Science Agora is a generic term for a place connecting science and society, which is open to everyone. It is a forum in which various people promote activities in each region independently by connecting parties involved in different fields, sectors, generations, and nationalities. People gathering in this forum will aim to realize “science harmonized with society” and a “society harmonized with science” through dialogue and collaboration while respecting a diversity of values.
* The term "agora" is Greek for gathering place.
We promote Science Agora 2015 with the following vision, which defines future Science Agora
“Let us build a society harmonized with science”
The 10th anniversary Science Agora 2015 is attracting attention as a platform for co-producing value through good science communications among multiple stakeholders in society. For this objective, we categorized the stakeholders of Science Agora 2015 into five sectors (policymakers, scientists, businesspeople, the media, and the general public) to try to meet the various needs as exemplified in table 1.
| Sector | Expectations as contributors | Expectations as an attendees |
|---|---|---|
| Policymakers |
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| Scientists |
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| Businesspeople |
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| The media |
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| General public |
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Date：Fri 13, Sat 14, Sun 15 November, 2015 10:00-17:00
Host：Japan Science and Technology Agency
Venue：Odaiba area, Tokyo
Cohosts：Science Council of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute, Japan Student Services Organization, Tokyo Rinkai Fukutoshin Group, Fuji Television etc. (TBD)
Supporters：Cabinet office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology, Science council of Japan, National museum of nature and science, Japan society for the promotion of science, RIKEN, Japan aerospace exploration agency, Japan agency for marine-earth science and technology, Japan atomic energy agency, National astronomical observatory of Japan, Tokyo waterfront urban development committee, Japan Business Federation, Science museum, Tokyo metropolitan board of education, Saitama prefecture board of education, Kanagawa prefecture board of education, Chiba prefecture board of education, National association of science education at junior high schools, Japanese council of science museums, Japan science museum association, Japanese association of science & technology journalists, Japanese association for science communication, The Japan Society of Applied Physics ,The Chemical Society of Japan (24parties)
Science strongly affects modern industries and people’s lives and it has become one of the important elements building society increasingly as well as politics, business or arts. Raising the vision of Science Agora, “Let’s build a society harmonized with science”, we put our cordial wish to build a future society with an appropriate use of science as one of a variety of building blocks of society.
Toward the accomplishment of Science Agora’s vision, there are issues that we think all people must share and work on in the immediate future (with a view to about 5 years). They are (1) Transformation of society led by science, (2) Transformation of science led by society (3) Harmonization with risk. It is about the perceptions of the times that: First, advanced science is about to significantly change society. Second, society is about to significantly change the form of science. And third, culture and climate that can harmonize the risks and benefits in either context will become increasingly important.
In 2015, under the perceptions of the times above, we focus 3 themes. They are (1) New medical care, food, and life that will be created by advanced science, (2) Collaboration between education, culture, art and sports, and science, and (3) The future role of science learned from the 5 years of the 3.11 disaster reconstruction. We will muster the new approaches involved in science for medical care, food, and life that form the basis of our lives, new approaches that are born in new frontiers observed in collaborations between education, culture and art, and sports and science and the efforts made with a focus on Tohoku, and think about the future of our society.
(Note) Here, we use the term “science” as a generic term of intellectually inquiring activities and their outcomes including science based technology and technology oriented science. It is the same meaning as the term “science and technology” generally used.
This is the International Year of Light (IYL) proclaimed by the UN General Assembly 68th Session. We could obtain new sight looking back the progress of humankind through “Light”. In primitive age, fire torch in dark granted power to humankind. People have utilized “Light” in the fields of astronomy, telecommunication, new energy as well as art and experienced joys and sorrows.
Let us consider our future through "Light". We call for activities presenting new perspectives in our society.
How does the “Cyber-society” we are facing look like? Our daily life is inevitably affected by technology developments. We are forced to make decisions on how we would like to reform our industries, societal systems, and livelihoods.
This year, National Identification Number will be granted to each citizen of Japan, so it is a right time to discuss and take our collaborative actions with the perspective of Cyber-society. We call for activities looking ahead of a structural transformation of our society with insightful ideas or philosophies.
How will the society in 2020 look like? Shall we think about situations (e.g. recovery from earthquake disaster, Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, etc.) in Japan in 5 years' time?
Next year, the 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan for FY2016 to FY2020 will be adopted in a Cabinet meeting. This year is the right time to call for various activities committed to build a new society with science under the significant globalization and the dramatic advancement of science and technology.
