When it comes to KIT Projects,
is the answer!
In an increasingly complex contemporary society, people who master not just a single field, but are able to look at things from a range of angles are increasingly in demand. At Kyoto Institute of Technology, the academic fields of science, engineering, architecture and design co-exist in a single faculty. We believe that, in this day and age, rigid departmental boundaries limit new innovation. Organic collaboration that transcends the separation of academic disciplines nurtures creativity. This comes from encounters with a diverse range of experts. Further, while we continue to hold great store in the local traditions of Kyoto, we are also conducting practical research that is encouraging collaboration with research institutions around the world. Some KIT projects that showcase the kinds of innovation that typically arise from interdisciplinary collaboration are featured below.
-
ART
SCIENCEHistorically, technological development has spurred developments in aesthetic sensibility. In turn, outcomes of the most innovative science and technology of various eras captured people’s hearts and minds with pleasing designs. Throughout the over 100-year history of KIT, we have cultivated an academic tradition not seen anywhere else in Japan: actively seeking the interaction and fusion of knowledge, beauty, and skill. Every day, the interaction among the three academic fields of Materials and Life Science, Engineering Design, and Architecture and Design gives rise to groundbreaking initiatives that overturn previously held common wisdom.
Project
Pick Up
Learning as it Grows: Autonomous Design for Additive Manufacture
This is a collaborative project between KYOTO Design Lab, Department of Bio-Based Materials, Department of Macromolecular Science, and Engineering at Kyoto Institute of Technology. Taking inspiration from bamboo bio-microstructures, a new 3D structural growth algorithm was created and used for the development of new products, which used only a third of the anticipated material. The core aim of the project was to bring advanced design together with Kyoto Institute of Technology’s expertise in materials and life sciences and explore new avenues of innovation. (Design: Assa Ashuach | Photo: Masaharu Okuda)
Home-Use Therapeutic Drug Screening Kit
This project focused on a very rare, intractable disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Because there are so few sufferers of this disease and it is not widely known, it has not been commercially feasible for pharmaceutical companies to develop therapeutic drugs to treat it. Our innovative proposal for CMT treatment research developed a home-use therapeutic drug screening kit, which sufferers themselves can use, with the aid of fruit flies, to discover potential therapeutic substances in the home and participate in the investigation of those substances.（Photo : Juuke Schoorl）
Mutual encounters of Science and Art
In this educational program designed to stimulate “Mutual Encounters of Science and Art,” students gain a hands-on feel for the potential of engineering sensibilities through modules such as “Build and Take Photographs with a Pinhole Camera,” “Bio Art Created with E. coli Ink,” and “Mobile with Motifs from Nature.” They join in discussion with KIT and non-KIT lecturers who are at the cutting edge of their respective fields, to acquire new engineering sensibilities.
-
LOCAL
GLOBALA global perspective and a local perspective that respects the unique characteristics of a region are in no way mutually exclusive. Indeed, today, as regions become increasingly uniform and migration to urban areas is creating problems, it is increasingly important to develop ideas that incorporate both local and global perspectives. KIT is located in Kyoto, a global metropolis and an ancient capital brimming with cultural heritage. Making use of this optimum location, we have actively pursued the rediscovery of local traditional culture and exchange with researchers from around the world. By conducting many joint projects and hosting symposiums in collaboration with some of the world’s leading research institutions, we are acting as a bridge between Kyoto and the world.
Project
Pick Up
Regional Science and Technology Demonstration Hub Development Project
One of our university’s major strengths lies in the area of smart grid research. We are excited to announce we are now taking our research outcomes to the next level, commercialization. To accomplish this, we have upgraded our facilities by constructing a first for a Japanese national university, an electromagnetic anechoic chamber complied with international standard.* This space is now available to joint research projects with regional industries and will enable the repeated trial and error necessary to the research and development of revolutionary new and innovative power devices and arrays under the guidance of an iNARTE-EMC (The International Association for Radio, Telecommunications and Electromagnetics) certified engineer.
*a test room designed to sufficiently absorb the reflections of electromagnetic waves
Experiencing Multicultural Co-existence while Exploring Kyoto’s Cultural Heritage
In recent years, developing the ability to mutually respect and cooperate with the world’s many diverse languages and cultures has taken on even greater importance. In this initiative, making the most of KIT’s Kyoto locale, Japanese and international students learn about traditional culture and crafts together, transcending language and cultural barriers to pool their knowledge, discuss issues, build theories, and propose them to the region to contribute to revitalization.
-
TRADITION
INNOVATIONThere are two elements that are essential to human endeavor – universal values that people have long held dear, and the risks taken by people in each age to improve their reality. Without both of these elements, vital endeavors would cease. Maintaining Japan’s precious cultural heritage and the knowledge that makes it possible must coincide with the exploration of new technologies and sensitivities. Kyoto Institute of Technology is engaged in many unprecedented ventures that link old values with the new. We are rediscovering hints for the future from familiar things around us, and discovering historical continuity in original ideas and technologies. It is from this intersection of tradition and innovation that unknown potential is continually being born.
Project
Pick Up
Mapping the Landscapes and Soundscapes of Japanese Gardens
This joint research project held between KYOTO Design Lab and the Landscape Research Laboratory of ETH Zürich aims to reveal Kyoto’s urban structure through the reexamination of gardens. This is done by recording various gardens in Kyoto as digital data and archiving the relationship between the gardens, buildings and the city. (Photo: Tomomi Takano)
Spray-on Washi Project
Washi, or Japanese paper, is made with traditional methods, but regular washi paper is constrained by size limitations. Now, the use of an innovative spray-on washi that makes use of medical radiation technology, has given rise to a diverse range of possibilities. Use the link below to see some creations made with this strong, yet easy to apply, spray-on washi.(Photo : Tomomi Takano)
ART×SCIENCE（Photo：Juuke Schoorl）、LOCAL×GLOBAL / TRADITION×INNOVATION(Photo : Tomomi Takano)