-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Professor
- Naoya FUKUDA
- Research Field
Astronomy, Astronomy Education, Data Visualization
- Keyword(s)
Astronomy Education, Stereoscopic system, MHD simulation
- Research theme
-
- Research of triggered star formation
- Desgin of a four-dimensional digital universe theater
- Optical and Infrared Astronomy, Radio Astronomy
Outline of research activitiesFormation of stars like the sun and planets like the earth is one of the important themes of astronomy. We study both theory and observation of star and planet formation. I investigate the star formation triggered by effects of OB stars.
Regarding the astronomy education, I managed the certificate of the astronomy guide at Okayama University of Science and the four-dimensional digital universe theater at Faculty of Biosphere-Geosphere Science.- Desired cooperation
-
- Astronomy Education
- Stereoscopic system
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Professor
- Takeharu SATO
- Research Field
Disaster prevention meteorology
- Keyword(s)
Sediment disaster, Rainfall
- Research theme
-
- Development of landslide disaster prediction technology
- Development of risk evaluation technology of landslide disaster
Outline of research activitiesWe have to evaluate the occurrence prediction and disaster occurrence risk of landslides from inspection data. We analyze the trend of the past of the disaster, to assess whether the “when” “where” landslide disaster occurs, we are working to hazard maps.
These results are considered useful in a safe life.- Desired cooperation
-
- Construction consultant
- Disaster-prevention measures
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Professor
- Yousuke NOUMI
- Research Field
Geology,Geomorphology,Geoinformatics
- Keyword(s)
Granite,Rock Generation,Strata,Geomorphology,DEM,GIS
- Research theme
-
- Study on generation and emplacement of felsic magma such as granite
- Study on formation of strata and rocks distributed in Okayama Pref.
- Cultural geological study on various stone materials
Outline of research activitiesOur laboratory conducts petrological research on granites widely distributed in southwestern Japan, using fieldwork as the main means of study. In addition to granite, we also reserch to tuffs and basic igneous rocks. Informatics technics, such as GIS are used in study. In addition, granite weathering, landform formation, stone material utilization, etc. are being studied.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Investigation and research on geology and topography in Okayama Prefecture
- Research on the use of GIS with a focus on topographical analysis
- Cultural geological research on stone materials
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Professor
- Yukitaka OHASHI
- Research Field
Local meteorology, Biometeorology, Urban meteorology, Atmospheric environment
- Keyword(s)
Local wind, Heat disorder, Urban heat island
- Research theme
-
- Formation mechanism of local wind such as a sea breeze; Numerical simulations and field observations of human heat stress map; and relationship between local climate and heat stress, crops, fruit growing.
Outline of research activitiesI study influences of meteorological and climatological conditions on human life and agriculture activities.
I am inerested in researches of local meteorology such as wind, temperature, and humidity, and biometeorology such as heat or cold stresses of human, animal, and plant.
My researches have been extended by using both a meteorological observation and numerical simulation for various regions in Japan.
- Desired cooperation
-
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Associate professor
- Mitsuhiko HONDA
- Research Field
Observational Astronomy, Planet Formation
- Keyword(s)
Protoplanetary disk, Instrument development
- Research theme
-
- Observation of protoplanetary disk
- Observation of Solar system minor bodies (comets)
- Development of new astronomical instrument and method
Outline of research activitiesHow the earth and planets are formed ?
I’m trying to answer this question by observing protoplanetary disks, which is the on-going planet forming site around young stars. Current large telescopes such as Subaru telescope allow us to reaveal the detailed signature of the planet formation process in the protoplanetary disks.
In addition, I’m also involved with the new development of the astronomical instrument and methed.
(Left) Artist’s illustration of the protoplanetary disk around HD142527 star
(Right) Detection of olivine and pyroxene crystals around Hen3-600A star- Desired cooperation
-
- Research on planet formation
- Research on Solar system minor bodies
- Development of new astronomical instrument and method
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Associate professor
- Mototaka SANEYOSHI
- Research Field
Geology, Sedimentology, Paleontology
- Keyword(s)
Paleoenvironments, Geological survey, Fossil Taphonomy
- Research theme
-
- Stratigraphy of Upper Cretaceous of Gobi desert, Mongolia
- Late Cretaceous of Dinosaur fossils from Gobi desert, Mongolia and Late Miocene Mammalian fossils from Great Rift Valley in Kenya
- Sedimentation processes of modern River systems
- Paleoenvironments of Miocene sediments in Nagi, Okayama Prefecture
Outline of research activitiesI am actively involved in paleontological excavations spanning Mongolia, Kenya, and northern Okayama Prefecture, while simultaneously conducting meticulous paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on robust geological investigations. Moreover, my endeavors extend to the comprehensive reconstruction of the entire ecological framework of the relevant time periods, encompassing small vertebrates, insects, and invertebrates, achieved through the discernment of the intricate interconnections between fossils and their corresponding stratigraphic contexts. Furthermore, our team enthusiastically engages in lifelong learning endeavors, exemplified by organizing exhibitions, workshops, and lectures that showcase esteemed fossil specimens.
