Junichi Hamada, President of the University of Tokyo
We are ushering in a time of great change. At this critical juncture, society expects universities and scholarship to play an important role in steering that change for the betterment of the world. To meet such a demand from society, the University of Tokyo conceived “Action Scenario ? FOREST2015 ?“ and has set out to implement a variety of innovative programs since last April.
The tasks marked for priority in FOREST 2015 challenge us to ensure academic diversity and the pursuit of excellence, promote world-class scientific research, strengthen international PR efforts to boost our global presence as a comprehensive research university, and become a world leader in inter-university collaboration and scholarship.
As part of the measures the University is taking to achieve these goals, we have established the Todai Institutes for Advanced Study (TODIAS) as a university-wide organization. TODIAS will comprise research institutes that can function as a “world-leading center of knowledge,” aiming to enhance the University’s academic excellence as a whole and further advance our internationalization.
At the University of Tokyo we are firmly committed to fulfill our public duty and responsibility to the future of Japan and of the world. The newly-founded TODIAS is the epitome of this commitment. As the president of the University, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those involved with TODIAS and kindly request your further support for our scientific research endeavors.
Junichi Hamada,
President of the University of Tokyo
Sadanori Okamura, Director of TODIAS
On this occasion, I would like to express my gratitude for being appointed as the Director of the Todai Institutes for Advanced Study (TODIAS). It is a tremendous honor and privilege that President Hamada has given me a position of such great responsibility.
TODIAS will comprise a host of research institutes, each of which must satisfy the following three requirements: to be evaluated as a world-class research hub by governmental organizations and global communities of researchers; to acquire sufficient external funds to sustain its operation; and to provide an international research environment.
At the inaugural steering committee of TODIAS on Jan.11, 2011, committee members are in consensus that the Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU) is a suitable organization that meets all the criteria. We have decided to designate IPMU as the first institute within TODIAS.
IPMU was founded in October 2007 following its selection for the World Premier International Research Center Initiative by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The institute serves as a platform where a whole range of mathematicians, physicists, and astronomers cooperate with one another seeking to unlock the fundamental mysteries of the Universe, humanity’s never-ending quest. Under the outstanding leadership of Director Hitoshi Murayama, IPMU has evolved steadfastly since its inception and has now about 60% of its researchers coming from abroad. It has come to be widely recognized as a “world-leading center of knowledge” in relevant research communities throughout the world.
I am deeply committed to providing the best possible research environment for IPMU so that it can conduct research activities more quickly, flexibly and actively under stable management. This will help enhance the University of Tokyo’s academic excellence and internationalization. I would like to ask for your continued support and cooperation both at home and abroad.
Sadanori Okamura,
Director of TODIAS
Hitoshi Murayama, Director of IPMU
On Jan.11, 2011, Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (IPMU) was approved as the first entity within the Todai Institutes for Advanced Study (TODIAS). This provides IPMU a “citizenship” within Todai, and a wonderful opportunity to continue its research on the fundamental questions about the Universe. We hope to play our own role in pursuing the vision of President Hamada to realize Todai as a “world-leading center of knowledge”. At the same time, this is a critical step for IPMU to become a permanent member of the Todai community.
IPMU was founded on Oct 1, 2007 by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) of the Japanese government. The WPI funding has a term of 10 years, and mandates (1) world class research, (2) internationalization by adopting English as the official language and employing a large number of non-Japanese researchers, (3) scientific breakthroughs by fusion of disciplines, (4) new organizational structure unprecedented in Universities in Japan. This way, IPMU is required to achieve a high visibility to the worldwide scientific community.
Starting from scratch, IPMU has been appointing researchers from around the world, setting its research agenda, and building up its infrastructure in a dizzying pace. In three years it has grown to a research institute of about 120 members including graduate students and support staff. About 60% of the 65-member full-time research staff are not Japanese nationals.
I deeply thank President Hamada for his bold vision, Director Okamura for his involvement in kick-starting IPMU, and everybody in the Todai community for making the TODIAS possible. The IPMU members and I will do our best to fulfill the expectations in TODIAS, and ask for your continued support.
