The Kick-off Event for the Cyber Civilization Research Center (CCRC) was held on Wednesday, July 18 at the G-Lab in the East Research Building on Mita Campus. Professor David Farber, a global authority in the field of information technology is serving as co-director of the CCRC.
In his opening address, President Akira Haseyama announced Keio University’s determination to demonstrate its role as a leader in research on information technology including its societal aspects, with Vice President Jiro Kokuryo then offering an overview of the CCRC. Professor Farber subsequently appealed to the importance of pooling know-how to establish continuities between human safety and happiness and timely developments in information technologies as part of his keynote speech, making reference to perspectives such as the progress of civilization as characterized by core technologies, material prosperity, and governance.
In addition, there were lectures by fellow CCRC co-director Professor Jun Murai, dean of the Graduate School of Media and Governance, and Project Assistant Professor Danit Gal. These lectures included explanations on the history of the relationship of Keio University with information technology as characterized by illustrations in Yukichi Fukuzawa’s "Things Western (Seiyo Jijo)" of telegraph cables spanning the globe; the latent positive and negative potentials of technology; and on the kind of research which the speakers intend to pursue towards verifiable contributions to mankind by technology.
The many attendees contributed to a lively debate by taking part in the ensuing discussions. Exchange among the participants in attendance was deepened across industrial, governmental, and academic barriers at the reception held at the Faculty Club which followed the conclusion of the proceedings.