Overview of Operational Plan
At the Institute of Living Sciences, we aim to contribute to the improvement of people’s lives and the progress and development of local communities through academic research and education on various issues and phenomenon related to people’s lives.In order to realise this, we plan to continue publishing the research bulletin, Bulletin of Living Sciences (volume 47) in 2024, hosting regular study groups and research presentations by internal and external researchers, and holding an open seminar. In addition, we will actively promote the dissemination of information through the Institute’s website and continue to awardthe Keiichi Mizushima Prize to a candidate selected from the papers submitted to the Institute’s bulletin.
Main Operations
- 1. Publication of the Research Bulletin, Bulletin of Living Sciences (Vol.47)
The bulletin will contain papers, research notes and resources that are produced as the result of research in the living sciences and related fields. - 2. Operation of the Institute and Planning and Hosting of Regular Study Groups and Research Presentation
We willplan and hold monthly meetings with the Institute’s researchers. These will be focused on the discussion of the Institute’s various operations and reporting on the progress of research activities conducted by each researcher, visiting researcher and associate researcher. There will be time allocated for researchers to provide topics around their research activities in turns and for reporting on the Institute’s research activities. We will also report on the progress of joint research projects.As previous years, we are planning to hold a research presentation in December as an opportunity for internal and external researchers to present their research results to the public. - 3. Improvement of the Institute of Living Science’s Homepage
We will update the Institute’s homepage regularly for disseminating information, update its design, and enhance its functions. During this fiscal year, we will continue to make further updates to the homepage from the previous year, aiming to improve the operation of the online researcher application system and the online submission system. We aim to provide fulfilling contents through a more functional and easy-to-browse website. We will also endeavour to disseminate the Institute’s current research and education within Japan and abroad. - 4. Taking in New Researchers
We will continue to take in researchers and visiting researchers during FY2024. Both are required to submit a research plan and research results report (at the end of the fiscal year), focused on the research involved at the Institute. As in the previous year, we will utilise the online application system and accept applications during the same period as in previous years. - 5. Planning and Holding Open Seminar
As previous years, we are planning to organise and hold an open seminar for the public. We will discuss the timing of the event at future meetings of the three boards and at regular meetings. We plan to hold it mainly face-to-face, but also consider the possibility of holding it in a highly flexible format with online access. - 6. Planning and Conducting Research Project (8)
Since FY2023, we have carried out‘Research Project (8) An Empirical Study on the Impact of Changes in the Living Environment due to DX (Digital Transformation) on the Mindset and Lifestyle of Young People’ on a 3-year plan. The purpose of this study is to empirically study, through quantitative and qualitative research, how the changes in the living environment of the young generation caused by the DX are changing their mindsets and lifestyle choices, and specifically, how (or whether) they have changed the nature of the reference group in Japan, which has traditionally been called “seken (the public)”. During FY2024, the second year of the 3-year plan, we plan to conduct a questionnaire survey in Japan and abroad. - 7. Selection and Awarding of Keiichi Mizushima Prize
We will select the winning paper for the Institute’s Keiichi Mizushima Prize (established in 2016) and award a young researcher for the outstanding research achievements (selection will be made from the papers submitted to the Institute’s research bulletin). We have selected the total of four awardees so far: the first in the FY2017, the second in the FY2019, and the third in the FY2022. There were no awardees in FY2023. Weplan to continue selecting and awarding the fourth awardee in FY2024.