In Earth science in Japan, research has been conducted nearly independently in geology, mineralogy, paleontology, geophysics and geochemistry and has contributed significantly to the progress of these respective disciplines; however, interdisciplinary research among those different disciplines has rarely been done. In order to understand the cause of the evolution of the Earth, interdisciplinary research is essential. Research at IFREE will be concentrated in four Programs（Mantle-core dynamics, Geochemical evolution, Plate dynamics and Paleoenvironment）to further the goal of the respective Programs. Moreover, the researchers in these four different Programs will interact each other and collaborate, thereby initiating pioneering interdisciplinary research to achieve the ultimate goal of IFREE. In the research and management in IFREE, a rigorous external and internal evaluation system will be introduced for their continuous improvement.
In addition to the four Research Programs, IFREE also has a Center for Data and Sample Analyses, and access to three large facilities（a new drilling vessel, global and marine seismic networks, and an ultra-fast supercomputer）. Using these facilities, large-scale research, which cannot be done in other organizations, can be carried out at IFREE. By conducting these research activities at IFREE, we expect to contribute to the progress of our understanding of the Earth system as well as to the future advancement of human society.
