JAPANESE

NewsGo

Waseda University: Establishment of the Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
-Recovery from large-scale disaster and construction of a new social system-

Mr. Yoshiaki Fukazawa (Waseda University Executive Director)
Supervisor, Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, Waseda University

Actions taken by Waseda University

Immediately following the earthquake, Waseda University established a disaster headquarters and worked to assess the safety of students, alumni, faculty and staff. We have also worked to implement emergency responses such as the exemption of tuition fees depending on damages suffered, as well measures for conserving electricity.

Furthermore, in addition to such emergency responses, we established the Office for Aiding Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake (Director: President Kaoru Kamata) on April 8th. As necessary, specialists from both inside and outside our university were added to the members of the office. The office will promote university-wide actions in a variety of areas, with a focus on the following 3 policies: 1) based on a scholarship system, provide educational aid for students affected by disaster, 2) based on volunteer activities and aid money, provide aid for regions affected by the disaster, and 3) provide recovery aid through research.

The Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake was established on May 6th as one core of specific university-wide activities aimed at supporting reconstruction through research. In order to conduct research activities, the center received a grant from the Waseda Supporters Club (*) and will also receive a maximum of 20 million yen in annual funding from our university for a period of 3 years.

*The Waseda Supporters Club is a system established in order to provide financial aid for a variety of projects. Waseda University provides services using monetary donations that are contributed every academic year by alumni, parents of current students, and ordinary citizens who support the purpose of our university.

Establishment of the Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake

Even before the establishment of the Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, all areas of our university had already begun active implementation of various actions for reconstruction. Such actions include voluntary activities by individual researchers and groups, as well as review for the formation of new research teams. Our university has hurried to develop a university-wide system and to offer comprehensive support for encouraging the further growth of such actions.

Meanwhile, we have implemented the unique system of "priority field research" since the 2009 academic year. In order to contribute to the solution of global problems through advanced technology and research, this system gathers researchers through a university-wide perspective. The priority field research established by the system is research that takes advantages of our university?fs strengths and can change our weaknesses to strengths. Our university provides focused support for such priority field research.

As part of the recent establishment of the new center, the aforementioned priority field research system which has been promoted throughout our university is utilized in regards to the volunteer activities for reconstruction that have been actively implemented by individual researchers, groups and organizations within our university. We have conducted emergency recruitment from within our university and formed three research projects composed of research themes and researchers from a variety of fields.

A characteristic of reconstruction research is the necessity to select research themes and create research systems in a short period of time. Speed is a necessity because there are research activities which require rapid initial action. In response to such urgency, it was possible to establish the new center while acquiring university-wide agreement in the short period of 45 days. The utilization of the priority field research system and understanding from university officials helped to realize such rapid establishment. However, more than anything, the volunteer activities of individual researchers for recovery and reconstruction were a major driving force.

Research projects which compose the research center

The new research center is composed of the following 3 research projects (7 research themes): "Medicine and Health Care", "Infrastructure Restoration and Disaster Management Systems", and "Urban Planning and Social Design". These are mid- to long-term research projects with a focus on the next 3 to 5 years. The projects include cooperation and fusion by researches in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and science and engineering. A major feature of Waseda University is how we are capable of composing research projects which include cooperation from researchers that spans a variety of different fields.

In addition to creating academic value, the 3 research projects aim to create social effects by using academic wisdom for conducting activities to support reconstruction. At the same time, the projects seek to contribute to the minimization of damages in the case that a similar disaster occurs in the future.

Center for Research on Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake: Research Projects
①Project on Medicine and Health Care: Center for Research on Earthquake Reconstruction and Advanced Environmental/Medical Engineering
Project Leader: Professor Shigetaka Asano (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Research Theme: Research on the needs for scientific/social support and administration toward the prevention of health damage caused by earthquakes.
②Project on Infrastructure Restoration and Disaster Management Systems: Center for Research on Earthquake Reconstruction & Complex Disasters
Project Leader: Professor Tomoya Shibayama (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Research Theme: Disaster analysis and proposal for rehabilitation process for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami
Project Member: Professor Kazuo Kamura (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Research Theme: Environmental diagnosis and proposal of countermeasure technology for restoration and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake
Project Member: Professor Shunji Matsuoka (Faculty of International Liberal Studies)
Research Theme: Research related to causes, effects, measures and restoration for complex mega disasters; Nuclear disaster and risk governance
③Project on Urban Planning and Social Design: Center for Research on Earthquake Reconstruction & Natural Culture Safe Cites
Project Leader: Professor Takeshi Nakagawa (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Research Theme: General study on housing and urban planning for reconstruction incorporating harmony with and respect for nature, as learned from cultural heritage
Project Member: Professor Michitaro Urakawa (Faculty of Law)
Research Theme: Waseda University Legal Aid Project for Eastern Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief
Project Member: Professor Osamu Soda (Faculty of Social Sciences)
Research Theme: Rebuilding a new global social system resilient to large-scale disasters

Future vision

Through mid- to long-term projects, this new research center takes a first step to conducting research activities which contribute to supporting reconstruction. In the future, we must conduct rapid and flexible response to changes in disaster conditions and environmental conditions which become clear with each passing moment. At the same time, we must ensure that these projects do not stop at academic knowledge, instead further developing these projects into broad and substantive actions capable of contributing to reconstruction support in many different areas. To achieve this goal, it is essential that we achieve financing through research funds from within our university, that we actively participate in reconstruction projects implemented by public institutions such as the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), and that we strengthen partnerships with private organizations.

The recent earthquake was a painful reminder that natural threats can easily demolish the richness and comfort of a modern society that is built upon complicated and high-level scientific technology and social systems. Moreover, in addition to striking a heavy blow to the economy and society of Japan, there is concern that the disaster will extend significant effect to issues confronting global society as a whole, such as measures to prevent global warming.

Through the activities of this research center, our university will deeply consider the relationship between nature and mankind, as well as the existence of scientific technology and social systems. By embracing a pioneering spirit, we hope to contribute to reconstruction support for disaster areas and to the construction of a new social system. However, such a goal cannot be achieved by a single university. We recognize the necessity of taking action on a nation-wide scale, forming networks such as an interuniversity partnership which provides direction for research universities. We hope that the new research center will implement activities that fulfill part of this role.

Related Information