Nurturing Young Physicists Who Will Contribute to Human Society by Opening up New Frontiers of Knowledge
Pioneering Unexplored Knowledge and Contributing to Human Society
Where do we come from, and where are we going?
Since the dawn of history, in the spirit of inquiry, human beings have pursued truth to better understand their world. The School of Science at the University of Tokyo explores the essence of nature as it seeks to open the frontiers of human wisdom. Our world-class School and departments, which have produced several Nobel Prize laureates and a Fields Medal winner, endeavor to imbue students with the basic skills needed to play an active role not only in the world of research, but also in society at large.
We Need Your Help
Operating grants, which until recently have served as our basic funding, are now decreasing year by year. In the present environment, as we strive to improve the efficiency of university operations through personnel reductions and other means, the diversification of financial resources, such as by using endowment funds to expand self-supported funding for the future, has taken on growing importance.
Even now, an increasing number of graduate students are finding it difficult to devote themselves to their studies, and students are increasingly hesitant to pursue higher education for financial reasons. Moreover, as countries in Europe, North America, and Asia continue to invest public funds in education and research, for the students of the University of Tokyo's School of Science to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with their peers at the world's top universities, it will be essential to secure funds to hire these outstanding individuals as research assistants and teaching assistants, so that they may be considered not only as students but as early-career researchers.
The natural world that we seek to understand has no borders, nor is it unusual to send students abroad to conduct fieldwork, observations, and experiments. Engaging in discussion with overseas researchers is extremely important for the creation of cutting-edge knowledge. However, it is financially impracticable to provide such opportunities to all students.
The research environment is also becoming increasingly challenging owing to decreases in operating grants, among other factors. In addition to aging buildings and delays in the provision and maintenance of research facilities, there are additional challenges, including the increase in the number of fixed-term posts for employing early-career researchers and the training of support staff to facilitate education and research.
Supporting Young Physicists
We will make the most of your support by providing opportunities for young physicists.
1. Improving student subsidies and nurturing talented individuals who will be competitive at a global level
Support for graduate students is currently limited. By making use of donations to provide scholarships for students who would otherwise face insurmountable financial hurdles in pursuing their education, we aim to create an environment in which students will be able to concentrate fully on their studies. Funds will also be utilized to hire students as research assistants and teaching assistants, and so nurture outstanding young researchers at a world-class level.
(E.g., annual tuition support, research assistant expenses, teaching assistant expenses)
2. Creating a research and educational environment that helps students acquire a broader perspective
We will nurture young internationally active individuals by using donations to send students abroad and to invite outstanding faculty members and students from overseas. We will implement exchange programs (including those pertaining to research activities and cultural exchanges), so that our students’ academic knowledge can be used to contribute solutions to social issues from a global perspective.
(E.g., financial support for sending students abroad, financial support for bringing students and early-career faculty from overseas to UTokyo)
3. Establishing a foundational environment for education and research
By using donations for environmental upgrades to buildings, facilities, and equipment, we will further the creation of sites where students of the School of Science will be able to engage in active research.
(E.g., expenses arising from upgrades to the research environment, financial support for the activities of early-career researchers, and financial assistance for hiring support staff)
Dean’s Appeal
Since the founding of the University of Tokyo in 1877, the School of Science has taken up the challenge of pioneering the world's most advanced science. We have worked with society to realize the dreams of humanity by untangling some of nature’s most fascinating mysteries by probing the birth of the universe, tracing the evolution of life, explaining the origins of matter, and identifying the molecules that support human existence. In order that we may be able to develop these efforts further, it is essential that we nurture young scientists so that they can become active on the international stage, and we would like to ask for your sincere support in this endeavor.
Shin-ichi Ohkoshi
Dean of the School of Science,
The University of Tokyo
For more information about our research and education, please visit:
The University of Tokyo School of Science website
Project Leader
Shin-ichi Ohkoshi
Dean of the School of Science
The University of Tokyo
