Graduate School of Information Science

Associate Professor Hiroaki Ohshima

Acquiring information is of great importance in today's society. Our laboratory researches information retrieval technologies that respond to the diverse search intents of users. For example, in the case of electronic guides in museums, we support deeper learning by individually recommending exhibits based on visitors' interests and behavior history. By presenting information from various perspectives in response to search queries, we aim to reduce the disparity in information access and create an environment where everyone can reach information that suits them.

School of Science

Professor Mito Takeshi

The properties of many materials are determined by the state of the electrons they contain. One of the themes we have been intensively researching recently is Dirac electrons, which are considered to have zero mass and are expected to be applied in future low-power devices and quantum computers. Our research group was the first in the world to reveal, through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments using superconducting magnets, that Dirac electrons emerge when black phosphorus, an allotrope of phosphorus, is pressurized.

School of Engineering

Associate Professor Junichi Inamoto

Power generation using renewable energy requires the use of stationary storage batteries for power leveling. Lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used as storage batteries, use resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, and there is a risk that the batteries will not be manufactured in the future due to soaring raw material prices or supply disruptions. Therefore, we are engaged in research and development to realize secondary batteries that use inexpensive raw materials with no resource supply risk.

School of Science

Assistant Professor Motoharu Kitatani

Superconductivity is a phenomenon where electrical resistance drops to zero at low temperatures, making it promising for applications such as lossless energy storage. Recently, it has also been used as an element in quantum computers, with potential applications across various fields. The biggest challenge in advancing these real-world applications is the low temperature at which superconductivity occurs. To address this issue, we aim to elucidate the mechanisms of superconductivity through theoretical calculations and design superconducting materials that operate at higher temperatures.

School of Human Science and Environment

Associate Professor Ichiro Kaneko

In recent years, the frequency of using processed foods has increased, leading to excessive intake of phosphorus contained in food additives, which has become a significant problem. We are focusing on the fact that the shells of crabs, shrimp, and shellfish are composed of calcium carbonate, making them a source of calcium that contains very little phosphorus. Additionally, crustaceans contain functional components such as astaxanthin, chitin, and chitosan, which have value as food ingredients. We are focusing on analyzing the components of discarded parts of crustaceans and shellfish and researching the mechanisms of their effectiveness to develop foods with added nutritional value.

Graduate School of Information Science

Professor Yuya Higashikawa

As society becomes more complex and uncertain, the need for scientific problem solving is increasing. In order to make rational decisions on various problems in the real world, our laboratory conducts theoretical research on mathematical modeling to formulate problems mathematically, and on algorithms to efficiently provide optimal solutions to the formulated problems. In these studies, we aim not only to be theoretical but also to construct theoretical foundations that can withstand practical application in the real world.

Graduate School of Engineering

Associate Professor Masakazu Morimoto

In recent years, AI-based image recognition technology has advanced dramatically, and we are working to apply this technology to various aspects of society. We are building a system to support visual inspections at factories to reduce the workload of inspectors, and a system to remove foreign matter from recycled cotton to improve its recycling rate.

Graduate School of Information Science

Professor Hiroyasu Inoue

When a pandemic, disaster, international conflict, or other such event causes a disruption in the flow of goods, it leads to further production halts for items that rely on those raw materials. This disruption spreads like a chain reaction, eventually causing damage to the entire economy. This phenomenon is increasing year by year and poses a major threat to the world.
In this study, we use the Fugaku supercomputer and other computational systems to simulate the activities of numerous companies. Through these simulations, we aim to explore effective countermeasures to mitigate the impact of such economic shocks.