Series
AY 2013

Mysteries of material ― From birth of materials to future of humans (Global Focus on Knowledge)

CODI: Norimichi Kojima NAVI: Takashi Nagata More than 90 elements exist in the natural world, and were created either in the process of the universe’s expansion or inside stars. Humans have discovered new energy generated through element conversion, and synthesized about 30 artificial elements. More than 10 million kinds of molecules have been created artificially from some 100 elements, including artificial ones. People are still synthesizing new compounds. The Global Focus on Knowledge course for the 2013 academic year will be delivered by top researchers in cutting-edge scientific fields under the main theme “Mysteries of materials.” The lectures will cover the birth of the universe and matter, the future of the expanding universe, unknown dark matter, natural laws ruling materials’ characteristics and materials science based on such laws. Materials science handles a variety of materials including metal, semiconductors and polymers. Materials used for creating new medical technology and supporting sustainable society based on renewable energy will also be discussed. Participants in the lectures are expected to find a new view about materials through encountering the mysteries and infinite potential of materials. Not only students majoring in scientific and engineering fields but also many studying human and social sciences are encouraged to attend.

Content List

Why do we exist?

00:59
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#1 Birth of universe

[Outline] This Global Focus on Knowledge course will cover wide spectrum of topics from the universe and materials to life and vision for a sustainable society. As our starting point, we will think about why we exist in the universe, how matter was created and how stars and galaxies were formed. The universe would have been featureless, empty and disordered if there were not for inflation that en…

Lecturer | Hitoshi Murayama
00:59
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1:25
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#2 Birth of matter

[Outline] This Global Focus on Knowledge course will cover wide spectrum of topics from the universe and materials to life and vision for a sustainable society. As our starting point, we will think about why we exist in the universe, how matter was created and how stars and galaxies were formed. The universe would have been featureless, empty and disordered if there were not for inflation that en…

Lecturer | Hitoshi Murayama
1:25
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1:20
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#3 Birth of galaxies

[Outline] This Global Focus on Knowledge course will cover wide spectrum of topics from the universe and materials to life and vision for a sustainable society. As our starting point, we will think about why we exist in the universe, how matter was created and how stars and galaxies were formed. The universe would have been featureless, empty and disordered if there were not for inflation that en…

Lecturer | Hitoshi Murayama
1:20
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Beginning of materials science

1:20
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#4 Modern society and materials science, structures of atoms, molecules and materials

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Yasuhiro Iye
1:20
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1:20
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#5 Where do characteristics (physical properties) of materials come from?

[Outline] Various equipment, machinery and materials upon which modern society was built were developed by making use a wide variety of characteristics (physical properties) of materials. Materials science is the academic basis to utilize their properties smartly. All materials consist of numerous combinations of about 100 elements. We will first look at atoms as the components of materials, and …

Lecturer | Yasuhiro Iye
1:20
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1:21
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#6 Strange world of quanta

[Outline] Various equipment, machinery and materials upon which modern society was built were developed by making use a wide variety of characteristics (physical properties) of materials. Materials science is the academic basis to utilize their properties smartly. All materials consist of numerous combinations of about 100 elements. We will first look at atoms as the components of materials, and …

Lecturer | Yasuhiro Iye
1:21
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Modern society and materials

1:25
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#7 Science of metal and its applications as material

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Toshihiko Koseki
1:25
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1:30
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#9 Semiconductor quantum dots – Nanoworld to manipulate electrons and photons

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Yasuhiko Arakawa
1:30
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1:28
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#10 Science of radiation risk and protection

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Takeshi Iimoto
1:28
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1:22
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#11 Physics of chewing gum

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Masao Doi
1:22
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1:25
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#12 Science of photofunctional materials – Creation of new medical technology based on chemistry

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Yasuteru Urano
1:25
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#13 Renewable energy and social sustainability to be developed by materials science

[Outline] Science of strength, workability and other characteristics of metal will be overviewed. How metals are applied as materials to various structures and devices seen in daily life will be introduced, in addition to metal’s evolution as stuff and ingredients.[Outline] Water is one of the two most crucial liquids on Earth. The other is oil. It symbolizes purity, and covers 70% of Earth’s sur…

Lecturer | Hiroshi Segawa
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