The School of Interdisciplinary Science and Innovation (ISI) was established in April 2018 as a new faculty at Kyushu University. It marked the first time in 50 years that a new faculty had been introduced at Kyushu University. Why was it necessary to create a new faculty at this particular moment?

The reason lies in the fact that the era you are entering is vastly different from the past, and the knowledge imparted by traditional faculties alone will not suffice to prepare you for the changes ahead. We are currently facing numerous global and human-scale challenges: large-scale climate change, loss of biodiversity, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, pandemics, and more. To address these pressing issues, collaboration is required not only among experts but also among individuals from various sectors and perspectives. For this, we need individuals who possess both a broad outlook and specialized expertise, who can approach problems from multiple angles and employ a diverse range of methodologies. This is the type of talent that ISI aims to cultivate.

However, traditionally, expertise has been developed by focusing "narrowly and deeply" in a specific field, which appears to be at odds with cultivating a broad perspective. On the other hand, if one only pursues knowledge "broadly and shallowly," it risks resulting in a superficial understanding, ultimately achieving little. So, how can we achieve the seemingly contradictory goal of combining broad perspectives with deep expertise?

The path that ISI proposes, toward becoming a person who embodies both breadth of perspective and deep specialization, may be likened to scaling a towering mountain with a wide base. The summit of the mountain (representing specialization) rises endlessly upwards, while the broad base (representing perspective) supports this lofty peak. This grand mountain represents the ideal image of combining broad perspectives with specialized knowledge. Yet, scaling such a mountain is no easy task, for this mountain has never been conquered before.

Traditional faculty education could be compared to ascending a well-maintained mountain trail. Although reaching the summit requires effort, there is little risk of losing one's way. However, the educational approach at ISI is more akin to cutting your own path toward the summit of problem-solving using a previously unexplored ascent. You may find yourself out of breath merely reaching the base of the mountain, and after finally starting the climb, you may despair as the summit seems to remain perpetually distant.

To succeed in this arduous and uncertain ascent, strong mental fortitude and sustained motivation to persevere through challenges are crucial. In my personal experience, I believe that finding something you are truly passionate about and eager to learn in depth is the key to maintaining motivation through the long and difficult journey. I am a biologist, and my primary research focus is on stag beetles. My motivation stems from a simple desire: "I want to know everything about these fascinating stag beetles." For me, the various disciplines within biology, such as taxonomy, phylogenetics, morphology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, developmental biology, and molecular biology, are all tools and approaches to help me uncover everything about the stag beetles I love. In short, I am determined to use every bit of knowledge and technique available to me to capture stag beetles around the world and uncover the full extent of their allure.

In my case, my passion lies with stag beetles, but your interests could be anything including countries, regions, historical figures, or more. For instance, if you wish to explore a country you love, you would need to study its history, ethnicities, language, literature, politics, economy, society, as well as its natural environment, geology, and flora and fauna. If you truly seek to master your area of passion or curiosity, you will naturally find yourself adopting a multi-faceted approach that draws on diverse methodologies.

In this light, one might say that the quickest path to combining broad perspectives with specialized expertise is, in a sense, becoming the ultimate expert in your chosen field. If you are driven by the passionate desire to pursue what you love or are curious about, then even hardships can be transformed into meaningful challenges that propel you forward.

So, if you already have something you are passionate about or wish to learn in depth, join ISI and pursue it to the fullest. If you have yet to discover your passion, join ISI to find it. Together, let us take the first step toward conquering the towering mountain that no one has yet conquered.