科学者は研究により得られた知見を、現状では未解明なことが多くあることを含めて発信し、より安全な社会にすることへの貢献も一つの役割です。多くの研究者は研究活動の傍ら啓発活動も行っているものの、科学的な知見だけでは社会は動きません。すなわち、科学には説得力と対話による社会の受容が肝要です。
1995年1月17日、それまで「地震は起こらない」と漠然と根拠なく一般の方々には思われていた近畿地方の大都市域の直下を震源とする大地震が発生しました。兵庫県南部地震です。都市域近傍の活断層を震源とする地震ゆえの強震動による橋梁や建築物の耐震性だけでなく、発災直後の救助、30万人を超える避難者の生活、復旧・復興の在り方など多くの問題が顕在化し、各分野はこの30年に様々な課題に向き合ってきました。研究成果の社会への実装については、専門分野を超えた議論も必要であり、一般市民の方々に理解してもらえるような対話も必要です。このパブリックセッションでは兵庫県南部地震以降の科学、学術、技術、社会学（、医学）の進展を振り返り、より良い社会の構築に向けてより良い道筋を見つけることを目的としています。

The normally tranquil earth can, at any given moment, suddenly and drastically move due to earthquakes. Such large earthquakes are phenomena that occur somewhere on the globe every year. One of many roles of scientists is to contribute to make a safe and secure society by presenting the findings of their research, including the fact that there are still great deal of unrevealed aspects in science. Many researchers conduct awareness-raising activities alongside their research activities, but the society will not change by just scientific fact. In other words, it is important for Science to be persuasive and the society to be acceptable through communication.
On 17 January 1995, a major earthquake occurred just beneath a large city in the Kinki area where the general public at that time believed vaguely without any evidence that earthquakes will not occur. It was the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu  Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake). The strong ground motions generated from  inland active faults in and around Kobe and Awaji Island, revealed problems of not only seismic resistance of bridges and buildings, but also rescue operation just after the event, the livelihood of more than 300 thousand evacuees, the process of practice for recovery and rebuilding, so scientist of diverse fields have been tackling various issues over the past 30 years. In order to implement scientific findings, discussions crossing various fields of expertise are also necessary, as well as the communication with the general public for their understanding in science. This public session aims to review the progress in science, academia, technology and sociology (and medicine) since the Hyogo-ken Nanbu Earthquake and find better ways to build a safe and secure society.