Graduate and Research Students
Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science
Until about 30 years ago, it had been common for young Japanese students and researchers in the fi eld of particle physics to go to the U.S. to be trained and gain experience, especially in the fi eld of experimental high-energy particle physics, since such research was originated in the U.S. I myself have experience conducting research in the U.S.-at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory-for about 13 years, including the time when I worked on my thesis experiment as a graduate student. Much of the research conducted in Japan is now leading the world, however, and attracting world-class researchers from all over the world. The reason for such a high level of physics research in Japan may be that superb experimental facilities including accelerators have been built, and remarkable results have been achieved, including those of Nobel laureates such as Professor Masatoshi Koshiba, Professor Makoto Kobayashi and Professor Toshihide Masukawa. I myself have been involved with the accelerator experiment that verifi ed the Kobayashi-Masukawa theory.
If international students come to the University of Tokyo to study physics, in particular, particle physics, they will not just stay in Tokyo. Most research is promoted through global cooperation and the related facilities and equipment are scattered throughout Japan-including the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Tsukuba, even the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, and a new accelerator recently constructed in Tokai village-students will study at facilities related to their research themes. Some of them will need to spend some time at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN.)
In Kashiwa Campus, we have launched the Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe to attract top-class researchers from around the world in the pursuit of state-of the-art interdisciplinary research. There you will meet he researchers coming from all over the world. It must be an aspiring and exciting experience to study advanced fundamental physics under their supervision.
The expected academic excellence is the merit of studying at the University of Tokyo.
It is true that a high level of research is required at the graduate schools in the University of Tokyo. Students may feel pressure in such an environment, but they can enhance their abilities by challenging themselves and resolutely pursuing their research. The University of Tokyo provides the best education in the world and such education is itself the reward for students with high aspirations.
In addition, the University of Tokyo has cultivated its global network for students. It matters where students were trained in the fi eld of physics, so if they have marked excellent research accomplishments at the University of Tokyo, they will certainly have a good chance to pursue their desired career going forward after graduating.
The School of Science highly values variety, promoting globalization of education, diversifi cation of members including students, faculty members, and staff , as well as cooperation with society. It is also estimated that China and other Asian countries will increasingly develop this fi eld of research, so we will have more excellent faculty members not only from the U.S. and Europe, but also from Asia.
In science, there are no barriers of gender, national border, religion or language. At the same time, however, this global environment demands that we be tough enough to survive, and it is this toughness that will lead to our research results. I feel that many international students are broadminded and independent, so I expect them to further develop their abilities.
Hiroaki AIHARA, Professor
Aihara entered the University of Tokyo in 1974, graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, the University of Tokyo in 1978 and obtained Ph.D. from the School of Science, the University of Tokyo in 1984.
During the period of 1979 -1984, he stayed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in U.S. under Japan-U.S. cooperation program. He was a research associate in the University of Tokyo and a research scientist in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before he joined the faculty of Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo as associate professor in 1995. He became a Professor in 2003.
