2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts: Towards the Future of Urban Environments: Thoughts from the Tamagawa [1]
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Kumiko Kiuchi
- Class Format
- Lecture (Livestream)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.C641
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Apr 7, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is a 1-credit course.
Only students who meet the conditions ① and ② can enroll.
① Be enrolled before 2021.
② You must have already earned one credit in a liberal arts advanced subject.
Students enrolled in 2022 or later cannot take this course.
［Collaboration across STEM and Liberal Arts］are study group-type subjects that will start in 2025. Each time, students will engage in discussions with guest lecturers who are active leaders in their various fields. Together with participating doctoral graduate students, we will explore new developments and possibilities in convergence science.
The maximum number of students is 50 per class. If the number is exceeded, a lottery will be held.
Group work will be conducted in English, but Japanese may be used if consensus can be reached within the group. Moderators and instructors will give lectures in Japanese, to be translated by ZOOM's translation function.
Students will take an e-learning session on research ethics in the first class. Submission of the “session-completion certificate” is required.
●
The Tama River is a Class A river that flows through Yamanashi Prefecture, Tokyo, and Kanagawa Prefecture before emptying into Tokyo Bay, spanning a total length of 138 km. In October 2019, record-breaking rainfall caused by Typhoon No. 19 led to the river's overflow, resulting in flooding in Kawasaki City, Setagaya Ward, and Ota Ward.
This course examines the global environmental issue of the "Anthropocene" through the specific case of the Tama River. Students will explore the visions and policies necessary for future cities while reconsidering the relationship between urban spaces and nature. Additionally, the course will discuss the use of rivers and riverbanks as "commons."
Course description and aims
Through this course, students will acquire the following knowledge and skills: ① Understand the historical and geographical background of Tokyo's urban rivers and their watersheds; ② Deepen their understanding of the water cycle and environmental issues, reexamine contemporary challenges shaped by rivers, and engage in deeper discussion; ③ Learn about the livelihoods, customs, and cultures shaped by the Tama River, cultivating a perspective that bridges natural sciences and humanities/social sciences (Environmental Humanities). While learning the above, students will develop the ability to proactively and concretely define problems, conduct investigations, and deepen discussions with peers from different disciplines.
Keywords
Tama River, Anthropocene, climate change, urban environment, rivers, multi-species, commons, water culture, Tokyo Bay, livelihood, cultural geography, geology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The classes are conducted via ZOOM. The 5th and 6th periods are for guest lectures and Q&A, while the 7th and 8th periods are for group work. From the 2nd to the 6th sessions, we invite guests and engage in multifaceted discussions on contemporary issues, with the Tama River as a specific case study.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Guidance (KIUCHI)+ Research Ethics (On-Demand) |
Understand the objectives of this course and share the issues. Acquire basic knowledge about research ethics. |
| Class 2 | (April 21) Yuki YOSHIDA (Secretary, Ecological Democracy Foundation) |
Understand the overview of Ecological Understand the core concepts of Ecological Democracy by looking into the Foundation's specific activities and initiatives related to the Tama River. |
| Class 3 | Yuko MIKI (Tokyo City University): Walking the Riverbank of the Tama River（Fieldwork) |
Examine the relationship between the Tama River riverbed and civic activities, and consider the characteristics and potentials of the commons. |
| Class 4 | Mieko Ogura（writer, filmmaker) |
Understand a multi-species approach to the environmental history of the Tame River |
| Class 5 | Tsuyoshi KINOUCHI (Professor, Graduate School of Environment and Society) |
Use the Tama River as a case study, acquire some knowledge of hydrology and water resource engineering. |
| Class 6 | Norio OGURA (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) |
Understand the water culture of the Tama River and Tokyo Bay. |
| Class 7 | Review of the course (KIUCHI) |
Summarize the overall content and discuss future challenges. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None
Handouts are distributed in class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
More references will be provided in class.
***
Randolph Hester. Design for Ecological Democracy (MIT Press)
Mohsen Mostafavi(ed), Gareth Doherty(ed), Harvard Univ Graduate Sch of Design(ed) Ecological Urbanism (Lars Mueller)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Feedback sheets (50%), Final report (50%)
Related courses
- none
Prerequisites
*Since this course involves fieldwork, enrollment is limited to a maximum of 50 students. If the number of applicants exceeds this limit, a lottery will be held. If you wish to be included in the lottery, please complete your course registration by April 9. Only those who have registered by April 9 will be eligible for the lottery, and the results will be announced via email at 10:00 AM on April 10. If a lottery is not necessary, we will notify you accordingly.