◇7月のコラム
◇◇ 人間環境学専攻
◇◇◇中島拓也助教

6月19日、20日の二日間、Complex Adaptive Systemsという国際学会を主催しました。小規模な学会ですが、国内も含め学会を主催するのは初めての経験でした。参加者の立場だと、どの学会も整然と進んでいるように感じますが、主催者側に回るとそんなことはありませんでした。

世界情勢もあり読めない参加者数、時間になっても現れない発表者、突然映らなくなるプロジェクター、大量に余る食事とコーヒー、続出する紛失物。運営委員およびスタッフの皆様の臨機応変な対応によって無事に終えることができました。学会の場そのものが複雑適応系でした。

その中でも印象に残ったのは、普段の学会では何気なく聴いているPlenary Speechの役割です。この学会のテーマを自分自身も十分に言語化できていない中、4人のご多忙な先生方になんとか講演をお願いしました。いずれも内容が素晴らしかったことに加え、それぞれの先生が学会のテーマを汲み取ってご自身の研究をご紹介いただくことで、コミュニティが目指すべき研究の方向性を、重心と広がりとともに示していただいた気がします。

学生スタッフの存在にも大いに助けられました。こちらがすべてを指示しなくても、学生たちは状況に応じて動いてくれました。参加者との交流や、新たな研究テーマに触れることに加えて、学生同士のつながりも生まれていたように思います。こき使ってしまったことを申し訳なく思っていましたが、多くの学生に、良い経験になった、と言ってもらえたことには救われました。

学会を主催するということは、参加者やスタッフの相互作用を生む条件を整えることだと感じました。単なる研究発表会を超えた学会の価値を改めて考える機会になりました。

学会Webページはこちら：https://www.cas2026.org/

 

◇　July Column
◇◇　Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
◇◇◇   Takuya NAKASHIMA, Research Associate

On June 19 and 20, we hosted an international conference titled Complex Adaptive Systems. Although it was a relatively small conference, it was my first experience organizing an academic meeting, including domestic ones. As a participant, conferences often appear to proceed smoothly and in an orderly manner. Once I found myself on the organizing side, however, I realized that this is far from the case.
The number of participants was difficult to predict amid the current global situation; some presenters did not appear even when their sessions were scheduled to begin; the projector suddenly stopped working; large amounts of food and coffee were left over; and lost items appeared one after another. Thanks to the flexible and resourceful responses of the organizing committee and staff, we were able to bring the conference to a successful close. The conference itself was, in a sense, a complex adaptive system.

Among many things, what left a particularly strong impression on me was the role of the plenary speeches, which I usually listen to rather casually at conferences. Although I haven’t fully articulated the theme of this conference, I was fortunate to invite four distinguished speakers. Not only were all of their talks excellent, but each speaker also interpreted the theme of the conference and introduced their own research in light of it. In doing so, they seemed to show the direction in which this community should move, with both a clear center of gravity and a broad sense of scope.

I was also greatly supported by the student staff. Even without detailed instructions from me, the students responded to the situation and acted accordingly. In addition to interacting with participants and being exposed to new research topics, they also seemed to form connections with one another. I felt sorry for having worked them so hard, but I was relieved to hear many of them say that it had been a valuable experience.

Through this experience, I came to feel that organizing a conference means creating the conditions under which interactions among participants and staff can emerge. It allowed me to reconsider the value of an academic conference beyond that of a mere venue for research presentations.

Conference website:
https://www.cas2026.org/