The Graduate School of Science (GSS) at Kyoto University consists of five divisions: Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences. In its 120-year history, the school has produced outstanding achievements in a range of research fields and numerous winners of major international awards such as the Nobel Prize and Fields Medal. The school also has contributed significantly toward science education in Japan, developing a wide variety of human resources with a focus on science and technology. More recently, the GSS strives for a new research and education in science including the development of interdisciplinary area with the launch of the “MAthematics-based Creation of Science Program (MACS Educational Program)”. The “Center for Science Adventure and Collaborative Research Advancement (SACRA)” was established in 2019 to serve an important function for such endeavor.Our science aims to search for truth of natural phenomena and to reveal the truth in a reasonable manner with free-minded and bold thinking. Most of the scientific discoveries that have had huge impacts on the world have come out of scientists’ pure curiosity to understand the principles of natural phenomena. Revealing facts is the mutual passion of all GSS faculty members. Our diverse faculty members who have a great deal of curiosity and uniqueness is a source of pride for the GSS.There seems to be a strong tendency in Japan these days to require scientific research beneficial to society under the name of innovation. Needless to say, we truly hope that our research benefits society and it is important to achieve accountability and transmit our scientific research result to the world, on which taxpayers’ money is spent. Meanwhile, however, such a short-term point of view focused on specific outcomes does not always lead to a major discovery that brings a substantial change to society. Looking back at history, most of research and inventions that led to big breakthroughs came from an inquisitive mind to seek the essence of things with a profound insight and drastic change in thinking. A sense of self-composure and a playful spirit for such an attempt is also essential. The GSS will continue to be a good place for faculty and students to make an effort to find out the essence of things by cooperating with each other, facing natural phenomena and truth with an open mind.
