Unlocking Your Potential with Meteorology

For me, SFC was a new field of learning unlike any I had experienced before. You have to find what you want to do on your own. There's a freedom that doesn't fit into a mold, like with fieldwork. Whether you do something or not is your own responsibility. I felt it was the perfect environment for me.

The catalyst for my research in meteorology was taking a class with Professor Yoshiaki Miyamoto, who specializes in the field. Since I was a child, I had felt the wonder of the Earth while playing in the sea and looking up at the sky. Witnessing the threat of nature leading to major disasters sparked my interest in the environment. Meeting Professor Miyamoto helped me rediscover my interests, and I joined his Meteorology Research Group in the spring of my second year.

My research theme is "The Relationship Between Typhoons and Turbulence (The Possibility of Turbulence Occurring in the Periphery of Typhoons)." In the peripheral regions of typhoons, the optimal flight routes have not been established. Therefore, aircraft currently fly in a way that widely avoids visible clouds, based on data from satellites such as infrared and water vapor imagery. However, since turbulence can be generated by just a slight shift in airflow, there is a possibility of encountering it even far from a typhoon where there are no clouds. Conversely, even in areas with clouds, the turbulence might be minimal.

I want to clarify such "atmospheric disturbances that are difficult to predict quantitatively" through the analysis of meteorological data. If I can ultimately propose optimal flight routes, it will not only help elucidate the mechanisms of turbulence but also have social significance, contributing to the safe movement of people, securing logistics, and reducing fuel consumption.

This research was conducted with a grant from the "Yamagishi Student Project Support Program." It was recognized as research with potential for social application, based on its background and future vision. My plan for the second year, building on the results of the first, was also approved, which has been a great support in advancing my research.

In the applied research field of meteorology, studies are being conducted to weaken the intensity of typhoons. However, I believe it is also important not to interfere too much with the weather. For example, there is a natural mechanism that protects coral reefs from rising sea surface temperatures. This is because seawater that becomes abnormally hot in the summer is churned and cooled by the passage of a typhoon. The control of nature also involves negative feedback on the environment.

However, powerful typhoons cause significant damage to our infrastructure. It is a fact that they have a direct impact on our lives. To achieve a balance between the aspects that make our lives comfortable and the parts where nature can exist naturally, while envisioning a coexistence between humans and nature, I also feel the importance of fundamental meteorological research.

At SFC, faculty and students have a relationship as research partners. I first felt this closeness through my experience as a Student Assistant (SA), where I connected faculty and students to support classes. In research groups, my impression is that students learn from faculty as individual researchers, and faculty also learn from the fresh ideas of students. I believe it is precisely because of this relationship that we can gain a high-quality education. Currently, as I take on a leadership role as an SA in the Meteorology Research Group, I am also able to utilize the communication skills I developed through group work in various classes and my experience as a class SA.

Another feature of SFC is the ability to conduct interdisciplinary research that combines the humanities and sciences, without being filtered through a traditional science faculty. For example, looking at the themes of our research group members, you'll find topics like "The Relationship Between Weather and Labor Productivity," "The Relationship Between Weather and Beauty," and "Do Definitions of 'Good Weather' Differ by Country?" It's an environment where collaborations that transcend the conventional framework of meteorology, like "Meteorology x Something Else," are born. I believe this is not only because it covers a wide range of fields but also because it brings together people with diverse backgrounds.

SFC's transition to online classes was swift. This was exemplified by the message from Akira Wakita, the former Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, which became a hot topic. "Stay home. Protect your own life and the lives of your loved ones. The faculty at SFC will deliver the best classes online. That is all." This showed that even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the faculty's mindset was unified in the direction of "how can we deepen student learning," and I experienced this firsthand. They made it possible to be actively involved. They enabled students to contribute as well. It wasn't just about online classes; there were also classes that were "only possible online," and I was grateful for the various efforts and innovations of the professors.

I believe SFC is a place where you can unlock your potential through various classes that interest you, precisely because of its "freedom," such as having few required courses. I myself experienced this not only through research but also by meeting many faculty members and students.

Even if you haven't found what you want to do yet, if you are someone with a strong desire to delve deeper into something or acquire a specialty, or the type of person who can intensely focus on something—I think those are the people suited for SFC. Actively engage with what interests you, gain many insights, and find your own academic path.