“A vision for the future: Creating interdisciplinary places for the well-being of people, society, and the Earth”
Established in 2022, the Institute for the Future of Human Society (IFoHS) represents a university-wide hub and platform organization for the humanities and social sciences. Bridging the research focusing on the mind and society done at the Kokoro Research Center with the social dissemination capacity of the Unit of Kyoto Initiatives for the Humanities and Social Sciences, we have been actively pursuing impactful social collaboration and research dissemination activities both within and beyond Japan.
As we move into the 2023 academic year, we have crystallized three guiding principles. Firstly, we aim to create collective wisdom through interdisciplinary collaboration. Secondly, we are promoting the development of new research through partnerships beyond academia. Lastly, we aim to amplify our capabilities for sharing knowledge from the perspective of the humanities and social sciences. Through these principles, IFoHS aims to elevate the impact and quality of academic work and position ourselves as an international hub that enhances the global presence of intellectual contributions from the humanities and social sciences.
Recognizing the growing necessity for integrative research bridging the humanities and natural sciences, IFoHS has committed to the active exploration and presentation of the values and ethics essential for desired societies and quality of life. This involves posing critical questions and seeking answers, a process in which the humanities and social sciences must engage from the outset.
At IFoHS, we strive to create a platform for academic research that sparks discussion and collaboration. In response to complex questions regarding future societies and the values we need for a better future, we should provide not definitive answers, but ‘seeds of answers’. These seeds, derived from deep insights, field-specific and/or data-driven perspectives, and historical analysis, are cultivated through diverse dialogues and collaborations.
Envisioning IFoHS as a place of openness, we welcome diverse perspectives from academia, industry, and beyond. As we shape our vision for the future, we aim to create an environment where ideas and insights are freely shared and discussed within and outside of Kyoto University. Through our international activities, we seek to realize the greater global presence of Kyoto University, and the broader humanities and social sciences.
In today’s world, we confront numerous complex social issues – the world’s dwindling energy resources and population problems, socio-economic divides, loneliness, losses to our ecosystems, and more – to which we cannot easily find solutions. Addressing these challenges requires the integration of various disciplines, and effective, trustworthy facilitation that draws from deep experience. Recognizing our responsibility in this process, IFoHS is committed to examining ‘well-being’ in a broader context that encompasses the future of world societies, coexistence with nature, and interhuman connections and peace of mind. Leveraging the collective strength of Kyoto University and our broader networks, we are dedicated to pursuing our mission of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. We deeply appreciate your continued support for our activities.
Director, Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society
Yukiko Uchida