Contributing to All of Mankind as a True Maritime Country

摘要

The Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) was in the public eye with its various projects last fiscal year such as the establishment of its Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences, the launch of "Chikyu" and the completion of the "Earth Simulator." The Earth Simulator is an ultra-super computer which has been developed jointly by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and JAMSTEC presenting the software, and NEC Corporation the hardware. We have just heard news that the computer has just broken the record for the fastest calculation in the world. Chikyu is a deep-sea scientific riser drilling vessel which will make scientists' dreams come true by being able to excavate even to the earth's mantle. The vessel is also integrated with technologies by leading Japanese ship building companies. The meaning of this is that the development of this series of facilities is an example of business-academia-government collaboration which is being promoted actively by the Japanese government now. President Takuya Hirano gave an interview to STJ about JAMSTEC's strategy and philosophy as well as giving an introduction to the institute's activities including the 30th anniversary international symposium this coming September.