Kyoto University
ER-18: Sustainability Research Incentives

Sustainability/Survivability Science for a Resilient Society Adaptable to Extreme Weather Conditions This program is provided by the Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research. The Educational Unit is composed of five graduate schools (Global Environmental Studies, Science, Engineering, Informatics and Agriculture) and two research institutes: Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) and Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere (RISH). The educational unit allocates RA expenses, travel expenses and research expenses for doctoral students to encourage their participation in international joint studies, presentation in overseas research conferences, internship and field training. In order to allow students to obtain cross-sectional understanding of interdisciplinary themes, pursue individual specialty, and acquire wider perspectives and applied skills, the educational unit provides interactive guidance by instructors of different fields of study, by taking advantage of this project which deploys researchers of multiple disciplines. The Educational Unit consists of two interdisciplinary courses: Science-Engineering (SE) Joint Course and Humanity (Liberal Arts) and Science-Engineering (H-SE) Joint Course.

The Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visit Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation: Construction of a Global Platform for the Study of Sustainable Humanosphere Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies, the Graduate School of Asian and African Studies and the Center for African Area Studies applied for a the project titled “Establishing the Global Research Platform for Sustainable Humanosphere Research in Asia and Africa 2012-2014” and this was adapted into the “Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visit Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation” which the Japan Society of the Promotion of Science (JSPS) initiated in 2011. The Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visit Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation is a competitive program for research funding which JSPS established based on the concept of “Funding Program for World-leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology Research.” It aims to support the dispatching overseas of young researchers who are engaged in international collaborative research and to promote our country’s science through accelerating international brain circulation. This program focuses on expanding the opportunities for young researchers to be involved in world-class research and to tackle various crucial issues faced by the world, as well as strengthening the research network with overseas research institutions, including other universities. This program focuses on the following three research areas. 1) Research on “plural co-existence” which encourages co-existence in diverse culture and social groups, and seeks to achieve inclusive development (Life Research) 2) Research on the “biomass society” which aims to promote environmentally sustainable development built on renewable livelihoods (Green Research) 3) Research on “local knowledge” which aims to create a sustainable humanosphere utilizing intellectual resources from each specific region (Knowledge Research)