Message from the Director
Applying sustainability science to capacity-building, public outreach, and practical measures for global sustainability
Sustainable community development is important for the survival of the planet and human society in the 21st century. Sustainability science is the holistic, transdisciplinary academic discipline dedicated to tackling this issue.
Through the “Program for Encouraging the Development of Strategic Research Centers” (Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology), the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S) spent five years (2005-2009) creating a strong network of leading Japanese universities and research institutions and engaged in activities aimed at illuminating phenomena and resolving problems related to global, social and human systems and their mutual disruption.
When the program period at IR3S ended, the Sustainability Science Consortium (SSC), a general incorporated association, was established on May 19, 2010 to further develop existing research, education, and public outreach programs and to strengthen coordination between national and local government, corporations, NPOs and other organizations while developing practical measures aimed at technological innovation and social transformation.
SSC’s main activities are as follows:
- The promotion of sustainability science-coordinated education
Maintenance and administration of joint education joint completion certificate program
Short courses on sustainability science for corporations, local government officials, etc. - Hosting of research conferences and symposiums on sustainability science
Hosting of research conferences for presenting research findings and of public symposiums, public lectures, international symposiums, and international conferences for public outreach - Promoting research and development projects and developing practical measures based on results
Promoting and developing projects involving coordination between universities and research institutions and local governments, corporations, NPOs, etc. - Publishing and dissemination activities
Production and dissemination of research publications and pamphlets on sustainability science
As a general incorporated association, SSC intends to build upon the achievements of these past five years by developing and encouraging ever more concrete, practical measures built upon active exchange with foreign and domestic academic societies, economic, trade, and industrial sectors, governmental agencies, citizens, NPO/NGOs, and others in order to solve our pressing issues of sustainability by encouraging and supporting research and development on sustainability and through educational and public outreach activities.
Sustainability Science Consortium (SSC), General Incorporated Association
Ken’ichi Nakagami, Director