AY2025 Autumn Semester Diploma Presentation of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies

On Friday, September 19, the AY2025 Autumn Semester Diploma Presentation of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies was held in the auditorium of RCAST Building 13.

Professor Hirochika Sumino, Director of Managing Committee, Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, handed out the diplomas to the graduate students who had completed their doctors and congratulated them.

Professor Sumino offered heartfelt congratulations to the new doctoral graduates, noting that today marks not only the completion of their studies at the University of Tokyo’s Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies but also the beginning of a new chapter in which their knowledge will help shape the future. He emphasized that their greatest achievement lies in mastering an interdisciplinary approach—learning to integrate diverse perspectives and methodologies to confront complex global problems that cannot be solved within the boundaries of a single discipline.

He reminded the graduates that we live in a time of great uncertainty, in which we face challenges such as climate change, rapid technological transformation, social inequality, and political instability, and the ability to work across disciplines, to connect social, economic, environmental, and technological systems, is more vital than ever. Drawing on his own research on volcanic disaster prevention, he illustrated how solutions require not only Earth sciences but also engineering, policy, economics, and social awareness, demonstrating that only interdisciplinary collaboration can meet the scale of today’s challenges.

Professor Sumino also highlighted the growing importance of these skills in an evolving work environment where multidisciplinary teamwork and global collaboration are essential. He urged graduates to carry forward the spirit of interdisciplinary learning, to remain adaptable and curious, and to connect knowledge across diverse fields as they move into their careers. This, he said, will enable them not only to tackle urgent problems but also to create new opportunities for innovation and progress.

In closing, he reminded the graduates that this is not the end but the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and responsibility. He expressed confidence that with the mindset they have developed, they will make meaningful contributions to society and enrich the world with their knowledge, vision, and commitment.

• 
• Prof. Hirochika SUMINO, Director of Managing Committee,
  Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

Professor Masakazu Sugiyama, Director of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo (Energy Systems Division), also offered congratulatory remarks to the graduates.

Professor Sugiyama congratulated the graduates on the significant milestone of earning their doctoral degrees, describing the certificate as both a treasured symbol and the beginning of a much larger journey. Drawing on his own experience of receiving a PhD twenty-five years ago, he reflected that while the document itself may eventually fade into the background, its true meaning lies in the new possibilities it opens.

He emphasized that life after the doctorate is no longer a clearly defined series of steps but an open and unpredictable field. Yet he urged graduates not to fear this transition, reminding them that the rigorous process of completing their doctoral research has already prepared them with the confidence to face challenges. The PhD, he said, is not an ending but a license to begin new collaborations.

Looking ahead, he encouraged graduates to move beyond solitary work and to cultivate the qualities needed to engage with others: respect for colleagues in different fields, enthusiasm for sharing ideas, and the ability to define meaningful problems that inspire collaboration. He also spoke about the subtle, immeasurable force that draws people together—something that cannot be nurtured by artificial intelligence but only through genuine and unpredictable human conversations.

He concluded by calling the doctorate a “license for scientific endeavor,” and urged the graduates to move forward with optimism, curiosity, and the courage to build collaborations that are not only successful but also joyful, since these relationships will be a lasting source of strength and fulfillment.

• 
• Prof. Masakazu SUGIYAMA, Director of the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology

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