Message from the Director (Updated April 7, 2025)
The Center for Ecological Research (CER) was established in 1991 as an inter-university collaborative facility dedicated to promoting fundamental research and international cooperation in ecology. CER warmly welcomes scientists engaged in ecological research, providing exciting opportunities across diverse ecological disciplines. We actively support researchers by granting access to extensive research databases and facilitating scientific meetings and symposia on relevant ecological topics.
CER operates a high-performance research vessel on Lake Biwa and conducts long-term research initiatives both domestically and internationally. Our facilities include experimental gardens, ponds, forests, and arboretums on campus, and we share these resources and specialized equipment with researchers from both within and outside CER. At CER, we pursue field, experimental, and theoretical research, integrating these approaches to achieve a deeper, comprehensive understanding of ecological systems.
On the educational front, CER serves as a host institution for graduate students enrolled in Kyoto University's Graduate School of Science. Additionally, CER manages the secretariat for Diversity in the Western Pacific and Asia (DIWPA), facilitating international collaboration among biodiversity researchers. Furthermore, CER has initiated six collaborative projects with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), advancing interdisciplinary research that bridges ecology with science, engineering, and humanities/social sciences. As RIHN serves as an Asian regional hub for Future Earth (FE) -an international research initiative aimed at creating a sustainable global society-, CER is committed to contributing to FE through DIWPA.
CER functions as a catalyst, fostering the growth of ecological research and the broader scientific community. Our efforts are inherently collaborative and depend greatly on your active participation and support. Together, we can elevate ecological research, education, and societal impact.
We eagerly look forward to your involvement.
Keisuke Koba
Director, Center for Ecological Research