We are pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Yoshihiro Nakayama (Division of Earth System Science; Institute of Low Temperature Science) has received the Cryosphere Early Career Award from the American Geophysical Union (AGU). AGU is one of the world’s largest academic societies in Earth physics, with many scientists and students affiliated from around the globe.
The Cryosphere Early Career Award recognizes significant early career contributions to cryospheric sciences and technology from honorees within 10 years of receiving their Ph.D. Assistant Professor Nakayama is the first recipient of this award as an Asian scientist. Congratulations!
We are happy to announce that the following 4 individuals have been selected as the 10th Matsuno Science Award recipients. Congratulations! The award ceremony will be held along with the degree conferment ceremony in September.
Shixue Li (Division of Environmental Science Development)
East Asian summer rainfall stimulated by subseasonal Indian monsoonal heating, Shixue Li, Tomonori Sato, Tetsu Nakamura, and Wenkai Guo, Nature Communications 14, 5932 (2023)
Calving, ice flow, and thickness of outlet glaciers controlled by land-fast sea ice in Lützow-Holm Bay, East Antarctica, Ken Kondo and Shin Sugiyama, Journal of Glaciology, 1-13 (2023)
Deep learning-based high-throughput detection of in vitro germination to assess pollen viability from microscopic images, Mengwei Zhang, Jianxiang Zhao, and Yoichiro Hoshino, Journal of Experimental Botany 74 (21), 6551–6562 (2023)
The award is funded by a donation from Taro Matsuno, an emeritus professor of Hokkaido University who is one of the 2013 Blue Planet Prize laureates, and it is intended to honor students who have conducted outstanding research at the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
Candidates eligible for this award are current or former students at the Graduate School of Environmental Science, whose research papers as lead authors were published in peer-reviewed academic journals concerning research conducted at the Graduate School within the two years prior to the award year. Each year, the selection committee chooses up to four papers, and recipients receive a certificate, a medal, and a monetary prize.
Award Medal
The award medal is designed based on the garden in front of the main entrance of the Graduate School, which is based on the world map.
The selection of candidates is based on recommendations from the division chiefs, and there is no open application process.
The Distinguished Researcher System was established in January 2022 with the aim of promoting education and research as well as securing outstanding young faculty members. This system awards the title to young faculty members at our university who have achieved high research accomplishments in their specialized fields.
We are pleased to announce that Associate Professor Yuko Takizawa (Division of Earth System Science; Institute of Low Temperature Science) has received the Yoshie Katsurada Award from Hokkaido University. This new award was established to honor female faculty members of Hokkaido University who have conducted excellent academic research and are expected to be active in the next generation of management positions. The name of this award is derived from Dr. Yoshie Katsurada (1911-1980), who was the first woman in Japan to receive a doctorate of science in mathematics and the first woman professor at Hokkaido Imperial University, and was established to honor her achievements as a pioneer of the women researchers.
Assoc. Prof. Takizawa has been conducting research using stable isotopes of organic compounds to clarify “functions and strategies of organisms to adapt to environmental changes” from the viewpoint of material and energy utilization.
Assist. Prof. Koichi Ito received the Research Encouragement Award of the Japanese Society of Mathematical Biology. This award is given to young members of the Japanese Society for Mathematical Biology for their outstanding research contributions to mathematical biology.
Assist. Prof. Ito has been engaged in research on the biological interactions such as cooperation and competition among organisms using game theory. Congratulations to Assist. Prof. Ito!
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 9th Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Congratulation! The award ceremony will be held after the degree conferment ceremony in September.
