On Monday, March 10, 2025, the Science Japan Meeting 2025 was held at Kyoto University’s Centennial Clock Tower Memorial Hall, organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and co-hosted by Kyoto University. We are pleased to present the lecture report.
■ Keynote Speech:
Title: Science: Present and Future of Science
Speaker: Holden Thorp
Editor-in-Chief of the Science Family of Journals
Holden Thorp, the editor-in-chief of the Science family of journals, delivered a keynote speech titled “Science: Present and Future of Science” in Kyoto. He began by expressing his pleasure at being in Kyoto and acknowledged Bill Moran for his introductory remarks. Thorp described his role as editor-in-chief as the “world’s coolest job,” highlighting the unique perspective it offers him on global scientific trends.
Thorp emphasized the importance of science communication and the role of Science in publishing impactful research. He noted that Science receives 12,000 submissions annually but publishes only 750 papers, underscoring the rigorous selection process. Thorp stressed the importance of maintaining editorial independence and ensuring that decisions about publications are made by experts in their respective fields. He explained that his job is to protect the autonomy of the editors who decide which papers to publish.
A significant portion of Thorp’s talk focused on the challenges facing science in the United States, particularly the political climate and its impact on research. He highlighted the need for the scientific community to remain calm and resilient in the face of funding cuts and constraints on research. Thorp emphasized that science is a global endeavor and that the challenges faced by the U.S. should not deter international collaboration. He pointed out that while the U.S. dominates discussions, only a third of the papers in Science come from the U.S., underscoring the global nature of scientific research.
The last third of his talk was about trust in science. It has fallen in the U.S., which is a concern, but it still remains high. Scientists are held in high trust in other countries too, though trust is lower in Japan than in the U.S. Scientists, he explained, must be honest and open to argument for trust to be preserved. When papers are proven to contain falsehoods, the scientific community must be swift to retract them. At the same time, he stressed, the community must defend sound science when it is attacked.
To illustrate the importance of integrity in science, Thorp discussed high-profile cases of scientific misconduct and how they have eroded public trust. He cited the case of Mark Tessier-Lavigne, the former president of Stanford University, who had multiple papers retracted due to manipulated data. He criticized institutions that attempt to cover up such issues rather than addressing them transparently. He argued that retracting flawed research is not just about penalizing authors but also about maintaining the credibility of the scientific process.
Thorp also highlighted the role of scientific journals in upholding rigorous standards. He explained that while journals must be aggressive in correcting errors, they must also defend valid research when it is challenged. He shared an example of a controversial paper on honeybee flight published in Science, which faced criticism from some scientists. After careful review, the journal concluded that the criticism did not undermine the paper’s findings and publicly reaffirmed its support for the research.
In the final part of his talk, Thorp discussed the importance of fostering international research collaboration. He responded to a question from a Japanese researcher about how best to strengthen ties between Japanese and American institutions. He argued that while institutional agreements between universities are common, they often have little real impact. Instead, he emphasized that meaningful collaboration happens at the individual level, when scientists with shared interests work together. He encouraged researchers to build direct relationships with international colleagues rather than rely solely on formal institutional partnerships.
Thorp concluded by reiterating his belief in the resilience of the global scientific community. He urged scientists to remain committed to their work, uphold the highest ethical standards, and communicate their findings openly to the public. He expressed his admiration for Kyoto University and its researchers, stating that he has cited many of their papers throughout his career. He ended by thanking the audience for their attention and inviting further discussion during the social hour.
