The keyword for the 21st century science is “conscientiousness.” This is the slogan the Tokyo University of Science adopted for enterprises to commemorate our 125th anniversary. We believe the science and technology of this millennium will be driven by the aspiration for peace and security and due consideration to nature and humanity. We have assumed an important role via our COE program in the context of this greater trend in technological progress.

As part of the 125th anniversary program, the University also plans to establish in 2004 the 21st Century Center for Fire Science Research, as one of the world’s leading institutes in this field. We will endeavor to bring rapid progress in fire science, one of the fortes of our University. We owe our standing in this field to the foresight of our predecessors. Thanks to their efforts, our University was honored with two accolades, the SJöRIN Prize for contribution to the development of fire safety science technologies (1994) and FORUM Prize for producing many outstanding researchers in this field (1997), from the International Association for Fire Safety Science.

Establishing the goal of the construction of an effective system based on solid scientific grounds for assessing the fire safety design of buildings, our COE is committed to playing a crucial role in expanding horizons in wide-ranging fire science research, in such areas as the phenomena of fire physics and chemistry, structural characteristics of buildings and human behavior in fires, fire statistics and risk assessment methods. We also assure that its achievements will be put to practical use and benefit society at large by implementing new technologies for fire safety in many different ways.

We have already introduced a number of measures for implementing our plan: installing large-scale experimental facilities in our 21st Century Center for Fire Science Research (2004), enhancing the organization by inviting many visiting scholars (2003), starting the postgraduate course in fire science (2004), etc. This is only part of our overall effort to radically reform and strengthen the system and environment for research and education. From the next academic year onwards, we will also start creating an international research / education network, so that we can strengthen or forge links with other universities and research institutes inside and outside Japan and engage in global activities within a cooperative environment.

By implementing our COE program, a world-class research and educational stronghold will be created, which we hope will also lead to the creation of Japan’s first specialist department in fire science at the postgraduate level.

There is no doubt that the activities of the COE will significantly raise the level of research and technology in fire safety science, producing many researchers and experts. It can be expected, therefore, that our research will contribute to 21st century society by advancing technologies which can protect lives and national assets from fire.