Global COE Programs“INTEGRATED MATERIALS SCIENCE”:

A New Paradigm in Chemistry and Materials Science for a New Breed of Researchers
This article introduces the “InternationalCenter for Integrated Research andAdvanced Education in Materials Science,”a global COE project for fiscal 2007-2011
granted in the area “Chemistry and Materials
Science”.
The project is intended to consolidate
the more than 100 chemistry-related Kyoto
University research groups in the Graduate
School of Engineering, the Graduate Schoolof Science, and the Institute for Chemical
Research and thereby to blend virtually
all aspects of chemistry, from basic toengineering and from molecules to materials,
to create a new paradigm “integratedmaterials science.”

Concept and Objectives

In contemporary science and particularly
in chemistry, a trend is now obvious: anaccelerated merging of disciplines (inorganic,organic, etc.), which in part stems from therecognition that traditionally trained experts,
however excellent in a specific field theymight be, can no longer cope with complex
multifaceted problems such as sustainablegrowth and global warming.
The recognition, in turn, demands a newframework for research and education, which
we coin as “integrated materials science”(Figure 1), to achieve the following:(a)“Integrated Materials Science”—A New
Paradigm: An effective integration of basic
chemistry and materials science in research
and advanced education, beyond classicaldisciplines, faculties, and international
borders.
(b)A New Breed of Scientist: Cultivationof the next generation of internationallycompetent, creative, and independentscientists with expertise in multidisciplinary
fields whose visions are open to society.
(c)“Interactive Materials Science”—

Figure 1. Integrated Materials Science: A new paradigm
in chemistry and materials science.

Science for Society: Creation of a renewedmaterials science, interactive and globallyopen, that contributes to solving criticalproblems such as sustainability as well as toculture.

Project Programs

To achieve (a)–(c) above, this projectplans the following two programs:(1) Program in Research: International
Center for Integrated Materials Science
Integrated Core Fields: Integration
beyond Disciplines. The first step is tocreate an “integrated materials science”;
namely, to integrate the basic chemistry andthe materials science comprehensively inKyoto. Four integrated core fields will beorganized (see Figure 1):
Material Transformation
Material Properties
Advanced Material Functions
Interactive Materials Science
Inter-Field Joint Research Projects:
Integration beyond Core Fields. Joint
projects among the integrated core fields
will be organized to strengthen collaboration
among members selected beyond faculty andtraditional boundary.
Interactive Materials Science:
Integration beyond Academia. Anotherfeature of this project is to create a newmaterials science that is open to, interacts
with, and contributes to the global society
beyond academia.
International “Brain Influx” Epicenter:
Integration beyond Borders. Programs will
be implemented to establish an international
epicenter of chemistry and materials science
to attract the “best minds.” These will
include international exchange programs tosend junior COE members to key overseas
institutions and the Integrated Materials
Science International Scholarship forbringing leading scientists to Kyoto for joint
research, faculty training, and advancededucation.
(2) Program in Education: A New Breedof Internationally Competent Young
Scientists
Within the scope of “integrated materialsscience”, the following programs will beorganized to cultivate independent minds
and international competence in junior COE
faculty members and students:
Interfaculty Integrated CourseProgram. New integrated educational
Program Leader;Prof. Mitsuo Sawamotoprograms will be organized beyond faculties
and specialties.
Interdisciplinary On-Site Researchand Training. Advanced education andinterdisciplinary training will be provided
through the exchange of students andassistant professors within the core fields toperform on-site cutting-edge research within
the COE Project.
Support Programs. International
competence and independent researchabilities will be cultivated in junior COE
members and students through EmbryonicResearch Project Support, InternationalA c a d e m i c E x ch a n ge P rog ra m , a n dInternational Workshop Initiative (whichprovides financial support and advice toyoung scientists for planning international
meetings sorely by themselves).

The Future

Chemistry is the only fundamental
science that creates novel molecules andmaterials via infinite permutation of atoms
and reactions. Through interdisciplinary
collaboration with physics and biology,
chemistry and materials science today areexpected to make fundamental contributions
to science and the global community.
Members of the COE Project are determined
to develop the new paradigm of “integratedmaterials science” and to cultivatecompetent, creative, and energetic young
scientists who will take off from Kyoto
University to international arenas in scienceand beyond.