[Science Council of Japan] Changes in roles according to the relationship with the government and the background of the times October 14, 20:47

The Science Council of Japan has changed the method of selecting members and the role they play according to their relationship with the government and the background of the times.

According to former President Hiroyuki Yoshikawa (87) of the University of Tokyo, who served as chairman from 1997 to 2003 and promoted reforms, the Science Council of Japan has changed twice significantly.

Immediately after the establishment, which was valued for independence

The Science Council of Japan said that it should create an organization centered on scientists following Western academic institutions, reflecting on the fact that the military allowed the military to intervene in university personnel and research content from prewar to wartime. It was founded in 1949 in response to growing voices.



Immediately after its establishment, with a strong awareness of "academic independence," members were elected by scientists nationwide, and a statement stating that they would never obey scientific research aimed at war. , University personnel should not be influenced by political reasons, and statements calling on the country to respect academic and ideological freedom were issued one after another.



On the other hand, there are many consultations from the government seeking scientific advice on policies, and many reports are presented, such as the state's budget for science and technology, the location of the observatory of the meteorological station, and so on. Active activities were carried out in.



In 1954, he issued a statement of the so-called "Three Principles of Nuclear Energy" stating that the three principles of "Democracy, Voluntary, and Public" should be sufficiently observed only for peaceful purposes regarding the research and use of nuclear energy. Has had a certain influence, such as being included in.

Major changes [1] Criticism and reform of "bias"

According to former Chairman of the Science Council of Japan, Hajime Yoshikawa, at that time, members were elected, so it was easy to connect with political forces, and some members spoke for a specific ideology. "The Science Council is biased." It means that the criticism was issued.



In 1981, the Prime Minister's Office, then Prime Minister's Office, made a statement to review the state of the Science Council of Japan, which led to discussions in the Diet.



At that time, the number of consultations from the government to the Science Council of Japan was drastically reduced, partly because each ministry and agency had increased the number of councils that gathered scientists to consult on policies.



In 1982, the Science Council of Japan presented a voluntary reform plan that would recommend 70 people, which is one-third of the 210 members, while retaining the election system.



However, the government effectively rejected the proposal and proceeded with the procedure to amend the Science Council of Japan Law so that the Prime Minister appoints the members recommended by the Science Council of Japan.



During this time, confusion continued, including conflicts within the Science Council of Japan over the pros and cons of the government's policy, leading to the resignation of the chairman for two consecutive generations.



After the revision of the law, the system for selecting members by election was abolished in 1984, and the system was changed to a system in which the Prime Minister appoints members based on recommendations from domestic academic societies.

Members become individual representatives of each academic society

However, since the system is based on the recommendation of academic societies, each academic society will vie for the quota of members.



As a result, from the latter half of the 1980s to the 1990s, there were many reports requesting national support and the establishment of research institutes for each of the subdivided research fields.



Former Chairman Hiroyuki Yoshikawa said, "A composition has been created in which the interest representatives of the recommended academic societies gather. There are many reports that can be said to be" petition type ", and it has not been possible to discuss from a wide range of perspectives through academic fields. I'm talking.

Major changes [2] “Overview” in the reform

After that, as the wave of administrative reform occurred from the end of the 1990s to the 2000s, the Science Council of Japan was also the subject of discussion and was forced to review again.



Among them, the Science Council of Japan gathered specialist scientists to discuss problems related to society as a whole that could not be solved by individual scientists alone under the then chairman Yoshikawa, and was "a bird's-eye view". I will make recommendations from the perspective. "



At this time, the role required of the Science Council of Japan was defined using the expression "overview, comprehensive."



Along with this, in 2005, the method of recommending members by each academic society was stopped, and members and collaborative members recommended new members with reference to overseas academic organizations, and they have academic achievements and a bird's-eye view. The system has changed to a system in which the selection committee investigates and narrows down the candidates to determine whether they oppose the purpose of giving advice from a specific perspective.



At this time, the Science Council of Japan Law was amended, but the provisions appointed by the Prime Minister were maintained.



In addition, a provision was established to retire 70 years old, which helped rejuvenate members and greatly increased the proportion of women.



Former Chairman Yoshikawa said, "While many people thought that scientists should think about their own research areas, scientists from various perspectives gathered across all academic fields, and the earth. The aim was to create an organization that gathers opinions and makes recommendations on major social issues such as environmental issues such as climate change. "

Distance from politics, which is a challenge in emergency response

The Science Council of Japan only made a proposal in July requesting the establishment of a permanent institution to control infectious diseases for the new coronavirus, and the role of providing scientific advice is the expert meeting established by the government. I have carried it.



Former Chairman Hajime Yoshikawa stated that the issue of the Science Council of Japan was "The size of the problems to be dealt with has increased at a stretch due to the rapid progress of globalization, and the time required for resolution has become shorter. The current Science Council can handle it. I think there is a need for a system that can advise on urgent matters. "



On the other hand, "Prime Minister Suga said that he did not appoint six people from a bird's-eye view, but if so, the wider the field of view, the better, and there is a contradiction. The participating scientists are social. I take the time to attend meetings and work as an academic conference with the pride that scientists have a contradiction for science and politics. Insufficient communication between science and politics requires a mature relationship. I feel like I am. "

Since then, the Science Council of Japan has voluntarily discussed various issues facing society and science, and has issued a number of proposals that indicate the direction, and by the end of September, 68 proposals had been issued. I am.