All
New Publications
Awards
Media Coverage
Public Outreach
Presentations
Center News
Center News
- 2020 October 30
From October 29th to 30th, we accepted a work experience for one junior high school student in Shimoda City. I had you experience the work of a researcher.
New Publication
- 2020 September 23
The research results of Professor Yasunori Sasakura of our center were introduced in the academist Journal under the title of "Dramatic metamorphosis of sea squirts-GABA mechanism that initiates body formation and disappearance at the same time".
→ Academist Journal
Media Coverage
- 2020 June 16
An interview article with Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center "The Sea 100 Years Later" was on Shikinejima! Was published in Shueisha Weekly Playboy No.25 (released 6/8).
New Publication
- 2020 June 12
Profs. Jason Hall-Spencer and Kazuo Inaba published a collaborative research with Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Xiamen University, Monash University and University of Tasmania on the flagellar motility of unicellular green algae in the journal ’Nature Climate Change’.
Decreased motility of flagellated microalgae long-term acclimated to CO2-induced acidified waters.
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Media Coverage
- 2020 June 8
The successful production of knockout uni strains in collaboration with Associate Professor Shunsuke Taniguchi's laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Ochanomizu University, and Hiroshima University was published in the Izu Shimbun on June 4th.
→ June 4 Izu Shimbun article PDF
New Publication
- 2020 May 25
Associate Prof. Shunsuke Yaguchi, Post-doctoral fellow Junko Yaguchi, and Ph.D. Student Haruka Suzuki in Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, have created a genome edited sea urchin strain. Using CRISPR-Cas9 system, they have knockout Pks1 gene, which is responsible for pigment synthesis, and have created albino sea urchins. This work was done in collaboration with researchers of National Institute of Genetics, Ochanomizu University, and Hiroshima University. This result is published in Current Biology.
→ Journal site
→ University of Tsukuba research topics
Twitter: → https://twitter.com/urchin_lab
New Publication
- 2020 May 11
Professors Kazuo Inaba and Jason Hall-Spencer (University of Plymouth) published the first English-language book 'Japanese Marine Life - A Practical Training Guide in Marine Biology’ from Springer Nature. This book is aimed to be a marine biology textbook for increasing foreign students to Japan, as well as introducing Japanese marine fauna and flora to students and researchers in marine biology. Teaching staff of SMRC, as well as marine biologists in Japanese marine stations, participate in this book as authors.
→ Japanese Marine Life - A Practical Training Guide in Marine Biology
Media Coverage
- 2020 April 27
Newspapers from around Japan covered the research on going around Izu and at the Shikine CO2 seep.
4/18 Nishinippon Shimbun (evening edition), 4/23 Shinano Mainichi Shimbun (evening edition), 4/24 Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, 4/26 Tokushima Shimbun
New Publication
- 2020 April 21
In collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Palermo (Italy) and Plymouth (UK), Assist. Prof Sylvain Agostini, Assist. Prof. Ben Harvey, Assist. Prof. Shigeki Wada and Prof. Kazuo Inaba, recently published their research in the journal "Science of the Total Environment" on the effect of ocean acidification on corals and macroalgae and the cascading effects on the fish communities. The surveys conducted at the CO2 seep off the shore of Shikine Island, showed that increasing levels of CO2 lead to the loss of corals and macroalgae and an increase in turf algae. This shift from complex reefs to habitats dominated by opportunistic low-profile algae led to a 45% decrease of fish diversity, with a loss of coral-associated species and a rearrangement of feeding behaviour.
→ Changes in fish communities due to benthic habitat shift under ocean acidification condition." Science of the Total Environment
→ University of Tsukuba research topics
Media Coverage
- 2020 April 13
We have succeeded in capturing valuable images of deep-sea creatures with the underwater drone of Full Depth Co., Ltd., which was founded by Professor Yasushi Nakauchi (system information system), a member of the Marine Biology Research Unit of our center.
→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSo_RyD2reo&t=278s
→ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ahC2zhjGWE
→ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd8bV9M1l95C-W96Ymm4_Yg
New Publication
- 2020 March 31
Prof. Yasunori Sasakura, his colleagues and collaborators demonstrate that neurotransmitter GABA is a key regulator of metamorphosis in the ascidian Ciona. This study was on-line published in the journal Current Biology on March 26, 2020.
→ "GABA-Induced GnRH Release Triggers Chordate Metamorphosis" Current Biology
→ University of Tsukuba research topics
Award
- 2020 March 25
Kei Jokura (a PhD student, Inaba lab, SMRC) was awarded the Presidents Award for his academic and research performance during his PhD course.
Public Outreach
- 2020 February 27
Prof. Jason Hall-Spencer gave an evening lecture on the ocean acidification at the Linnean Society of London, a historical well-renowned society in the world. The Society once had a fellow Charles Darwin and the first female President Irene Manton.
Media Coverage
- 2020 February 12
A series of articles by Assistant Professor Wada of our center and Associate Professor Takeshi of our university "What will happen to the sea after 100 years?" has been published on the comprehensive site "ocean + α" about scuba diving and the sea. Three articles:
→ "There was a future sea with advanced ocean acidification on Shikinejima! ~ Research by Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba" → "Converting the value of nature into money makes it easier to understand its importance. ~ Social science approach to acidification" → "I want to use the information that divers have for future prediction! ~ Accurately analyze ocean acidification by knowing past history"
Media Coverage
- 2020 January 16
An article about the new species "Oyotsuhamogani" discovered by our technical assistant Naoya Odo "(Photo) Sanriku seaweed bed, gourmet new species Oyotsuhamogani" was published in Asahi Shimbun Digital on January 16th.
→ Asahi Shimbun Digital
Media Coverage
- 2019 December 19
An article about the new species "Oyotsuhamo crab" discovered by our technical assistant Naoya Oto, "A new species of crab in Otsuchi Bay, I found Mr. Otsuchi" was published in Asahi Shimbun Digital on December 19th.
→ Asahi Shimbun Digital
Public Outreach
- 2019 December 14
We held a public event to let the general public know about the educational and research activities of the Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba.
Public Outreach
- 2019 November 23
On November 23, a lecture was held on Shikinejima under the theme of "Past, Present, and Future of the Sea Environment-The Sea of Shikinejima, which is drawing attention from the world", and Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center took the stage.
Center News
- 2019 November 13
On November 13th, we accepted a work experience for a junior high school student in Shimoda City. They experienced what is it like to the work as a researcher.
Center News
- 2019 November 6
On November 6th, we accepted the work experience of two junior high school students in Shimoda City. They experienced what is it like to the work as a technical staff and researchers.
Center News
- 2019 October 31
We conducted evacuation drills assuming a tsunami and firefighting drills assuming a fire.
New Publication
- 2019 October 16
Kei Jokura, a PhD student, Dr. Daisuke Shibata, former Postdoctoral Fellow, Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba and Prof. Kazuo Inaba at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba found a novel protein involved in the formation of the comb plate in ctenophore. This work was carried out in collaboration with a research group at the National Institute for Basic Biology. These results were published online in Current Biology.
→ "CTENO64 is required for coordinated paddling of ciliary comb plate in ctenophores" Current Biology
Award
- 2019 September 26
Junko Yaguchi (JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists) was awarded Encouragement Award for Women Scientists (OM Award) from the Zoological Society of Japan for her work on ‘The relationship between the brain and enteric nervous system and its evolution’.
