Address at the 2013 Kochi University Graduate School Entrance Ceremony
Congratulations to all of you on your admission to the Graduate School of Integrated Human and Natural Sciences at Kochi University.
You have completed your undergraduate education and have now entered graduate school to pursue cutting-edge research.
Research is a process in which, drawing on a wealth of knowledge, you identify unresolved areas, formulate hypotheses to elucidate them, and prove the validity of those hypotheses through experiments and investigations.To conduct research, you must not only acquire extensive knowledge and master advanced techniques, but also possess a rich imagination and creativity, strong investigative and execution skills, and the writing ability to synthesize your findings into a thesis. To develop these abilities, you must understand the history of your research subject and read numerous recent papers. Additionally, you must cultivate the habit of identifying problems in your daily life and engage in repeated, sincere, and in-depth discussions with your academic advisor and fellow researchers.
Rather than readily dismissing ideas that seem unconventional, researchers must embrace the notion that new truths often lie within the unconventional. They must possess a broad perspective and the insight to consider all possibilities. For this reason, many of our senior researchers who have successfully completed their studies have acquired high-level capabilities as professionals and leaders—skills that could not be acquired through undergraduate education alone.
Now, in graduate school, you are guaranteed the freedom to conduct research based on your own creative ideas. However, it has been a long time since the natural sciences shifted significantly from natural philosophy to science and technology with strong ties to industry. While the natural sciences have contributed greatly to the development of modern society, they have, on the other hand, caused health hazards to humanity and are pushing Mother Earth to the brink of an irreversible crisis.The natural sciences of the 21st century, having ventured into the realm of the divine, are sweeping through human society at a faster pace than ever before. Their achievements carry the danger that, with a single misstep, they could instantly bring about the collapse of humanity and the world. We humans may be able to approach the divine, but we cannot become divine, and harboring such desires is absolutely impermissible.This is precisely why we need the humanities and philosophy to exercise control over science and technology. Your research findings must be made public, and their value and significance must be evaluated not only by expert communities but also by the general public—including those who have no knowledge whatsoever of your specific field. I want you to deeply engrave this truth in your hearts: research that does not seek to demonstrate its true value to society, nor undergo societal scrutiny, is nothing more than the self-satisfaction of the researcher and, in some cases, may even harm society.Furthermore, you are expected to cultivate a rich general education, sound judgment, and self-discipline, and to approach your studies with even greater sincerity than before. I hope that, drawing on the knowledge, skills, and general education you will acquire, as well as the guidance of your advisors, you will select research themes that contribute to the development of a prosperous society in the 21st century and beyond.
Finally, I would like to offer you the following words as my closing remarks as President.“It is not knowledge alone that cultivates discernment; if you lean on knowledge, your vision becomes clouded. Knowledge is the grime that accumulates on sensitivity and intellect (the power of thought).”
I believe these words are fitting for all of you, who are about to acquire a wealth of cutting-edge knowledge. If you learn the wrong way, or if you rely too heavily on knowledge, you will fail to see even what is right before your eyes. I repeat: “Knowledge is the grime that accumulates on sensitivity and intellect.”
Congratulations on your admission.
April 3, 2013
Kochi University (National University Corporation)
President Hiroshi Wakiguchi