Message from professors
Prof. Taikan OKI
The mission of our research group is to advance the science related to water cycles and their management and disseminate the achievements to society. We are engaged in research that contributes to solving water issues such as floods, water disaster, drought, and water scarcities both in the world and in Japan, reducing the adverse impacts of climate change, and building sustainability globally. With the power of diverse academic knowledge and technologies, we carry out researches that pioneer new academic systems and contribute to the maintenance or enhancement of safe, comfortable, healthy, and cultural well-beings.
Visiting Prof. Naota HANASAKI
We conduct research on the relationship between the natural water cycle and human water use and management from various scales and aspects. Our research approaches range from global-scale water and environmental issues, such as what will happen to the world’s water resources and water use if global warming progresses, and what will be the impacts on the world if Japan and other countries import large quantities of food, to fundamental questions such as what determines the current distribution of agricultural land, and whether the flow of rivers can be simulated from more than 100 years ago.
Senior Research Fellow Masashi KIGUCHI
We study hydro-meteorological phenomena such as rainfall in terms of monsoon circulation with an important role in the global water cycle. The Asian monsoon, which provides abundant rainfall, plays a part of the global water cycle, and is important to human activities like rice cropping, domestic water for a large population, and industrial water which supports rapid economic growth. Its seasonal and annual variabilities have a big impact on our society. To make clear an impact on society by its variability through the research on monsoon variation from the viewpoint of climatology and hydrology provides the scientific knowledge for the issues of how society should cope or which kind of policy is effective.
Assis. Prof. Masashi MINAMIDE
My research interests lie in exploring the predictability of weather system and deepening the understanding of their dynamics using the latest observational, modeling, mathematical, and statistical methodologies. During my doctoral study, I have conducted research through building a platform to assimilate all-sky infrared satellite radiances using an ensemble Kalman filter with convective-permitting models, developing new methodologies required for cloud-affected radiances assimilation, and investigating their impacts on the predictability of severe weather events such as tropical cyclones.
Assis. Prof. Kanon KINO
We’re researching climate change throughout the past, present, and future. Using climate models employed in IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports, we simulate climate changes from historical eras before instrument observation started. This allows us to consider the role of human activity throughout the Earth’s history. If you’re interested in history while willing to take a scientific approach, or if you wish to understand climate change from a multifaceted perspective, we’d love for you to join us in our research! Let’s explore together!
Assoc. Prof. Yohei SAWADA
We are exploring new technology to observe the current state of both natural and social spaces (e.g., weather, hydrology, transportation and conomics), predict its future and control social infrastructures based on the prediction to protect our society from crises such as floods and droughts. We are investigating statistical mathematics to integrate numerical simulation and observation data to deepen our understanding of the coupled nature-social system. Let’s enjoy the cutting-edge of engineering research in which basic science is applied to social issues!
Assis. Prof. Le DUC
We are interested in introducing ideas from multi-disciplines including data assimilation, probabilistic numerics, optimal transport, to name a few, into earth sciences. This interdisciplinary approach sheds light on open questions and usually yields unexpected and many times elegant solutions. By this thinking across boundaries, we hope that students can extend their knowledge, and grasp a big picture of the fields that they pursue.
Prof. Akiyoshi KAWASAKI
Our group is engaged in research and policy support on flood control and disaster risk reduction investments as climate adaptation measures to address socioeconomic problems, such as poverty and rising inequality in the Global South. Based on the engineering approach of quantification and modelling, we conduct field-based,interdisciplinary research in collaboration with experts in economics, history and cultural anthropology, as well as development agencies. Focusing on hydropower dams as a means to this end, we also undertake engineering research on dam control in the context of climate change,including flood control measures.
INFORMATION & NEWS
Suntory, Nippon Koei and the University of Tokyo Launch Water Security Compass
Suntory Holdings, Nippon Koei and the School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo today have launched Water Security Compass, the world’s first*1 online platform that enables users to assess future water scarcity risks based on water demand and supply across various regions b
Professor Oki was awarded the Japan’s Medal with Purple Ribbon at the 2024 Spring Medal of Honor!
Professor Taikan Oki was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon at the 2024 Spring Japan’s Medal of Honor.
