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Director's Message

Masakazu SUGIYAMA, Director

Pursuing and Nurturing the Frontiers of Advanced Science and Technology and Connecting with Society

The challenges facing contemporary society are growing more complex, and the paradigms of the natural world are being transformed by a variety of problems caused by human activity. In the field of energy, for example, it is crucial to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions as far as possible and to pursue a transition to new energy systems that will enable carbon neutrality by 2050. In order to achieve this goal, however, there are various challenges that will require long-term collaboration by humanity and other actions that we can start today in our everyday lives. The road to a carbon-neutral society is rendered even more complex by problems such as international disputes and the disparities between developed and developing countries. Moreover, we need solutions that are attuned to conservation of the natural ecosystem. RCAST seeks to map out these problems and solutions both spatially and temporally, adopting diverse and broad-ranging perspectives that encompass our planet as a whole to explore what action can be taken to benefit people all across the world.

Regrettably, progress in science and technology thus far has focused on enabling humans to wield greater control over the natural world. Problems triggered by this progress, such as global warming and the destruction of ecosystems, have now become existential threats to humanity itself. At RCAST we seek to re-envision science and technology in support of co-existence between nature and humans, pursue and nurture the frontiers of science and technology for a new era, and connect them with wider society.

Unlike the numerous other research centers within the University of Tokyo, RCAST does not have a specific field of academic specialization. Our researchers work collaboratively on projects across a wide range of categories: Material, Information, Environment and Energy, Social Science, Chemical Biomedicine, and Barrier Free. Carrying forward the former Director Ryohei Kanzaki’s emphasis on Art Design, we are also launching highly original initiatives such as a collaboration with the Koyasan temple complex to contemplate the interface of philosophy and science/technology that lies behind religion.

RCAST is “a research center that explores and nurtures advanced pathways to the future, and shares them with wider society.” Our identity lies in the ongoing pursuit of what “advanced” really means. There are many research centers that delve deeply into specialized fields, but within RCAST you will find the seeds of many different specializations. In the course of our research from day to day we are constantly formulating ways of connecting these seeds together in order to ensure people of future generations can live enriching lives in harmony with the natural world. RCAST is committed to sharing its initiatives and solutions toward this end with the wider public.

Art and design work in concert with science and technology to generate future oriented dialogue with society, as part of a program of activities directed to building a better society in which people interact and empathize on the basis of emotional sensibility, not just intellectual reason. We want RCAST to be a place that enables people to gather and contribute to the creation of a better society and the exploration of possibilities for the future. RCAST researchers and staff share a sense of curiosity and a spirit of exploration into new frontiers, maintaining an awareness of their connections with wider society as they pursue new initiatives from day to day.

Masakazu SUGIYAMA

Masakazu SUGIYAMA, Director

(2023.4)

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