Exploring New Frontiers of Knowledge
“Support the bold journey of researchers as they take on the challenges of the future”
About GSFS – Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Established in 1998, the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) pioneers new academic frontiers based on its core principle of transdisciplinary research and education. With university-wide support from the University of Tokyo, GSFS brought together faculty members and researchers with diverse backgrounds from across UTokyo and other institutions in Japan and abroad to pursue new forms of knowledge beyond traditional academic boundaries.
In 2000, GSFS established its base on the Kashiwa Campus in Chiba Prefecture, the university’s third campus following Hongo and Komaba. Surrounded by rich greenery and advanced urban infrastructure, the Kashiwa Campus embodies a vision of a future-oriented academic hub where innovation and collaboration thrive. True to its name, GSFS continues to pioneer new frontiers of knowledge by taking on challenges in unexplored areas of science.
GSFS consists of 11 departments under three divisions — the Division of Transdisciplinary Sciences, the Division of Biosciences, and the Division of Environmental Studies — along with the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS), a doctoral program operated by GSFS, and three research centers with distinctive academic missions. Today, more than 200 faculty members and over 1,500 graduate students work together at GSFS to address complex issues facing modern society. With expertise spanning nanoscience, materials, energy, information, complex systems, life sciences, medicine, environmental studies, and international cooperation, GSFS promotes research and education that transcend academic boundaries and contribute to solving global challenges.
Purpose of the GSFS Fund
Securing a stable financial foundation is essential for GSFS to pioneer new academic frontiers and sustain excellence in research and education. Through the GSFS Fund, we aim to advance transdisciplinary scientific inquiry that addresses the complex challenges facing humanity, while fostering the next generation of researchers and leaders who will drive the future of science, technology, and society.
The GSFS Fund enables the graduate school to implement the following initiatives in a sustainable and strategic manner:
- Developing and implementing transdisciplinary programs that cultivate highly skilled and globally minded professionals
- Providing academic and financial support for both Japanese and international students, while enhancing the research and education environment
- Promoting seed research in transdisciplinary fields with the potential to spark future scientific and industrial innovation
- Advancing community collaboration projects that connect academic knowledge with regional and societal development
- Supporting initiatives that contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Use of Donations
Your contributions directly support the research and professional growth of early-career researchers and graduate students at GSFS, helping cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of science, technology, and society.
Early-career researchers often face significant challenges in securing research funding due to limited prior achievements. To enable promising researchers to pursue ambitious transdisciplinary challenges, GSFS has established several support schemes. Likewise, we actively support graduate students who take on creative and socially engaged projects that connect advanced research with real-world impact.
The GSFS Fund provides priority support for the following initiatives:
- Research Promotion Fund for Transdisciplinary Sciences – Seed funding for early-career researchers engaging in transdisciplinary research
- Student Creation Project Support Program – Grants for student-initiated projects that foster creativity, leadership, and collaboration
- World-leading Innovative Graduate Study Program in Proactive Environmental Studies (WINGS-PES) – An advanced doctoral education program that develops globally engaged researchers in sustainability science
These initiatives reflect GSFS’s commitment to promoting transdisciplinary research and cultivating diverse and innovative forms of graduate education.
Examples of Supported Projects
1.Research Promotion Fund for Transdisciplinary Sciences
【Project】Ocean-Space Collaboration: Technology Roadmapping and Synergy Exploration for Frontier Exploration Systems
【Principal Investigator】Assoc. Prof. Wada
【Affiliatiom】 Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment
2.Student Creation Project Support Program
【Project】 “Kashiwa Farm” – A Living Lab for Sustainability and Collaboration
【Representative】Chris Martin
【Affiliation】Doctoral Student, Graduate Program in Sustainability Science
Related Links
Dean of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences website
Project Leader
Koichi Ito, Dean
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences,The University of Tokyo
