【Soon】Special Exhibition Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of The University of Tokyo “Dynamic Earth – Earthquakes and Volcanoes in Scientific Records”

2026.11.14-2027.03.28
GREY CUBE

Earthquakes and volcanic activity, closely interrelated natural phenomena that can at times cause major disasters, must have been a subject of great interest to people since ancient times. Consequently, efforts have continued for generations to record these activities and understand their underlying mechanisms. As one of the international hubs for this research, the Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (ERI) was established in the wake of the Great Kantō Earthquake, inheriting a part of the government projects from the Meiji era. ERI has preserved—and continues to generate—a vast amount of research materials, including images, documents, various types of data, and specimens. These records can be described as a unique and unparalleled resource for uncovering the history of seismology and volcanology in Japan and connecting it to the future. This Intermediatheque (IMT) special exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the endeavors of scientists since the Meiji era, as told through these materials.
The exhibited materials consist of the University of Tokyo's collections, featuring not only items housed at ERI but also specimens from The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (UMUT), which has been collecting scientific specimens since the founding of the University of Tokyo in 1877. Furthermore, the exhibition design incorporates multisensory media characteristic of Intermediatheque, such as tactile models. We hope this exhibition will allow you to experience the perspective and intellectual passion of the researchers who confronted earthquakes and volcanoes.
This exhibition is organized to mark a series of major milestones: the 100th anniversary of the Earthquake Research Institute in 2025, the 30th anniversary of the University Museum in 2026 (the 60th anniversary of its predecessor), and the 150th anniversary of the University of Tokyo in 2027.

Organizers: The University Museum, The University of Tokyo (UMUT) + The Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (ERI)
Cooperation: Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo | Science Library, The University of Tokyo

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Related Events

Lecture “Earthquake Research: Then and Now” [Coming soon]
Speaker: Takashi Furumura (Director and Professor, The Earthquake Research Institute, The University of Tokyo)
November 14, 2026

IncluDE Public Research Seminar “Rethinking ‘Touching,’ ‘Listening,’ and ‘Seeing’: Inclusive Museum Experiences through the Dynamic Earth Exhibition” [Coming soon]
December 20, 2026

Additional related events are also planned. Details of each event will be announced on this website as arrangements are finalized.