About OA
The University of Tokyo Ocean Alliance educates the next generation of experts by introducing fresh new perspectives on our ocean. The alliance has created an international core for ocean research and education system with an interactive flow of information to form our nation’s largest think tank for ocean related issues.
From the Director
New developments are being made each year from the perspectives of marine environmental conservation, sustainable use of mineral and biological resources, renewable energy, safety of sea lanes, and protection of marine interests. In addition, due to strict restrictions on surveys within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), there has been a shift in focus towards Biological diversity Beyond areas of National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). We are entering a new era in which the problems surrounding the ocean have become more diverse and complex, which necessitates education and research that integrates the natural sciences with social sciences, such as international law of the sea and ocean policy. Further cooperative relationships are needed across departments and scientific fields related to the ocean. It is particularly necessary to consider the issues within Japan, a maritime nation surrounded by the ocean, as well as issues affecting our global community.
With all of this in mind, the University of Tokyo established the "Ocean Alliance" in 2007, which is an official university organization centered on seven graduate schools, five research institutes, and one research center. The Nippon Foundation has supported our organization financially since the establishment. In 2009, our graduate school educational program "Interdisciplinary Education Program on Ocean Science and Policy" and the Hiratsuka Offshore Experiment Tower Program was born and we have been conducting cross-departmental ocean education and research activities ever since. The Overseas Internship Project started in 2014 with the cooperation of international organizations including the UN. Okinotorishima and Small Island Countries Program is a new program we have recently introduced into our lineup.
In April 2020, this organization developed into the Ocean Alliance Collaborative Research Organization as a more independent and established organization. We will continue to launch new projects in order to solve various problems related to the ocean and expand on the scope of our research activities. Through the projects, we are developing human resources who can respond promptly to ocean issues around the world. We will not only disseminate information on the processes, but also deepen the network of the maritime alliance think tank to contribute to the development of worldwide oceanic solutions.
機構長 木村 伸吾
Organization
Ocean Alliance is a multidisciplinary network organization for ocean education and research conducted at the University of Tokyo. Graduate Schools of Education, Arts and Sciences, Science, Engineering, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Frontier Science, Public Policy; and Earthquake Research Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, Institute of Industrial Science, Historiographical Institute, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, and Asian Natural Environmental Science Center participate in Ocean Alliance.
The activities of the Ocean Alliance are planned and operated by the council, promotion committee, and steering committee.
