Science Fiction Research and Development Center (SU)
Summary
Based on the history of science fiction in art and creative writing and its transformation, this research center will explore the value of science fiction as a methodology for human society innovation by bringing together researchers in literature, engineering, and art to jointly explore the value of stories. The goals of this research center are fourfold: A. Cross-cutting research in literature, engineering, and aesthetics on the mechanics of storytelling with a focus on science fiction; B. Development of creativity-supporting technologies using information technology, etc.; and C. Dissemination of methods to support people's creativity using SF prototyping; D. Application for intellectual property based on SF research and development and the organization of publications and events
Website
SDGs
4. QUALITY EDUCATION
5. GENDER EQUALITY
8. DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
9. INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES
12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
17. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
Operational Period
2025/04/01～2026/03/31（Duration of activity as SU：2024/01/01～2025/03/31）
Members
◎ indicates the project leader
| Name | Affiliation | Position | Field of Specialization/Research Interests |
|---|---|---|---|
| ◎ Hirotaka Osawa | Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering | Associate Professor | Human-Agent Interaction, Science Fiction Prototyping |
| Susumu Niijima | Faculty of Economics | Professor | Modern and contemporary French literature (Raymond Roussel, Jules Verne), bachelor machine art, science fiction |
| Ai Hasegawa | Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering | Associate Professor | Speculative Design, Art & Design, Diversity & Equity & Inclusion, Ethics, SF Prototyping |
| Kei Fujiwara | Faculty of Science and Technology | Associate Professor | Bioinformatics |
| Kouta Minamizawa | Graduate School of Media Design | Professor | Haptic technology, VR, Human augmentation, Body informatics, System informatics |
| Dohjin Miyamoto | KGRI | Project Research Associate | Sci-Fi Prototyping, Virtual Reality |
| Mayu Yamakawa | KGRI | Project Research Associate | Cognitive Psychology, Cognitive Science, Creativity |
| Kamome Ashizawa | KGRI | Researcher | Novel Writing Using AI, and Future Prediction through SF Prototyping and Its Social Application |
| Mengsi Liu | KGRI | Researcher | Educational psychology |
| Kunio Shirahada | KGRI | Visiting Professor | Service management, Technology management |
| TAILLANDIER, Denis Alfred Luis | KGRI | Visiting Professor | Japanese Studies, (Japanese) Science Fiction Studies, Cultural Studies |
| Miwa Nishinaka | KGRI | Visiting Professor | Knowledge Management, Destination Management |
| Yusuke Kishita | KGRI | Visiting Associate Professor | Sustainability design theory |
| Sachiko Kiyokawa | KGRI | Visiting Associate Professor | Cognitive Science, Creative problem solving |
| Maiko Kodama | KGRI | Visiting Associate Professor | Management Contorl Systems，Creativity，Innovation Management |
| Yuuki Namba | KGRI | Visiting Research Fellow | Contemporary Aesthetics, Fiction Theory, Queer/Crip Theory |
| Ryu Miyata | KGRI | Visiting Research Fellow | Science Communication |
| GenGen Kusano | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Science Fiction |
| Atsuya Fujimoto | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Innovation, Science Fiction implements in social and business |
| Tomoya Minegishi | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Human-Agent Interaction |
| Yusuke Mori | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Natural Language Processing, Multimodality, Creative Support, Entertainment AI |
| Yutaka Ebihara | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Science Fiction, Literary Theory, Gender Studies |
| Sanshin Shimamura | KGRI | Collaborative Researcher | Literature (French literature, Science Fiction) and other representational culture theory |