- Desired cooperation
-
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Associate professor
- Shinji MIYAMOTO
- Research Field
Geography, Environmental Archaeology, Environmental History
- Keyword(s)
Disasters, Land Development History, Archaeological Site Location, Geomorphic Environmental Transition
- Research theme
-
- Elucidation of human responses to changes in the natural environment
- An Examination of the History of Land Development in the Asian Monsoon Region
- Analysis of Site Location Environment
- Comparative Study of Disaster Response in the Asian Monsoon Region
Outline of research activitiesBased on fieldwork in flood zones from the Himalayan highlands above 4,000 meters to the zero-meter flood zones, we are trying to elucidate the actual disaster conditions and land development processes in each region. In contrasting between regions, we emphasize primary data and attempt to relativize the issues.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Disaster Prevention Mapping
- Support for disaster prevention activities, etc.
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Associate professor
- Shoji HAYASHI
- Research Field
Vertebrate Paleontology, Bone Histology, Evolutionary Biology
- Keyword(s)
Dinosaur, Mammal, Bone Histology, Aquatic Adaptation, Ontogeny
- Research theme
-
- Dinosaur Paleobiology
- Secondary adaptation of tetrapods to life in water
- Gigantism and dwarfism of vertebrates
Outline of research activitiesBone histology is the study of bone function and growth by sectioning bones into thin slices to visualize internal tissues. This technique has proven instrumental in uncovering the physiology and ecology of extinct animals, providing insights into their growth rate, age, metabolism, and degree of aquatic adaptation — factors that were previously challenging to reconstruct. My research focuses on employing bone histology to explore the life and adaptive processes of large vertebrates, such as dinosaurs and mammals. Specifically, I aim to uncover what factors influenced these creatures to evolve into giants or diminutive forms and how terrestrial vertebrates altered their physiology and bone structure to successfully readapt to aquatic environments.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Researches on living vertebrates (e.g., ecology, anatomy, and pathology)
- Paleoenvironment researches based on geology
- Vertebrate paleontological researches
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Associate professor
- Tomohiro TAKEYAMA
- Research Field
Animal Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Community Ecology
- Keyword(s)
Ecosystem, Biodiversity, Aquatic organism
- Research theme
-
- Behavioral Ecology in fish
- Food-web and Biodiversity in aquatic ecosystem
- Landscape Ecology and Landscape Genetics
Outline of research activitiesI have interests in parental care and sexual conflicts over reproduction in teleost fishes. My goal is to understand social relationship among individuals by approaching the field researches and observations in lab conditions, from evorutionary views. In the resent years, I also conduct some field works to examine a composition of food-webs in aquatic ecosystem and evaluate the relationships between biodiversity of aquatic animals (e.g. dragonflies) and their local and landscape habitats.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Ecology and behavior in fish
- Evaluation and monitoring of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystem
- Reconstruction and conservation of aquatic ecosystem
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Lecturer
- Azusa SHITO
- Research Field
Seismology, Geophysics
- Keyword(s)
Seismic Wave, Earth's Interior, Tomography, Oceanic lithosphere, Inland Crust
- Research theme
-
- Seismic structure, origin, and evolution process of the Oceanic lithosphere
- Seismic wave velocity and attenuation tomography
Outline of research activitiesThe radius of Earth is 6371 km, whereas the deepest borehole ever drilled reached only 12 km (0.2% of Earth radius) into Earth. It can be said that Earth’s deep interior is the place further than the universe. We analyze the seismic wave and explore the deep interior of the earth which can’t be seen directly. By analyzing propagation of the seismic wave, we investigate the temperature and the existence of magma and/or fluid, and we consider the dynamics of the Earth.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Seismic structure of the incoming oceanic plate and subduction zone earthquake
- Deep structure of the active volcano
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Lecturer
- Hyewon HONG
- Research Field
Archaeology, East Asian Archaeology, Public Archaeology
- Keyword(s)
Stone tools, Usewear Analysis, Utilization of Archaeological sites
- Research theme
-
- The beginning of the Upper Paleolithic age.
