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Interview−282−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.2 No.4 (2010) that we are intending to start a movement that may promote the value of engineering in such a way that it is appreciated properly by young people.Researchers must reconsider the essence of innovation(Ono)Today, the interest in innovation is high globally, and I think “restoration of engineering” is related to innovation. What do you think is innovation to Japanese industry, society, and people?(Nagai)While technological breakthroughs are important, in Japan, I think there is a tendency to consider certain breakthroughs as synonyms for innovations.The people of industry say that the available guiding principles or scientific principles are approaching their limit, and will reach their limits by 2020 to 2030. They know that what they have in hand now has only limited capability to respond to oncoming global changes and new demands and they are seeking ways to stir up real innovation.Why a study group for “restoration” of engineering? (Ono)I think the Kogaku No Kokufuku Kenkyukai or the “Study Group for Restoration of Engineering” of the Engineering Academy of Japan shares a similar perspective to Synthesiology. What is your intention of not using the homonym kokufuku, which is a word meaning “to overcome a difficult situation,” and instead using kokufuku meaning “to restore the original state of wholeness”?(Nagai)Recently, there has been talk of a “drift away from science” and “farewell to engineering faculty.” Even though engineering is a very important field, young people are turning away from it, and I’ve always felt that that is a worrying trend. Another point is that the members of EAJ are Japan’s foremost engineers, but they are growing old. All the traditional academic societies of Japan are unable to increase their membership and are aging. It is with a sense of urgency that “something has to be done” that we used the word kokufuku meaning succumbing to disease and then regaining health, rather than kokufuku meaning to overcome. It is in the sense that we must return to a wholesome state, Synthesiology Editorial BoardKotobu Nagai: EAJ Study Group for Restoration of Engineering, National Institute for Materials ScienceAkira Ono: Editor-in-Chief, Synthesiology , AISTThe Engineering Academy of Japan with its abundant knowledge and experience discusses and issues statements on a variety of topics in engineering. The “Study Group for the Restoration of Engineering” reconsiders the meaning of engineering in the modern world from different perspectives. Since the significance of engineering is closely related to the mission of Synthesiology, Akira Ono, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Synthesiology interviewed Dr. Kotobu Nagai, a member of the study group, to hear his thoughts on the “restoration of engineering,” and discussed its relationship to Synthesiology.Restoration of engineering and Synthesiology[Translation from Synthesiology, Vol.2, No.4, p.332-337 (2009)]Dr. Ono (left) and Dr. Nagai (right)

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