Greetings

As of January 1, 2013, I was appointed as a Professor at the Laboratory of Nuclear and Environmental Material.

This Laboratory was established by the first Professor, Takashi Morozumi, for the purpose of carrying out the most advanced studies such as corrosive action of nuclear fuel materials, oxidation of uranium and solubility behaviors and material analysis by radiation. After the second Professor, Hiroshi Ohashi, was appointed, the research on radioactive waste treatment became the focus. This research has been developing under the guidance of Professor Seichi Sato.

Due to the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster that occurred along with the Tohoku Earthquake on March 11, 2011, many new difficult issues arose such as restoring the environment that is contaminated with radioactive cesium, processing/disposing of waste that comes from the decontamination work and decommissioning damaged nuclear plants.

Considering such matters, based on our research experiences, this Laboratory will make progress on research and development that is essential to reconstruct Fukushima. As well, I feel that it is my responsibility to make more efforts in education that allow students to be first-class personnel in society. I would like to coordinate with people in society and work together with strong-willed students to strive toward reconstructing Fukushima.

March 2014
Tamotsu Kozaki
Laboratory of Nuclear and Environmental Materials
Hokkaido University Graduate School of Engineering
Division of Energy and Environmental Systems Research Group of Nuclear and Environmental Systems