Nagoya University Global COE Program　Quest for Fundamental Principles in the Universe

• Young Researchers Seminar
• Career Support Seminar

One of the objectives of Nagoya University’s Global COE is to nurture talent, who will break the barriers between existing research fields and create new research territories, by promoting the education of graduate students so that they acquire “the basics of physics’’, “the ability to find and solve problems independently’’, and ‘’internationality’’. To achieve this objective, the Education Office has instituted several measures, as described below.

Physics Minima is a set of courses on “the basics of physics”, which targets first and second year students in the master’s course and the first year students in the doctoral course. All PhD students must complete Physics Minima to acquire a doctoral degree.

Physics Minima consists of two courses, A and B. Physics Minima A is a tutorial e-learning course to ensure all graduate students have an undergraduate level of knowledge in physics, while Physics Minima B reviews a wide variety of topics, ranging from particle physics to planetary science and astrophysics.

The link below provides detailed information about Physics Minima.

The tutoring system is designed to provide one-on-one interactions between graduate students. In particular, students in the doctoral course tutor and study with students in the master’s course. This experience not only helps master’s students build a solid foundation in physics, but more importantly helps doctoral students become independent.

This course targets first and second year students in theoretical physics laboratories. This month long course provides an opportunity for students specializing in theoretical physics to participate in an experimental laboratory. This program will not only provide students in theoretical physics a broad, solid foundation in physics, but will also increase their awareness so that their research will be relevant to issues in experimental physics.

Through a diversified advisory system, which incorporates many specialties in physics and includes overseas cooperative graduate schools, students are able to participate in multi-disciplinary research.

This course targets first and second year students in experimental physics laboratories, and is comprised of a closely packed lecture series on theoretical physics. In this manner, students in experimental physics will learn the significance and benefits of theoretical physics as well as develop the knowledge of how to apply theoretical physics to their own research.

Students in both the doctoral and master’s courses plan seminars on themes of their choice that span several fields of physics. In addition, these students also plan and execute an annual camping retreat. During the retreat, additional training about the seminar topics is provided, students’ accomplishments from the last year are presented, and future developments and project ideas are discussed.

Every year, students in theoretical physics go on a retreat, which lasts about three days. During this time, students learn the basis of theoretical physics as well as network with their peers.