Explanation of the Purpose of Parallel Session A "New Scientific Knowledge and International Network to Support Global Sustainability" (1) (Speech from the Plenary Session)
	Hiroshi Saeki, Vice-Chair of the Plenary Session Chair of the Parallel Session A

As Dr. Komiyama mentioned in the "Opening remarks", we will discuss New Scientific Knowledge and International Networks to Support Global Sustainability at Parallel Session A.  In this regard, I would like to explain matters that I hope will be discussed at this session while introducing the experiences of Hokkaido University, which has actively pursued sustainability programs based on fieldwork since its inception as Sapporo Agricultural College about 130 years ago.

Establishment of new scientific knowledge

First of all, I would like to touch upon the establishment of new scientific knowledge.

In addressing the challenge of establishing a sustainable global society – a challenge common to all humanity – universities, which assume a responsibility for knowledge creation to serve as a resource for solutions, should embark on research activities while recognizing the complexity of problems and the existence of challenges that defy existing academic disciplines.

Responses to the complexity of problems

As an example, it is well known that the use of ethanol as a fuel to mitigate global warming has sent the price of food such as corn and soybeans through the roof. There are many such cases in which action that was expected to help create a sustainable society has in fact caused adverse effects or negative side effects elsewhere. Since the problems at hand form a convoluted web, scientists will need to gain a structural understanding of the relationships involved using scientific knowledge in other fields as well as their own areas of expertise, and to tackle problems from a comprehensive perspective to avoid negative side effects.

With this in mind, I would like to introduce two initiatives that Hokkaido University has launched in the field of sustainability.

Firstly, let us look at the Sustainability Weeks.

Taking the moves of the United Nations and other institutions into account, Hokkaido University inaugurated the Hokkaido University Initiative for Sustainable Development (HUISD) in 2005 with the aim of intensifying its efforts to contribute to sustainable development. Since 2006, we have held annual Sustainability Weeks during which we intensively host international symposiums and outreach programs highlighting research and educational programs toward the realization of a sustainable society.

This year, we have designated the three weeks from June 23 through July 11 as the Sustainability Weeks period, and are holding approximately 50 events including pre-events. These sessions provide researchers with opportunities to readily learn about research programs relating to sustainability in other fields. As a result, researchers in public policy, economy and sanitary engineering, for example, have launched collaborative research programs to study waste and waste water treatment from various angles.

Secondly, we have established the Center for Sustainability Science.

Hokkaido University established the Center for Sustainability Science in April this year with aim of developing projects promoted as part of the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), which Dr. Komiyama mentioned before. Another key aim is to foster experts who have mastered their areas of expertise and can understand the importance of creating a sustainable society and look at social problems from a comprehensive viewpoint. While providing inter-departmental graduate study, the center also develops curricula to enable conventional knowledge, which is vertically divided and fragmented, to be offered in a comprehensive manner in cooperation with eight graduate schools at Hokkaido University.