Deha Agus Umarhadi (Division of Environmental Science Development)
Tropical peat subsidence rates are related to decadal LULC changes: Insights from InSAR analysis, Umarhadi, D. A., Widyatmanti, W., Kumar, P., Yunus, A. P., Khedher, K., M., Kharrazi, A., & Avtar, Ram, Science of The Total Environment, 816, 151561 (2022)
Transcriptome analysis reveals wingless regulates neural development and signaling genes in the region of wing pigmentation of a polka‐dotted fruit fly, Yuichi Fukutomi, Shu Kondo, Atsushi Toyoda, Shuji Shigenobu, Shigeyuki Koshikawa, The FEBS Journal, 288, 115-126 (2021)
Abrupt drainage of Lago Greve, a large proglacial lake in Chilean Patagonia, observed by satellite in 2020, Shuntaro Hata, Shin Sugiyama, Kosuke Heki, Communications Earth & Environment, 3, 190 (2022)
Yuki Saito (Division of Environmental Materials Science)
Self-promoted solid-state covalent networking of Au25(SR)18 through reversible disulfide bonds. A critical effect of the nanocluster in the oxidation processes, Yuki Saito, Yukatsu Shichibu, Katsuaki Konishi, Nanoscale, 13, 9971-9977 (2021)
This award is funded by a donation from Prof. Taro Matsuno, who received the Blue Planet Prize 2013, and is intended to honor students who have conducted outstanding research at the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
Award medal
The bench in front of the entrance of the graduate school has the same design as the medal. Did you know that its design is a map of the world?
Associate Professor Youhei Yamashita (Division of Earth System Science, Biogeochemistry Course; Faculty of Environmental Earth Science) was selected as the 5th winner of the Nishida Prize by Japan Geoscience Union. The awards ceremony was held on Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2023. Nishida Prize is given to a researcher who have achieved outstanding research results in the field of earth and planetary sciences based on new ideas, and who are highly regarded internationally. His biogeochemical studies on the optical traits and dynamics of dissolved organic matter in the hydrosphere has been highly regarded, which led to this award.
Prof. Yamashita has been engaged in research on the dynamics of non-living organic matter using chemical methods. In the award’s description, he is highly praised as “a pioneer in the field of chemical analysis of dissolved organic matter in the hydrosphere to evaluate the environmental dynamics at the molecular level by developing methods.” His achievements include the finding of the long-range transport of iron in the ocean by humic-like fluorescent dissolved organic matter complexes with iron, and the environmental dynamics of dissolved black carbon in the ocean, mainly produced by biomass and fossil fuel combustion.
We are pleased to announce that Professor Jun Nishioka (Division of Earth System Science, Biogeochemistry Course; Institute of Low Temperature Science) and Assitant Professor Tomohiro Watanabe (Division of Biosphere Science, Molecular Biology Course; Institute of Low Temperature Science) have received the 2023 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The Commendation was established to motivate persons engaged in science and technology and to contribute to raising the level of science and technology in Japan.
The Science and Technology Award (Research Category), which Professor Nishioka received, is awarded to “individuals who have conducted original research or development that is highly likely to contribute to the development of science and technology in Japan,” and his research on the iron supply process that supports biological production in the North Pacific Ocean was highly evaluated. Prof. Nishioka has been actively studying the geochemical cycles of trace metals such as iron in the ocean and how these metallic elements affect the marine ecosystem, especially phytoplankton.
The Young Scientist Award, which Assistant Professor Watanabe received, is given to “young scientists under 40 years of age who have made outstanding research achievements that demonstrate a high level of research and development ability, including research from a budding or original perspective. Assistant Professor Watanabe has been focusing on metabolic pathways such as sulfur oxidation and methanogenesis in bacteria, and has been engaged in research such as searching for enzymes related to metabolism and genes associated with them.
Congratulations to both of you! The awards ceremony is scheduled for April 19 and will be broadcast live online.
Ms. Yuri Fukai, a doctoral student in the Biogeochemistry course of the Division of Earth System Science, has received the 2022 Hokkaido University Ohtsuka Award!
