Professor Jun Nishioka and Assistant Professor Tomohiro Watanabe received the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of MEXT

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.