The School of Physical Sciences conducts education and research in physical sciences relating to material, space, energy, and life. The five departments that constitute the School have been located at four Inter-University Research Institutes: the Institute for Molecular Science, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the National Institute for Fusion Science, and the Institute for Space and Astronautical Science. These Institutes house special and large equipment impossible for general universities to accommodate, and they have implemented a great number of large-scale and internationally advanced research projects. The School is open to many foreign researchers, including visiting faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and students, and thus offers a highly international environment.
In this excellent research environment, students experience the frontiers of physical science and devote themselves to study and research, striving to create the science of the future by themselves. The School provides a tutoring system in which at least two faculty members are assigned per student, allowing practical research with one-on-one guidance. In addition, a research assistant (RA) system has generously supported students financially and created an environment in which they can concentrate on their study and research. We hope that many motivated students will enroll in the School and grow into researchers who will play major roles in the future of physical science.
AONO Shigetoshi
Dean
School of Physical Sciences
Special field: Bioinorganic Chemistry
The Department carries out advanced education and research through a wide range of observational and theoretical researches using state-of-the-art facilities like Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, the ALMA radio telescope in Chile, and supercomputers. According to the interest, students can learn the observational and theoretical astronomies and application of cutting-edge technology as well as the design, fabrication, and testing of new observational instruments, development of new methods of data acquisition and analysis, and public outreach.
To develop fusion power for a future energy source, it is necessary to research plasma physics through a complementary approach of both experimental and theoretical studies.
In this department, students learn the experimental methodology as well as engineering requirements for investigating high temperature plasma, and also learn computer simulation techniques for revealing the nature of complicated fusion plasmas.
The Department of Space and Astronautical Science provides an opportunity for high-level education and advanced research through theoretical studies, analysis of acquired data, and practice of advanced R&D in Astrophysics, Solar System Sciences and Space Engineering. The main feature of each major is as follows.