Background

   OU conducted inter-disciplinary village research in the 1950s. OU now seeks to develop a research methodology to investigate the complex and inter-connected social issues, and to achieve the SDGs by re-visiting one of the villages in mountainous northern Okayama.

Outline

   Collaborating with Hashimoto Foundation, 10+ OU researchers from different academic background (agricultural economics, geology, education, design, public health, and community studies) conduct an inter-disciplinary community research, focusing on the livelihood and economy, surrounding environment, health and welfare, and communal ties.

Expected outcomes

   The research shall present how the well-being of people and community can be
made possible in a rural community. It also
propose how academic institutions may
contribute to social issues and the SDGs through
research.