- Traces and function of stone tools.
Outline of research activitiesThe Upper Paleolithic age of the Japanese archipelago is represented as blade based industries, and there are close relationships between blade production techniques and the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic age. Furthermore, the “knife-shaped tool” is one of the typical formal tool types of the blade industry in the Japanese archipelago. For the Initial Upper Paleolithic period when the blade technology was not yet fully established, a set of technique was also confirmed which utilized flakes and vertical elongated flakes. Although various chronological hypotheses of the EUP were so far presented, they have not been unified yet.
I rethink the Early Upper Paleolithic industries in the Japanese Archipelago and East Asia throught the method of Usewear analysis and Traceology.- Desired cooperation
-
- Paleoanthropological research.
- Cognitive Archaeology ans Psychology.
- Paleoenvironment research.
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Lecturer
- Kentaro CHIBA
- Research Field
Vertebrate Palaeontology, Dinosaur Phylogeny, Osteohistology
- Keyword(s)
dinosaur, growth, fossils
- Research theme
-
- Dinosaur taxonomy and evolution
- Macroevolution in animal growth
- Growth reconstruction of fossil vertebrates
Outline of research activitiesAnimal bones typically contain growth marks, similar to those of tree rings. Previous studies have utilized these marks to reconstruct the growth of extinct animals, especially dinosaurs, and further investigate their physiology and ecology. Using specimens and data that I have collected through fieldwork and museum visits all over the world, I hope to contribute to our understanding of the link between life histories of fossil animals and macroevolutionary patterns.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Growth of extant and recently extinct animals
- Chemical analysis of fossil bones, teeth and shells
- Imaging techniques for bone microstructure
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Lecturer
- Noriko KIDERA
- Research Field
Animal Ecology, Ethology, Conservation Ecology
- Keyword(s)
Wetland, Amphibians, Reptiles, Islands
- Research theme
-
- Ecology and ethology of amphibians and reptiles
- Evolutionary ecology of marine reptiles
- Assessment of anthropogenic impact on rice field ecosystems
Outline of research activitiesHow can the population sustain in wetlands where the environment spatially and temporally fluctuates? We study the ecology of amphibians and reptiles in wetlands as target areas. Also, we study the anthropogenic impacts, such as paddy improvement and abandonment, on those populations from the viewpoint of conservation biology as well as ecology and evolution.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Molecular biology
- Long-term monitoring of wetland species
-
Faculty of Biosphere - Geosphere Science, Department of Biosphere - Geosphere Science
- Lecturer
- Okihito YANO
- Research Field
Systematic Botany
- Keyword(s)
Phylogeny, Cytology,Taxonomy, Flowering Plants, Cyperaceaea
- Research theme
-
- Taxonomy of Cyperaceae
- Phylogeny of Cyperaceae
- Cytology of Cyperaceae
Outline of research activitiesMy research is focused on the diversification and evolution of flowering plants, mainly Cyperaceae (sedges family), ranged from Japan to the Himalayas through China. Cyperaceae is one of the most diversified group in flowering plants, and is suitable for studies of plant systematic and evolution. I have conducted taxonomic, phylogenetic and cytological studies of Cyperaceae.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Taxonomy
- Phylogeny
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Professor
- Junko SAITO
- Research Field
Art education
- Keyword(s)
Skill for expressive arts, Art apuureciation, Development of teaching materials
- Research theme
-
- Development of teaching materials and instructional methods for acq
- Development of teaching materials to foster diverse views and ways of thinking
- Methods of teaching appreciation to enhance expressive ability
- Development of color teaching methods (traditional Japanese colors, etc.)
Outline of research activitiesMy research is a practical study based on the reality of children’s thinking and expression as seen from the school site. Arts and crafts is a subject that deepens awareness of diversity. I will develop teaching materials that aim to foster diverse ways of seeing and thinking and the acquisition of expressive skills. I will propose teaching methods that aim to improve children’s ability to think and create figuratively through learning from each other.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Research on arts and crafts classes at schools
- Art Appreciation Education with Museums
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Professor
- Tadashi MATSUOKA
- Research Field
Sociology of education, Sociology, Pedagogy
- Keyword(s)
Socialization, Delinquency, Student counseling and guidance, Educational problems
- Research theme
-
- Influence of the parent in the normative consciousness acquisition process
- Roles of the school as the socialization system
Outline of research activitiesI study the deviation and the comformity in the human’s socialization process through inventory survey and interviews about delinquency and family relations in combination. Now I am interested in a correlation between spur-of-the-moment-act and emotion dysregulation. Furthermore, I am deeply interested in practical problems such as the way of student guidance, the vocational counseling (class instruction, tutorial) , a social hierarchy and the inequity of the learning opportunity.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Functional inorganic/organic materials
- Biological molecules such as protein, sugar, lipid, cell etc.
