History
RIHN was founded in 2001 with Dr. Toshitaka Hidaka as its first director, who stated, "Global environmental problems are problems of human 'culture' in the broadest sense of the word."
In accordance with the National University Corporation Law, on April 1, 2004, the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) became a member of the Inter-University Research Institute, along with the National Museum of Japanese History, the National Institute of Japanese Literature, the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics, the International Research Center for Japanese Studies, and the National Museum of Ethnology.
While promoting its own research, RIHN is actively involved in various projects and joint-use activities sponsored by the Inter-University Research Institute, such as collaborative research, research resource-sharing promotion projects, regional research promotion projects, and public lectures and symposiums. While the institute is mainly composed of research organizations in the humanities and social sciences, RIHN plays a role as an institution that conducts multilayered and multifaceted joint research and joint use, positioning comprehensive global environmental research, including a natural systems approach, as an issue of human culture.
| 1993 | Prime minister’s advisory panel on the Global Environment in 21st Century launched |
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| April 1995 | “On the Promotion of Global Environmental Studies” published by The ScienceCouncil of Japan “There is a need to consider establishing a core research institute that promotes comprehensive joint research aimed at solving global environmental problems.” |
| October 1995 | Establishment of the Research and Study Group on Core Research Institutions for Global Environmental Science |
| March 1997 | "Research report on the state of core research institutes for earth environmental science" (Research group on core research institutes for earth environmental science) |
| June 1997 | "Immediate Efforts for Global Environmental Conservation" (Ministerial Conference on Global Environmental Conservation) “We will conduct surveys and research on the establishment of a research organization system for earth environmental science so that researchers in a wide range of academic fields can conduct comprehensive research on global environmental problems.” |
| July 1997 | The Ministry of Education established the ``Meeting of Research Collaborators on Research Organizational Structures for Earth Environmental Science''. |
| April 1998 | Start of preparatory survey for the Institute of Earth Environmental Science (provisional name) |
| March 2000 | Research Institute for Earth and Environmental Sciences (provisional name) Preparatory Investigation Committee, to integrate academic fields ranging from humanities/social sciences to natural sciences, connect with domestic and overseas universities and research institutes, and promote comprehensive research projects. Proposed the establishment of the Research Institute for Global Environmental Studies (provisional name) |
| April 2000 | Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (provisional name) Establishment of Research Office and Research Committee for Establishment of Research Institute |
| February 2001 | "Concerning the concept of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (provisional name)" (final report) (Founding Investigation Committee) |
| April 2001 | Foundation of Research Institute for Humanity and Nature In accordance with the enactment of the government ordinance (Government Ordinance No. 151 of 2001) to partially revise the National School Establishment Law Enforcement Ordinance, the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature was established and research activities began on the campus of Kyoto University. Toshitaka Hidaka appointed as the first Director |
| April 2002 | Relocated to former Kyoto Municipal Kasuga Elementary School (Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto) |
| April 2004 | Belonging to the "Inter-University Research Institute Corporation, National Institute for the Humanities" due to the incorporation of the Inter-University Research Institute |
| December 2005 | New facility (Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto) completed |
| February 2006 | Moved from the former Kasuga Elementary School to the new facility (Kamigamo Motoyama, Kita-ku, Kyoto) |
| May 2006 | Completion Ceremony for Research Institute for Humanity and Nature |
| April 2007 | Shigefumi Tachimoto was appointed as the second director. |
| May 2007 | Appointed Deputy Director |
| October 2007 | Research Promotion Center reorganized into Research Promotion Strategy Center |
| April 2011 | 10th anniversary symposium held |
| April 2013 | Tetsuzo Yasunari becomes the third director. Research Promotion Strategy Center reorganized into Research Promotion Strategy Center and Research Advancement Support Center |
| July 2014 | Selected as Regional Center for Future Earth in Asia |
| April 2016 | Research Promotion Strategy Center and Research Advancement Support Center reorganized into International Center for Research Platforms |
| April 2021 | Juichi Yamagiwa becomes the fourth director. 20th anniversary ceremony and symposium held |
| July 2021 | Kyoto Climate Change Adaptation Center established |
| April 2022 | Strategic Planning and Management Department established RIHN logo redesigned |
| 2023 | Global Environmental Studies Program, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI established |