Science Council of Japan

The Science Council of Japan (SCJ) is representative organization of Japanese scholars and scientists in all fields of sciences, including humanities, social sciences, life sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Takashi Onishi, President of Toyohashi Tech, is the elected president in 2016. He was elected for two consecutive terms, starting in 2013.^[1] It is headquartered at Roppongi, Minato-ku in Tokyo.^[2] Members are elected by scientists of all levels, including research scholars. Elected members are recognised by the Government of Japan, similar in pattern to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in USA, upon which its institution was based. It was in fact established as American policy following US occupation of Japan after the World War II.^[3] It was inaugurated in January 1949 as to function independent as a scientific statutory body under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister.^[4]

As of 2015, the Science Council of Japan consists of 210 elected members (appointed by the Prime Minister) and 2,000 associate members. Its organisational set up includes a General Assembly, an Executive Board, three Section Meetings (namely Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical Sciences and Engineering), 30 committees based on fields of specialties, five Administrative Committees for operation, and issue-oriented ad hoc committees.^[5]

History

The Science Council of Japan was founded by Harry C. Kelley during the American occupation of Japan after the World War II. A former Professor of Physics at the Lehigh University, Kelley was working in the American occupation forces. He was appointed as the civilian chief of the Fundamental Research Branch, and was subsequently appointed its associate director. His first achievement was creation of the Japan Association of Science Liaison, a private organisation. The organisation was developed into the Preparatory Committee (Sewaninkai) of the Scientific Research Organisation Renewal Committee.^[3] It was eventually renamed Science Council of Japan, and became constituted under the Government of Japan in 1949 as a "special organisation".^[5] It was formally inaugurated on 20 January with its first general meeting.^[6]

Activities

In June 2015, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japanese government issued a directive to abolish or reduce humanities and social sciences in all national universities.^[7] The Science Council of Japan opposed the order. Representing the resolution of the council Executive Board, President Onishi held a press conference on 23 July condemning the official decision. He expressed that the council believed that the dissolution of these disciplines "may result in higher education in Japan losing its breadth and depth."^[8]

The Science Council of Japan was a consultative and decision making body in Japan's high-level radioactive waste management policy. The Government of Japan has the Designated Radioactive Waste Final Disposal Act enacted in 2000, under which the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) was established. The works and reports of NUMO were given to the council for inspection and decision in 2011. The council made its decision on it, and suggestions to the government for actions in 2012.^[9]

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