Award
- 2019 September 25
At the 90th Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Japan, held in Osaka, Japan, Takeo Horie (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Young Scientist Initiative Award from the Zoological Society of Japan for his work on 'Research on the neural circuit development and function of ascidian larvae'.
Public Outreach
- 2019 August 21
A lecture was held on August 21st at the Izu Oceanic Park Diving Center under the theme of "Coral on the Izu Peninsula". Assistant Professor Agostini Sylvan of our center, former Hiroyuki Yokochi, Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, and Yuko Kitano, Research Fellow, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Center for Biological and Ecosystem Environment, took the stage.
Scientific Presentation
- 2019 August 19
Assistant Professor Agostini Sylvan of our center will give a lecture on the theme of "Coral in Izu Peninsula". The title is "What will happen to the sea in Izu? Tropicalization of the marine ecosystem" The date, place, etc. are as follows.
Date: From 17:30 on August 21, 2019
Location: Izu Oceanic Park Diving Center
Participation fee is free.
For more information please → click here.
Center News
- 2019 July 19
Thirteen faculty members and students attended ordinary lifesaving training (including AED) at the Shimoda Fire Department of the Shimoda Fire Department.
Center News
- 2019 July 9
We accepted the work experience of two junior high school students in Shimoda City for two days from July 9th to 10th. We had you experience the work of technical staff and researchers.
New Publication
- 2019 June 25
Dr. Mami Nomura (Former Postdoctoral Fellow), Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba and Prof. Kazuo Inaba at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba discovered a cryptic cyanobacterial lineage with a worldwide distribution by single-cell genomics in collaboration with Assistant Prof. Takuro Nakayama and his research group at Tohoku university. These results were published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).
→ Single-cell genomics unveiled a cryptic cyanobacterial lineage with a worldwide distribution hidden by a dinoflagellate host
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2019 June 21
Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba and Prof. Kazuo Inaba at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba revealed that an axonemal protein, calaxin is involved with ciliopathy in collaboration with research group at National Center for Child Health and Development, Meiji University, Osaka University, The University of Tokyo, Aichi University of Education and National Institute for Basic Biology. These results were published online in Communications Biology.
→ ”Calaxin is required for cilia-driven determination of vertebrate laterality” Communications Biology
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2019 May 29
An international research group including associate professor Hiroaki Nakano at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, has shown that the Xenacoelomorpha, composed of marine invertebrate worms Acoelmorpha and Xenoturbella, is a sister group to the Ambulacraria (echinoderms and hemichordates). This result is now available online at Current Biology.
→ Mitigating Anticipated Effects of Systematic Errors Supports Sister-Group Relationship between Xenacoelomorpha and Ambulacraria
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2019 April 26
Prof. Jason Hall-Spencer and Assistant Prof. Ben Harvey at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, revealed that ocean acidification could have broad reaching effects on ecosystems and the services they provide. Their new study provides a synthesis of the likely effects of ocean acidification on ecosystem properties, functions and services and is based on laboratory experiments and observations along natural gradients in CO2.
This result is now online at Emerging Topics in Life Sciences
→ Ocean acidification impacts on coastal ecosystem services due to habitat degradation
Award
- 2019 March 25
Haruka Suzuki, a graduate student in the developmental biology lab (Yaguchi lab), was awarded the chair’s awards from the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, and from Biological Science, University of Tsukuba. The title of her master’s thesis is “Seeking for the determinants of left-right asymmetry of sea urchin embryos”.
→ Yaguchi lab where he conducted his research
Award
- 2019 March 17
Morihiko Tomatsuri, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Best Poster’s Award at the 66 Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan. His poster was entitled 'The effect of ocean acidification on hermit crab communities'
→ Kon lab where he conducted his research
Award
- 2019 March 9
Masashi Asai, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Best Poster Award at the The 71st Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Japan Kanto Branch. His poster was entitled 'Morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of Acoelomorpha collected at Shimoda'
→ Nakano lab where he conducted his research
New Publication
- 2019 March 5
Assistant Prof. Ben Harvey at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, along with co-authors, revealed that climate change will continue to increase the frequency of marine heatwaves and the associated impacts on marine biology could have broad reaching effects on ecosystems and the services they provide. This results is now online at Nature Climate Change
→ Marine heatwaves threaten global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2019 March 5
Associate Prof. Shunsuke Yaguchi and JSPS Post-doctoral fellow Junko Yaguchi in Shimoda Marine Research Center, Universtiy of Tsukuba, revealed that the pylorus of sea urchin larvae is regulated by nitric oxide released from the endoderm-derived neuron-like cells. This results is now online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS)
→ Evolution of nitric oxide regulation of gut function
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Award
- 2019 February 18
Assistant Professor Agostini Sylvain of our center has been selected as the 2018 BEST FACULTY MEMBER of the University of Tsukuba.
→ University of Tsukuba Information / Events
New Publication
- 2019 January 14
An article about Nikkei Biotech ONLINE functional food research "Hoya", which Professor Yasunori Sasakura of our center cooperated with, was distributed.
Public Outreach
- 2018 December 15
We held a public event to let the general public know about the educational and research activities of the Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on December 16
→ Izu Shimbun News Site Shimoda version published on December 16
Award
- 2018 December 9
Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Young Scientist Initiative Award from the Zoological Society of Japan for her work on ‘Elucidating the mechanism of flagellar and ciliary movement using a novel method of visualization and imaging'.
Award
- 2018 December 7
Group of Associate Professor Nina Yasuda of Miyazaki University Tenure Track Promotion Organization, Researcher Takehisa Yamakita of National Research and Development Corporation and Researcher Ryo Iguchi of Industrial Technology Research Institute, Associate Professor Takashi Nakamura of Tokyo Institute of Technology and Agostini Sylvain The assistant professor was evaluated in the joint research "Can the temperate coral area of Japan, which is moving northward and distributed due to warming, be a refuge for reef-building coral?", And received the Young Research Award from the Japan DNA Polymorphism Society.
→ Japan DNA Polymorphism Society
Award
- 2018 November 27
Our assistant professor Agostini Sylvan was evaluated in "Research on the gastric cavity of coral and research on CO2 seep" and received the 2018 Kawaguchi Encouragement Award from the Coral Reef Society. This award evaluates research achievements from the viewpoint of research originality, innovation, and ripple effect among young members who have made outstanding academic achievements in coral reef research, and is awarded to the activities of the Japan Coral Reef Society. It is given to the researchers who have contributed.
→ List of Japanese Coral Reef Society Award Winners
Award
- 2018 October 15
Kei Jokura, a PhD student in Inaba lab. at Shimoda Marine Research Center, was awarded the Student Presentation Awards for his presentation in The 56th annual meeting of the Biophysical Society of Japan. The title of his presentation was "Identification of a novel protein CTENO64 in giant compound cilia in the ctenophore and its role in the coordinated ciliary movement".
New Publication
- 2018 September 21
Research group of assistant Prof. Takeo Horie and Prof/Director Yasunori Sasakura, in collaboration with research group at Princeton University, University of Hyogo, Konan University, Okinawa Institute of of Science and Technology Graduate School, reported identification of regulatory cocktail for dopaminergic neurons differentiations in ascidians. These results were published in Genes and Development.
