English | ファンダメンタルズ

About

Mission

At first glance, science and art seem different. However, they are equals in their pursuit of something fundamental. We call them Fundamentalz.

Science and the arts differ greatly in method, output, and manner, but in terms of their search for something fundamental, a root, or a principle, they are equal. If there is a way to overcome their differences and find common ground, it would touch up the truth or universality. Our mission is to offer a space where once again, science and art can meet with society, and society can meet with universality and truth.

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The Fundamentalz Program will help to reconnect science, art, and society in the following three ways. We hope to revitalize each field, and to create a new culture.

(0) There are scientists who seek the truth, and artists whose thoughts come from individual experiences. We call both people Fundamentalz, or people who are pursuing something fundamental. We believe that when both of them stand together, it uncovers a path to the creation of universality.

(1) By participating in this program, scientists and artists from various fields will be given the opportunity to find something they don't understand, or see an end to yet.

(2) Reconnecting science, art, and society in a new way by offering individuals the chance to connect science and art through universality.

(3) In order to carry out (1) and (2), the following methods are used to pair artists and scientists

- Evaluate pairings to artists and scientists

- Socializing model

- Socializing platform and making communities

- Socializing with society model

Where is the problem

In science and the arts, communities are losing their flexibility

→Revitalization requires the introduction of something dramatic, such as the art of science, or the science of art.

Science and art are only enjoyed by a small population

→The purpose of both science and art is the pursuit for something beyond what we see, something universal. This truth would benefit more people if it were more widely accepted.

Individuals exist in diverse and specific forms, and on different levels. How can we connect these individuals? The challenge will be to create a system that allows an individual to remain who he or she is, while sharing their experiences to others in comprehensible way.

Values to share

This program focuses on the positive experiences of its participating scientists and artists.
This program is not complete, it is a creation process of working with others on a hypothesis, experimenting and testing.
This program prioritizes challenges that establish the groundwork for the next step, regardless of whether it produces a result.
Participants should not limit themselves to consuming the program contents, but are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to share their experiences internally and externally, and to create a program with others.
Participants taking part in this program have chosen to do it for different purposes and intentions. We ask all participants to respect one another, whatever the other's intention may be, and to support each other's learning.
Participants are asked to be mindful of others, to listen carefully, and avoid negativity in order to respect participant diversity.
Whatever the backgrounds of participants, everyone is treated as an equal during this program.
Participants will be challenged by difficult concepts and unexpected incidents. We encourage participants to not give up, and to keep exchanging ideas with others.
Participants are not required to integrate their work or collaborate with other participants, but we do encourage participants to interact with others, to challenge their understanding, and find new ideas that can be applied to their work.
Participants will be asked to use this program to interact with other participants, use their own resources to actively share their experiences, and widen their own community.
Participants should not limit themselves to finding a quick fix, but to take the opportunity to deepen their understanding and thinking.

program

Fundamentalz is programed in a three-year cycle. We are currently using different methods to recruit a variety of participants for the second term starting in April 2025.

Open call

Open call for scientists and artists. Following an interview, participants will be provided with a candidate list of partners to choose from. >more

Bazaar

Carried out at the beginning of the program. Formation of pairs. An encounter between a scientist and an artist, in which both parties interact and determine their partner in three ways: A) A pen-and-paper presentation, B) By an interaction with a philosophical researcher, and C) Through direct dialogue between the potential pair. Partially open to the public.>more

Fest/Fest mini

Carried out at the end of the program. The purpose of this event is to open up the process/final form of the exchange to members of the public. Partially open to the public. >more

Park

A sharing and exchange of progress, carried out 3 times a year. Discussions will be based on presentations of Fundamentalz with invited guests. In 2022, the theme was metaphysics in medieval and early modern times.>more

Room

A monthly online exchange. The purpose of this event is to reach out to Fundamentalz by reflecting on one's own thinking through dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds.>more

Talk

A roundtable discussion with experts from various fields, such as science, fine arts (humanities), and business, who will discuss their respective communities.>more

program

Organizers

Fundamentalz Program

The Fundamentalz Program is a volunteer-based organization made up of members of the Public Relations Task Force, affiliated with the Japan Association for Communications in Science and Technology (JACST), and volunteer artists and others who participate in the Fundamentalz Program.

JACST is an independent organization of more than 250 public relations professionals from 130 science and technology research institutes and universities in Japan.

E-mail：contact_at_fundamentalz.jp

FY2024 member

Maki Utsunomiya (Artist)
Aya Tsuboi (Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, The University of Tokyo / JACST)
Asako Hasegawa (ABS Support Team for Academia, NIG Innovation, National Institute of Genetics / JACST)
Tomoyo Fujita (Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University / JACST)
Toshihisa Fujiwara (Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University / JACST)
Takako Yamaguchi (Artist)
Saeko Okada (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, National Institutes for the Humanities / JACST) (Advisor)

FY2023 member

Kanako Iriguchi (Artist)
Maki Utsunomiya (Artist)
Natsuko Kondo (PR)
Aisa Sakaguchi (Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Osaka University / JACST)
Aya Tsuboi (Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, The University of Tokyo / JACST)
Asako Hasegawa (Public Relations Office of NBRP, National Institute of Genetics / JACST)
Toshihisa Fujiwara (Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University / JACST)
Takako Yamaguchi (Artist)
Saeko Okada (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, National Institutes for the Humanities / JACST) (Advisor)

FY2022 member

Kanako Iriguchi (Artist) July -
Maki Utsunomiya (Artist) August -
Natsuko Kondo (PR) October -
Aisa Sakaguchi (Institute for Liberal Arts and Sciences, Osaka University / JACST)
Aya Tsuboi (Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, The University of Tokyo / JACST)
Asako Hasegawa (Public Relations Office, Tohoku University Hospital / JACST)
Toshihisa Fujiwara (Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University / JACST) May -
Takako Yamaguchi (Artist) August -
Saeko Okada (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, National Institutes for the Humanities / JACST) (Advisor)

FY2021 member

Yae Akutsu (RIKEN Center for Brain Science / JACST)
Saeko Okada (Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, National Institutes for the Humanities / JACST)
Aisa Sakaguchi (Graduate School of Science, Osaka University / JACST)
Aya Tsuboi (Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, The University of Tokyo / JACST)
Ayumi Hotta (National Institutes for the Humanities, Information and Media Center / JACST) - September
Asako Hasegawa (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, WPI Center / JACST) November -