The basic sciences: tradition and innovation
“Represent the new era.”
These are the words of determination Hideki Yukawa wrote in his notebook when setting his goals for physics research. About a century later, KyotoU’s basic science research fields have achieved internationally significant accomplishments through the relentless pursuit of truth.
Inheriting this spirit, the university has established several research institutes dedicated to the basic sciences. In 1953, the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics opened to commemorate Yukawa’s Nobel Prize, becoming a home for wide-ranging research from elementary particles to the cosmos. Ten years later, the Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences opened as Japan’s first specialized mathematics and mathematical sciences institute. Producing numerous recipients of the Fields Medal, Gauss Prize, Chern Medal, and Breakthrough Prize, it has consistently led the world with, for example, the mathematical theory of stochastic differential equations and the construction and development of algebraic analysis.
Applied mathematics is gaining attention due to developments in AI and big data analysis technologies. Joint research with industry is expanding, including foundational research for future mobility in society, where new algorithms are being developed to mathematically ensure safe and satisfactory transportation options for all.
Groundbreaking work is also underway in the field of particle physics. Researchers have begun tackling crucial tasks in fundamental physics (discovering new laws, developing new materials) by integrating rapidly evolving machine learning with theoretical physics. KyotoU will continue to stand at the forefront of pure science, pursuing initiatives that pioneer new eras.