→ Regulatory cocktail for dopaminergic neurons in a protovertebrate identified by whole-embryo single-cell transcriptomics
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2018 August 2
Research group of assistant Prof. Takeo Horie, in collaboration with research group at Princeton University,
proposed a shared evolutionary origins of vertebrate neural crest and cranial placodes.
These results were published in Nature.
→ Shared evolutionary origin of vertebrate neural crest and cranial placodes
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2018 July 30
The research team composed from Dr Agostini, Dr Harvey, Dr Wada, Dr Kon and Dr
Inaba from the Shimoda Marine Research Center in collaboration with Dr Hall-
Spencer from Plymouth University and Dr Milazzo from the University of
Palermo, reported their finding from the studies at the Shikine Island CO2
seep in a paper published in Scientific Reports on July 27th 2018. They show
that the increase in CO2 over the last century has already changed the
structure of marine ecosystems and that if CO2 keeps increasing, this will
lead to drastic simplification of the ecosystems and a loss in biodiversity.
→ Ocean acidification drives community shifts towards simplified non-calcified habitats in a subtropical−temperate transition zone
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Media Coverage
- 2018 July 26
An article by Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center, "What is the future of acidification of the sea?" "Exploring the Undersea of Carbon Dioxide Eruption" was published in the Asahi Shimbun Decital on the evening edition of July 25th.
→ Asahi Shimbun Digital
New Publication
- 2018 July 26
An article about Nikkei Biotech ONLINE functional food research "Uni", which was collaborated with Associate Professor Shunsuke Taniguchi of our center, was distributed.
→ Nikkei Biotech ONLINE
New Publication
- 2018 June 14
Dr. Richard Hill reported acid secretion by the boring organ of the burrowing giant clam, Tridacna crocea. Prof. Kazuo Inaba at SMRC contributed to this research.
→ Acid secretion by the boring organ of the burrowing giant clam, Tridacna crocea
→ Scripps Institution of Oceanography
→ The New York Times
Public Outreach
- 2018 May 15
The International Coral Reef Year 2018 Symposium "Coral Reef Conservation: Promoting Awareness through Effective Communication" was held on May 15th at the Bunkyo Campus on the Tokyo Campus. There was a lively discussion about how to communicate among various actors such as society, scientists, artists, and policy makers.
→ Click here for more details
Public Outreach
- 2018 April 23
Coral Reef Conservation: Promoting Awareness through Effective Communication.
Meeting venue :
Bunkyo School Building, Tokyo Campus, University of Tsukuba
Meeting Date :
May 15th, 2018 13：00〜16：00
More details can be found → here.
Recruitment
- 2018 April 10
Seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Microbiology
We are now seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Microbiology to work on
the project [Investigating coral bleaching mechanisms and potential
biochemical prevention/rescue measures] funded by the the Japanese Ministry
of Environment “Environment Research and Technology Development Fund”
(PI: Hiroyuki Fujimura, University of the Ryukyus). The selected researcher
will work with the sub group [Omics and microscale studies of the resilience
to bleaching]. His/her role will be to investigate the change in microbial
communities (diversity, metagenome, etc.) under different treatments and
investigate its role in resilience to bleaching. The researcher will work in
close collaboration with Dr Sylvain Agostini and Dr Ikuko Yuyama
(University of Tsukuba)
More details can be found → here.
Award
- 2018 March 23
Sota Yamaji and Yukako Tajima, graduate students at the Center, was awarded the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences Chair's Award for outstanding achievements during their graduate research.
→ Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences
→ Sasakura lab where they conducted their research
New Publication
- 2018 March 13
Associate Prof. Shunsuke Yaguchi, Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, in collaboration with researchers at National Institute of Genetics, Hiroshima University, and Ochanomizu University read the draft genome of a sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, and made a database HpBase (→ http://cell-innovation.nig.ac.jp/Hpul/). This result was
published in Development Growth and Differentiation
(→ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dgd.12429).
Scientific Presentation
- 2018 March 4
The final lecture was given at the University of Tsukuba Lecture Room on Saturday, March 3, following the retirement of Professor Osamu Numata and Professor Takeo Hama.
→ Click here for more details
New Publication
- 2017 December 19
Associate Prof. Hiroaki Nakano and Dr. Hideyuki Miyazawa at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, in collaboration with researchers at National Institute of Genetics, Hokkaido University, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University and The University of Tokyo, succeeded in the collection of Xenoturbella for the first time in the waters near Japan and revealed that they are a new species. These results were published in BMC Evolutionary Biology.
→ A new species of Xenoturbella from the western Pacific Ocean and the evolution of Xenoturbella
Public Outreach
- 2017 December 10
Open Laboratory and Public Lectures were held at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
Public Outreach
- 2017 December 6
University of Tsukuba and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) organized Commemorative Symposium for the 33rd International Prize for Biology at Tsukuba International Congress Center in Dec 5 to 6, 2017. This symposium was chaired by Director and Professor Kazuo Inaba at Shimoda Marine Research Center. The prize laureate, Dr. Rita Rossi Colwell, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, USA and famous researchers in the field of marine microbiology, marine ecology and environment biology gave the lectures in the symposium. Assistant Prof. Shigeki Wada and Assistant Prof. Sylvain Agostini at our center also gave the lectures.
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 November 4
A lecture on natural sciences by Japanese scientists was held in Genova, co-sponsored by the Embassy of Japan and the Genova International Science Festival, and Director Inaba gave a lecture with Dr. Paolo Magni of CNR. We introduced the international cooperation of Japanese coastal laboratories, marine biology, and marine stations for the general public.
→ Homepage of the Embassy of Japan in Italy
Center News
- 2017 November 2
We accepted the work experience of one junior high school student in Shimoda City for two days on November 1st and 2nd. This time, Assistant Professor Takaetsu Ima was in charge of accepting the fish, and conducted a biota survey on the sandy beach and observed the behavior of sea slugs.
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 October 13
Bilateral Joint Research Seminar between Shimoda Marine Research Center and Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer, CNRS Sorbonne Université, France was held at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 September 26
Dr. Hawis Madduppa from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, give a talk about Indonesian Marine Biodiversity.
New Publication
- 2017 September 7
Dr. Katsutoshi Mizuno, Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba, Dr. Daisuke Shibata, and Prof. Kazuo Inaba at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba revealed that an axonemal protein, calaxin is essential for coordinated movement of sea urchin embyos in collaboration with Associate Prof. Shunsuke Yaguchi and Dr. Junko Yaguchi at Shimoda Marine Research Center and research group at the Villefranche-sur-mer Developmental Biology Laboratory, France. These results were published online in Scientific Reports.
→ " Calaxin establishes basal body orientation and coordinates movement of monocilia in sea urchin embryos" Scientific Reports
New Publication
- 2017 July 19
Research group of assistant Prof. Takeo Horie, in collaboration with research group at Princeton University, Tsinghua University, and Zhejiang University, proposed
a conserved developmental mechanism of mechanosensory neurons across bilaterians.
→ "A Conserved Gene Regulatory Module Specifies Lateral Neural Borders Across Bilaterians" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America doi/10.1073/pnas.1704194114
Public Outreach
- 2017 July 10
The French marine expedition vessel Tara, which called at Japan in March of this year, will be televised on its research activities in the waters near Japan. Assistant Professor Sylvan Agostini of our center also boarded the Tara and participated in the investigation. The Adventure of Schooner Tara 2 "Save the Crisis of Cross-Pacific Coral!"
