
When I look at the dramatic advances in science and technology that have taken place in recent years, and the impacts they have had (not all positive) after being adopted in society, I feel that we are in an age where we must reexamine the relationship that science and technology have with society and reconsider our view of what kind of scientists and engineers are needed in this new era. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is supporting society in various ways, such as unmanned autonomous vehicles, more efficient and less labor-intensive logistics, diagnostic imaging and remote surgery in medical settings, drug discovery, and maintenance and management of social infrastructure, but it is also being used to create fake news and fake videos, commit cyber crimes, and develop lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). iPS cell research is contributing to the development of treatment methods and therapeutic drugs for serious illness that have thus far been difficult to treat, but it has also reached a level where it is possible to artificially create “embryo models” resembling human zygotes, bypassing the fertilization process. As Dr. Shinya Yamanaka stated, if we do not facilitate ethical discussion throughout society as quickly as possible, it will be outpaced by the science and technology themselves. It is not as simple as implementing scientific and technical findings in society. There are various processes that must happen at the same time: predicting and evaluating the social impact, increasing understanding and acceptance among the public, making laws, designing social systems, and facilitating ethical and orderly activities by parties such as national and local governments, companies, and the public. It is imperative that scientists and engineers actively participate in and support all of this work these days.
Takaomi Shigehara, Dean, Graduate School of Science and Engineering