FY2012 Scientific Research on Priority Area: Public Workshop by the Institute for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
New reconstruction themes which have risen during one year of surveys and research

On April 23rd, Waseda University (Shinjuku Ward, Totsuka-cho; President Kaoru Kamata) held a workshop by the Institute for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was founded in May 2011. The workshop was held in the Faculty Lounge/Meeting Room of Building No. 7 and active discussion took place among the participating supervisors of 7 themes.

In order to contribute to reconstruction of disaster areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the institute promotes mid- to long-term research projects which combine wisdom as an intellectual cooperative and conduct research for the 3 projects (7 themes) of Medicine and Health Care, Infrastructure Restoration and Disaster Management Systems, and Urban Planning and Social Design. The recent workshop was the first time that supervisors for all 7 themes have met at once since the project was started. In the workshop, the supervisors gave their reports on research activities for the reconstruction research projects of the past year and on themes which have been clarified while conducting recovery research. By giving mutual reports on their progress status, supervisors for the 7 themes were able to discuss possibilities for future partnerships.

"A major pillar of universities is conducting research which will contribute to recovery from the earthquake," said President Kamata. "Now, after the earthquake, there is strong reflection on the role of scientific technology. We must establish a new vision for the relationship between universities and society. I feel that the 7 research themes have made significant progress over the past year. Still, we need to establish partnerships in a variety of fields with the government, the private sector and other universities both in Japan and overseas. In the future, I expect an increase in cooperation."

Public Workshop held by the Institute for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

13:00	Opening of workshop Professor Yoshiaki Fukazawa (Supervisor at Institute for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake)
13:05	Professor Kazuo Kamura (Faculty of Science and Engineering)	Proposal of environment diagnosis and countermeasure technology for recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
13:15	Professor Shunji Matsuoka (Faculty of International Liberal Studies)	Research on causes, effects, countermeasures and reconstruction for multiple large-scale crises
13:25	Partnership Representative Agent: Mr. Takahito Mikami (Shibayama Laboratory D1)	Disaster analysis and strategic reconstruction research for the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake *Partnership Representative: Tomoya Shibayama (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
13:35	Professor Takeshi Nakagawa (Faculty of Science and Engineering)	Comprehensive research for futuristic reconstruction housing and urban planning in harmony with natural philosophy learned from cultural assets
13:45	Professor Takao Suami (Faculty of Law), Professor Masaharu Hioki (Faculty of Law)	Waseda University Legal Project for Aiding Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
13:55	Professor Osamu Soda (Faculty of Social Sciences)	Restructuring of a new global social system which possess restorative capability for large-scale disasters
	Shigetaka Asano (Faculty of Science and Engineering)	Survey research on needs of scientific and social responses for prevention of health problems caused by major earthquakes
14:15	Break
14:25	Moderator: Yoshiaki Fukazawa (Supervisor at Institute for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake) 1) Q&A session for reports of each research project 2) Common themes encountered while conducting reconstruction research 3) Towards further promotion of reconstruction research
14:55	Closing Comments: President Kaoru Kamata