Monday, July 17th, 10: 00 pm-NHK General TV.
→ Click here for the homepage of the program
→ 
New Publication
- 2017 July 10
The Global Ocean Science Report (→ GOSR) has been published from UNESCO-IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), providing information on the science capacity in the world and addressing the global challenges towards the attainment of SDG Target 14. Director and Professor Kazuo Inaba has contributed to GOSR as an author and a member of Editorial Board.
→ http://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-publishes-first-status-report-ocean-sciences-around-world
Center News
- 2017 July 10
It has been decided that Daisuke Shibata, a technical staff member of this center, will be dispatched as a member of the 59th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition. As a summer corps, we will participate in an Antarctic lake observation group and conduct a diving survey.
Public Outreach
- 2017 June 13
The special exhibition "The Sea of Sagami-The Results of the Latest Biota Survey-" held in collaboration with the Center and the Marine Bio Joint Promotion Organization (JAMBIO) is on the 1st floor of the National Museum of Nature and Science. It will be held in an open space.
Date: June 13th (Tuesday) -September 3rd (Sunday)
→ Click here for more details
New Publication
- 2017 May 1
Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba and Prof. Kazuo Inaba revealed an inverse relationship of a regulatory mechanism in flagellar motility between animal and plant. They analyzed the flagellar Ca2+-response of sperm flagella of the sea urchin Anthocidaris crassispinathe and prasinophyte Pterosperma cristatum. Their results support the idea previously proposed that the difference in flagellar response to Ca2+ attributes to the evolutional innovation of calcium sensors of outer arm dynein in opisthokont or bikont lineage.
→ "Inverse relationship of Ca2+-dependent flagellar response between animal sperm and prasinophyte algae" Journal of Plant Research
Public Outreach
- 2017 April 26
A joint survey on Shikinejima with the scientific expedition schooner Tara has been released on YouTube.
→ YouTube [Tara Pacific] Shikine, laboratoire de l'acidification de l'Océan // Ocean acidification laboratory
→ Tara Expeditions
Public Outreach
- 2017 March 28
A joint survey was conducted on the scientific expedition schooner Tara and Shikinejima
→ Click for More Details
→ Tara Expeditions
Public Outreach
- 2017 March 26
The scientific expedition schooner Tara is investigating the biodiversity and evolution of coral reefs facing climate change and man-made damage during the Pacific Project 2016-2018. We called at Shimoda Port for a joint survey with our center on Shikinejima.
→ Click for More Details
→ Tara Expeditions
Award
- 2017 March 24
Uchu Yamakawa, an undergraduate student at the Center, was awarded the School of Life and Environmental Sciences Provost’s Award for his outstanding achievements during his undergraduate research.
→ School of Life and Environmental Sciences web site
→ Kon lab where he conducted his research
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 March 10
"Overseas Education and Research Unit Bid Report Meeting" was held. Kazuo Inaba, Director of the Center and Assistant Professor Benjamin Harvey made a presentation from our center.
→ University of Tsukuba News
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 March 10
Yasutaka Tsuchiya, Technical Specialist of our center, made a presentation at "Comprehensive Technology Study Group 2017 The University of Tokyo" under the theme of "Outline of research support of technical staff at Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba".
Scientific Presentation
- 2017 March 8
The 16th Tsukuba University Technical Staff Technical Presentation was held at the University of Tsukuba, and Tsuchiya Technical Specialist of the Center made a presentation.
Public Outreach
- 2017 March 3
Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center gave a lecture on the theme of "New Environmental Problems of the Sea, Ocean Acidification" in the 3rd lecture of Fisheries and Oceanography sponsored by Shimoda City.
Award
- 2017 February 24
Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) was awarded the "Yasui Kono" Award for Women Scientists from Ochanomizu University for her works on `The mechanism of flagellar and ciliary movement'. Yasui Kono (1880-1971) was a Japanese biologist and the first Japanese woman to receive a doctoral degree in science.
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Media Coverage
- 2017 February 22
An article describing our ongoing Ocean Acidification Project at SMRC Shikine-Island Marine Station appeared on Japan Times and Japan Today.
→ Japan Times 「Team investigates effects of acidification on marine ecosystem
Center News
- 2017 February 3
16 staff and students participated in the Basic Lifesaving Course held at the Shimoda Fire Department.
Center News
- 2017 February 3
Tsunami Emergency Drill was carried out at the Center. All participants were able to evacuate to the designated meeting point, situated 39 meters above sea level, within 5 minutes of the tsunami warning.
New Publication
- 2016 December 21
Research group of professor Yasunori Sasakura, in collaboration with research groups at University of Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hiroshima University and Kochi University, proposed a new hypothesis about the evolutionary process of how the ascidian cellulose synthase became to be specifically expressed in the epidermis.
→ "Transcriptional regulation of a horizontally transferred gene from bacterium to chordate" Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Public Outreach
- 2016 December 10
We held a public event to let the general public know about the educational and research activities of the Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba.
→ Click here for more details
Public Outreach
- 2016 December 21
Mr. Roman Torbre, Executive Director of the Tara Foundation of the Republic of France, paid a courtesy call on President Kyosuke Nagata. The Tara Foundation is developing an ocean expedition project for the "Tara". The Pacific Project is conducting a survey on coral reef biodiversity. It will depart France in May 2016 and will sail in Asia from February 2017. As a coordinator on the Japanese side, this center supports activities as a full-scale partner for the Tara to travel around Japan and conduct surveys.
→ Tara Expeditions
Scientific Presentation
- 2016 December 5
Dr. Kai Chen from Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University,
give a talk about the molecular mechanisms of zygotic genome activation in fly and ascidian embryos.
→ Princeton University
→ Lewis-Sigler Genomics Institute for Integrative Genomics
→ Mike Levine Laboratory
Award
- 2016 December 3
Morihiko Tomatsuri, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Best Poster’s Award at the 2016 Chubu Branch Meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan. His poster was entitled 'The Effect of Ocean Acidification to Hermit crabs in Intertidal Rocky Shores'
→ Kon lab where he conducted his research
Scientific Presentation
- 2016 November 21
Professor Robert Burke from University of Victoria, Canada, gave a talk about the molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis during the sea urchin development.
→ Burke Laboratory Homepage
Media Coverage
- 2016 June 29
Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center wrote a serial article "Izu's Nature Magazine" in the Izu Shimbun, "Forecasting the Great Impact of Ocean Acidification and Dramatic Changes in the Ecosystem".
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on June 26
→ List of articles so far
→ Published on Izu Shimbun News Site on June 26
Award
- 2016 June 11
Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Morita Encouragement Award for Young Women Scientists from Japanese Association of University Women (JAUW) for her work on `Molecular Cell Biology Research on the Flagellar and ciliary movement'.
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
→ Japanese Association of University Women (JAUW)
Center News
- 2016 June 9
We accepted the work experience of two junior high school students in Shimoda City for two days from June 7th to 8th. We had you experience the work of technical staff and researchers.
