Research & Staff

Program of Water & Material Cycle

Prof. SASAKI Jun
Estuarine and Coastal Environment, Coastal Engineering


Intending to create safe, beautiful, and prosperous coastal marine environments, we conduct field observations, numerical model development, simulations using open-source models, drone/satellite remote sensing, data analysis, and AI, which will contribute to clarifying phenomena and making predictions and evaluations. In particular, we focus on blue carbon (carbon removal by marine ecosystems), which is expected to be a mitigation measure for climate change in urban estuaries and mangrove swamps. We seek to maximize co-benefits with ecosystem services such as fishery resources, water purification, and adaptation to intensified storms and rising sea levels. In addition, we are seeking to maximize the synergistic benefits of green infrastructure. We are also conducting field research to resolve local issues in the coastal areas of developing countries.

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Prof. SATOH Hiroyasu
Sewage Treatment Technologies and Its Related Microbial Ecology


We are studying on sewerage and wastewater treatment. What we are the most interested in is the microbiological ecosystem in wastewater treatment plants. Microorganisms contribute a lot to remove pollutants in wastewater. Thus, having deeper knowledge on them will contribute to the improvement of wastewater treatment technologies. The work is also scientifically interesting. Major part of their world and lives are hidden to us. Who are they? What are their roles? Why they can/cannot be their? Our study on sewage and microorganisms will also give you a new point of view on human society.

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Assoc.Prof. KAZAMA Shinobu



Further improvement of public health is desired because of a great concern about infectious diseases over the recent years. Monitoring and safety assessment of various pathogens in water environment, water supply and sewerage systems will be necessary going forward. We are studying on microbial safety assessment in water environment and water supply and sewerage systems, and wastewater-based epidemiology targeting enteric viruses. The development such as comprehensive detection methods of pathogens and indicators of microbial contamination is one of the objectives in our studies. We are also working on water and sanitation problems in developing countries. Case studies, e.g., monitoring microbial contamination in groundwater and evaluation of water treatment systems, are carrying out to improve the water supply systems in the countries.

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Lecturer MATSUBA Yoshinao
Coastal Environmental Engineering


Coasts, the interface between the land where we live and sea, are buffers reducing damage by waves on our society and are also important habitats for a wide variety of organisms. However, due to our social activities and changes in the natural environment caused by climate change, coasts around the world are losing their original shape. Our research goal is to realize coasts that provide both a rich natural environment and the disaster-prevention functions. We are developing coastal monitoring methods using latest observation devices such as UAV and LiDAR and are aiming to understand the complicated nearshore process. In addition, we are also working on　simulations of waves and currents using numerical models to elucidate various phenomena on the coasts that are difficult to observe by field observation alone.