Mariko Ikeda

Research on the socio-economic function of night-time culture and art

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R1

Researcher

Mariko Ikeda

Outline

This research focuses on the economic and creative activities of the private sector with a high level of social utility of culture and the arts at night, which is currently in a state of crisis, in order to achieve a resilient and innovative integration of online and face-to-face economies, with a view to changing cultural practices in the post-pandemic global society. The aim of this project is to understand the culture and arts that are spilling over from Japan’s cultural policy, which was revealed in the wake of Covid-19, and to form a comprehensive vision of a truly sustainable cultural administration and social and economic construction at night.

Hiroyasu Inoue

Simulation of the economy based on large-scale micro data

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R2

Researcher

Hiroyasu Inoue

Outline

This project aims to estimate how anti-pandemic measures affect the economy. In particular, I build a model in which many agents interact in complex networks, and I run simulations on large-scale parallel computers, incorporating multilateral large-scale micro data regarding supply chains, final consumption, and firm activities. In addition, I replicate demand and supply in the service sectors and improve the accuracy of daily estimations of firm production, which have been difficult for prior research to do.

Shoya Iwanami

Building a pandemic knowledge infrastructure driven by mathematical sciences

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R3

Researcher

Shoya Iwanami

Outline

In the process of experiencing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), people faced medical and economic challenges associated with a pandemic. In this research project, in order to enable a rapid response in the event of a pandemic, I will use mathematical science to link the characteristics of the virus and the infectious disease, as well as to examine the policy and other social implications. By comprehensively understanding pandemics, I aim to build a social and technological infrastructure for knowing and preparing for future infectious diseases.

Shusaku Sasaki

Building social cooperation for infectious disease policy with uncertainty

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R4

Researcher

Shusaku Sasaki

Outline

Uncertainty in science and technology for controlling emerging infectious diseases leads to few voluntary cooperators and a lack of cooperation from people targeted by policy. In this study, first, I quantify the number of cooperators in the “opt-in” scheme, which sets non-participation as the default setting and leaves participation to the voluntary. Second, I examine the effect of information nudges in behavioral economics on increasing the number of cooperators. Third, I investigate the way to introduce the “opt-out” scheme, which sets participation as the default setting, while considering people’s autonomy and social welfare.

Hiroki Takikawa

Development of a social data collection framework for pandemic prevention and evaluation of the effectiveness of network interventions using mathematical models

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R5

Researcher

Hiroki Takikawa

Outline

To build a social data infrastructure for pandemic governance, I will develop a methodology for collecting network data with sociodemographic and health outcomes, based on computational social science. Then, I will conduct mathematical simulation analysis of network interventions using the real data. I will then evaluate the effectiveness of network intervention policies in terms of preventing the spread of infection, compatibility with economic and social activities, and social justice.

Ayako Takemi

Global and Domestic Governance and Infectious Disease Responses: Focusing on Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Information-Sharing and Investment Strategies for Drug Development

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R6

Researcher

Ayako Takemi

Outline

This research will address global and domestic governance issues regarding infectious disease responses, which the threat of COVID-19 has particularly highlighted. Specifically, the research will focus on (1) interdisciplinary information-sharing mechanisms and (2) investment strategies for drug development leveraging flexible types of contracts. Global compliance mechanisms against outbreaks will be addressed through a comparative assessment with other global frameworks and conventions from the perspective of appropriate and timely international information-sharing.

Ho Namkoong

Fundamental research to build an academic system resilient to pandemics

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R7

Researcher

Ho Namkoong

Outline

I will select topics from discussions between scientists and healthcare providers actively engaged in research and clinical care of COVID19 patients and propose an integrated research system that can be immediately operational in the event of the next pandemic. I will also consider ELSI and contribute to the creation of an infrastructure that is resilient or at the very least prepared for pandemics.

Akihiro Nishi

The evolution of overconfidence and the role of early-warning signals amid pandemics

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R8

Researcher

Akihiro Nishi

Outline

In the present proposal, I aim to explore the evolution of overconfidence in the context of pandemics (e.g. going out without the use of facial coverings, and non-adherence to remote work policies) and its condition through agent-based simulations and online network experiments with human individuals. I also aim to examine the role of early-warning signals when suppressing the evolution of overconfidence, and to examine it using the historical infection data. Finally, I plan to exchange opinions with stakeholders in Japan, the US, and other countries.

Keisuke Hasegawa

Construction of Indoor Information Environment against Infections based on Remote Control of Room Air

Grant No.：JPMJPR21R9

Researcher

Keisuke Hasegawa

Outline

The aim of this research project is development of remote control technique of midair droplet transportation based on acoustic streaming generated by intense midair ultrasound, and of a ubiquitous communication system that present tactile and auditory stimuli to users everywhere in a room. By development of unique technologies that can be applied to both online and on-site application scenarios, intrinsic elements important in social communications are expected to be clarified. At the same time, those technologies will contribute to sustaining quality of communication even in society under pandemic disaster, by means of complementing the problem of the physical distance policies in such situations.

Naoya Fujiwara

Construction and extension of multi-scale geographical epidemic models

Grant No.：JPMJPR21RA

Researcher

Naoya Fujiwara

Outline

In this research, social surveys on human contacts are carried out in the urban area, and the results are compared with the contact patterns obtained from big human mobility data such as GPS data. By fusing the survey data, mathematical models on the spread of infectious diseases are constructed, and simulations in various geographical scales are carried out. The simulation results are compared with the emprical analyses of the epidemiological data. The simulation results are expected to understand theoretically.

Tsukuru Minamiki

Development of Sensing Hub Platforms for Preventing the Spread of Infection

Grant No.：JPMJPR21RB

Researcher

Tsukuru Minamiki

Outline

For the prevention of the outbreak and spread of infections, it is important to perceive the health status of each person. Toward this end, this project aims for the realization of a “daily” medical examination by developing an on-site multi-sensing device for the simultaneous determination of various biomarkers. The final goal of this project is to establish the fundamental technology for effective prevention of future pandemics through the development of the sensing platform to supplement infection surveillance and manage personal health at home.

Daisuke Yoneoka

Epidemiological, statistical, and machine learning methodologies for data-driven policy making under pandemic

Grant No.：JPMJPR21RC

Researcher

Daisuke Yoneoka

Outline

In this project, I will examine and correct the bias of various survey methods under a pandemic, and propose epidemiological, statistical, and machine learning methodologies that meet the needs of each phase of the infection situation. In addition, I will build an online platform for organizing information, mathematical methods, data, and programs that are distributed across multiple fields, and for listing the interpretation of the results.