School of Environment and Society

How do you perceive societies and environments?

While studying engineering and the natural sciences, it is important to keep a philosophical eye on what is taking place within environments and societies. For this, discovering your own philosophies not only through your knowledge of various fields, but formation of these based on ample historical and technological context becomes crucial.

Acquire globally oriented logical reasoning and communication skills.

For researchers and engineers to effectively fulfill their roles in the international community, interaction and exchange of information with peers around the world are of great importance. Learn reasoning and communication methods that allow you to thoroughly understanding the views of others, make proposals that focus on selected issues, and logically and accurately convey your thoughts and intentions.

Experience education and research that are built around monozukuri and kotozukuri.

Through trial and error, creation and destruction, appreciate anew the importance of "kotozukuri" (value creation). Realize how it can be absorbed to solve the perennial problems afflicting Japanese society, such as concept creation issues and lowering the cost of "monozukuri" (manufacturing, the Japanese way). Learn to make concrete proposals built around this underlying philosophy.

As university education is rapidly globalizing, the School of Engineering, the School of Materials and Chemical Technology, and the School of Environment and Society are focusing on creating international research networks to support participation in projects and encourage exchange among students, faculty, and researchers. More than 50 school-level agreements have been concluded with top-level universities around the world, and international exchange programs with scholarships from Engineering School Funds are being implemented with some of those universities. In addition, Erasmus+ will provide financial assistance to students wishing to study at relevant partner universities with which international exchange agreements are in place.

International Cooperation

Support is provided for students to study abroad for two to three months at partner universities based on school-to-school agreements in engineering fields.Current partner universities include University of Wisconsin–Madison; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Cambridge; University of Oxford; University of Warwick; University of Southampton; Pierre and Marie Curie University (UPMC, University of Paris VI); RWTH Aachen University; and Technical University of Madrid (UPM).

SERP

A joint workshop on architectural design and another on building structure materials are organized by Tongji University in China and Science Tokyo once a year. Through collaborative activities in workshops that last from several days to a week, participants learn to work together as a team and with those from different cultures. The venue alternates yearly between Shanghai and Tokyo.

Deriving a Scenario to Uncover Mysteries in Jupiter's Formation

Ayumi Ono
2nd-year master's student, AY 2022
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, School of Environment and Society

Planets like Earth are thought to have formed as a result of collision and the gathering of dust from protoplanetary disks, structures composed of dust and gas. I am focusing on the unique composition of Jupiter's atmosphere and am trying to figure out the process of the formation of the planet by simultaneously calculating the growth of dust and the temperature structure change over time. To me, it is fun and fascinating to compare simulation output with observed results, and derive a scenario through a number of trials and errors.

Creating an attractive space: An approach from the structural field

Keiichiro Sada
4th year bachelor's student, AY 2023
Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society

Architecture is not just an engineering discipline that focuses on monozukuri (high-quality manufacturing), but it is also an academic field focusing on people who use buildings. Among them, the steel structure that I am currently studying cannot be separated from the creation of large spaces where many people spend time, such as public facilities and high-rise buildings. We hope to clarify the behavior of structures through experiments and analysis, which will give us more flexibility to design and make spaces with steel frames more attractive.

Learning architecture through practice in society

Yukako Masui
2nd year master's student, AY 2023
Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society

In our laboratory, we designed and built tiny houses by ourselves in a satoyama (a natural landscape close to a rural village) where we regularly visit. We also visited five Asian countries for actual measurement and to measure the thermal environment at places where people are working under trees. We will produce architectural designs and a thesis based on our thoughts while moving practically in society. I feel the potential architecture has to give form to intangible things such as technology, faith, and natural circulation, and by fostering the culture of the people in the community.

Engineering: Thinking and working for society

Saki Ohkawara
4th year bachelor's student, AY 2023
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Society

"What is a truly sustainable society?" We are thinking about this issue from various perspectives, such as urban planning and rural landscape. The world of civil engineering and environmental engineering, which jumped into my interest while focusing on disaster prevention and environmental issues, was more connected to every aspect of society than I had imagined. It makes me realize that it is not so easy to dig deeply into current issues and to discuss future processes in a realistic manner. However, I feel that the complexity and sociality of the process is what makes this research so fascinating.

