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Tokyo Tech News
Published: March 6, 2020
For the past 16 months, Tokyo Tech's Laboratory for Design of Social Innovation in Global Networks (DLab) has been uniting Tokyo Tech faculty, staff, students, and alumni with members of the public to design a better future together.
On January 20, 2020, DLab unveiled their image of future society called Vision 2020, the Transchallenge concept which summarizes this vision, and the Tokyo Tech Future Chronology — currently consisting of 24 Future Scenarios — at a public event in central Tokyo. Over 100 participants, including company and government representatives, university and high school students, and other curious participants enjoyed the evening's talk session and workshop under the theme "What do you think of this kind of future?"
While taking into account current trends and forecasts in science and technology, DLab aims to identify the "future we all want," and to discuss this with a broad range of participants.
As participants arrived, they shared their thoughts on why they were participating.
"I am excited about this opportunity to speak to various people about our future," a high school participant commented.
"Tokyo Tech is a scitech-focused university, but also gives significant weight to the liberal arts, so I was very interested in their future vision," another young participant commented.
"Each one of us can think about the future, but we all have our limits if we do so alone. That is why DLab aims to get as many people as possible from various backgrounds involved. I hope you all use this opportunity to think together about a better tomorrow," Tokyo Tech President Kazuya Masu stated as he opened off the event.
Talk session
Before the workshop, four DLab members held a short talk session to discuss what the Transchallenge concept and the 24 Future Scenarios are, and how they can be developed and expanded.
Transchallenge video
To get the workshop started, participants were introduced to three broad topics:
Each participant chose one topic and joined group members with similar interests. Groups also aimed to include people with varying backgrounds to ensure a diverse range of opinions. They were then given two further guiding questions:
What can each of us do to make one of the above phenomena a reality?
If one of the above phenomena is realized, how would our lives change?
Scenes from the bustling workshop
After an hour of lively discussion, various opinions had emerged. Those who wanted to share their ideas with all participants did so through short presentations.
"Robots might give those who are awkward at relationships a better chance of finding love," one group commented.
"For us to achieve eternal life, we must greatly improve health care technology and the improvement of social systems," another team suggested.
Participants sharing views after group discussions
DLab Director Isao Satoh
Very much like DLab's past events, this workshop gave participants the chance to join an important conversation while experiencing a friendly, constructive ambiance. To complete the event, DLab Director Isao Satoh offered some closing remarks, inviting all those present to continue participating in DLab's activities.
After the evening's official program had been completed, many participants stayed behind to take a closer look at the Tokyo Tech Future Chronology.* They continued to share ideas and exchange opinions, enjoying the casual, open atmosphere that the workshop had created.
DLab and Tokyo Tech are already looking forward to the next event in the summer of 2020, where the conversation about our shared future can continue.
Discussions continue in front of Tokyo Tech Future Chronology
Designing our future together
By gauging the needs and desires of society through dialogue, and by designing our future together, DLab aims to create a brighter, more prosperous world.
Research Center for DEsigning Social Innovation in Global Network
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Laboratory for Design of Social Innovation for Global Networks
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