Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institutes for the Humanities
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature


2nd International Workshop on Future Earth in Asia
February 4-5, 2014
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto

Future Earth is a new 10-year international research initiative that will develop the knowledge for responding effectively to the risks and opportunities of global environmental change and for supporting transformation towards global sustainability in the coming decades. Future Earth will mobilize thousands of scientists while strengthening partnerships with policy-makers and other stakeholders to provide sustainability options and solutions in the wake of Rio+20.

After considerable preparation, the Future Earth is now getting underway: its initial design has been outlined, the Science Committee and the interim Engagement Committee have been established, and further elaboration of the structure and content are underway. In Asia, RIHN and a number of other organizations have begun discussions to develop a draft Science Plan for Future Earth in Asia. On February 4-5, 2014, RIHN will be organizing the 2nd Future Earth in Asia International Workshop in collaboration with the Science Council of Japan, the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society. As the title suggests, this is a sequel to the International Symposium held at RIHN in December 2012. The purpose of the workshop is twofold:

1) To consult with stakeholders on role of Future Earth in Asia and on selected aspects of the draft Science Plan, receive feedback and inputs on priority research themes, and generate wider buy-in.

2) To develop an initial approach (principles and good practices) to the design of Future Earth research projects in Asia that enables co-design with stakeholders.

The workshop will bring together NGOs, development organizations, and research funding organizations, as well as Future Earth actors, to engage in a dialogue about the possible contributions that Future Earth can make to the transition to sustainability in Asia and how it will partner with society in defining and implementing the initiative. The workshop process will be a mixture of plenary presentations and discussions and group work sessions.

Day 1: A small number of keynote presentations will set the scene for a discussion of major transformations in Asia in the coming decades, their implications for sustainability and priority themes for Future Earth in Asia.

Day 2: Presentations of case studies of different types of stakeholder engagement in research will be followed by discussion on the principles and mechanisms for meaningful engagement of stakeholders in Future Earth in Asia.


  1. For more information see: www.icsu.org/future-earth and www.futureearth.info.
  2. See: http://www.icsu.org/asia-pacific/news-centre/news/apn-report-on-mairs-strategic-planning-workshop-on-future-earth-in-asia.