The Program of Life and Environmental Sciences features education that encompasses a wide range of basic fields, from molecular to ecosystem levels, and education on life science in general, including agronomics, as application fields. Furthermore, the Program will work together with other graduate school programs to provide interdisciplinary educational and research activities that bring together the humanities/arts and sciences, beyond the boundaries of life science.

The rapid advance of natural science – life science in particular – has created a dilemma in that increasingly fragmented scientific disciplines bring about a narrower view of things. Research is conducted based on the basic idea that cells are made up of molecules, individual organisms are made up of molecules, and an ecosystem is made up of organisms. When it comes to the atmosphere and hydrosphere that cover ecosystems, however, research is conducted at a molecular level. Thus, it is necessary to adopt a holistic perspective, rather than a hierarchical understanding.

This Program provides a well-balanced curriculum that covers micro systems (molecules, genome, etc.), complex systems (brain, symbiosis, etc.) and macro systems (ecosystems, the earth’s outer atmosphere, etc.). At the same time, the curriculum is designed for students to develop a high level of specialized knowledge and research capabilities in a specific field. Emphasis is also placed on the development of a multidisciplinary perspective (covering the application fields of medicine, agriculture, and life engineering) and a viewpoint about social implementation. The Program’s objective is to train students as a researcher, educator, or multidisciplinary leader who has a holistic perspective and a high level of specialized knowledge and research abilities, and can contribute to society or the academic world.