Science Agora: Deep Tech Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Economy

Vision and Themes of Science Agora 2020

■Vision

The vision sets forth the long-term objective that we wish to make through the Science Agora.

A future woven through dialogue between science & daily life

Science and technology have developed in parallel with wealth and power in the 20th century. However, in the face of limited resources on Earth and growing strain on the world, we are now beginning to see the limitations of science and technology. In particular, as we make the transition from a growth society into a mature society, the Japan of today is confronted by many problems and it has become extremely difficult to see ahead into the future. In such a Japan, it is important for the relevant stakeholders to create a space where they can come together to consider the future of science and society, respect the views of others, and create a future. We hope to foster such a culture. Furthermore, there are diverse attitudes and approaches depending on the country/region and culture, and we hope to explore methods that are unique to Japan.

[Key points]

• We not only placed the emphasis on “creating a space,” but also on having the approach of having everyone put their heads together to create a future society.
• The concept embedded in “daily life”: In addition to placing the focus on the daily lives and ways of life of each individual, close to their heart, this approach also considers society as a whole.
• The concept embedded in “weaving”: The importance of exploring methods that are unique to Japan for the creation of a future society has been incorporated into this concept. We call to mind the image of spinning thread a process of creating harmony in the sense of bringing thin and short, disjointed fibers closer together, and gradually building up and creating something meaningful rather than taking a single leap all at once.

■Theme of Science Agora 2020

Life

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has brought about enormous confusion and significant changes in our societies. Proposals for “new ways of life” such as remote working and online learning, for which the assumption was that we had a little more time before they became commonplace, are now coming to be implemented to a certain extent. Some of you may be thinking that the future has arrived, while others may be thinking that this is far from ideal. It has thrown into sharp relief the reality that some people can enjoy the convenience this offers, while this may not be the case for others.

Last year’s Science Agora was based on the theme  “Human: What kind of future will we live in?” and it gave concrete thought to envisioning our future lives that are being advanced by science and technology, and explored ways of solving problems in various different areas. These were considered from the respective standpoints of: as society changes what will change, what will remain the same, and what you would like to remain unchanged? For 2020 we will carry on with the discussion from last year by thinking deeply about human “Life,” which is to say, our lives and lifestyles, how we ought to act as people, and points of contact with science and technology.

Aside from the novel coronavirus, our societies will be altered by a great many unforeseen factors. How we relate to nature, the sense of distance between our families and friends, the implications of being healthy and safe, and societal rules will also change. Through Science Agora 2020 we invite you to consider how life has changed, life moving forward, future life, and our life plans.