Ms. Fukai receiving an award certificate from the President of the University
Ohtsuka Award is given to an outstanding female student in the final year of a doctoral course who aspires to become a researcher at Hokkaido University. The award is named after Professor Eiko Ohtsuka, who was a professor of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences until 1999 and is still a emeritus professor. This award was established as part of the Gender Equality Program to nurture outstanding female students who aspire to become researchers.
Congratulations to Yuri Fukai! We wish you all the success in your future endeavors.
The Graduate School Poster Presentation Session 2022 was held on March 10. Because of the COVID-19 infections, it is indeed the first time in four years that a face-to-face presentation has been held. Twenty-one master’s and doctoral course students presented the results of their research progresses on posters, and enjoyed lively discussions.
Session participants from all four divisions mingled and enjoyed the discussions.
Students discussed each other.
After a rigorous judging, the following three students were presented with the Research Excellence Award for their particularly outstanding research presentations. Congratulation!
Shixue Li (Division of Environmental Science Development D1)
Hai Xiang Liew (Division of Biosphere Science M2)
Aditya Irfan Witono (Division of Environmental Materials Science M2)
Thank you all for your hard work on the presentations.
PS: The award ceremony was held
On March 29, an award ceremony was held to honor the winners of the Research Excellence Award.
The final lecture by Prof. Masashi Ohara (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science), who will retire end of this March, was reported in HTB Hokkaido News.
Prof. Ohara has conducted research on the life history of plants, including research on the genus Enreiso, which is used as our university emblem. He also served as the Dean of our graduate school and faculty. We would like to thank Dr. Ohara for his effort on research and educations in the graduate school.
Prof. Ram Avtar (Faculty of Environmental Earth Science) was awarded the Hokkaido University President’s Award for Excellence in Research and Education for 2022. This award is given to the faculty members who have made particularly outstanding achievements through their teaching and research activities in Hokkaido University.
Prof. Ram Avtar (right) showing the award certificate alongside the dean of our graduate school (left).
Prof. Avtar has been actively researching the mechanisms and variables of ecosystems by using remote sensing techniques. Congratulations, Prof. Avtar!
Mr. Shuntaro Hyogo (Doctoral Course, Division of Earth System Science) is now joining to 64th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. He took an interview and reported in ANN News.
Professor Masaaki Morikawa (Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences) was awarded an honorary doctorate degree (Bioscience) from Kasetsart University in recognition of his academic contributions to the Kingdom of Thailand over many years. It was handed over directly from Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn KPS. Graduate School of Environmental Science will vigorously continue to promote international cooperation.
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 8th Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Please visit links below to view abstracts.
Graduate School of Environmental Science established the Matsuno Environmental Science Award in 2015. This award recognizes outstanding research conducted by enrolled students, alumni, and alumnae of the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 7th Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Please visit links below to view abstracts.
Graduate School of Environmental Science established the Matsuno Environmental Science Award in 2015. This award recognizes outstanding research conducted by enrolled students, alumni, and alumnae of the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
Prof. Shiro Tsuyuzaki's educational commentary for children on marsh and wetland has been released on Honda Kids, a website presented by HONDA, which is one of the most famous Japanese company.
The 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) was held in Tokyo on May 8-9, and Professor Shin Sugiyama (Division of Earth System Science) participated as a representative of researchers in the host country.
Assoc. Prof. Yoshinori Iizuka was selected as one of the recipients of the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology this year. (Division of Earth System Science).
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 6th Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Please visit links below to view abstracts.
Graduate School of Environmental Science established the Matsuno Environmental Science Award in 2015. This award recognizes outstanding research conducted by enrolled students, alumni, and alumnae of the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
Assoc. Prof. Shigeru Aoki, Assist. Prof. Yoshihiro Nakayama, and Kaihei Yamazaki, a Ph.D student of our graduate school (Division of Earth System Science), departed for Antarctica to lead the 61th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. Assoc. Prof. Aoki is the first HU researcher selected as a leader of the expedition. The members of the expedition party will set out from Australia aboard the Japanese icebreaker “Shirase” and will return to Japan next March.
The Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education selects Hokkaido University Commendation for Excellent Teaching recipients every year based on students’ feedback on the General Education Courses.
Thirty courses were selected based on the students’ feedback conducted last year. Prof. Masahi Ohara, the dean of our graduate school, and Prof. Shin Sugiyama were selected as commendation recipients. Prof. Ohara has been selected for the commendation 7 years in a row!
Name of their lectures recognized:
General Education Courses “Biology II” (Prof. Ohara)
General Education Courses (Liberal Arts) “Freshman Seminar” (Prof. Sugiyama)
Please refer to the following URL for more details:
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 5th Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Please visit links below to view abstracts. Full-text papers are available for those with Hokkaido University Repository HUSCAP registration.
Award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony at 3 p.m. on September 27th, at the Graduate School of Environmental Science Homecoming Day event (Please refer to Homecoming Day 2019 for more details).
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Graduate School of Environmental Science established the Matsuno Environmental Science Award in 2015. This award recognizes outstanding research conducted by enrolled students, alumni, and alumnae of the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
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Hokkaido University selects Hokkaido University Presidential Commendation for Education and Research every year.
Prof. Masahi Ohara, the dean of our graduate school, was selected as one of the fifteen commendation recipients of this academic year. The commendation ceremony was held at Hokkaido University Conference Hall on February 22, 2019.
The Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education selects Hokkaido University Commendation for Excellent Teaching recipients every year based on students’ feedback on the General Education Courses.
Thirty-three courses were selected based on the students’ feedback conducted last year. Prof. Masahi Ohara, the dean of our graduate school, was selected as commendation recipients. Prof. Ohara has been selected for the commendation 6 years in a row!
Name of their lectures recognized: General Education Courses “Biology II” (Prof. Ohara)
Please refer to the following URL for more details:
Assist. Prof. Ryota Kawanishi received the Best Article Award 2019 of the Ichthyological Society of Japan, which society will pass its 50th anniversary this year.
Please visit links below to see the information on the article and the scene of the awards ceremony.
Associate Prof. Yoko Mitani, Division of Biosphere Science, will appear in NHK Special on NHK General TV at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28th. You can see her research on killer whales around Shiretoko Peninsula.
Associate Professor Takeshi Horinouchi gave an invited lecture at COSPAR2018 held from July 14 to July 22, 2018 in Pasadena, California, USA. COSPAR or Committee on Space Research is an international organization that promotes scientific research in space, and calls a General Assembly every second year, which is one of the biggest conference in space science.
He was one of 4 lecturers selected by the COSPAR Executive Director, the President, and the Chair of the Assembly Scientific Program committee for the Latest Results Session that intends to highlight some recent, outstanding results from world-class scientists. He has been one of world-leading scientists gaining international recognition through his research on Venusian atmosphere by Akatsuki, the Venus Climate Orbiter. (>> [Press Release] Equatorial jet in the lower to middle cloud layer of Venus revealed by Akatsuki)
We are pleased to announce that the following 4 recipients have been selected as recipients of the 1st Matsuno Environmental Science Award. Please visit links below to view abstracts. Full-text papers are available for those with Hokkaido University Repository HUSCAP registration.
Award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony at 2 p.m. on September 25th, at the Graduate School of Environmental Science Homecoming Day event (Please refer to Homecoming Day 2015 for more details). Dr. Lim and Dr. Fukaya will have speeches and tell you their experience, research, and days in school. Please join us!
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Graduate School of Environmental Science established the Matsuno Environmental Science Award this year. This award recognizes outstanding research conducted by enrolled students, alumni, and alumnae of the Graduate School of Environmental Science.
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As a result of the Environmental Impact Reduction Achievement Project incorporating the Visualization System, we achieved of enerty consumption for air-conditioning of 33 % over summer 2010.
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