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Associate professor
- Hiroyuki YAMASHITA
- Research Field
Science Education, Field Learning, Biology Education, Earth Science Education
- Keyword(s)
Teaching Material Development, Disaster Prevention, Quantitative Experiments
- Research theme
-
- Development of model teaching materials that relate basic flow velocity principles and natural disasters
- Development of the instruction method to be introduced field learning into in earth science education
- Development of quantifiable teaching materials using optical methods, etc.
Outline of research activitiesI am mainly researching the development of science teaching materials that can be used in educational sites. In elementary and junior high school science, especially in elementary school science experiments, most of them are qualitative experiments. For example, when investigating the properties of things that are “invisible” to the human eye, such as light and magnetic force, we use relative terms such as “bright” and “strong.” Even in qualitative experiments that rely on bodily sensations, we can “see” the nature of things. However, if we can compare this experience with numerical values such as “how bright” and “how strong”, we will be able to “see more” what we “see” until now. Experiments that compare numerically like this are called quantitative experiments. When we can “visualize” the properties of things with these educational materials, we are sure that the observer’s eyes will have a higher resolution and be moved by the wonder and charm of the natural world. We are conducting research on the development of teaching materials that can be “more visualized” in various fields of science education.
- Desired cooperation
-
- Development of model teaching materials related to disaster prevention
- Development of educational programs to understand the morphology and structure of vertebrate bones
- Development of educational programs using self-made reflectometers, self-made specific polarimeters, self-made nephelometers, etc.
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Associate professor
- Kazuaki KITAHARA
- Research Field
Physical education method
- Keyword(s)
Play, Sports, Health, Lifetime sports, EBE
- Research theme
-
- Making evidence-based physical education classes
- Differences in class views between children and educators
- Elementary and Junior High School Continuity
Outline of research activitiesIt is said that physical education classes are relatively popular with children and students, and that they are highly independent in these classes.It is true that this has been supported by the diligent research of teaching materials by in-service teachers and the development of teaching methods.
However, in the in-service teachers differentiation according to individuals and groups is required because.However, the development of teaching materials and the choice of teaching methods are becoming half-implicit knowledge.I am trying to systematize the enormous teaching methods of in-service teachers that have been cultivated so far.As such, I hope to make teacher behavior explicit knowledge.- Desired cooperation
-
- Social education
- Lifetime sports
- Lesson research
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Associate professor
- Michiko KAMITA
- Research Field
Social Studies Education
- Keyword(s)
Values formation, Elementary school social studies,Formation process of a child's values.
- Research theme
-
- Focusing on Social Studies lesson to pursue the convincing solution
- Research and Practice of teacher education for Curriculum Maker
- Study on the construction of social studies lessons at an elementary school for the Public judgment
Outline of research activitiesThis study aims to cultivate management curriculum abilities though the Social Teacher Lesson.The study consisted of the following three steps. First I encouraged the student to reflect on their own perceptions on the meanings of learning.Second, their own views of social studies and theories of teaching were relativized by learning about multiple theories of teaching with different goals. Finally I made them understand the importance of engaging in teaching materials study and content construction in accordance with subject objectives, using as material subjects.
- Desired cooperation
-
- historical science, law, a method of learning
-
Faculty of Education, Department of Primary Education
- Associate professor
- Miho IMOTO
- Research Field
Music Education
- Keyword(s)
Music Education, Physical Expression, Creativity
- Research theme
-
- Elucidating the Techniques of Music Teachers Using Multimodal Analysis Techniques
- Music Education in the Nursery School-Elementary School Connection
- Music and Physical Expression
Outline of research activitiesMusic instruction is conducted not only through words, but also through various non-verbal means of expression, such as eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions. We are collecting and studying objective data on what music teachers look at and how they use their bodies in response to what situations, using eye-gaze measurement devices, motion capture, etc. We are also collecting data on the actual status of music teachers’ nonverbal communication by comparing these data with the results of interviews with teachers. By comparing these data with the results of interviews with teachers, we aim to elucidate the actual state of nonverbal communication among music teachers.
We are also conducting research on the relationship between music and physical expression.- Desired cooperation
-
- Research on the Proficiency of Music Teachers
- Research on Nonverbal Communication in Music Instruction