Outline

RECWET booklet
(Jul 2025 edition)

Since the establishment in 2000, we have been conducting research and development of cutting-edge water environment control technologies using diverse approaches based on the integration and collaboration of basic sciences such as microbial ecology and practical studies such as water treatment engineering in order to meet the social challenges and expectations of realizing a sustainable water environment.
In 2019, the center was reorganized into three divisions. We are currently promoting research and education in collaboration with water-related researchers in a wider range of fields within the university, including Chemistry and biotechnology, Civil engineering and Material engineering. Additionally, Laboratory of International Wastewater-based Epidemiology, which was established in March 2024, is working to implement technologies developed through industry-academia collaboration in society. Furthermore, in October 2024, Shinshu University/The University of Tokyo Collaboration Branch Office was established, aiming to integrate advanced research in the water field by collaborating with Shinshu University.
Moreover, our activities in the water fields, including international cooperation, human resource development, and hosting international conferences, mainly conducted in Asia, are gaining international recognition. We will continue to promote research and education activities with the aim of becoming an international research hub for water environmental engineering. We would appreciate your continued support for the activities of the center.

News & TopicsArchive＞

2026/03/02
[Event] Special Seminar Series #71 (Prof. Thomas Ternes/Lecture）

On the afternoon of Friday, March 6th, Prof. Thomas Ternes, the Head of Research from Federal Institute of Hydrology, Germany, will give a special lecture about analysis to identify toxicants.
He has extensive research achievements in the fate, decomposition, and concentration of trace pollutants in the environment. Please join us! Seminar details

2026/02/27
[Event] Special Seminar Series #70 (Dr. Justin B. Greer/Lecture）

On the afternoon of Friday, February 27th, Dr. Justin B. Greer from US Geological Survey (USGS), who is a computational and experimental biologist specializing in environmental chemistry, toxicology, and risk assessment, gave a special lecture titled "Tire-derived Contaminants and Aquatic Animal Health".
Even participants who are not familiar with the field enjoyed the lecture and asked a variety of questions. Seminar details

2026/02/20
[Event Rerport] 1st Functional Materials x Water Environment Engineering Collaboration Forum

Based on a collaborative agreement in the water sector, a Collaboration Forum was held, hosted by the Institute for Aqua Regeneration of Shinshu University, RECWET of the University of Tokyo, and Shinshu University/The University of Tokyo Collaboration Branch Office, at UTokyo HASEKO KUMA HALL (right picture) on the afternoon of February 17, 2026 (in Japanese).

The forum and the discussion session were attended by 60 and 40 people respectively from industry, government, and academia, primarily from the water sector. Sessions 1 and 2 featured 12 lectures from the fields of materials chemistry, bioengineering, functional materials, and urban engineering. This, along with the subsequent discussion session, led to lively discussions and interaction across disciplines.

Speakers from UTokyo included Prof. Madoka Takai, Prof. Hiroyuki Katayama, Assoc. Prof. Takashi Hashimoto (Water Quality Control Technologies and Materials Development), Prof. Kumiko Oguma (International Water Environment), Assoc. Prof. Ikuro Kasuga (RCAST), Project Asst. Prof. Miaomiao Liu (International Wastewater-based Epidemiology), and Emeritus Prof. Takashi Kato (Shinshu U/UTokyo Collaboration Branch Office).

　
2026/02/15
[Media] Serialised in Saga Shimbun & explanatory article on Environmental News (Project Prof. Kitajima)

Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima contributed the following two articles in January and February.

Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima will be writing a column for the Sunday edition of the Saga Shimbun newspapers, "Rondan Saga," every six weeks for a total of eight articles in 2026. It started on Feb 15.
● [連載] 北島正章 (2026) ＜ろんだん佐賀＞都市の健康診断　下水から感染拡大の兆し把握, 佐賀新聞, Feb 15.

The January 14th issue of the Environmental Newspaper featured an explanatory article by Yoshihiko Yato (NJS) and Hiroyuki Kobayashi (Shionogi & Co., Ltd.), Vice Presidents of the Japan WasteWater Surveillance Association, and Masaaki Kitajima, Director of the same association.
● [解説] 谷戸善彦・小林博幸・北島正章 (2026) 次なるパンデミックに備える―「下水サーベイランス」の社会実装の現在地　平時の感染症対策として定着を　日本下水サーベイランス協会, 環境新聞, Jan 14, p.20/Online.

2026/02/14
[Lecture] Invited lectures in Jan-Feb (Project Prof. Kitajima)

Project Prof. Masaaki Kitajima gave the following invited lectures.

● 北島正章 (2026) 下水疫学と公衆衛生危機管理：感染症対策への新たなアプローチ, 第2回日本危機管理医学会総会・学術集会, Feb 14, 名古屋大学.

● 北島正章 (2026) 下水道分野から医療に貢献する下水疫学：研究の最前線と社会実装への展望, シンポジウム「下水道と医療・災害分野の連携を考える」, 国土交通省・土木学会環境工学委員会, Jan 20, Online.

● 北島正章 (2026) 下水疫学という新しい科学～人を検査しなくても地域の健康が見える？？～, 環境研究総合推進費(ERCA)5-2403 公開講座「ヒト健康における環境因子の重要性　ヒトはなぜ病気になるのだろう？」, Jan 11, 群馬大学.