日本にっぽん学術がくじゅつ会議かいぎ 国くにから独立どくりつした法人ほうじん化か法案ほうあん 会長かいちょう経験けいけん者しゃ”廃案はいあんを”

In response to the passage of a bill in the plenary session of the House of Representatives to make the Science Council of Japan an independent corporation from the government, former presidents of the Science Council held a press conference on the 20th and issued a statement calling for the bill to be scrapped, saying, We are deeply concerned that this shows the governments disregard for the independence of science and the instrumentalization of science, and we cannot accept it.

Regarding the bill to make the Science Council of Japan an independent organization from the government, the Council has passed a resolution requesting the Diet to revise the bill, stating that the concerns we have pointed out have not been resolved. However, the bill was passed by a majority vote in the House of Representatives on the 13th of this month and has been sent to the House of Councillors.

In response to this, six former presidents of the Science Council of Japan, including Nobel laureate Takaaki Kajita, who previously served as president, jointly issued a statement on the 20th calling for the bill to be scrapped.

The statement says that the current bill “does not align with the mission of the Science Council of Japan, which is to independently provide scientific advice to the government and others, and it cannot be accepted as it deeply raises concerns about the government’s disregard for the independence of science and the instrumentalization of science.”

On the 20th, three out of the six held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club. Among them, Mr. Kajita said, I dont feel any intention in the bill to make the Science Council better; rather, I feel this is an opportunity for the government to strengthen its oversight and try to control it.

As the role of academia becomes increasingly important in addressing the various challenges faced by humanity, it is regrettable that the bill was passed in the House of Representatives without sufficient discussion about what academic conferences should be like.

He said, I hope for sincere discussions in the House of Councillors, and so on.