[Event Information]
The 2nd GSDM International Symposium
“Four Years after the Great East Japan Earthquake: Recent Trends in Innovation, Resilience, and Security and Their Impl ications for the Future”
11th Mar, 2015 　9:30~17:50 (Ito Hall, Ito International Research Center, Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo)

Implementation Report is here
【 Appendices_1 , Appendices_2 , Appendices_3 】

Eighteen months have now passed since the University of Tokyo’s Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM) was established in 2013. With our curriculum now fully fleshed out and student activities diversifying, the GSDM’s foundations have been laid and it is time to look ahead. To that end, we decided to follow up the March 2014 GSDM Inauguration Symposium this year with the GSDM International Symposium. Taking advantage of the First GSDM International Strategic Advisory Committee (ISAC) Meeting (March 11), we have structured the symposium around keynote addresses by ISAC members who are international experts and opinion leaders in fields such as security, innovation, and economic and urban planning. Our aim with ISAC is to have ISAC members view the GSDM from an international perspective, as well as from the frontlines of their respective specialist areas, and provide candid and constructive advice on students’ career-building and how we can further enhance the program. For the same reasons, we hope that both students and staff will engage with ISAC members to the greatest possible extent and draw inspiration from them. We envisage ISAC linking the GSDM with the international community and the frontlines of business, technology and policy, as well as serving as a catalyst for GSDM students in launching themselves offshore in a wide range of fields.

　Turning to this year’s theme, with the symposium falling exactly on the fourth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the underlying drive is to examine the environmental changes that have occurred at home and abroad over the last four years as we consider how Japan can overcome this cataclysmic event and move forward along its own path to become a better country, and what abilities need to be acquired to that end. Specifically, reflecting the GSDM’s basic philosophy of social design as a practical concept that cuts across the humanities and sciences, we talked with ISAC members and set up three sessions based on their particular areas of expertise and interest. Accordingly, keynote speeches will be delivered by ISAC member Dr. Surin Pitsuwan on the topic of resilience and security, by ISAC member Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia on cities, and on innovation by Dr.Timothy Dalton, who is from the same research center as ISAC member Dr. Tze-Chiang Chen. We also plan to have our own experts from the University of Tokyo deepen discussion based on international trends in these areas with a particular focus on Asia inclusive of Japan. To address energy —another key GSDM area— we also hosted a lecture by Dr. Fatih Birol from the International Energy Agency on the topic of “Global Energy Trends” on February 17.

　The wide and varied content of this year’s symposium should again provide substantial food for thought for all participants, and we look forward to the event promoting greater awareness and understanding of the GSDM program and activities, as well as our basic philosophy.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Hideaki Shiroyama
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 GSDM Program Coordinator / Dean, Graduate School
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 of Public Policy (GraSPP) the University of Tokyo

Date	:	Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 9:30-17:50
Venue	:	Ito Hall, Ito International Research Center,Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo
Language	:	English/Japanese simultaneous translation
Hosted by	:	Global Leader Program for Social Design and Management (GSDM) Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP), the University of Tokyo
Co-hosted by	:	Policy Alternatives Research Institute (PARI), the University of Tokyo
Admission	:	Free of charge Pre-registration is required. Please register from here

Program