Chemistry has enabled us to make breathtaking progress in the synthesis
of new and complex molecules from which our society has and continues
to benefit tremendously. In contrast, due to the way in which the chemical
industry has developed and expanded, fossil fuels have been consumed
at an ever increasing rate. Accordingly, natural resources have been
exhausted and environmental problems have been generated and this trend
is accelerating year on year. In order to overcome these problems we
have to tackle the underlying issues by taking a global view which has
to be completely different from that prevalent in conventional chemistry.
The purpose of this program is to cooperate intensively with laboratories
of three different graduate schools and to create "Integrated EcoChemistry," which
eventually will lead to a sustainable society in which both mankind and
nature can coexist. This project team consists of 22 groups belonging
to three different graduate schools: the Graduate School of Science,
the Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Engineering
Science.
We are going to establish a new integrated framework of chemistries
focusing on energy conversion, materials conversion, molecular information
dynamics, materials life-cycle analysis and energy efficiency optimization.
We are planning to achieve significant progress in these vital areas
for sustainability by cooperating in these areas and by integrating the
underpinning science. We are also planning "Integrated EcoChemistry" to
provide Fellowships for doctor course students, to hold an International
Symposium on this program primarily involving young researchers and doctor
course students. We are also going to arrange Internships for doctor
course students at universities in foreign countries. Lectures and seminars
by professors from other universities within Japan and from countries
across the world are also planned.
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