著者
三浦 有紀子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.45-56, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)

Since the 3rd Basic Plan for Science and Technology started in 2006, policy programs have started to promote the activities of female researchers in science and technology fields. However, one of the critical points on the career-path of female scientists in Japan, in comparison to the European Union, was recently noticed. In Japan, the critical juncture is the entrance into the graduate schools, based on the male/female ratios of students and academic staff in the science and technology fields. A possible reason is the difficulties that women face in finding suitable scientific jobs upon completion of graduate school. Anticipation of this problem would lead to lower graduate school enrollment for women that eventually affects the ratio of female/male researchers, not only in academia but also in the business sector.
著者
塩満 典子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.57-72, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
16
被引用文献数
1

The percentage of female researchers in Japan is just 13.0%, which is very low with comparison to those of European countries and the United States. Thus, “the 3rd Science and Technology Basic Plan” (Cabinet Decision, March, 2006) expanded its description on policies for supporting female researchers, and authorized funding for them from FY2006 for the first time in the history of the governmental budget. The budget seemed to remarkably and steadily increase from 666 million yen (FY2006), 1.1 billion yen (FY2007) to 1.8 billion yen (FY2008). This paper analyses the current situations of female researchers and the governmental policies for supporting them. It also studies the policy items and their budget amount to clarify the agenda and necessary measures in order to promote gender equality in the field of science and technology in Japan.
著者
財部 香枝
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.73-89, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
44

Industry plays a key role in research, development and innovation. More than half the research in Japan is carried out by the private sector, yet only 7% of industrial researchers are women and their opportunities to progress to senior level positions are minimal. In order to attract more women scientists and engineers to industry, and to keep and promote them there, in this paper, I will examine the unequal situation surrounding them in industry, and demonstrate activities of the COSMOS community, for the promotion of the women engineers, created by IBM-Japan; the top-down & bottom-up community offers them mentoring, role models, workshops, and Web Wiki site. Japanese industry should come to appreciate the merits of a more gender-equal approach to R&D; deeper studies need to be provided, as the Women in Science and Technology (WiST) highlighted that positive female promotion could bring good record of business.
著者
都河 明子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.90-101, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
7

Growing concern on women in science, engineering and technology in Japan is based on two major rationales. One is a long-established argument that it is a waste of resource if we do not recognize the potential of women who compose of about half the country’s population. The other is that the trend toward fewer children and more seniors will continue in future. It is clear a male-oriented workforce will not be able to support a “Science & Technology-based Nation” as Japan has achieved up to now. In this paper, we first describe the recent situation of Japanese women researchers. From a survey, many women reported that they have been subject to inequalities in recruitment, promotion and evaluation. They commented that these inequalities were a direct result of marital status or experience of giving birth. Interestingly, the survey found that their executive directors have recognized the presence of such inequalities. Next we introduce many trials and activities of Japanese universities to promote women researchers in science, engineering and technology. We hope that the time will come when women researchers’ power, which has not been fully developed so far, really contributes to society.
著者
藤垣 裕子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.105-109, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
8

Based on the reviews of previous studies, the author introduces research theme examples in the studies of intersection between Science and Law; 1) Responsibility of “science in the making”: Precautionary principle, 2) Gap between “science in the making” and public image of science, 3) Social problems caused by gap between S&T developing speed and law changing speed. Several Japanese case studies are shown as examples for each category. Moreover, based on the discussion of Workshop at JSSTS annual meeting 2008, future research themes are summarized as follows; 1) Science literacy for lawyers, 2) Problems caused by differences in logics between science and law and those caused by institutional inadequacy, 3) Who should solve problems visualized by trial process in the court, and how? These themes will open the door to the more detailed discussion for further studies.
著者
中島 貴子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.127-134, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
20

Responding to the drastic change of food environment in Japan after the W. W. II, two types of trials, namely, “industrial pollution trial” and “anxiety trial”, have been brought in court. The criminal trial regarding Morinaga (arsenic poisoning by powdery milk) and the civil trial regarding Kanemi (PCB and dioxin poisoning by cooking oil) are focused as the most typical case of industrial pollution trial, while Pesticide residue trial and GM (Genetically modified) rice trail are focused as the contemporary case of anxiety trial. This paper suggests three points to discuss about “Science at the Bar” by analyzing the scientific controversy that destined the direction of each trial respectively. Regardless of the type of trial, the trend of scientific controversy depends on the framework of controversy which is determined by the agenda setting and capabilities of evidence gathering. In line with this, two points such as science literacy of the legal profession and collaboration between lawyer and scientists can be elicited. On the other hand, there is fundamental difference as for the purpose of scientific controversy between two types of trail. In line with this, another point such as channel from court to policy can be elicited.
著者
島村 健
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.135-140, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
16

This paper presents a review of the literatures on “science in a court” focusing on the following points: 1) How should the judicial decision be made, once the scientific knowledge, which is the basis of an act reviewed in the court, has changed? 2) If the scientific knowledge is lacking in the judges, they may seek a written statement of the scientists or the expert witnesses. They, however, might not be able to understand what is written or testified in turn: the dilemma of the scientific trial. How can they overcome that? 3) Firstly, administrative law scholars argue that the judges should not try to review whether the administrative judgment on safety of a nuclear reactor is right or not. However, they ought to concentrate only on a review of the rationality of the administrative process. 4) Secondly, in any case, it would be necessary to improve scientific literacy of the judges. 5) Thirdly, when scientific opinions are divided, judges should not rush to conclude on the basis of one-sided opinion. In many cases the judgments can be given on legal issues before deciding the right scientific opinion. 6) Finally, it is often appropriate to discuss the treatment of new technologies and those potential risks not at the court but at the social schemes such as ADR or Consensus Conference.
著者
井上 芳範 宮崎 久美子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.143-158, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
31

