Call for Proposal
Basic information of the Research Area
[Mathematical Sciences for the Future]Exploration of New Science Using Mathematics to Predict and Control the Future
Research Supervisor
Zin AraiProfessor, School of Computing, Institute of Science Tokyo
Strategic Objective
Scientific prediction and control as the foundation of a new society and industry
Overview
In addressing escalating social issues on a global scale and the emergence of new real-world problems, there is an urgent need to protect and nurture Earth as global commons, ensuring our safety and security. Achieving this requires the utilization of all available information and data to detect threats and changes in circumstances early, including societal challenges. We must construct new societal infrastructure capable of optimal decision-making and response.
This inevitably involves 'prediction'; to predict and avoid transitioning to irreversibly adverse states, we need to elucidate and analyze complex natural and social phenomena and accurately identify significant indicators and critical transition points. Furthermore, based on such predictions, we need 'control'; it is crucial to create new theories and innovative technologies that ultimately lead to (or maintain) a more desirable state by intervening in the predicted events. From a sustainability perspective, it is critical to avoid allocating resources towards unattainable goals; therefore, examining the feasibility of predicting and controlling the phenomena in question is also essential.
In this research area, we aim to create foundational theories linking the elucidation and analysis of complex phenomena and diverse data related to social issues through abstraction and visualization using mathematics and mathematical sciences. Our goal is the prediction and control of these phenomena.
Specifically, we try to extract mathematical structures from the phenomena that constitute social challenges and explore variables that explain causality and principal factors related to the origin and critical transition of the phenomena. Furthermore, leveraging specialized knowledge about these phenomena, we will focus on verifying and demonstrating the plausibility of the mathematical structures and assessing the feasibility of prediction and control based on them.
Research Area Advisors
Click here to see the List of Research Area Advisors
Schedule of Selection Process
| Deadline for application | 2026/05/26 at 12:00 noon, Japan time |
|---|---|
| Document-based review | 2026/07/02 |
| JST will contact to the interviewees no later than | July 9 (Thu) Tentative |
| Submission Deadline for Interview Screening Documents ＜Documents to be Submitted＞ ・Supplementary explanation materials for the interview ・Presentation materials (format is flexible) ・Other relevant documents ※Details on how to submit will be provided separately. |
July 16 (Thu) Strict Deadline |
| Interview Screening (Online) Please note that the specific interview date and time will be designated by JST. |
July 21 (Tue) 8:30–18:30 July 23 (Thu) 8:30–18:30 July 24 (Fri) 13:00–16:00 |
Research Supervisor's Policy
Research Supervisor's Policy of this Research Area can be downloaded from below.
【Research Supervisor’s Message】
While it is not necessary for the proposal to be directly connected to the solution of social issues, we expect proposals that clearly describe how they will contribute to the advancement of predictive and control research toward solving social issues, including the expected impact and novelty/academic value compared to existing efforts.