Media Coverage
- 2016 June 3
Associate Professor Hiroaki Nakano of our center wrote " Expansion of habitat or larvae of marine invertebrates in a completely different form from adults " in the article "Natural Magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on May 22
→ List of published articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on May 22
New Publication
- 2016 June 2
Developmental biology lab (Junko Yaguchi, JSPS post-doctoral fellow, Noriyo Takeda, post-doctoral fellow and Shunsuke Yaguchi, Associate Professor) revealed the molecular mechanism that exerts a default neural fate at the precise small location during embryogenesis along with the coordination of different body axes formation. The results were published in PLoS Genetics. This study was collaborated with Kazuo Inaba (Director, Professor) in Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba.
→ "Cooperative Wnt-Nodal signals regulate the patterning of anterior neuroectoderm "PLOS Genetics
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2016 June 1
Yosuke Ogura and Yasunori Sasakura recently published a new manuscript that discovered a new mechanism of cell cycle compensation during neural tube closure in Ciona.
→ "Developmental control of cell-cycle compensation provides a switch for patterned mitosis at the onset of chordate neurulation" Developmental Cell
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
→ "Meet the Author" Developmental Cell
Center News
- 2016 May 9
Assistant Professor Ben Harvey, a deputy PI of the "University of Tsukuba Overseas Education and Research Unit Ocean Acidification International Field Studies Laboratory", which started in 2015, arrived at the center on May 1. We will proceed with ocean acidification research, which is the theme of the unit, based at Shikinejima Station.
→ University of Tsukuba Overseas Education and Research Unit "Ocean Acidification International Field Studies Laboratory"
Media Coverage
- 2016 April 17
Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center wrote "Marine Snow Carrying Surface Energy and CO 2 to the Deep Sea " in the article "Nature Magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu Shimbun.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on April 17
→ List of published articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on April 19
Center News
- 2016 April 15
Opening Ceremony of the SMRC "Shikine-Island Marine Station" was held on Shikine-Island.
→ For more information
→ University of Tsukuba HP News (in Japanese)
Award
- 2016 March 25
Morihiko Tomatsuri, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Provost's Award for his outstanding achievements during his graduate research.
→ Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences
→ Kon lab where he is conducting his research
Public Outreach
- 2016 March 18
Associate Professor Hiroaki Nakano of our center gave a lecture on the theme of "Evolution of Animals Exploring from Placozoa" in the 4th lecture on fisheries and marine science sponsored by Shimoda City.
Media Coverage
- 2016 March 13
Assistant Professor Shiba Kogiku of our center wrote "Clams in favor of" competition "with two kinds of sperm" in the article "Natural Magazine of Izu" serialized in Izu Shimbun.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on March 13
→ List of articles so far
Public Outreach
- 2016 March 12
Yasutaka Tsuchiya, a technical expert of our center, gave a lecture on the theme of "Antarctic life and nature" at "Sunfront Knowing! Seminar 2015" sponsored by Shizuoka Shimbun and Shizuoka Broadcasting System.
Media Coverage
- 2016 February 15
Kazuo Inaba, the director of this center, wrote "Photosynthesis, an important role at the root of the food chain, phytoplankton" in the article "Nature Magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on February 7
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on February 8
Award
- 2016 January 3
Assistant Professor Takeo Horie of our centerWrote "Hige is a high-sensitivity sensor of acidity, striped eel catfish" in the article "Nature magazine of Izu" serialized in Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on January 3
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on January 6
Public Outreach
- 2015 December 12
Open Laboratory and Public Lectures were held at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
→ Photos(article in Japanese)
Center News
- 2015 December 8
Dr. Christian Sardet, a former director of CNRS Villefransche-sur-mer marine station, and his son Noe Sardet (Parafilm, Canada) visited SMRC from Nov 23 to Dec 3 for collection and shooting of marine plankton. A part of their images will be displayed in the Kyotographie2016.
→ INDEPENDENT'S 'best nature books of 2015'.
→ 'PLANKTON' WONDERS OF THE DRIFTING WORLD
Public Outreach / Award
- 2015 November 11
A public symposium entitled as "Conservation of Marine Biodiversity under Global Environmental Change" was held on 8th November. This symposium was organized by Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation of University of Tsukuba, and Dr. Wada talked as speaker. In addition, Ms. Morita and Mr. Bam who are students of doctoral program in biological sciences were awarded excellent poster presentation.
Media Coverage
- 2015 November 4
An article "CO2 venting from the seabed found on Shikinejima in the Izu Islands" was published in Tsukuba University Newspaper No. 324, which introduced the research contents of Assistant Professor Sylvan Agostini of our center.
→ University of Tsukuba Newspaper No. 324 Article
→ University of Tsukuba Newspaper No. 324
→ 
Scientific Presentation
- 2015 November 1
Kazuo Inaba (Professor, Director) and Shigeki Wada (Assistant Professor) will give a talk at the public symposium 'Conservation of Marine Biodiversity under Global Environmental Change', November 8th, held by the Certificate Programme on Nature Conservation, University of Tsukuba.
→ 'Conservation of Marine Biodiversity under Global Environmental Change'(in Japanese)
Scientific Presentation
- 2015 October 30
On October 27, Mr. Yoshikatsu Nakano, Chairman of the Okinawa Prefectural Coral Reef Conservation Promotion Council, and Assistant Professor Sylvan Agostini of our center gave a lecture on the theme of "Conservation and utilization of coral in Minamiizu" sponsored by NPO Izu Mirai Juku.
→ Published in Shimoda edition of Izu Shimbun on October 30
Center News
- 2015 October 30
From October 28th to 30th, the "42nd National University Corporation Seaside / Lake Experiment Station / Center Technical Staff Training Conference" was held at this center.
Media Coverage
- 2015 October 25
Assistant Professor Takeo Horie of our centerWrote "Gangaze, a dangerous creature on the rocky shore with long and sharp poisonous thorns" in the Izu newspaper's serialized article "Izu's Nature Magazine".
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on October 25
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on October 25
Public Outreach
- 2015 October 3
"Let's examine the body of a shark" sponsored by Dennou Shimoda Kurofune School was held. Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada, children dissected sharks captured in the sea near Shimoda and learned the arrangement and structure of each organ such as internal organs, brain, sight, and smell.
New Publication
- 2015 October 2
Research group of Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) and Kazuo Inaba (Professor, Director), in collaboration with Osaka University, discovered that the sperm-specific isoform of an enzyme called calcineurin is essential for normal sperm motility and male fertility. These results were published online in Science on October 1st, 2015.
→ "Sperm calcineurin inhibition prevents mouse fertility with implications for male contraceptive" Science
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Award
- 2015 September 29
At the 86th Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Japan, held in Niigata, Japan, Hiroaki Nakano (Associate Professor) was awarded the Young Scientist Initiative Award from the Zoological Society of Japan for his work on 'Evolutionary developmental research on the life histories of non-model marine animals'.
Award
- 2015 September 29
Morihiko Tomatsuri, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Best Poster’s Award at the 8th Japan-China-Korea Graduate Student Forum. His poster was entitled 'A predator is also an architect! Reforming oyster into suitable habitat.’
Media Coverage
- 2015 September 20
Associate Professor Hiroaki Nakano of our centerWrote "Placozoa that moves around without nerves and muscles" in the Izu newspaper's serialized article "Izu's Nature Magazine".
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on September 20
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on September 20
Media Coverage
- 2015 September 7
This center was featured in the public relations magazine "YANMAR Mare" Vol.36 of Yanmar Co., Ltd.
Scientific Presentation
- 2015 September 7
Professor Kazuo Inaba from the Center gave a lecture at the National Inter-University Research Joint Research Center Council on August 21. It covered the themes of "micro movements of sea creatures". It was published in the Yomiuri Shimbun on August 30th.
