Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science

The Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science is a unique research hub in Japan that places evolution at its core. All organisms, including humans, share a common ancestor about 3.8 billion years ago, and since then life on this planet has followed diverse evolutionary trajectories.

Evolution is not merely a phenomenon of the past; it is constantly reshaping the structure and behavior of living systems today.

Our Center extends the concept of “evolution” beyond individual organisms and populations to include the temporal development of societies, civilizations, and information systems arising from interactions among organisms. In this way, it serves as a rare academic hub that seeks to uncover the universal principles and regularities underlying these phenomena. Since 2026, under our new slogan “History of Life, beyond,” our mission has been to develop evolutionary studies into a field that also offers perspectives on the future, not just the past and present.

By critically and creatively interpreting the dynamics of life and of societies and civilizations as its products from the perspective of “integrative evolution,” we aim to scientifically envision the diverse futures that may emerge.

Naoki Irie Ph.D.
Director, Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science