Natural History Programs for University Students

Course Details

*This course is a nine-session series. It is not possible to register for individual sessions.

Target Audience	Primarily university students, graduate students, and vocational school students (General public may also apply).
Delivery Method	Recorded lectures will be made available for on-demand streaming for approximately one month following each lecture date. * Q&A sessions are not conducted during on-demand streaming. *This is not a collected, in-person lecture series held at the National Museum of Nature and Science.
Course Schedule	Beginning Friday, August 29, 2025 (1st session) and continuing on the first and third Fridays of each month until December. 18:00 – 19:30 JST
Enrollment Capacity	Approximately 100 participants
Course Fee	¥18,900 (Students from University Partnership member institutions: ¥9,500)

List of University Partnership Member Institutions
FY 2025 Natural History Course Flyer（リンクを新しいタブで開きます）(609.6 KB)

 FY 2025 Curriculum

Session 1　Aug 29 (Fri)	Tsuyoshi Hosoya, Collection Director, Center of the Collections, National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS) 【What is Natural History?】Learning About Nature from Specimens: A Mycology Researcher's Perspective
Museums collect specimens as centers for natural history research. Natural history describes and records natural phenomena, forming the basis of natural science. Specimens are the physical evidence that proves those descriptions. This lecture will examine the role of specimens and museums in natural history, based on the lecturer's experience as a fungal researcher.
Session 2　Sept 5 (Fri)	Yoshiyasu Tsutsumi, Principal Researcher, Geology and Paleontology Group, Department of Geology and Paleontology, NMNS 【Origins of the Japanese Archipelago I】How Was the Japanese Archipelago Formed?
The framework of the Japanese archipelago is composed of "accretionary complexes" formed on the continental margin by plate subduction. It became an "archipelago" when the Sea of Japan formed, pulling it away from the continent. This lecture will primarily discuss accretionary complexes and explain, with new findings, how the Japanese archipelago was formed.
Session 3　Sept 19 (Fri)	Naoki Kohno, Director, Department of Life History Research, NMNS 【Origins of the Japanese Archipelago II】500 Million Years of Vertebrate Evolution
Vertebrates, the ultimate ancestors of mammals, emerged in the early Cambrian period (about 500 million years ago), with true mammals appearing in the early Cretaceous period (about 110 million years ago). This lecture will highlight that many of these vertebrates inhabited "Japan" during the Mesozoic Era, even before the Japanese archipelago was fully formed, examining this history against the backdrop of the archipelago's structural development and environmental changes.
Session 4　Oct 3 (Fri)	Akihito Shinohara, Group Leader, Vertebrate Group, Department of Zoology, NMNS 【Diversity of Japanese Fauna I】The True Face of Japanese Fish
The NMNS houses Japan's largest fish specimen collection. This lecture will explain the characteristics of our fish collection, starting with the basics: what are fluid-preserved fish specimens, why are fish continuously collected, and how are they used in research? It will also introduce the unique morphology and ecology of various fish species inhabiting the Japanese archipelago.
Session 5　Oct 17 (Fri)	Yudai Okuyama, Principal Researcher, Diversity Analysis and Conservation Group, Department of Botany, NMNS 【Diversity of Japanese Flora I】Biodiversity Nurtured by Connections
The remarkable diversity of terrestrial ecosystems is sustained by four symbiotic systems surrounding land plants: pollination, seed dispersal, defense, and mycorrhizal symbiosis. This lecture will overview specific examples and characteristics of these four systems, focusing on the central role of plants and introducing how they create and support terrestrial biodiversity.
Session 6　Nov 7 (Fri)	Hideaki Kanzawa, Principal Researcher, Anthropology Group, Department of Life History Research, NMNS 【The Formation of the Japanese People】The People Who Came to the Japanese Archipelago
When, from where, and how did people arrive at the Japanese archipelago, where we live? And through what changes did they become the modern Japanese people? This lecture will overview the origins and formation of the Japanese people, combining evidence from the morphology of human remains and archaeological artifacts with findings from recent DNA research.
Session 7　Nov 21 (Fri)	Tomoko Muroya, Group Leader, Chemistry Group, Department of Science, NMNS 【Natural Phenomena Around Japan】Coping with Natural Disasters in Japan
The Japanese archipelago is a disaster-prone region, frequently struck by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, typhoons, and heavy rainfall. Conversely, we also benefit from these forces. This lecture will introduce why earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis are so frequent around Japan, what disasters Japan has experienced, and what can be learned from the observation of these phenomena.
Session 8　Dec 5 (Fri)	Tatsuya Ide, Principal Researcher, Terrestrial Invertebrate Group, Department of Zoology, NMNS 【Diversity of Japanese Fauna II】Insect Diversity and Human Relationships
Insects are the most numerous species on Earth, having adapted to every environment. They are also one of the most familiar wild animals to humans, and their diversity is linked to human life for better or worse. This lecture will introduce the diversity of insects found in Japan and their relationship with people.
Session 9　Dec 19 (Fri)	Jun Ebihara, Principal Researcher, Terrestrial Plant Group, Department of Botany, NMNS 【Diversity of Japanese Flora II / Summary】Making Better Use of Natural History Collections!
Specimens of extant organisms were historically made primarily to preserve morphological features, but today, many new applications are being discovered. Consequently, collections are shifting from materials used only by specialized researchers to resources open to everyone. This lecture will focus on plants to consider the connection between collections and society.

Steps to Enrollment

1. Important Notes on Application

There are important notes regarding participation in this course.
Please read the following instructions and confirm your acceptance of the terms before applying for the course.
Notes on Application（リンクを新しいタブで開きます）(279.6 KB)

2. Application Submission   

*Please Note: Application registration for the FY 2025 program has now closed.
Please apply via the dedicated application page below (external site). *Personal information provided will be used exclusively for purposes related to this course.
Application Deadline: Monday, August 4, 2025, 12:00 PM JST (Registration Closed)

3. Confirmation of Enrollment

Applicants will be notified of the enrollment decision (acceptance or rejection) via email around Friday, August 8th.
In the event of a large number of applications, priority will be given to students from universities affiliated with the "National Museum of Nature and Science University Partnership." Thank you for your understanding.

4. Payment of Course Fee

Details regarding the payment method for the course fee will be sent to accepted participants along with the enrollment notification.

Inquiries