→ The 47th Knowledge Base Seminar "Micro Movements of Sea Creatures" was published in YOMIURI ONLINE on October 29th.
→ YOMIURI ONLINE TOP
→ YOMIURI ONLINE "Micro movements of sea creatures"
Media Coverage
- 2015 August 17
Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada of our center wrote "Marine bacteria that reuse energy and support ecosystems" in the article "Nature Magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on August 16
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on August 17
Media Coverage
- 2015 July 12
Assistant Professor Kon Koetsu of our center wrote "Izu Crab that blends into the surroundings with" hidden "" in the article "Izu's Nature Magazine" serialized in the Izu Shimbun.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on July 12
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on July 13
Center News
- 2015 June 12
Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu visited our Center to acknowledge our scientific and educational activities. Director Kazuo Inaba gave a tour around the Center, including the laboratories, tsunami evacuation route, and the outdoor fish tanks.
→ University of Tsukuba HP News (in Japanese)
Center News
- 2015 June 12
Two junior high school students visited our Center as a workplace experience program. They experienced the daily work of researchers and technicians for two days, June 11th and 12th.
New Publication
- 2015 June 9
Research group of Hiroaki Nakano (Associate Professor) published their research on the discovery of about 50 new species around Sagami Bay.
→ JAMBIO Coastal Organism Joint Surveys reveals undiscovered biodiversity around Sagami Bay」
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Media Coverage
- 2015 June 7
Kazuo Inaba, Director of our centerWrote "" Left flounder, right flounder "... exceptions are flounders" in the Izu newspaper serialized article "Izu's Nature Magazine".
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on June 7
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on June 7
Media Coverage
- 2015 May 3
Assistant Professor Kon Koetsu of our center wrote "A strong male-seeking strategy, Pagurus filhol" in the Izu newspaper's serialized article "Izu's Nature Magazine".
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on May 3
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on May 4
Media Coverage
- 2015 May 3
Professor Yasunori Sasakura of our center wrote "The larva of the invertebrate sea squirt closest to vertebrates" in the article "Natural magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on March 29
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on March 29
Award
- 2015 March 25
Nicholas Treen, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences Chair's Award for his outstanding achievements during his graduate research.
Award
- 2015 March 25
Masafumi Kodama, an undergraduate student at the Center, was awarded the College of Biological Sciences Dean’s Award for his outstanding achievements during his undergraduate research.
Center News
- 2015 March 23
From April 1st 2015, fee for the research vessel ‘Tsukuba II’ will be changed from 3,500 yen to 6,000 yen per hour (fuel costs included). We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.
Center News
- 2015 March 18
A new inflatable boat ‘SMRC’ was introduced. ‘SMRC’ can be loaded on to ‘Tsukuba II’, greatly enhancing the mobility in the shallow waters during surveys.
Scientific Presentation
- 2015 March 13
Sponsored by the Shimoda City Board of Education, "Fisheries and Oceanography Course-Why don't you study about the" sea "? ~ ”Was started on February 20th. In all four lectures, Assistant Professor Shiba Kogiku of our center gave a lecture on the theme of "Micro World in the Sea-Flagella and Cilia".
Media Coverage
- 2015 February 22
Professor Yasunori Saito of our center wrote "A colony of ascidians that is unprecedented in the world in the southern part of the peninsula" in the article "Natural magazine of Izu" serialized in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on February 22
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on February 22
Media Coverage
- 2015 January 18
Assistant Professor Hiroaki Nakano of our center wrote "Umiyuri and Comatulida that survive by choosing each evolution" in the serialized article "Izu's Nature Magazine" in the Izu newspaper.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on January 18
→ List of articles so far
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on January 18
Award
- 2014 December 25
Toshihiko Sato (Technical Staff) was awarded the Staff Award from the President of University of Tsukuba for his lengthy career and contributions.
Media Coverage
- 2014 December 15
"Sea creatures" has been added to the "Izu Nature Magazine" serialized in the Izu newspaper from August 31, and is written by experts in the Izu region. First written by Kazuo Inaba, Director of the Center. Since then, Associate Professor Shunsuke Taniguchi, Daisuke Shibata, and Assistant Professor Sylvan Agostini have already written.
Faculty and staff will continue to write.
Award
- 2014 December 6
Morihiko Tomatsuri, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Best Poster’s Award at the 2014 Chubu Branch Meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan. His poster was entitled 'Stability mechanisms of food web structure: effects of prey preference of carnivorous gastropod Thais (Reishia) clavigera.'
Public Outreach
- 2014 November 8
Open Laboratory and Public Lectures were held at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
→ Photos(in Japanese)
→ November 13th, Izu Newspaper(in Japanese)
Public Outreach
- 2014 October 18
A course for kids, ‘Let’s examine the shark body’, taught by Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) and organized by the Denno Shimoda Kurofune School was held at the Center.
Center News
- 2014 October 16
Dr. Osamu Shimomura, who was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein GFP, visited our Center. He toured the Center and participated in plankton collections aboard the research vessel ‘Tsukuba II’.
→ University of Tsukuba HP News (in Japanese)
→ University of Tsukuba Newspaper 317 (in Japanese)
Center News
- 2014 September 24
A ceremony was held to commemorate the new research vessel ‘Tsukuba II’ and the completion of renovation work at the Center.
→ Detailed article (in Japanese)
University of Tsukuba HP News (in Japanese)
Award
- 2014 September 18
At the 85th Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Japan, held in Sendai, Japan; Shunsuke Yaguchi (Associate Professor) was awarded the Young Scientist Initiative Award from the Zoological Society of Japan for his work on 'Molecular mechanisms of neurogenesis and axis formation in sea urchin embryos'.
Yasunori Saito (Professor) was awarded the Zoological Science Award for his manuscript 'Self and Nonself Recognition in a Marine Sponge, Halichondria japonica (Demospongiae) '.
Toshihiko Sato (Technical Staff) received a 'Certificate of Appreciation' from the Zoological Society of Japan for his many years of contributions in supporting research and education on marine biology at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
Award
- 2014 August 14
Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Best Presentation Award at the12th International Symposium on Spermatology, held in New Castle, Australia.
New Publication
- 2014 July 1
Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) succeeded in collecting the simplest free-living animal, the placozoans, across Japan.
→ 「Survey of the Japanese Coast Reveals Abundant Placozoan Populations in the Northern Pacific Ocean」Scientific Reports
→ University of Tsukuba news article
An article on this research appeared on the morning edition of Asahi shinbun.
→ Asahi shinbun newspaper June 26th edition(in Japanese)
Award
- 2014 June 19
Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Young Staffs' Special Incentive Award, from the President of University of Tsukuba
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
New Publication
- 2014 May 23
Research group of Yasunori Sasakura (Professor) developed a new method ‘MASK’ for investigating gene functions in the ascidian eggs.
Award
- 2014 May 1
Haruka Sasaki, a graduate student at the Center, was awarded the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Master’s Program in Biological Sciences Chair’s Award for her outstanding achievements during her graduate research.
→ Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences Master’s Program in Biological Sciences
→ Sasakura lab where she conducted her research
New Publication
- 2014 April 22
Research group of Kazuo Inaba (Professor) and Kogiku Shiba (Assistant Professor) published their research on the sperm swimming behavior in a marine gastropod.
