Tokyo Institute of Technology: President Masu speaks at KAIST 50th anniversary celebration event

On February 3, President Kazuya Masu spoke at KAIST Summit 2021, an online event held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), a Tokyo Tech partner university.

The Summit theme was “The Roles and Responsibilities of Universities in a Global Crisis.” Joining Masu as keynote speakers were Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) President L. Rafael Reif, Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro and KAIST President Sung-Chul Shin.

In a speech titled “Designing Our Future — Tokyo Tech DLab’s Approach,” Masu introduced Tokyo Tech’s Laboratory for Design of Social Innovation in Global Networks (DLab), an interface designed to promote dialogue with society. Describing DLab’s approach to designing the future through inclusive dialogue with stakeholders and members of the public, Masu stressed the importance of listening to the needs and desires of the public in exploring how science and technology can contribute to “a future we all want.”

Following the keynote speeches, the four university presidents exchanged ideas and opinions in a panel discussion focused on the role of universities in relation to three topics: “The Digital Divide,” “Emerging Challenges in AI,” and “Social Entrepreneurship and University-Industry Collaboration.”