To become the generalist with strong on-site skills on top of academic expertise

Aoi Matsunaga
1st-year master's student, AY 2022
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Society

The soil water index is an indicator used for issuing warnings and advisories against landslide disasters in Japan, but it may not be effective for prediction in certain regions because it applies the same calculation methods and parameters throughout the country. In my research, I am trying to identify appropriate parameters for each region by comparing the indicator’s readings corresponding to the actual occurrences of such disasters at locations with different soil natures and land usage. I hope this will lead to precise predictions of disasters and provide clues to developing land with fewer disaster risks.

Becoming an engineer with a multifaceted perspective

Kei Matsumura
1st year master's student, AY 2023
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Environment and Society

From the research we have conducted so far, through questionnaires and interviews with the personnel engaging in railway maintenance and management (track maintenance and civil engineering) and surveys on bridge conditions, we have sorted out ideas on maintenance and management of structures (safety, workload, etc.), the fostering of the ideas thereof, and tangible and intangible demands. We hope that these results will lead to the future direction of technology development and the discussion of a rational organizational structure.I am currently studying in France to become an engineer with a multifaceted perspective.

It is not just words: Considering approaches to communication

Risako Yanase
1st year master's student, AY 2023
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society

While working at the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering with students and researchers from diverse backgrounds, including their scientific fields and nationalities, I found issues when trying to communicate verbally with others, as I could not convey my thoughts to them as well as I imagined. Currently, I am conducting research on communication methodologies to reduce discrepancies that may arise in discussions and to facilitate common understanding. As an example, we have created meeting minutes that utilize sketches, symbols, etc. to intuitively grasp the content of discussions, and we have verified their effectiveness through practice and analysis.

Common but unsolved problems are the source of new discovery and learning

Marina Wada
1st-year master's student, AY 2023
Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering, School of Environment and Society

I am working on developing a littering behavior model using data on smart trash bins in locations with a continuous flow of people. Quantitatively evaluating littering behavior will help determine the optimal locations of trash bins and collection times, and will lead to a reduction of litter on streets. I am currently developing and verifying a model by combining data obtained from the smart trash bins already in place with the flow of people in the Harajuku-Omotesando area.

Explore interests using multifaceted perspectives

Hinako Ohkuma
2nd year master's student, AY 2023
Department of Social and Human Sciences, School of Environment and Society

My research focuses on eco-friendly fashion/ethical fashion, and how consumers'advocacy of it does not always lead to actual purchases. I am trying to identify desirable purchasing behaviors that each consumer may adopt with regards to ethical fashion and the problem of lack of purchases. I believe that this research will clarify a perspective that will promote and spark consumers' interest in purchasing ethical fashion.

Exploring the possibilities of "voice" in past media statements

Saori Izumi
2nd year doctor's student, AY 2023
Department of Social and Human Sciences, School of Environment and Society

Strip shows, brought to Japan after World War II, have long entertained mainly male audiences with performances in which women undress and dance. My research analyzes specific comments made by dancers and female spectators and how, due to false dichotomies of being either indecency or art and exploitation or liberation, they have been misconstrued, misrepresented, and taken out of context when described in newspapers and magazines by males. I am exploring aspects that appear in these discourses such as the body, the gaze, and power.

Our knowledge is limited, so pursue knowledge humbly

NIRJHOR MD SAMS AFIF
3rd year PhD student, AY 2023
Department of Innovation Science, School of Environment and Society

I study mathematical modeling of socioeconomic systems using evolutionary game theory. I had the opportunity to study evolutionary game theory for the first time when I was in my master's program. Learning that the evolutionary game theory can express people's social decision-making in mathematical formulas, I decided to make it my research theme. Mathematical models of evolutionary games allow us to interpret human behavior and help us understand how we can promote cooperation needed in various situations in society. This can be applied to business models, market analysis, law enforcement agencies, and many other types of system designs.

Aiming to build a safer and more secure information environment

Kei Ichikawa
2nd year professional master’s student, AY 2023
Technology and Innovation Management (professional master's degree program), School of Environment and Society

I am engaged in research on preventing the spread of fake news on social networking sites. In particular, we focus on features of fake news, such as images and videos/deepfakes created by generative AI, that are being shared and becoming widespread. We hope to apply our findings to content moderation measures and management policies for SNS service providers, which will lead to operation and creation of better information platforms.