→ "Autonomous changes in the swimming direction of sperm in the gastropod Strombus luhuanus" Journal of Experimental Biology
→ University of Tsukuba news article (in Japanese)
Public Outreach
- 2014 April 19
The 55th Science and Technology Week held at the University of Tsukuba The University of Tsukuba Science and Technology Week Kids University "Biological Plaza 2014 Spring" exhibited marine animals collected in Shimoda. Children are curious about the mysterious sea creatures. The touch pool was very popular..
→ "University of Tsukuba Event
Award
- 2014 April 7
Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Young Scientists' Prize of the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, and Technology (MEXT) for his 'Research on the Evolution of Development Using Non-Model Marine Animals'.
Award
- 2014 March 26
Morihiko Tomatsuri, an undergraduate student at the Center, was awarded the School of Life and Environmental Sciences Provost’s Award for his outstanding achievements during his undergraduate research.
→ Kon lab where he conducted his research
Center News
- 2014 March 17
Launching Ceremony for the new research vessel ‘Tsukuba II’ was held.
Public Outreach
- 2014 February 20
The 1st "Learn from Sea Urchins" (Lecturer Shunsuke Taniguchi) was featured in the Izu Shimbun on February 14th, sponsored by the Shimoda City Board of Education.
→ Published on February 19th in the Shimoda edition of the Izu Shimbun
→ Izu Shimbun news site Shimoda's topic posted on February 19th
Public Outreach
- 2014 February 14
Sponsored by the Shimoda City Board of Education, "Fisheries and Oceanography Course-Why don't you study about the" sea "? ~ ”Will start on February 14th. A total of three lectures are planned, and in the first lecture, Associate Professor Shunsuke Taniguchi of our center gave a lecture on the theme of "learning from sea urchins" as a lecturer.
Public Outreach
- 2014 February 8
A course for kids, ‘Let’s examine the shark body’, taught by Yasunori Saito (Professor) and organized by the Denno Shimoda Kurofune School was held at the Center.
Center News
- 2014 January 27
The name of the research vessel scheduled to be completed in March this year has been decided by open recruitment within the university. The name of the ship is "Tsukuba II" .
Public Outreach
- 2014 January 23
‘Nature School Junior Training Lecture’ was held at the Center on January 19th, 2014, and assistant professors Shigeki Wada and Sylvain Agostini served as lecturers.
→ Izu shinbun newspaper article
Center News
- 2013 November 20
Concurrent with the → University of Tsukuba Disaster Drill at University of Tsukuba main campus, Tsunami Emergency Drill was carried out at the Center. All 71 participants (46 center staff and students, 25 renovation construction workers), were all able to evacuate to the designated meeting point, situated 39 meters above sea level, within 5 minutes of the tsunami warning.
Media Coverage
- 2013 October 4
An article on Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) appears in the 'University of Tsukuba by AERA MOOK'.
→ http://publications.asahi.com/ecs/detail/?item_id=15298
Award
- 2013 August 29
Hiroaki Nakano (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Young Scientist Initiative Award from the Society of Evolutionary Studies, Japan.
→ http://sesj.kenkyuukai.jp/special/index.asp?id=11632
Public Outreach
- 2013 August 26
A two day training course for science and biology teachers within Shizuoka prefecture, "Sea and organisms of Izu", was held in Shimoda city and Minamiizu town. Participants collected and observed plankton at Shimoda Marine Research Center on the 26th.
→ Izu Newspaper August 26th
Izu Newspaper website August 26th
Award
- 2013 July 12
The Second Social Contribution Report Meeting was held on July 12.The project,"Junior-Course of Izu-kaiyou-shizenjuku" won the second prize.
→ http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/english/news/n201307220913.html
Award
- 2013 July 4
Sylvain Agostini (Assistant Professor) was awarded the Best Paper Award of the year 2012 in the journal Coral Reefs published by the International Coral Reef Society (ISRS).
The paper: Biological and chemical characteristics of the coral gastric cavity. Coral reefs 31:147-156 was voted by the editorial board as the most outstanding paper published in Coral Reefs during the year 2012.
→ http://link.springer.com/journal/338
→ http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-011-0831-6
New Publication
- 2013 May 17
The research content of Assistant Professor Hiroaki Nakano of our center was introduced in TSUKUBA FUTURE on the University of Tsukuba web page.
→ # 005 "Do you know Xenoturbella?"
Center News
- 2013 March 13
Shimoda City Tsunami Emergency Drill was carried out with about 21 participants, including center staff, researchers, students, and neighbors. Participants were all able to evacuate to the designated meeting point within 9 minutes.
Award
- 2013 February 28
Assistant Professor Takeo Horie of our center received the → " University of Tsukuba Young Teacher Encouragement Award ".
New Publication
- 2013 February 26
Assistant professor Hiroaki Nakano and his collaborators have succeeded in observing the development of Xenoturbella for the first time since the animal was first discovered more than 130 years ago. These results were published online in Nature Communications on February 26th, 2013.
→ http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n2/full/ncomms2556.html
→ http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/public/press/130227.pdf
New Publication
- 2012 November 21
A research group including Director Professor Kazuo Inaba and assistant professor Kogiku Shiba has discovered that calaxin, an axonemal Ca2+ binding protein, regulates sperm chemotaxis. These results were published online in PNAS on November 20tｈ, 2012.
→ http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/11/20/1217018109.abstract?sid=677dd23b-e218-4dc4-b4b3-341217ab9b50
→ http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/public/press/121120.pdf
→ https://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/archive/images/news/241120inaba_shizuoka.pdf
Media Coverage
- 2012 November 21
An interview of Director Professor Kazuo Inaba concerning disaster prevention was aired on the Prefectural News, Shizuoka Asahi Television.
Public Outreach
- 2012 November 11
Assistant professor Shigeki Wada, technical staffs Yasutaka Tsuchiya and Hideo Shinagawa participated in the "Recovery Support Program of the Heart" held at Kitaibaraki Municipal Seika Elementary School, Ibaraki Prefecture. In cooperation with Sugadaira Montane Research Center, University of Tsukuba, both marine and land animals were displayed, and children were very excited to actually touch the animals and to study them through a microscope.
Public Outreach
- 2012 November 10
Open Laboratory and Public Lectures were held at Shimoda Marine Research Center.
→ https://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/archive/images/news/241114_izusinbun_ippan.pdf
Center News
- 2012 July 10
Tsunami Emergency Drill was carried out with about 60 participants, including center staff, researchers, students, neighbors and tourists. A newspaper article reporting the drill (in Japanese ) : → https://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/archive/images/news/240712_izushinbun.pdf
Center News
- 2012 July 6
Shimoda Marine Research Center is seeking for an assistant professor in marine biology (including Developmental Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, etc.). Please see → Word file for information. Deadline: July 27th, 2012.
Center News
- 2012 May 24
Research Project 'Evolution and diversity of developmental programs of the nervous system in deuterostomes' was adopted as a Pre-Strategic Initiative (Research Project) by the Organization for the Support and Development of Strategic Initiatives, University of Tsukuba. Assistant Professor Takeo Horie is the leader, and associate professor Shunsuke Yaguchi and assistant professor Hiroaki Nakano are the co-investigators. → http://www.osi.tsukuba.ac.jp/sub_osi/english_index.html
Research Grant
- 2012 May 2
Assistant Professor Shigeki Wada has been awarded the Research Grant of Geoenvironmental Science from the Asahi Beer Research Foundation.
