Tokyo Institute of TechnologyEarth-Life Science Institute

Few organizations have the fortune of designing a new building to fit their institutional vision. ELSI's primary mission is to foster the advancement of scientific research born out of cross-disciplinary collaborations. ELSI's new building, to be completed in February 2015, is the architectural metaphor of our goal: every detail from the layout to the assignment of space usage is designed to cultivate interactions and reinforce a working sense of institutional community. We have meeting rooms with glass walls that alert and invite people to gatherings. Our communal space is specifically placed in a central location that requires all to pass through, enticing in its natural light and open space. The interior is a mix of functionality with Japanese aesthetics, bringing a sense of productive harmony. Our new building reflects our firm commitment to support our researchers' potential, while simultaneously providing the catalysts for productive interactions that define our vision as an institute.

One of ELSI's goals is to become an international hub for research on the origins and evolution of the Earth-Life system. In addition to our annual ELSI International Symposium, we actively support our scientists to host workshops as well as invite visitors to our institute. By providing the opportunity and space for exchange, this traffic produces inspiration and collaborations. We also sponsor workshops outside of ELSI, as a way to encourage our members' involvement in other organizations and institutes. Day-to-day activities at ELSI include weekly seminars presented by both our own scientists as well as visitors, lunch talks, study groups, and afternoon coffee breaks attended by all present in the building, including administrative staff.

Research Environment

ELSI Activities

1st ELSI International Symposium

Workshop on Transport Properties in the Earth's Core

What was the early Earth like, how did life develop in its early environment, and what does the answer imply for the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe? The Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) was inaugurated in 2012 to address these fundamental questions together as a multi-disciplinary, international, collaborative effort in order to exploit the synergy and inter-dependency between these lines of inquiry. ELSI is a World Premier International (WPI) Research Center based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, with unprecedented levels of support from the government of Japan, and has a unique charter of advancing leading edge research, establishing international research environments, reforming research organizations, and creating interdisciplinary domains. At ELSI, we are committed to maximizing the potential of the WPI program, facilitating breakthroughs at the frontier of our science, attracting and interacting with the best minds from around the world, and internationalizing the Japanese research institution for the benefit of all.

It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to join us as a research scientist, as a visitor, as a workshop participant, and as a scientific partner and collaborator. ELSI hosts dozens of short- and long-term visitors and supports numerous workshops and conferences every year. We have also undertaken an unparalleled initiative to hire up to 20 top research scientists from around the world, in all fields relevant to ELSI. All scientif ic discussions at ELSI are conducted in English, and our staff are experts in facilitating international visits and relocations to Japan from abroad. Please do not hesitate to contact us (info@elsi.jp) or visit us in Tokyo, we look forward to sharing the ELSI experience with you!

Kei HiroseDirector,Earth-Life Science Institute

Our mission

Professional Career:Post-Doctoral Fellow, The University of Tokyo (1994)Assistant Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology (1995-2000)Visiting Scientist, Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington (1996-1998)Associate Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology (1999-2005)Professor, Tokyo Institute of Technology (2006-present)Director, Earth-Life Science Institute (2012-present)

Awards:Inoue Prize in 2006JSPS prize in 2008Japan IBM prize in 2007Thomson Scientific Research Front Award in 2007Japan Academy Award in 2011Science Innovation Award – Ringwood medal from the European Association of Geochemistry in 2011

Researchers

Vice-DirectorShigeru IdaPlanet formation

CouncilorPiet HutAstrophysics

Hitoshi KuninakaPlanetary exploration

Astro

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yPla

neta

ry physic

s Jun MakinoComputationalscience

Masaki FujimotoPlanetary exploration

Lisa KalteneggerPlanetary physics

Vice-DirectorKen KurokawaGenome science &bioinformatics

Yuichi HongohGenome science

Shinji MasudaPhotosynthesis

Mo

lecula

r Bio

log

yC

hem

ical Evo

lution

Jack SzostakBiochemistry

Daisuke KigaSynthetic biology

Hiroyuki OhtaPlant biology

Masahiko HaraExperimental evolution

De

ep

Earth

DirectorKei HiroseHigh-pressuregeoscience

Tetsuo IrifuneSolid earth materialscience

John HernlundGeophysicalmodeling

Renata WentzcovitchMaterials physics

Ea

rth history

Ge

oche

mistry

Shigenori MaruyamaHistory of the Earth

Ken TakaiGeomicrobiology

Naohiro YoshidaEnvironmentalgeochemistry

Joseph KirschvinkGeobiology

Naohiko OkouchiIsotope ecology

Yuichiro UenoBiogeochemistry

Tokyo and ELSI Map

ELSI's aim is to answer the fundamental question that has long captured humanity's imagination: when and where did life originate, and how did it evolve? Until recently, discussions about the origin and evolution of life have mainly been limited to the biochemistry of proto-life forms. We at ELSI will broaden the discussion to focus equally on the relationship between Earth and Life. Life is a phenomenon that is sustained through the exchange of energies and matters with the surrounding environment, thus the origin of life question cannot be separated from the study of the origin and evolution of the Earth.

…and Life in the Universe

By elucidating the origins of life in the context of the Earth, we will learn about both the unique and universal aspects of our planet that allowed life to emerge and evolve. Our research will therefore shed light upon the possibility and characteristics of life elsewhere.

Exploring the Origins of the Earth-Life System…

ELSI's Roadmap

Tokyo is one of the world’s most important and intriguing cities, in addition to being the largest by a significant margin. While famous neighborhoods like Shibuya or Shinjuku often conjure images of an over-crowded megalopolis, much of Tokyo is composed of relatively quiet neighborhoods where families shop in small markets, play in the parks, and find tranquility at numerous shrines and temples. There are more excellent restaurants in Tokyo than meals to be eaten in an entire lifetime. Many fascinating discoveries and surprises await the urban explorer in this city of stunning intricacy and diversity, we are certain that you will fall in love…welcome to Tokyo!

The world’s largest metropolitan area is inter-connected by the world’s largest train network, truly one of the human-made wonders of the world. The Tokyo train system map beckons the urban traveler, evoking analogies to complex metabolic pathways or electronic circuits. This efficient and user-friendly mass transit network encourages people to leave their cars at home, thereby mitigating air pollution, and catalyzes interactions between all of humanity in the Tokyo region. Shinjuku, the world’s busiest train station, efficiently handles over 3 million passengers every day! Besides trains, Tokyo is also very pedestrian and bicycle friendly, and these are the best means to explore its nooks and crannies.

A Formation of the Earth B DC

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Origin of Life Evolution of the Earth-Life System Bio-Planets in the Universe

？？？？

？？What was the Hadean Earth environment like?

What were the critical ingredients for starting life?

How is the deep interior connected to the surface?

Are Earth-like planets rare?

What was the last common ancestor of Earth-life?

What does Earth-life teach us about thesearch for life in the universe?

How did complex life arise?

How is the genetic codewired to the environment?

What was the first life like?How did Earth form and differentiate?

Where did Earth’s water come from?

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Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI)Tokyo Institute of Technology2-12-1-IE-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo,152-8550, JAPAN

Tel: +81-3-5734-3414Fax: +81-3-5734-3416E-mail: info@elsi.jp

http://www.elsi.jp

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