International Symposium “Where do we come from, and where are we going?":: National Museum of Nature and Science,Tokyo

“Where do we come from, and where are we going?”

––this fundamental question has been the subject of investigation from various angles by scientists. Why does our universe, our planet Earth, exist? How did life originate and evolve? Why were humans born, and how did our cultures and societies emerge? Scientists have been addressing these questions from their respective specialized perspectives.

In recent years, interdisciplinary efforts to contemplate “where we come from and where we are going” have garnered attention, integrating knowledge from diverse academic disciplines. When we synthesize insights from the natural sciences to the social sciences, what kind of narrative emerges about human existence? ––this topic is now fervently debated.

Scientific museums, too, have been engaged in the exploration of these questions by collecting and examining 'objects' that illustrate the cosmos, Earth, nature, life, and the history of humankind. Through careful selection and inventive presentation of these objects, museums continue to tell the story of 'Where do we come from, and where are we going?' from various perspectives, striving to comprehend and narrate the bigger picture.

In this session, hosted by a science museum, we will reexamine how we contemplate and communicate the question of “Where do we come from, and where are we going?” Scientists who study the universe, life, and humanity will share the current state of science surrounding these questions, and together, we will explore the significance of envisioning a grand narrative and the potential of storytelling especially via ‘objects.’ Our aim is to reflect human endeavor facing the fundamental questions and use it as a foundation to envision the future.

* This session will be conducted with simultaneous interpretation in Japanese and English, as well as live streaming on the internet.

General Information

Date	October 9, 2023 (Mon., National Holiday) 13:00–18:10 (Registration open: 12:30)
Venue	Auditorium, 2nd floor, Japan Gallery, National Museum of Nature and Science, 7-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8718, Japan
Eligible participants	Open to the public
Participation fee	Free (Admission fee to Permanent Exhibitions is needed) General and university students: ¥630; High-school students and younger: Free. See the details on this Page.
Application Deadline and Capacity	September 22 (Fri.); Capacity of 40 people ※ Advance application via the form on this page is required. ※ In case of too many applications, we will hold a draw for place allocation. ※ We will live stream the conference. Details will be announced on this page when determined.
Contact	Department of Science and Engineering, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan E-mail : artefacts2023@kahaku.go.jp

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        Program
        
            13:00–13:10
            Opening remarks 
          
            13:10–13:40
            Plenary talk “Leap Through Science: The Reversible Time Machines”
Seigow Matsuoka (Director of Editorial Engineering Laboratory and Kadokawa Culture Museum)
          
            13:40–14:10
            “Pondering on the unknown  world beyond the pale blue dot”

            Yasushi Suto (astrophysics; The University of Tokyo)
          
            14:10–14:40
            “Human as a living thing in Biohistory”
Keiko Nakamura (“bio-history”; JT Biohistory Research Hall)
          
            14:40–14:55
            Break
          
            14:55–15:25
            “Modern human environment from evolutionary perspectives”
Mariko Hasegawa (anthropology; Japan Arts Council)
          
            15:25–15:55
            “Revisiting the past: the role of the science museum in the formation process of modern Nation-State”
Sayaka Oki (history of science; The University of Tokyo)
          
            15:55–16:10
            Break
          
            16:10–16:40
            “How to think the Anthropocene – Exploring deep-time through interscalar objects”
Fabienne Will (Munich Science Communication Lab and Deutsches  Museum Munich)
          
            16:40–17:10
            “The New Role of Museums in an Extraterrestrial Context”
Teasel Muir-Harmony (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum)
          
            17:10–17:25
            Break
          
            17:25–18:05
            Panel discussion

            Facilitator: Nobumichi Ariga (Hitotsubashi University)

            Panelist:	Osamu Kamei (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo)

              Yasushi Suto; Mariko Hasegawa; Fabienne Will; Teasel Muir-Harmony

            Theme:

             What kind of (museum) “objects” can be utilized to tell the story of humans and nature, reflecting the results of the current scientific inquiry? What are the meaning and risks of presenting a larger story that transcends the boundaries of disciplines? What would be the new roles of museums?
          
            18:05–18:10
            Closing remarks

13:00–13:10	Opening remarks
13:10–13:40	Plenary talk “Leap Through Science: The Reversible Time Machines” Seigow Matsuoka (Director of Editorial Engineering Laboratory and Kadokawa Culture Museum)
13:40–14:10	“Pondering on the unknown world beyond the pale blue dot” Yasushi Suto (astrophysics; The University of Tokyo)
14:10–14:40	“Human as a living thing in Biohistory” Keiko Nakamura (“bio-history”; JT Biohistory Research Hall)
14:40–14:55	Break
14:55–15:25	“Modern human environment from evolutionary perspectives” Mariko Hasegawa (anthropology; Japan Arts Council)
15:25–15:55	“Revisiting the past: the role of the science museum in the formation process of modern Nation-State” Sayaka Oki (history of science; The University of Tokyo)
15:55–16:10	Break
16:10–16:40	“How to think the Anthropocene – Exploring deep-time through interscalar objects” Fabienne Will (Munich Science Communication Lab and Deutsches Museum Munich)
16:40–17:10	“The New Role of Museums in an Extraterrestrial Context” Teasel Muir-Harmony (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum)
17:10–17:25	Break
17:25–18:05	Panel discussion Facilitator: Nobumichi Ariga (Hitotsubashi University) Panelist: Osamu Kamei (National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo) Yasushi Suto; Mariko Hasegawa; Fabienne Will; Teasel Muir-Harmony Theme: What kind of (museum) “objects” can be utilized to tell the story of humans and nature, reflecting the results of the current scientific inquiry? What are the meaning and risks of presenting a larger story that transcends the boundaries of disciplines? What would be the new roles of museums?
18:05–18:10	Closing remarks

Organizers and Sponsors

Organized by National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo
Supported by ICOM JAPAN

This symposium is generously sponsored by the SECOM Science and Technology Foundation and the Total Media Development Institute Co., Ltd. and supported by Japan National Tourism Organization.

* This session will be conducted with simultaneous interpretation in Japanese and English, as well as live streaming on the internet.