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Earth–Life Science Institute
ELSI
Typedepartment
Established2012
Affiliation Tokyo Institute of Technology
DirectorKei Hirose (2012-2022), Yasuhito Sekine (2022-)
Location
Meguro-ku
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Website Official website

Earth–Life Science Institute (ELSI) is an established [1] independent permanent scientific research institute based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. ELSI employs more than 70 scientists [2] in disciplines ranging from astrophysics to biology, who perform collaborative research on the broad connections between the origin and evolution of planets and life.

History

ELSI was established in 2012 [3] with a charter to build a bridge between the Earth and Life sciences by rallying researchers around questions concerning the link between the origins of planets and life. ELSI has satellite-institutes at Ehime University, Harvard University, and the Institute for Advanced Study, and is currently led by Director Yasuhito Sekine and Vice Directors Tomoaki Matsuura and John Hernlund.

Funding sources

Funding sources for the institute include a combination of support from Japan's World Premiere International Research Center Initiative (approximately $7M/year [4]), a grant from the John Templeton Foundation to establish the ELSI Origins Network (EON, $5.6M [5] for three years), a variety of project grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), and anonymous private donations.

Academics

Teaching and learning

ELSI offers Masters courses through Tokyo Institute of Technology and PhD degrees supervised by staff.

Research

Research is primarily supported through JSPS grants, but also private & international sources.

References

  1. ^ Kaufman, Marc. "Research Center a Hub for Origins of Life Studies", Space.com, May 1, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Researchers Archived 2017-04-19 at the Wayback Machine, Earth–Life Science Institute, February 1, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  3. ^ The Center Project Plans Selected in FY2017, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Archived March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. ^ World Premier International Research Center Initiative, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Scharf, Caleb A. "A New Era for Origins of Life Science?", Scientific American, August 7, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2020.

External links