Earth, Life and Environmental Sciences

　In this major, we focus our educational research on the schemes in the past, present and future of the Earth’s environment that consists of hydrosphere, geosphere (atmosphere, lithosphere, etc.) and biosphere. We also focus on changes in each sphere and their interactions with the Earth’s deeper interior and the Universe, and to cultivate human resources that have interdisciplinary knowledge and thinking. More specifically, we conduct educational research not only on the diversity of structure, behavior and evolution of organisms in the Earth’s environment, but also on the mechanisms of regulation of gene expression.With the knowledge obtained from these studies as a basis, we also orientate our educational research on genetic engineering aiming at； industrial production of useful materials, analysis of the relationship between vital functions within and beyond the environment, conservation and restoration of the environment using chemical and biological methods changes in the crustal structure and projection of natural disaster based on those changes, and educational research related to disaster- prevention technologies. In addition, we also aim at encouraging exchange of knowledge between different educational fields of educational research.

 

■Regulatory biology

　Conducts educational research on homeostasis of an individual organism in changing external environments. Research extends to photoperiodic responses of individual organism. The research is integrative,applying molecular, biochemical, physiological and behavioral approaches.

［Faculty］

• Shigeru Kikukawa (Advanced horologic biology, associate professor)

 

■Life information science

　Education and research on molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation and organ development in higher plants, structure and expression of plant genome, as well as perception and transduction of environmental signals such as light and hormones.

［Faculty］

• Kyoji Yamada (Advanced molecular genetics, professor)
• Tatsuya Wakasugi (Organellar molecular biology, professor)
• Ichiro Karahara (Advanced plant developmental biology, associate professor)
• Masayuki Yamamoto (Advanced plant molecular genetics, lecturer)

■Living structure science

　Analyze various processes in the generation of organisms, pattern of formation, structural features, interrelationships, diversity, behavioral biology, and unravel evolution through comparative study in living structures and to conduct educational research to unveil underlying principles and rules.

［Faculty］

• Yoshikane Iwatsubo (Advanced cytogenetics, professor)
• Yuji Yamazaki (Advanced evolutionary ecology, associate professor)
• Kiyoto Maekawa (Advanced evolutionary developmental biology, associate professor)

 

■Disaster prevention science

　Disaster-prevention problems exist in the Hokuriku area. In order to mitigate the disaster –related damage from snow cover, winter thunderstorms, storm surge and active faults in winter to urban functions and industrial activities, our research focuses on projection of disaster risks and mechanisms of large-scale fluctuations in nature that amplify in the atmosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere. This major also cultivate human resources that have high abilities to apply the results of the research to solving local problems.

［Faculty］

• Tomonori Matsuura (Advanced ocean science, professor)
• Tohru Watanabe (Advanced geodesy and seismology, professor)
• Kazuaki Yasunaga (Advanced dynamic meteorology, professor)
• Wataru Shimada (Advanced snow and ice science, associate professor)
• Konosuke Sugiura (Advanced glaciology, associate professor)
• Kazuma Aoki (Atomospheric radiation, associate professor)

■Earth systems science

　Conducts research that leads to; unveil the restoration of the environment, trace Earth’s structure, define stress fields and structural dynamics, as well as identify their changing processes by understanding the past environmental indicators such as remnant magnetization and tectonic geomorphology that are remaining in the crust and mantle. This major also aims at understanding the various factors that characterize the Earth’s environment as a complex system how these factors interact. We also aim for capacity building with abilities to have bird’s-eye analysis of the total picture.

［Faculty］

• Hideo Sakai (Geoelectromagnetism and environmental magnetism, professor)
• Akira Takeuchi (Advanced tectonics, professor)
• Shigekazu Kusumoto (Advanced Tectonophysics, associate professor)
• Kazuo Kawasaki (Resource and environmental geophysics, associate professor)

 

■Environmental and analytical chemistry

　Educational research aimed at developing new analytical methods and water treatment technologies in tracing the amount of environmental pollutants. Greochemical monitoring of CO2 - water rock interaction in geothermal fields. Clarifying and evaluating material cycling, mechanisms, and changes in the global and regional oceans and the terrestrial water system, using major ions, trace elements and stable isotopes.

［Faculty］

• Jing Zhang (Advanced marine geochemistry, professor)
• Akira Ueda (Geochemistry of earth environments, professor)
• Katsumi Marumo (Resource and environmental geochemistry, professor)
• Hideki Kuramitsu (Advanced water analysis, professor)
• Noriko Hata (Advanced separation chemistry, associate professor)
• Keiji Horikawa (Isotope studies in environmental science, associate professor)

 

■Biofunction

　Study activities of organisms, important elements that constitute the ecological system from the molecular to population levels. Conduct educational research on the effects of environmental factors such as light, water, metallic ion and chemicals in particular on the physiological functions of organisms, effects of global environmental changes and interactions between populations and species of organisms.

［Faculty］

• Shogo Nakamura (Advanced environmental biology, professor)
• Naoya Wada (Advanced alpine ecology, professor)
• Yasushi Yokohata (Advanced animal ecology, associate professor)
• Daisuke Tanaka (Advanced environmental microbiology, professor)
• Hiroyuki Kamachi (Advanced environmental plant physiology, associate professor)
• Hiroshi Ishii (Advanced plant ecology, associate professor)