The Uehiro Research Division for Philosophy of Co-existence Opening Symposium "Ethics in Change" was held at the University of Tokyo on 16 June 2012. The symposium addressed the idea of co-existence between human beings, between human beings and nature, between human beings and technology, and between science and humanities. It brought these concepts together in a novel philosophical approach that encouraged an enthusiastic and fruitful discussion, a discussion that inspired deeper thought in this subject area, yet traversed the multitude of ideas with ease. Associate Professor Shinji Kajitani (University of Tokyo) was the leading moderator of the symposium.

On May 28th, 2012, Professor Sandra Laugier gave a presentation entitled "Attention to Ordinary Others: Ethics of 'Care,' Vulnerability, and Human Security". Professor Laugier teaches philosophy at L'Université de Paris I, Sorbonne, and has worked as the deputy director at the Institut des sciences humaines et sociales (INSHS).