Congratulations on your admission to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

I'm sure you are all excited to learn new things at our university, but at the same time some of you may also be feeling anxious about the new learning environment. In particular, international students who have just come to Japan from overseas are often concerned not only about the academic environment, but also about the living environment. For those of you who are feeling anxious about the new chapter of your life that begins today, I would encourage you to do the following while you are at TUMSAT.

・Pursue your interests

・Identify problems by yourself

・Communicate with a variety of people

In fact, I believe that these are the first concrete actions for achieving a "Convergence of Knowledge" (総合知).

 

The term "Convergence of Knowledge" was used in discussions on Japan's Science, Technology and Innovation Basic Plan (科学技術・イノベーション基本計画), and was advocated as a way to bring a wide range of knowledge to bear to respond to the various complex problems of today. Specifically, "Convergence of Knowledge" is achieved by building a team of various experts to work together to solve problems. Something similar was also stated in the first report of the Council for the Creation of Future Education (教育未来創造会議) as an illustration of the types of people who will be needed going forward. Such personnel can be described as those who can:

・Pursue their interests and acquire a high level of expertise and technical skills

・Set their own tasks and dig deeper into their ideas

・Communicate with diverse people, create new value and visions and strive to solve complex problems

I think you can understand now that the three things I mentioned at the beginning are the first concrete actions to become a person who is able to harness a "Convergence of Knowledge." What I have said will not only make your life on campus meaningful, it also expresses my hope that you will become the core workers and thinkers who will solve today's complex problems.

 

So what are the complex problems that require a "Convergence of Knowledge" to solve?

The most serious complex problem in the world is climate change. The situation is getting worse every year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on July 27 that the "era of global warming has ended" and the "era of global boiling has arrived." He went on to say: "We can still stop the worst, but to do so we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition."

 

Of course, the purpose of your studies and research at TUMSAT may not be directly related to such global issues, and it is not necessary for all of you to aim to acquire this "Convergence of Knowledge." However, please remember that sensational solutions for big problems do not suddenly appear out of nowhere. In many cases, they come from basic research conducted over long periods of time. At the same time, it is important to understand that complex global issues cannot be solved by a single expert but must be achieved through the collaboration of experts in various fields. In this sense, you are all involved in global issues in some way, and I am confident that your serious research and study will be indispensable to humanity in the future.

 

Starting today, you will acquire a variety of knowledge, skills and background learning in your respective fields of specialization. Please remember the three things I mentioned. Pursue what interests you. If you have a difficult problem you want to solve, communicate not only with your friends, but also with a variety of people with the same awareness, regardless of their field of expertise, nationality or gender. I believe that the accumulation of such actions will set you on the path to becoming someone who can contribute to building a better future. Please also realize that you are expected to become such a person.

 

As additional information for your studies, let me introduce a special program that you can join with your degree program. Its name is the Marine AI program. Artificial intelligence is attracting attention as a tool for researchers in all fields. If you are interested, please consult your academic supervisor.

 

Finally, interesting study and research await you. Your rigorous efforts will give you the mind, foresight and imagination of an excellent researcher and engineer. I hope that your time here as a student is both fruitful and enjoyable.

October 5, 2023
Iseki Toshio
President, TUMSAT