Syllabus Search Result

　This timely 7-day seminar focuses on the fashioning of cutting-edge studies and applied pragmatics. It will be run by Professor Yuko Nakahama, our full time SFC faculty, and Dr. Andrew Cohen, Professor Emeritus from University of Minnesota who is a world famous researcher in the field of applied pragmatics. It is our pleasure to have Dr. Cohen on board; there is no better person to discuss cutting-edge studies in applied pragmatics. The course will start by introducing basic concepts in applied pragmatics followed by sessions on how to conduct research in this field. Each participant will design a study and undertake preliminary efforts to identify relevant background literature and pilot possible instruments that could be used in the collection of data.
　The seminar will be open to both Japanese and foreign students, at graduate or undergraduate level, ideally those with some background in the conduct of research. It would also be beneficial but not essential for them to have some understanding of the principles of pragmatics. Students are expected to submit a paper that includes purpose of pilot research, annotated bibliography of literature, research questions and the design of the study by 30th of October, 2021. The paper can be written in English or Japanese.

This special workshop aims at obtaining knowledge of neuroscience, dermatological, and haptic science. Specifically, we plan to conduct research on how a sense of touch is related to deep SHITSUKAN, which can be acquired on the skin surface.

This special research project is a part of a collaborative study with the SFC TOUCH LAB (Nakatani lab) and the biophysics lab (at Chiba University).

After taking this class, we wish students to learn research methodologies in haptic sciences with dermatological sciences for finishing students' graduation research projects (for both grad and undergrad students).

It is known that there are about 40 trillion microorganisms of about 1,000 species living symbiotically in the human body. These flora vary greatly depending on the individual and the environment, and are known to have various effects on the human body through crosstalk with the host. In this project, we focus on intestinal bacteria and skin indigenous bacteria among the indigenous bacteria in the human body, and analyze the bacterial flora by meta-16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolome analysis using CE-TOFMS to clarify the interrelationship among bacterial flora, metabolites, and host. In this summer project, we will conduct bacterial flora analysis and metabolome analysis, and discuss among the members to develop our individual research. During staying at TTCK, members can develop the individual research respectively outside of class hours, too.

Assuming that we conduct policy research using questionnaire survey, this course will provide opportunity for participants to collectively learn efficient ways to design quesionnaire survey and analize its results, and to deepen knowledge by conducting design and analysis themselves.

Recently, various types of metabolome analysis methods have appeared, and it is possible to measure a large number of metabolites. In this project, we will deepen our understanding of typical metabolome analysis methods and conduct metabolome analysis research using actual instrument.

Since the end of the last century, the complete genomic sequences of many organisms have been determined. The impact of these genome projects on the various fields of science has been enormous. It could be said that we now have in our hands “the blueprints of life” for these organisms. At the beginning of the 21st century, it became apparent that large numbers of noncoding RNAs are, unexpectedly, encoded in these genomes. These RNAs are not translated into proteins but act as riboregulators, and have had another huge impact on the life sciences. More recently still, a new tide of research into the classical noncoding RNAs, such as the transfer RNAs (tRNAs), has arrived. In this project, we are especially focusing on the following subjects: (1)To organize main biofilm components and their biosynthesis genes. (2) To survey VP24 protein across all species of the Ebolavirus. (3) To survey CSD protein as a transcription elongation function indicator.

We will consider the future direction of agriculture and food in Japan based on discussions with farmers and startups in "Tokachi".

The Augmented Town research project aims to build a new town platform using the latest technologies in XR and robotics, targeting a specific area in Tottori Prefecture as a model case. The keyword for this special research project is “augmentation”. While preserving the good old parts of the community, we will introduce various state-of-the-art technologies to prototype a system that will create new value and presence in the town.

In the Tone Numata area of Gunma Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture, where we have cooperative relations as experimental sites, we will hold a meeting to discuss the Spring 2022 study from various perspectives by gathering related parties, core members of the Kaze no Tani study*, core members of the Kaze no Tani study at the Ataka Lab at SFC, and people involved in various social changes. We will conduct a variety of analytical studies, set up, arrangement, and other various activities with experts for the conference. In addition, a prototype will be created to generate questions for future consideration.

*Leading people from government, academia, industry, editors, etc.

Transcriptome analysis of non-model organisms

One of the essences of AI technology is the automation of intellectual labor. One of the extremes of intellectual labor is natural science research as well as artistic and creative activities. Actually, in the field of advanced scientific research, the rapid spread of information technology and robotics including AI is progressing, and the future image of the progress of scientific research itself being greatly accelerated by AI is coming soon.

In this course, students will learn how AI connected to experimental robots can discover new knowledge through repetitive experiments and hands-on exercises. Using a liquid handling robot that can be controlled using the Python programming language as a course material, students will experience the physicality of robots and how scientific experiments can be automated by robots by running the robot with programs written by the students and by performing the same experiments with their own bodies. In this course, students will learn about the physicality of robots and how scientific experiments can be automated by robots.

Mental health practices face boundaries and intermediates in the following areas: 1) clinical medicine (psychiatry) and social medicine (occupational mental health and school mental health), 2) Individuals and organizations, 3) normal psychology and psychopathology, 4) the ideal and the real, 5) humans and law, 6 ) consciousness and unconsciousness, 7) lecture and practice, 8) generality and specialty. In this course, we will discuss the boundaries and intermediateness that are the characteristics of "practical mental health" through group work, focusing on cases. This course aims to learn to understand the phenomenon of mental health in various fields from a multifaceted and comprehensive perspective.