The Medal with Purple Ribbon, one of Japan’s highest honors, is awarded to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments.
For details, please see the page of
Prof. Taikan Oki received the Stockholm Water Prize 2024!
On Friday, March 22, 2024, the Stockholm International Water Institute announced that it has selected Professor Taikan Oki as the 2024 winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, also known as the “Nobel Prize for Water”. This prize is the most prestigious water-related prize in the world, and is determined b
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7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 1138656, Japan.
River and Environmental Engineering Laboratory
Faculty of Engineering Bldg. #1, Hongo Campus, the University of Tokyo
Reclutes
To those interested in studying at our graduate school
This laboratory belongs to Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering Students can be assigned to this labratoly from the Hydrosphere and Environment Group. This group is composed of River and Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Coastal Engineering Laboratory and Global Hydrology Group in the IIS.
The graduate school entrance examination briefing session is held in May every year. The supervisor will be determined based on the research theme. The Hydrosphere and Environment Group are welcome for your participation from other disciplines. As the theme of this laboratory is mostly interdisciplinary, the experiences of other fields will be useful. There are many professors and OB/OGs from other universities, faculties and departments.
If you are interested in, please feel free to contact us.
To undergraduates who wants to be assigned to this laboratory for graduation thesis
Students are assigned from Department of Civil Engineering.
Among the Hydrosphere and Environment Group, it depends on the year, about 5 people are assigned to River and Environmental Engineering Laboratory. The instructor is determined by the student’s wishes and themes.
To reaserchers and workers
We are welcome for your participation with your budget.
If you want offering information for researchers, please check the following information.
Offering information
There is no offer now.
Faculty and staff
OKI Group
| Name | Affiliation | Research Theme | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taikan OKI | Professor | Global Hydrology, World Water Resources, Adaptation to Climate Change, Millennium Sustainability | |
| Naota HANASAKI | Visiting Professor | Development of a global water cycle model considering anthropogenic activities | NIES |
| Masashi KIGUCHI | Senior Research Fellow | Monsoon variation climatology, Climatology/Meteorology and air-land interaction in monsoon region | Assigned for Ministry of Environment, e-ASIA JRP, SOLVE for SDGs |
| Kanon KINO | Assisstant Professor | Climate simulation for the past, present, and future; climate modeling; paleoclimate and environments; stable water isotopes |
|
| Masashi MINAMIDE | Assisstant Professor | Data assimilaiton, Tropical Meteorology | NASA JPL (affiliate) |
| Saritha PADIYEDATH GOPALAN | Project Researcher | Comprehensive assessment of the effect of adaptation measures to combat climate change impacts | |
| Qing HE | Project Researcher (JSPS) | Remote sensing soil moisture, Hydrometeorology, Groundwater modeling | |
| Namal Rathnayake | Project Researcher | Data assimilaiton, Tropical Meteorology | |
| Taichi SANO | Project Academic Specialist | Estimation of Future Population Projections Considering Climate Change Impacts | |
| Mayuko TAKEUCHI | Secretary | ||
| Shigeko NAGAMATSU | Secretary | ||
| Tokiko MURAI | Secretary |
SAWADA Group
| Name | Affiliation | Research Theme | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yohei SAWADA | Associate Professor | Hydrometeorological disaster prediction, simulation-observation integration | |
| Le DUC | Assisstant Professor | Meteorology, Data assimilation, Numerical Modelling | |
| Md. Rezuanul Islam FAHIM | Project Researcher | Natural hazards and risk analysis, Environmental data analysis and Trend studies, Disaster resilience and risk management |
|
| Sneha Shrinivas KULKARNI | Project Researcher | Climate variability, Drought monitoring and prediction, Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability analysis, Geospatial technology |
|
| Kenshi HIBINO | Project Researcher | Simulation-Observation Integration, Climate Change Assessment | |
| Shinichi OKUGAWA | Technical Staff | ||
| Satoko UMINO | Secretary | ||
| Aiko SEKINE | Secretary |
KAWASAKI Group
| Name | Affiliation | Research Theme | Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akiyuki KAWASAKI | Professor | Water disaster and poverty reduction, Investing in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation for resilience, Hydropower dam | |
| Yoshiko KATAYAMA | Secretary | IFI |