AGU RESEARCH

Technology/Science

※ Video markItems marked with include video content.

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Published on 2026/03/04
  • We will use technology that allows us to freely control heat to support innovation in diverse fields.
  • Professor Koji Fumoto
  • In response to the increasingly serious thermal problems associated with high-performance electronic devices and built-in systems, Professor Koji Fumoto continues his research into "thermal management" (thermal control) to dissipate heat. His invention of an aluminum "super-thermal-conducting heat pipe" boasts 500 to 1000 times the heat transport performance of conventional pipes and is attracting global attention as a cutting-edge technology that will contribute to technological innovation in various fields. Its gravity-independent properties also suggest potential for space applications. Furthermore, he is exploring medical applications such as "magnetic hyperthermia," which uses nanoparticles to heat only cancer cells. (Published in 2026)

  • Faculty of Social Informatics, Department of Social Informatics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Combining insights from sociology and information science, we tackle complex social problems.
  • Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi
  • "Social dilemmas" refer to the phenomenon where rational choices made by people can actually lead to undesirable situations for society. This topic is closely related to everyday issues such as energy conservation in the middle of summer. Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi is conducting research on these social dilemmas from the perspective of "computational social science," an interdisciplinary field of study. He is investigating cases using a sociological approach while utilizing computational technology and big data for analysis, working to elucidate the mechanisms of their occurrence and methods of avoidance. (Published in 2025)

  • School of Business, Department of Marketing
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of the distribution system that intertwines economy, society, culture, and history
  • Professor Nobukazu Azuma
  • "Distribution" is a huge social system that connects production and consumption. Professor Nobukazu Azuma has been shedding light on the factors that lead to the creation of distinctive distribution structures in each country and region, taking into account the background of culture, history, society, and economy. In order to unravel the mechanisms of distribution, which are woven together with diverse and complex elements, it is important to find a method that is appropriate for the research subject. For this reason, he is also working on research methods unique to social sciences. Currently, as the representative of a joint research project involving multiple universities in Japan and the UK, he is focusing on a series of research to examine leading theories and hypotheses related to the ocean of distribution as a whole and each part, and to verify them in light of actual distribution phenomena.

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Integrated information technology
  • Posted on 2023/05/19
  • From the movement of objects to the style of an artist, CG technology can be used to reproduce things with greater precision
  • Professor Yonghao Yue
  • CG is a technology that reproduces and visualizes the movement and appearance of real-world objects, and is widely used in the production of movies and animations. Professor Yonghao Yue has achieved results in simulating the optical phenomenon that sunlight causes to reach our eyes and the movement of materials with diverse properties, and is working hard on research every day to reproduce even more complex movements. In recent years, he has also been working on a project to reproduce the painting styles of artists, and the day when we can see Van Gogh-style animations may be approaching.

  • Faculty of Social Informatics, Department of Social Informatics
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of people's financial behavior and stabilizing financial markets
  • Professor Hirotaka Fushiya
  • In financial markets, mimicking and following the buying and selling of others can sometimes become widespread. This can cause stock prices to fluctuate wildly beyond the appropriate range, destabilizing the market. Professor Fushiya Hirotaka considers financial market movements as being divided into long-term trends and short-term uncertainties, and continues his research to keep the uncertainty caused by following-up behavior within an appropriate range, thereby contributing to the stabilization of financial markets. Stochastic differential equations are used for this purpose, and are expected to be applied not only to finance but also to predicting trends in various social and natural phenomena.
    (Released in 2023)

  • School of Business, Department of Business Administration
  • Present accurate and objective information to encourage appropriate decision-making throughout society
  • Professor Masuo Araki
  • "Official statistics" are statistical surveys compiled by national and local governments. They are literally big data collected through meticulous preparation and a huge amount of work, and are required to accurately reflect the realities of society. Professor Araki has participated in government committees to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the data used in various decision-making processes, and has been involved in a wide range of work, from designing surveys to analyzing the resulting data. By presenting objective numerical data as evidence, he encourages constructive discussion in society.
    (Released in 2023)

