From Science and Engineering to Agriculture
－Master Nature and Create the Sustainable Society－

　　Dean UENO Makoto
　
　The Master's Program in the Graduate School of Natural Sciences was established in 2018 through the integration of the Graduate School of Science and Engineering and the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences. As of 2025, it marks its 8th anniversary. Additionally, the Doctoral Program, established in 2020, is now in its 5th year.
This graduate school encompasses a wide range of academic disciplines, including science, engineering, and agriculture, with the aim of cultivating highly skilled professionals equipped with advanced expertise and technologies to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
　Currently, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are gaining attention as a framework aimed at solving various issues such as poverty, environment, economy, and education by 2030. In Japan, challenges such as "declining birthrate and aging population," "stagnant economic growth and declining international competitiveness," "environmental and energy issues," and "digitalization and technological innovation" are expected to become more pronounced. On a global scale, issues such as climate change, population growth, resource security, and public health are also becoming increasingly critical. These challenges are not distant concerns but rather pressing issues that may directly impact our daily lives.
　To navigate this era successfully, it is crucial to invest in one's future by enhancing resilience (adaptive capacity) and flexibility. Furthermore, acquiring diverse skills such as sustainability skills, logical thinking, global communication skills, digital technology skills, and communication and management skills, as well as collaborating with individuals who possess these skills, will be indispensable.
　The Graduate School of Natural Sciences offers interdisciplinary learning opportunities to enhance students' resilience and flexibility. Specifically, we provide programs such as the "Medical-Science-Engineering-Agriculture Collaboration Program" which integrates medicine, science, engineering, and agriculture to foster innovative research; the "Double Degree Program" which strengthens collaborations with partner universities abroad and enables students to obtain degrees from both institutions; and the "E English-taught Degree Programs" which aims to nurture highly specialized professionals with a global perspective.
　Pursuing graduate studies is not merely about enhancing academic credentials but also about deepening expertise, acquiring research skills, and expanding career opportunities in various fields.
　We encourage you to consider graduate school as an investment in your future. It will open doors to new perspectives and opportunities that you may have never seen before.