Did you all know? Half of the research workers in pharmaceutical companies come from outside the pharmaceutical industry. Among them, synthetic organic chemists who can handle complex drug molecules at will are indispensable in pharmaceutical research and have an advantage in getting a job in pharmaceutical companies. In my laboratory, we are also researching the technologies that researchers in pharmaceutical companies need, such as “development of catalysts,” “shortening the synthesis of pharmaceutical molecules,” and “analysis of pharmaceuticals and organic reactions by computational chemistry,” and many graduates are active in pharmaceutical companies.

When high pressure is applied to a material, the molecules and atoms change their arrangement and exhibit completely different properties. In the high-density supercritical fluid phase of hydrogen, which occurs at room temperature and above 560 megapascals, an ortho-para conversion of nuclear spins occurs. By clarifying the mechanism of this manifestation, we hope to obtain hints for solving the energy loss problem pointed out in hydrogen transport and storage.
The real pleasure of mathematics and physics is to reveal universal truths, which is comparable to “turning zero into one,” which is indispensable for solving problems in modern society. This ability can be developed in the mathematics and physics courses.

I am interested in and research superconducting materials that exhibit the unique property of “zero electrical resistance. Using the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction, superconducting materials can wirelessly become very strong permanent magnets (10 to 30 times stronger than neodymium permanent magnets). We are conducting research to develop superconducting materials that can become stronger magnets and to implement them in society, such as in portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices and magnetic refrigeration systems used in hydrogen liquefaction.

In the past, the image recognition capabilities of computers were said to be no match for humans. Recently, however, their capabilities have evolved remarkably, to the point where they now exceed human performance. At the core of this evolution are technologies related to artificial intelligence, including machine learning. Our research is conducted on a daily basis while considering how to utilize artificial intelligence, which is in the midst of evolution, in a wide range of fields and make it useful to the world.

In addition to designing traditional regional crafts and local specialties, such as Nambu ironware for Europe and the United States, we are also involved in product design for cutting-edge medical equipment, lighting equipment, and furniture, as well as iPhone application and interface design and package design, in collaboration with domestic and overseas companies. For example, in our research on beverage bottle packaging design, we use an eye tracking system to analyze the user’s eye movement and verify the effects of typefaces and color schemes.

When a radio wave strikes an object, differences in reflection properties occur depending on the electrical and magnetic properties of the object. Microwaves, in particular, are known to change their reflection characteristics sensitively to differences in water content and the concentration of soluble solids in aqueous solution. Using this property, we are conducting research on nondestructive measurement of sugar content in fruits before harvest. If realized, the system will enable quality control by inspecting all individual fruits, and is expected to contribute to smarter fruit farming, where manpower is becoming increasingly scarce.

Biometric signals such as electromyograms and electroencephalograms contain a variety of information about the person’s health and intentions. The laboratory is developing a swallowing function testing system that determines the risk of aspiration and pneumonia in the elderly by using AI and signal separation technology to decipher biological signals, and a brain-machine interface that uses brain waves to control machines. Through learning and fusion that transcends academic boundaries, we are taking on the challenge of creating next-generation technologies that will support the future of health, medicine, and welfare.

It is known that there are more than 2,000 active faults in Japan, and they are all around us. When an earthquake occurs on an active fault, it can cause tremendous damage. In order to mitigate these damages, we need to know where the active faults are located? How big of an earthquake does it cause? How have they been active? How active is the fault? We study the location of active faults and their subsurface conditions using various methods such as topography and geology. In addition to active faults, we also conduct research to mitigate natural disasters.