Message from the Dean

Now is the Time for Science

With the advancement of science, humanity has continuously acquired new technologies, experiencing paradigm shifts that have fundamentally transformed our societies and values. In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly emerged as the last turning point. As an incredibly powerful tool, AI brings us into a new era where tasks that previously took hours of research, critical thought, and work can now be accomplished in an instant. It is essential to master this tool quickly and effectively. As a result, we are in a competition with no time to lose.

So, what kinds of skills are required to truly master AI? It requires the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, verify the underlying data, and deeply understand the core principles behind them. Possessing these skills will determine whether we master AI, or are mastered by it.

The School of Science has been dedicated to creating new knowledge for understanding the natural sciences, and developing the talent to support its advancement. This mission is becoming increasingly important in the information age with the rise of AI. To adapt to this new era, our faculty, the School of Science, balances interdisciplinary study with a strong foundation in basic knowledge. We have reorganized traditional fields—mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy—into two core pillars: “Material Science” and “Life Science.” Within this interdisciplinary framework, we dedicate ourselves to the creation of true knowledge with flexible thinking and a boundless spirit of inquiry. Furthermore, in 2022, we established the Laboratory of Innovative Informatics for Biological and Material Science to work directly in the field of information science.

In addition, Hyogo is home to a concentration of world-renowned research facilities, such as the large synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8, the X-ray free-electron laser facility SACLA, our university's own synchrotron facility NewSUBARU, the supercomputer Fugaku, and the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory. We actively utilize these resources to pursue cutting-edge research that enables us to “observe and understand” in order to uncover the truth.

Does nature control us, or do we understand and control it? Does AI control us, or do we master it? In this era, let us study "science" to thrive not only in natural sciences but also in this information society.