JpGU-AGU Joint Meeting 2026

convener:Michiyo SHIMAMURA(Osaka University), Wonsuh SONG(Shumei University), Yuko Onishi(Doshisha University), KANG KIWON(The University of Osaka), Mark Mocettini Shimamoto(American Geophysical Union)

The relationship between science and society is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Amid growing global uncertainty - climate change, natural disasters, demographic transitions, geopolitical tensions, and the rapid development of AI - science is increasingly expected to fulfill two essential yet sometimes conflicting missions: the pursuit of truth and the resolution of societal challenges.<br/>Earth and planetary sciences play a critical role in bridging these two dimensions. By exploring the dynamic interactions between human society and the Earth system, this field provides a foundation for understanding the sustainable balance between nature and society and offers a fertile ground for integrating diverse knowledge through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration.<br/>This session will explore how science can maintain its autonomy and rigor while responding to societal needs, rebuilding trust, and co-creating the future together with society. Key themes include the balance between scientific independence and social responsibility, the dialogue between expert and public knowledge, and the cultural foundations of trust and co-creation that connect diverse forms of knowledge.<br/>The session will consist of invited presentations and discussions, aiming to promote dialogue that transcends the boundaries between science and society, including theoretical and practical research on interdisciplinary education, and collaboration with citizens, education, art, and policy. Through the perspective of Earth and planetary sciences, we seek to explore pathways toward harmonizing the pursuit of truth with social practice and to envision a new "social contract between science and society" grounded in diversity, trust, and interdisciplinary co-creation.