Faculty Members
ONUKI Motoharu
(Associate Professor/Division of Environmental Studies)
Department of International Studies/Sustainability Science, Sustainability Education, Sustainable Society, Disaster Prevention and Resilience, Water Environmental Engineering
Career Summary
1997: B.Eng., Department of Urban Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
1999: M.Eng., Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2002: Ph.D. (Engineering), Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo
2002-2003: Postdoctoral Fellow, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
2003-2004: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Water Environment and Transport, Chalmers University of Technology
2004-2005: Research Associate, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
2005-2008: Project Assistant Professor, Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S), The University of Tokyo
2008-2012: Project Associate Professor (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
2012-Present: Associate Professor (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Educational Activities
Graduate school: Environmental Challenges and Leadership in Asia, Case Study Course on Sustainability Science,
Sustainability Perspectives of Environmental Issues, Frontier of Sustainability Science
Research Activities
Sustainability Education:
I have been studying competences and pedagogies of sustainability education and leadership education in higher education (especially graduate school level) through organizing a short-term experimental educational program for sustainability (Intensive Program on Sustainability (IPoS)). On the Basis of these experiences, I have been working to establish Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS) in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences and have been involved in managing the GPSS and developing and improving curricula (reference 1).
Water Environmental Engineering:
I have been studying microbial community analysis of biological wastewater treatment processes (especially the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process) since I was a student (reference 2). Currently I am starting research on decentralized wastewater treatment systems in developing countries. I'd like to study resource recycling and resource-saving wastewater treatment system based on the local conditions.
Literature
1?j M. Onuki and T. Mino (2009): Sustainability education and a new master's degree, the master of sustainability science: the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS) at the University of Tokyo, Sustainability Science, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 55-59.
2) R. J.Seviour, M.Onuki, and T.Mino (2003): The microbiology of biological phosphorus removal in?@activated sludge systems, FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 99-127.
Other Activities
Japanese Society of Water Environment, Japanese Society of Civil Engineering, Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology,
Japanese Association of Higher Education Research, Japan Sewage Works Association
Future Plan
I'd like to contribute to establishing "Sustainability Science" as a platform where professionals from different academic fields can work together by bridging existing academic disciplines. I'd also like to systematize education on sustainability science.
Messages to Students
It is difficult to achieve both deep specialization in a specific academic field and wide understanding of a variety of academic fields. However, this is particularly required in sustainability science and environmental studies.
I encourage you to try to find your own way with a good balance between strong will and flexible mind.