Integrated Environmental Research Aimed
at the Sustainable Use of Bioresources

 In spring 2002, Nihon University opened the Center for Natural Environment Sciences (CNES) as a base for promoting leading and creative research on and for producing outstanding researchers in environmental sciences. CNES was established as an open research center under the Special Assistance Program for Promoting the Advancement of Scientific Research in Private Universities of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. CNES welcomes a wide spectrum of intramural and extramural personnel and promotes research achievements to the public in diverse ways.

 CNES is based around the Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences and pursues three research projects under a common theme, Integrated Research on the Environment toward the Sustainable Use of Bioresources:

  Project 1: Basic Research for Assessing Sustainability of Industrial
          and Social Systems

  Project 2: Development of Biofunctions and Conservation
          / Remediation Technologies Using These Functions

  Project 3: Development of Ecological Designs for the Environment 

 Problems in the bioproduction base have arisen around the world in recent years, raising concerns over the occurrence of ecological disasters within this century if nothing is done.
To examine these issues, our projects aim to advance integrated research based on environmental sciences, and to disseminate the study achievements through researcher exchanges, education, and open lectures.

 To meet this end, CNES has many facilities. Research and educational facilities include three research offices, three laboratories, a public lecture room, an information hall, and meeting room. State-of-the-art research equipment includes an ultraspeed real-time quantitative gene amplifier, a liquid chromatograph / mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS), an ion chromatograph, a total nitrogen / total phosphorus meter, an automatic mass spectroscope for nitrogen and carbon isotopes, and a bio-system test plant for purifying waste water.

 Moreover, the CNES building itself serves as a research apparatus, with the roof and walls used in greening studies, an experimental biotope pond which circulates from the roof to the lower level garden, an air-conditioning system that exchanges heat with groundwater by a heat pump, and solar-and wind-power generation equipment.


All Right Reserved Copyright Center for Natural Environment Sciences in Nihon Univ. 2006