  • College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies, Department of Psychology
  • Focusing on the reactions of the brain and body, we capture the "emotions" that are not expressed in words and actions.
  • Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda
  • Psychophysiology is a field that seeks to understand the "movements of the mind" from physiological responses such as brain waves and heart rate. Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda has been involved in research into polygraph tests at the National Research Institute of Police Science for many years, contributing to the advancement of scientific investigations. Using the knowledge and skills she has acquired there, she continues to take on the challenge of unraveling the physiological aspects of the human mind more broadly. As times change, research subjects become more diverse, and new research methods are born as technology advances, expanding the possibilities of psychophysiology in many directions.
    (Released in 2023)

  • School of Business, Department of Business Administration
  • Turning expertise into social benefit.
    Exploring data science to create more value
  • Associate Professor Ibuki Hoshina
  • Statistical modeling is a method of deriving mathematical models from data that represent the structure behind the data, which can be used to predict and interpret various phenomena. Associate Professor Hoshina is working on developing new methods that apply existing theories, aiming for more accurate predictions and more versatile models. By taking advantage of the strengths of theoretical research and introducing methods to society that allow for error-free data analysis even without specialized knowledge, he looks toward a future in which anyone can make the most of the benefits that data science brings.
    (Released in 2023)

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biological Science
  • Challenging the unknown
    Adaptation strategies for high water pressure environments learned from yeast
  • Professor Fumiyoshi Abe
  • "I don't want to do the same thing as other people." This desire led him to study microorganisms that have adapted to high water pressure. He comes up with his own research methods and pioneers research from his own unique perspective, which sometimes leads to discoveries that astound the world. With his originality and daily diligent efforts, he takes on basic research to discover something from nothing. (Released in 2022)

  • College of Economics, Department of Economics
  • Statistics and today's data science are rapidly spreading in modern society.
    Statistical literacy required
  • Associate Professor Tamae Kawasaki
  • The vast amounts of data that can now be collected with the evolution of ICT will be analyzed using statistical methods such as multivariate analysis to gain new perspectives that were previously invisible. Data science based on statistics is an extremely powerful tool in modern society, but it can be difficult to use correctly without statistical literacy. Looking ahead to the coming data era with Associate Professor Kawasaki's research, we will consider what kind of statistics and statistical literacy underpin data science. (Published in 2022)

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Physical Sciences
  • Understanding the mechanisms of life at the molecular level
    Unraveling these mysteries leads to the discovery of new physical laws
  • Professor Michio Tomishige
  • When we look inside the cells of living organisms at the molecular level, we find a world in which various molecular machines (nanomachines) operate under physical laws that are completely different from the macroscopic world we see with our eyes. We aim to use physics to decipher the mysteries of living organisms and establish new physical laws. This is the image of such research.
    (Released in 2022)

  • College of Literature, Department of Japanese Language and Literature
  • Utilizing cutting-edge computer technology
    Understanding with Data Science
    The mysterious world of classical languages
  • Professor Yasuhiro Kondo
  • The idea of "integration of humanities and sciences," which transcends the boundaries between the humanities and sciences and involves learning across both academic fields, is now becoming more widespread in the field of education. Professor Yasuhiro Kondo of the Department of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Letters, was one of the earliest researchers to focus on computer-based research into Japanese language since the 1970s, and has truly put the integration of humanities and sciences into practice. He has continued his research to unravel the mysteries of the oldest classical languages using cutting-edge computer technology. What kind of talent and creativity does Professor Kondo envision as being required for humanities research in the future? (Published in 2022)

