A Message from the Program Leader Education Program Research Project Members Symposium / Work Shop Positions Available	Innovation in Coherent Optical Science Outline of the COE Program: 1. Goal of the COE Program: Creation of a Hub of Coherent Optical Science 2. Significance of the COE Program to UEC 3. Research Activities at UEC 4. Education Program at UEC Goal of the COE Program: Recently, great advances in optical science have had profound impacts not only on fields related to optical science, but also on other fields of physics. Researches on coherent interactions of light and matter opened a method of manipulating the quantum optical response of matter. The laser cooling/trapping method realized Bose-Einstein condensation of atoms and furthermore established a new field of atom optics that uses a matter wave as a wave medium. In addition, methods to control optical coherence keep expanding the outer limits of science with developments ranging from ultrahigh precision measurement to gravitational-wave astronomy. Moreover, coherent quantum control has produced the concept of quantum information processing, which has laid the physical foundations of new information technologies such as quantum communication and quantum computing. It should be mentioned that the rapid development of optical science has been founded on the innovation of advanced solid state laser technology in the last decade. The goals of this program are:(1) to integrate rapidly developing areas related to optical science into one scientific discipline, Coherent Optical Science, with the aim of developing applications in a systematic manner, and (2) to build a research and education hub where the basic science and technology of the 21st century can be nurtured. Our buzzword is manipulation and control of coherence of not only light but also matter. The methodology of coherence manipulation and control will be implemented at our hub with the aim of developing and deploying basic research, photonics, and information and communication technology. Significance of the COE Program to UEC To focus on Creation of Advanced Communication Science as the main pillar of education and research efforts in the 21st century, UEC has reorganized its Graduate School of Electro-Communications into seven departments (information and communication engineering, computer science, electronic engineering, applied physics and chemistry, mechanical engineering and intelligent systems, systems engineering, and human communication) so that education and research activities can be carried out comprehensively. Under the COE program, Advanced Communication Science will be created using an interdisciplinary approach by supplementing the educational framework of these seven departments with a cross-sectional research framework that deals with materials and devices and links them with information. In other words, we believe that a traditional academic structure complemented by a research and education system designed for Coherent Optical Science will make a great contribution to the flexible development of Advanced Communication Science. Research and education in optical science at UEC have been carried out in a manner that transcends disciplinary boundaries and have achieved a remarkable record that is highly acclaimed. The Institute for Laser Science has played a leading role in this endeavor. Based on our research and educational activities in optical science, we aim to pioneer new frontiers of science through the convergence of different fields and to establish a cross-sectional framework of education at the graduate school responsible for Advanced Communication Science. Research Activities at UEC Optical science group at UEC has brought prominent results in various fields of optical science over the past two decades. The achievements have been reached in such fields as atom optics, quantum nonlinear optics, Fourier interferometers, ultrahigh coherence lasers, fiber lasers, ceramic lasers, and multiply-charged ion trapping. The present COE program develops and deploys research and educational efforts based on these research activities. The basic view of the research effort is to respect and develop free-thinking by individual researchers. At the same time, researchers are encouraged to starting collaborative works crossing over the traditional disciplines. Researchers are involved in one of the three projects: creation of new functions by coherent control of light and matter; creation of new functions by ultrahigh precision control of light; and creation of new generation coherent photonic devices. The projects will adopt an interdisciplinary approach and will be deployed through collaboration of various fields including material science, device science, and low temperature science. In particular, next generation applications in the field of information and communication, such as quantum computing and quantum information, will be incorporated into our research activities. These research projects will be conducted in national and international collaborations. Education Program at UEC This program aims to establish UEC as a hub of research and educational activities in coherent optical science, launching a new approach to graduate school education by bringing down the walls between disciplines so as to lay a foundation for the education and training of a new generation of researchers who can meet the challenge of optical science in the 21st century. In this program, we introduce a Course of Coherent Optical Science that incorporates information and communication engineering, electronic engineering, and applied physics and chemistry. In this course, students are educated in optical science and photonics in parallel with their majors. The Course of Coherent Optical Science is offered in the doctoral program. From the students who take this course, COE research students are chosen and trained as independent-minded researchers who can lead the next generation research activities in optical science. The COE research students will be provided with an environment for self-initiated research with sufficient financial assistance. Before granting a degree to a research student, evaluation and opinion will be sought from across the nation and from abroad via the Internet so that an internationally recognized degree is virtually guaranteed. In this program, we constantly emphasize the full development of basic academic capabilities. In today's leading edge research efforts, deep understanding of basic science and the ability to reorganize one's understanding are prerequisite. Therefore, a perspective based on fundamental knowledge and systematic learning is essential for students and young researchers to undertake creative research activities with clear goals. In order to carry out the program with vigor, international students are welcomed so as to facilitate an inspiring research environment. For this purpose, we intend to build relationships with foreign universities through joint research projects and would like to accept students recommended by these universities.