→ http://www.asahibeer.co.jp/csr/philanthropy/ab-academic/index.html
Public Outreach
- 2012 April 21
Technical staff Yasutaka Tsuchiya and Yutaro Yamada, Assistant professors Shigeki Wada and Koetsu Kon, and graduate students Yumiko Osawa and Haruka Sasaki participated in The 53rd Science and Technology Week: "Kids' University" held at the University of Tsukuba. Living marine animals collected at the center were displayed at the exhibition, named "Touch and Learn about Sea Creatures". Many children were very excited to actually touch the animals and to study them through a microscope.
Research Grant
- 2012 April 19
Assistant Professor Hiroaki Nakano has been awarded the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society. → http://www.jss.or.jp/sasagawa/index.html
Center News
- 2012 April 13
【 Tsunami Evacuation Route Completed 】
The new route was designed to allow center staff, researchers, students, neighbors and tourists to evacuate to a height of 39 meters in case of an emergency. Over 60 people, including city officials and neighbors, participated in the ceremony to reveal the new route. A newspaper article reporting the ceremony (in Japanese): → https://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/archive/images/news/120414izusinbun.pdf
Award
- 2012 March 26
Associate Professor Yasunori Sasakura has been awarded the 52nd Toray Science and Technology Grant. → http://www.toray.com/tsf/about/index.html
New Publication
- 2012 March 13
Prof. Kazuo Inaba and Assistant Prof. Kogiku Shiba, in collaboration with Dr. Takako Saito, Prof. Hitoshi Sawada and Assistant Prof. Lixy Yamada at Sugashima Marine Biological Laboratory, Nagoya University, revealed a mechanism of self-incompatibility system in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. These results were published in PNAS on March 13th, 2012. For further information: → https://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/~jambio/eng-researchtopics.html
Research Grant
- 2012 March 10
Assistant Professor Shunsuke Yaguchi has been awarded the 2012 Inamori Research Grant. → http://www.inamori-f.or.jp/e_fd_out_out.html
Public Outreach
- 2011 November 12
[University of Tsukuba Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center Open House Event] A public event was held on Saturday, November 12th to make the education and research activities of the University of Tsukuba Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center widely known to the general public.
→ Click here for details
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on November 17th
Award
- 2011 November 12
Assistant Professor Hiroaki Nakano received the 2011 Zoological Society of Japan Kawaguchi Award (young researcher overseas travel assistance).
→ Click here for details
Award
- 2011 November 12
Takashi Akutsu (Master's Program, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences), Marine Ecology Laboratory, received the 2011 Bentos Society Student Presentation Award at the 2011 Japan Bentos Society / Japan Plankton Society Joint Conference.
Presentation title "The process of forming a portable harem in one of the nest-building gammaridea".
Research Grant
- 2011 August 25
Assistant Professor Takeo Horie's research theme was selected as JST PRESTO "Formation, movement and control of brain neural circuits".
→ Click here for details
Center News
- 2011 August 8
(Deadline for applications: Sep. 30, 2011)
Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, has established the Japanese Association for Marine Biology “JAMBIO”, in collaboration with University of Tokyo. JAMBIO is one of the “Joint Usage/ Research Centers” in Japan. The marine research center aims to accelerate advanced research in marine biology including international research collaboration. We are now seeking to recruit a faculty member who will develop own research by taking full advantages of the field and research facilities of the marine research center and will contribute to both the development of JAMBIO and the research/education in this academic field.
New Publication
- 2011 February 10
An international research group including Assistant Professor Hiroaki Nakano at Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Professor Maximilian Telford at University College London, and other colleagues has shown that the marine invertebrate worms Acoelmorpha and Xenoturbella form a sister group within the deuterostomes. → These results were published in Nature on February 10th, 2011.
Scientific Presentation
- 2011 January 21
→ The 2nd JAMBIO forum was held on January 21st at Shimoda Marine Research Center with participants from Sweden, Hawaii, and many Japanese marine stations and universities.
New Publication
- 2011 January 3
Drs. Takeo Horie, Yasunori Sasakura and their colleagues at the Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba published a manuscript entitled "Ependymal cells of chordate larvae are stem-like cells that form the adult nervous system" in the journal Nature in collaboration with Dr. Takehiro G. Kusakabe at the Konan University and Dr. Nori Satoh at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technologies. This manuscript describes transition of the central nervous system during metamorphosis of urochordate ascidian. They showed that larval ependymal cells are the major cells constructing the adult nervous system and some of them are neural stem-like cells that produce adult neurons.
→ These results were published in Nature.
Public Outreach
- 2010 November 6
We held a public event to let citizens who are interested in the Shimoda Seaside Experiment Center, University of Tsukuba know about our educational and research activities.
→ Click here for more details
Center News
- 2010 September 1
The Caretta launching ceremony was held at Nabetahama Beach from 15:00. The new collection and research vessel "Caletta" was successfully launched after being cleansed by the center director and being watched by the people concerned. The ship's name, Caretta, is derived from the scientific name of the loggerhead turtle ( Caretta caretta ).
Public Outreach
- 2010 August 29
[Shinjuku Gyoen GTF Green Challenge Gathering 2010-Biodiversity that supports life and life-] GFT Green ChallengeOur center will be held at Shinjuku Gyoen English Landscape Garden for two days from August 28 to 29, 2010 (Saturday and Sunday). We exhibited at the Greater Tokyo Festival event held with the support of the University of Tsukuba as part of our social contribution activities and public relations activities. The contents are a touch corner of rocky creatures (hermit crabs, crabs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, etc.) carried from Shimoda, microscopic observation experience of small animal specimens, microscopic observation experience of sea firefly living body, distribution of pamphlets introducing research and education contents, research introduction was a panel exhibition. Although it was in the heat of the heat, it was very successful and there were more than 300 visitors to the exhibition in two days.
→ University of Tsukuba HP Article
Media Coverage
- 2010 August 11
The activity of lecturer Yukazu Aoki was published in Izu Shimbun. It was very popular! [Sea firefly observation event] at Izu Oceanic Nature School
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on August 11th.
→ Published in Izu Shimbun on August 19
Center News
- 2010 April 9
[JAMBIO Establishment Commemorative Lecture]. On April 9, 2010, a JAMBIO establishment commemorative lecture was held at the University of Tsukuba University Hall, inviting Dr. Shinya Inoue of Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory.
→ Published in the University of Tsukuba newspaper
Public Outreach
- 2010 April 3
The University of Tsukuba Biology Department is promoting the "Future Scientist Training Course (BS League)" for children and students who are enthusiastic about biological science up to high school students. The BS league curriculum was held at the Shimoda Marine Research Center from April 1st to 3rd.
→ It was also introduced in a newspaper article .
Center News
- 2011 March 29
The inauguration ceremony of the new research building (3rd research building) of the center was held. On March 29, 2010, we welcomed Dr. Fumio Isoda, Director of Research Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Education, Dr. Shinya Inoue, Dr. Shinya Inoue of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Dr. Christian Salday, France Ville Franche Sur Mer Experiment Station, at Shimoda Marine Research Center No. 1. The inauguration ceremony of 3 research buildings was held.
→ Click here for associated newspaper articles