  • College of Economics
  • Predicting population distribution for the next few decades by block and district
    Urban planning and disaster prevention planning
    Providing the underlying data
  • Professor Takashi Inoue
  • Foreseeing changes in the population structure over the long term is essential for national and local government policymaking. This is all the more true in Japan, where population decline is accelerating. However, detailed population estimates have been extremely difficult due to technical barriers. The smaller the estimated area, the more likely it is that numerical fluctuations will occur, and how can this be reduced? Professor Inoue applied a certain classical theory to devise a groundbreaking equation, enabling him to estimate future populations for each small region of the country. In this column, we will get to know the researcher better and explain the details of his new methodology.
    (Published in 2021)

  • College of Literature
  • The "SSARC model" leads
    Adapted to each individual's cognitive abilities
    A future where you can choose how you learn
  • Professor Robinson, P.J.
  • Professor Robinson, PJ is a pioneer of Task-Based Language Learning. He is also a leading authority in the field of language learning, and his papers are ranked in the top 1% worldwide in the fields of second language acquisition and applied linguistics in terms of the number of citations in Scopus (one of the world's largest abstract and citation databases). His scientifically-backed research is paving the way for the future of language learning, and the SSARC model theory he has established can be applied to a variety of studies outside of linguistics. (Published in 2021)

  • College of Science and Engineering
  • Using a laser
    Unraveling the "Molecular World"
  • Professor Tadashi Suzuki
  • Although the atoms and molecules that make up matter cannot be seen directly with the naked eye, it is possible to shine light on molecules and observe the "molecular world" from their response. While reactions that occur in response to light contribute to maintaining life and maintaining health, it has become clear that they can also be the cause of disease. Another theme of physical chemistry research is the development of analytical methods to capture molecular reactions. See what applications can be achieved by observing the molecular world and unraveling its complex and dynamic mechanisms. (Published in 2021)

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Published on 2026/03/04
  • We will use technology that allows us to freely control heat to support innovation in diverse fields.
  • Professor Koji Fumoto

  • Faculty of Social Informatics, Department of Social Informatics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Combining insights from sociology and information science, we tackle complex social problems.
  • Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi

  • School of Business, Department of Marketing
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of the distribution system that intertwines economy, society, culture, and history
  • Professor Nobukazu Azuma

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Integrated information technology
  • Posted on 2023/05/19
  • From the movement of objects to the style of an artist, CG technology can be used to reproduce things with greater precision
  • Professor Yonghao Yue

  • Faculty of Social Informatics, Department of Social Informatics
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of people's financial behavior and stabilizing financial markets
  • Professor Hirotaka Fushiya

  • School of Business, Department of Business Administration
  • Present accurate and objective information to encourage appropriate decision-making throughout society
  • Professor Masuo Araki

  • College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies, Department of Psychology
  • Focusing on the reactions of the brain and body, we capture the "emotions" that are not expressed in words and actions.
  • Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda

  • School of Business, Department of Business Administration
  • Turning expertise into social benefit.
    Exploring data science to create more value
  • Associate Professor Ibuki Hoshina

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry and Biological Science
  • Challenging the unknown
    Adaptation strategies for high water pressure environments learned from yeast
  • Professor Fumiyoshi Abe

  • College of Economics, Department of Economics
  • Statistics and today's data science are rapidly spreading in modern society.
    Statistical literacy required
  • Associate Professor Tamae Kawasaki

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Physical Sciences
  • Understanding the mechanisms of life at the molecular level
    Unraveling these mysteries leads to the discovery of new physical laws
  • Professor Michio Tomishige

  • College of Literature, Department of Japanese Language and Literature
  • Utilizing cutting-edge computer technology
    Understanding with Data Science
    The mysterious world of classical languages
  • Professor Yasuhiro Kondo

  • College of Economics
  • Predicting population distribution for the next few decades by block and district
    Urban planning and disaster prevention planning
    Providing the underlying data
  • Professor Takashi Inoue

  • College of Literature
  • The "SSARC model" leads
    Adapted to each individual's cognitive abilities
    A future where you can choose how you learn
  • Professor Robinson, P.J.

  • College of Science and Engineering
  • Using a laser
    Unraveling the "Molecular World"
  • Professor Tadashi Suzuki
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