Takato Uehara (Appointed in AY2025)
Participant Profile
Takato Uehara
Faculty of Economics ProfessorSpecialization: Mathematics (Complex Geometry, Algebraic Geometry, Dynamical Systems). Graduated from the Faculty of Science, Kyushu University in 2004. Completed the Master's Program at the Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University in 2007. Completed the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University in 2010, earning a Ph.D. (Mathematics). Previously served in the Pension Trust Department of Resona Bank, as a Researcher at the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Saga University, and Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, before assuming current position in 2025. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Takato Uehara
Faculty of Economics ProfessorSpecialization: Mathematics (Complex Geometry, Algebraic Geometry, Dynamical Systems). Graduated from the Faculty of Science, Kyushu University in 2004. Completed the Master's Program at the Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University in 2007. Completed the Doctoral Programs at the Graduate School of Mathematics, Kyushu University in 2010, earning a Ph.D. (Mathematics). Previously served in the Pension Trust Department of Resona Bank, as a Researcher at the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Niigata University, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Saga University, and Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, before assuming current position in 2025. *Profile and position are as of the time of the interview.
Harmony of Simplicity and Complexity: A Broad Perspective Will Be Your Future Weapon
Research Theme and Its Discovery
My research field is dynamical systems theory in complex manifolds and algebraic varieties. I was fascinated by this field after seeing the vivid visuals of a figure called the "Mandelbrot set" in a university lecture. Using an extremely simple rule—repeatedly calculating a quadratic map simple enough for a middle school student to understand—infinitely complex figures with self-similarity are drawn. I was shocked by this contrast between simplicity and complexity.
The Appeal and Fascination of the Research Theme
The fascination of this field lies in unraveling chaos through the rigorous language of mathematics. Points that at first glance appear to move unpredictably and erratically are revealed to follow an extremely precise structure through the use of complex analysis and algebraic geometry theories. Phenomena that can be written in a few lines of mathematical formulas reveal a fractal structure that looks as if every corner has been calculated through once you step inside. To understand this "harmony of simplicity and complexity" and establish new theories, extensive mathematical knowledge is required, and mastering the theory is not easy. However, the joy when the accumulated logic fits together like puzzle pieces and a brilliant research result emerges, clearing the fog before your eyes, is irreplaceable.
Message to Students
The joy of mathematics lies in the moment when concepts that seem unrelated at first glance connect, and the way you see the world changes completely. However, to find those hidden connections, it is necessary not only to deepen individual knowledge but also to have the ability to grasp multiple concepts from a bird's-eye view. As mentioned earlier, a broad perspective is essential to deeply understand the "harmony of simplicity and complexity." Above all, the most important thing in university life is to expose yourself to diverse values and unknown territories, not limited to mathematics, and to broaden your horizons. Experiences and failures that seem unrelated at first will later support your life choices in unexpected ways. During this precious time when you can challenge anything, please dive into many worlds as your intellectual curiosity leads you. The experiences you gain there will surely become a unique asset that shapes who you are as a person.