The Role of Education and Science in the Digital Age - Talk & Roundtable

Oct 22, 2026

A roundtable conversation exploring how digital networks shape information abundance and how education and science can respond to worsening mental, socio-economic, and political conditions. The discussion asks what is going wrong, what can be improved, and what the first information revolution 600 years ago can teach today. Yuval Noah Harari joins two leading Japanese scholars in media and AI governance to address the risks and opportunities of the information age.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

The Role of Education and Science in the Digital Age

Discussion focus and key questions

Speakers and affiliations

Speaker Yuval Noah HARARI Historian, Philosopher Yuval Noah Harari is the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, the series Sapiens: A Graphic History and Unstoppable Us, and Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. His books have sold over 45 million copies in 65 languages. Harari received his PhD from the University of Oxford in 2002. He is a Distinguished Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge’s Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. HAYASHI Kaori Professor of Media and Journalism Studies The University of Tokyo Executive Vice President (International Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion) EMA Arisa Associate Professor, Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo Science and Technology Studies, AI Governance Speaker Speaker Roundtable Free Admission Pre-RegReqisuitratredion 800 seats (First come, first served) The Role of Education and Science in the Digital Age Today, digital networks provide us with an abundance of information. We invest more than ever in education and science. Despite these achievements our mental, socio-economic and political conditions have not improved. They seem to be even deteriorating. Why? What is going wrong? What can we do better? What can the first information revolution 600 years ago teach us? Two leading Japanese scholars in the field of media and AI governance will discuss these questions with Yuval Noah Harari, the world-famous thinker and best-selling author, who explores the risks and opportunities of the information age in his new book Nexus. 2025. 3.17 [ Mon.] 15:00-16:30 JST( 14:00 Open) Moderator Franz WALDENBERGER Director, German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) Tokyo College / German Institute for Japanese Studies (DIJ) / Kawade Shobo Shinsha Yasuda Auditorium (Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo) English (Japanese interpretation) Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study [0317event@tc. u-tokyo.ac.jp](0317event@tc. u-tokyo.ac.jp) Pre-registration required Register here 東京大学に新しく設立された「東京カレッジ」。世界の第一線で活躍する研究者や知識人を招き、市民の皆さんと一緒に未来社会の様々な側面について考える場を作ります。 Tokyo College aims to generate new knowledge to contribute to the creation of an inclusive society and spark deeper public engagement with the University of Tokyo. facebook X Mail Magazine

FAQs

What questions does the roundtable focus on?

It examines why mental, socio-economic, and political conditions have not improved despite progress, what is going wrong, and what can be done better. It also asks what the first information revolution 600 years ago can teach us today.

Who are the speakers?

The session features Yuval Noah Harari, historian and philosopher, along with leading Japanese scholars in media and AI governance from the University of Tokyo.

What is required to attend?

Pre-registration is required, and admission is free with 800 seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. English interpretation is provided.

Oct 22, 2026

Uploaded by Alex Sinclair