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the diffusion of wind power systems and residential photovoltaic systems (PV) in Japan by focusing on the interaction between technology and markets and to contribute towards recommendations on technology policy and management. This paper proposes a framework for analyzing the early stage of diffusion processes regarding these systems as the complex technological systems by combining the use of several approaches. Firstly, technological factors are investigated by analyzing the adoption of usage. Secondly, economic factors are evaluated by analyzing the installation and running costs for these systems. Furthermore, effective diffusion factors of these systems are investigated by analyzing the stakes among actors including an analysis of the demand related factors of the residential PV customers obtained by a questionnaire (carried out by New Energy Foundation in Japan in 2004). Thirdly, a comparison is made on the value of investments for these systems and some issues of concern are pointed out. Our recommendations on technology policy are given and we conclude as follows. In Japan, these systems were developed efficiently and potential power exists for diffusing renewable energy. However, effective measures for raising the incentives for stakeholders, including institutional reform would be required.
著者
桜井 淳
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.159-180, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
45

This paper aims to describe how the nuclear technology has been socially constructed. The author advocates social factors for the evaluation of the commercial power reactor in U. S. and Japan with methods such as Strong Program Items (causality, impartiality, symmetry, reflexivity) proposed by David Bloor. The author also suggests ten items for assessing technology (historical background, industrial technical potential, man power, budget, technical selection, safety, economical efficiency, market occupation, historical development continuance) as his original contribution to the discussion. The results show that the most important factors that are able to conquer the world with the light-water reactor developed in U. S. are excellent safety and economical efficiency, especially the dominant position of the economical efficiency is the decisive factor. Furthermore, it was possible to commercialize Pressurized Water Reactor as well as Boiling Water Reactor without the military atomic submarine technology. Obvious characteristics of the social construction of the nuclear technology in U. S. are appearing in the following technologies; (1) the production of atomic bombs in the Second World War, (2) the commercialization of the light-water reactor that pursued the safety and economical efficiency, (3) the freezing of the plutonium technology such as the reprocessing plant and fast breeder reactor.
著者
小川 眞里子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.9-20, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
30

It is not until about 1990 that the scarcity of women in S&T became a topic to be discussed. A full-fledged struggle to increase the number of female researchers in the EU began in 1998 with the purpose of increasing the scale of research and development to 3% of the GDP by 2010. Without female researchers, this goal is impossible, and a great deal of talent will be wasted. In terms of Asian countries’ progress on this issue, Asian researchers have held workshops and symposia in order to increase the number of women in S&T. This special issue contains six papers on women in S&T in Japan. Kawano’s paper deals with the horizontal segregation of female high school students. Uchida’s paper deals with professional choices by female graduates from technical colleges and emphasized the importance of education for their career paths. Miura’s paper explored the horizontal segregation and vertical segregation in S&T. Shiomitsu and Tsugawa investigated the social background to female researchers. Takarabe concludes that increasing the number of female researchers in the private sector is important for the future development in S&T in Japan. Finally, as a supplementary explanation I introduced the Dual-Career Academic Couple Problems which is newly emerging among female researchers.
著者
内田 由理子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.7, pp.34-44, 2009-10-20 (Released:2021-08-01)
参考文献数
24

In this research, the labor circumstances of the female engineers who graduated from the Technical College are analyzed. And it is suggested that the education there should pay attention to the female students. The analysis of labor circumstances clarifies that of the first job and the pattern of the job continuation. It is also that they play a major role as skilled engineers at their workplace. In the future the education system at the Technical College will be required to be more conscious of gender-related matters.
著者
永田 素彦 日比野 愛子
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.5, pp.73-83, 2008-06-30 (Released:2021-08-01)

The present study examines determinants of the public's attitude formation toward biotechnological applications in Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Specifically, using quantitative survey data, we examine the relative influence of perceived benefit, risk, and moral acceptability on overall support or rejection of biotechnological applications, as well as the typical logic underlying public support or opposition of these applications. The study resulted in three major findings: (i)people distinguish sharply between different applications, and the level of support varies across each application according to different assessment of its benefit, risk and moral acceptability; (ii) perceived risk was much less influential to the overall decision of supporting or rejecting biotechnological applications than moral acceptability and perceived benefit; (iii) four prototypical logics of supporting/opposing biotechnological applications were identified. Taking all the results together, perceived moral acceptability appeared to act as a veto over deciding to support each application. Finally, we discuss the need for moral communication rather than risk communication.
著者
大上 泰弘 神里 彩子 城山 英明
出版者
科学技術社会論学会
雑誌
科学技術社会論研究 (ISSN:13475843)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.5, pp.84-92, 2008-06-30 (Released:2021-08-01)

The U. K. has a centralized regulatory system for animal experiment. This system is well accepted because it is regarded as good to keep the consistency of practice. This regulation is supported by three basic values; science-centrism, utilitarianism and anthropo-centrism. Science-centrism can be seen in the realization process of animal welfare. Animal welfare is effectively and objectively realized through the incorporation of the concept of animal welfare into the methods of science. Utilitarianism is evident in the decision-making process. The decision whether to permit a particular experiment is based on an analysis of the costs (in terms of animal suffering) against the likely benefit to be derived from the data sought. Anthropo-centrism seems to be an antithesis for science-centrism and utilitarianism. The anti-animal experiment movement is mostly driven by the emotional factors. An important means of breaking the deadlock between the movement and science is by protest in the society. The protest is regarded as the balancer of the U. K. society, and has certainly aided the realization of humane regulation.