The second T-GEx Deep-Dive Dialogues (D3: D-cubed) was held on April 17, 2026, at Idea Stoa on the first floor of the NIC Building, Higashiyama Campus, Nagoya University. Three speakers from industry and academia took part in the session, which was held on the same day as the T-GEx kick-off meeting.
D3 began in response to requests to hear more about the research of T-GEx members. Speakers introduce the background and ideas behind their work to researchers from other fields, with time set aside for questions and discussion.
Keita Funayama, a researcher at Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc., presented his work on controlling waves and diffusion through topology, using a paper model to illustrate the ideas. Noritoshi Atsumi, also a researcher at Toyota Central R&D Labs., Inc., introduced the development of a human brain finite element model for predicting mild traumatic brain injury. Seine A. Shintani, Associate Professor at Chubu University, discussed how sarcomeres, the contractile units of living heart muscle cells, maintain coordination during beating.
Questions from the audience gave the speakers opportunities to explain their work in more detail. The session brought together three studies with different subjects and methods, ranging from mathematical approaches and human body modeling to cellular motion.
In the post-event survey, 19 of the 20 respondents rated the usefulness of the Q&A and dialogue at 4 or 5 on a five-point scale. Being able to ask questions directly after hearing about a study is a central feature of D3.
Related: Report on the third D3 at Chubu University (in Japanese) https://www.chubu.ac.jp/news/61515/
The second D3 at Idea Stoa, Nagoya University
Keita Funayama explaining his research with a paper model
Noritoshi Atsumi presenting his research
Seine A. Shintani presenting his research
A question from the audience during the discussion
