The ICRR External Review 2025, in which external experts around the world are invited to review ICRR activities, was held at ICRR Headquarters in Kashiwa Campus for three days from May 14. The purpose of the review is to incorporate the perspectives of external experts into the future research activities of ICRR. This was the sixth review, as it has been conducted approximately every six years since 1994.
ICRR External Review 2025 has nine reviewers as follows:
Saku Tsuneta (Chair), Director, Astronomy Research Center, Chiba Institute of Technology
Kunio Inoue, Director, Research Center for Neutrino Science, Tohoku University
Kumiko Kotera, Director, Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris; Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Tony Noble, Professor, Queen’s University; Scientific Director, Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute
Olaf Reimer, Professor, University of Innsbruck
David Reitze, Executive Director, LIGO Laboratory; Professor of Physics, California Institute of Technology
Hirohisa Sakurai, Visiting professor, Yamagata University
Shoji Torii, Professor Emeritus, Waseda University
Masahide Yamaguchi, Director, Center for Theoretical Physics of the Universe, Institute for Basic Science; Professor, Science Tokyo
The prime purposes of this External Review are:
(1) to provide oversight of the Institute’s scientific activities between 2018 and 2024, evaluating whether they meet international scientific standards and have had sufficient impact on the community;
(2) to assess the scientific merits of individual research activities and make recommendations about future support;
(3) to evaluate the technical competence of the proponents and the feasibility of the R&D experiments or projects;
(4) to assess the Institute’s policies and its role in the scientific community.
The review session was held over three days, beginning on May 14, in the Large Seminar Room at ICRR Headquarters. Research project leaders presented their research outcomes, R&D progress, and plans, and answered questions from the reviewers. A group interview with young researchers and graduate students, as well as discussions between reviewers and ICRR members, took place during lunch and coffee breaks.
ICRR researchers attending the review session
ICRR Director Shoichi Ogio giving an overview of ICRR 
Reviewers receiving an explanation from Masato Shiozawa, Director of Kamioka Observatory
Lunch & discussion with young researchers and graduate students 
Lunch & discussion with young researchers and graduate students 
Group interview with young researchers and graduate students
Preliminary report from review committee
Chairperson Saku Tsuneta presenting the preliminary report
ICRR External Review 2025 is currently compiling its findings into a comprehensive report, which will be made publicly available on the ICRR website later. The report will contribute to the continued development of the future research activities.
