Keywords
Purpose of This Research Area
The hydrosphere environment that is essential for life is constantly subject to “fluctuations” caused by various internal and external factors such as climate change, ecosystem transition, and changes in social conditions related to water. As the range of these “fluctuations” increases, human society and ecosystems are significantly affected by frequent weather disasters, water resource conflicts, and biodiversity loss. Reducing these water crises and risks and establishing a society in which water, humans, and creatures can coexist in a sustainable manner are internationally important issues. In this research area, we consider the hydrosphere environment as a “water cycle system” established by the interaction of the geosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. We aim to create a new academic field, the Integrated Sciences for Sustainable Human-Aqua Environment (Aqua Science), with the primary objectives of elucidating the historical transition and current dynamics of the balance among these three spheres while exploring approaches to solve social issues related to the water environment that are in line with local conditions and proposing a vision for the future.
Content of This Research Project
There are four research plans under three research groups targeting the geosphere (A), anthroposphere (B), and biosphere (C) in this research area. Planned research A01 aims to create information to understand the interactions among the geosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere dynamically from the viewpoint of the water cycle based on the measurement and analysis of information regarding water and the surrounding environment and to develop an information translation approach necessary for utilizing the information in other planned research. Planned research B02 aims to dynamically clarify the fluctuation of the water cycle system from the past to the present from the viewpoint of social culture and history and to extract the socio-cultural factors that should be protected or modified to create a desirable symbiotic water society. Planned research B03 aims to empirically analyze from the standpoint of economics what types of water use methods are suitable for achieving healthy and prosperous lives in regions where water resources are scarce and water infrastructure is poor and what types of management measures and systems are necessary to conserve and improve the aquatic environment to explore the ideal form of sustainable water resource governance. Planned research C01 will assess the health of the basin ecosystem system by investigating the characteristics of the ecosystem and biodiversity that form the basis of the “basin sphere” where the natural environment surrounding water and human society and culture coexist to explore methods to conserve, restore, and sustainably use the water cycle system in ecosystems.
Expected Research Achievements and Scientific Significance
The creation of Aqua Science is expected to provide concrete measures to reduce water crises and water risks and ultimately make the water cycle system sustainable. Additionally, the Aqua Science approach in which different disciplines work together to solve problems can be applied to the analysis of other problems and risks facing the world today and to the creation of visions that lead to solutions. Furthermore, the promotion of this research area, including publicly offered research, will lead to the development of young researchers, the formation of a researcher network, and the discovery of new research themes.