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Message from the Institute Director

Work Environment and Science/Technology Research Center investigates various phenomena related to working places and science and technology that are often overlooked in modern society. Excessive increase in affinity toward science and technology has a major impact on social structures, employment systems, individuals, and organizational norms. An R&D researcher, who is constantly under pressure to produce research results in fierce international competition, often cannot afford to predict the risks involved in deliverables.

When new science and technology is introduced into the workplace, the way of working, human relations in the workplace, norms, and systems change. New challenges arise at the workplace as a result. Even telecommuting becomes difficult, although there is high speed Internet. This is because social issues, such as gender bias, security, erosion of working hours to private time, information limitation due to the decrease in face-to-face communication, etc., have affected the work environment. We have adopted many new technologies, such as telecommunication, to eliminate these social issues from the workplace. However, Tokyo remains one pole concentrated. These social issues, which cannot be solved with technology, need attention.

It is important to have a critical attitude of how we should relate to science and technology; it should just focus on the credulity of science and technology or the unilateral denial of science and technology. In the future, it will be necessary to coexist with science and technology with such an attitude. We hope that this center will produce research results that can be used to foster a critical perspective and address these issues.

In addition, Kyoto has a history that has flourished for many years with its tradition, culture, and innovation. Several small and medium-sized enterprises, which have been in Kyoto for over 100 years, have survived the cutting-edge technology of each era. Such relationships exist between SMEs that do not have research institutes, but have a relationship with public research institutes. We are currently conducting social research with students.

This center will transmit research findings of experienced researchers and young researchers on these various issues and promote international research exchange.





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

       　　　　　　　　Director of Work Environment and Science/Technology Research Center
  　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Professor Masayo Fujimoto