GREETING FROM THE DEAN

　Modern society is said to be in the VUCA era, characterized by high levels of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity worldwide. Over the past 20 years, the global population has increased rapidly, exacerbating issues such as environmental changes, global warming, food security, and the spread of COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases. Meanwhile, our country faces unprecedented and complex problems, such as economic and social stagnation due to declining birthrates and an aging population, maintaining social structures and public health in the context of a super-aging society, and responding to intermittent natural disasters.
　In this global context, the College of Bioresource Sciences, in accordance with the Nihon University Education Charter, is addressing various issues related to life, food, resources, and the environment faced by Japan and the international community, contributing to the sustainable development of science and technology. Notably, since the 1990s—long before the United Nations Summit in 2016 adopted the 2030 international sustainable development goals (SDGs)—we have been conducting highly original research and education related to all 17 of today's SDGs, particularly pertaining to the production and utilization of bioresources, life sciences, and environmental sciences. More recently, we have been viewing the health of humans and animals, and the surrounding environment and ecosystems, according to the comprehensive "One Health" concept, collaborating with academic in related fields to solve various problems.
　Considering these global trends, we completely reorganized our college in 2023 and created a state-of-the-art curriculum that meets the needs of modern society. As a result, we can provide an excellent education that enables students to acquire a broad range of knowledge and advanced expertise related to bioresource sciences and veterinary medicine, along with a rich appreciation of the liberal arts, deep insights into human activities, and a high sense of ethics. Due to the rapid development of science, the content learned in the faculty is becoming more advanced in terms of both quality and quantity. During their limited time as students, we hope that those who enroll will study the achievements of their predecessors in depth, apply their knowledge, and acquire the wisdom and ability to solve various social problems and create new value, thus playing an active role in the international community.
　The main campus of the College of Bioresource Sciences (Shonan Campus) is located in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, close to the ancient capital of Kamakura and Enoshima, a popular sightseeing spot. The Shonan Campus, with its excellent access from the city center, is conveniently located, being just a 3-minute walk from Mutsuai Nihon University Mae Station on the Odakyu Enoshima Line. The campus provides a full range of facilities and equipment for education and research, including farms, greenhouses, experimental forests, libraries, museums, and veterinary clinics. Therefore, the greatest strength of our university is that students can attend lectures, experiments, and practical courses without moving between campuses, allowing them to study efficiently. In addition to the main Shonan campus, the Shimoda Marine Laboratory (in Shizuoka Prefecture) and experimental forests (in Chiba Prefecture, Gunma Prefecture, and in Hokkaido) are used for research activities and field training.
　The college years are an important time to meet good teachers and classmates, learn from each other, have various experiences, and acquire excellent human qualities. Based on Nihon University's educational philosophy of "independent creation", all faculty and staff strongly support students on this beautiful, lush campus, allowing them to learn freely and acquire the ability to learn independently, think independently, and pave their own way. We look forward to our exciting future together and working with students to achieve their goals.

Sincerely,
Taiichiro Seki