality and warm welcome from the organizers. It was a great pleasure and an honor for me to listen to all of the lecturers and RIKEN researchers. In particular, I enjoyed having one-on-one conversations with the lecturers. This program was not like a big conference; it was more like a cozy house full of people who are at the forefront of studying the brain, which, from my point of view, is a truly unique and enjoyable way to satisfy scientific curiosity.
I also want to give special credit to the other participants of the program. I did not simply find colleagues and like-minded people there; I found genuine friends. We continue to keep in touch even after the program ended, and for me, this is one of the most valuable outcomes of the entire experience. I could probably write a full-length book about the people I met at RIKEN. Some people remain in my memory because of their scientific curiosity, some because of funny stories, and some because of the late-night discussions we had.
Big smiles with fellow lecture program participants.
Played tennis on the RIKEN campus with lab and program colleagues.
On my last day, before heading to the airport, I went to a jazz bar in Tokyo. I talked to many talented musicians and the owner of the bar, and they asked me various questions about Ukraine, my home country. This was the cherry on top of my trip to Japan.
My expedition was filled with serendipitous moments, resulting in one-of-a-kind experiences. Undoubtedly, the RIKEN CBS Summer Program is a way to explore science in the most adventurous and open-minded way possible, surrounded by the best company one could imagine.