Fundamentals of Sustainability Science

Makoto Yokohari is a Professor at the School of Engineering at The University of Tokyo. He earned his Bachelor's degree in 1984, his Master's degree in 1986, and his PhD in 2002, all from the University of Tokyo. His research focuses on sustainable urban development and planning, addressing the challenges faced by urban areas in Japan.

Takashi Mino is a Project Professor at Tokyo College, The University of Tokyo, with a distinguished career spanning environmental engineering and sustainability science education. After receiving his Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD degrees in Engineering from The University of Tokyo (1978-1983), he has established himself as a leading expert in sustainability education and environmental technologies. His research encompasses diverse areas including education for sustainable development, sustainable water management, microbiology in wastewater systems, and wastewater treatment modeling. As the coordinator of the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science – Global Leadership Initiative, Mino has been instrumental in shaping sustainability education at the university level. His significant contributions include pioneering work on student diversity in sustainability education and environmental leadership capacity building in higher education. He currently leads courses on sustainability science at Tokyo College, including "Sustainability Science – A Key Concept for Future Design," which explores theoretical concepts and practical applications of sustainability science through Japanese perspectives. His published works, including "Environmental Leadership Capacity Building in Higher Education" and "Sustainability Science: Field Methods and Exercises," have significantly influenced the field of sustainability education and environmental management.

Kazuhiko Takeuchi is a distinguished Project Professor at the Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, and President of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES). With a PhD in Landscape Ecology and Planning from the University of Tokyo, Takeuchi has established himself as a leading expert in sustainability science, environmental studies, and landscape ecology. His research focuses on creating eco-friendly environments for harmonious coexistence between people and nature, with a particular emphasis on Asia and Africa. Takeuchi has been instrumental in developing the field of sustainability science, aiming to build a sustainable society on a global scale. He is deeply involved in the SATOYAMA Initiative, which aims to revitalize socio-ecological production landscapes worldwide, and has contributed significantly to the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiated by FAO. His work spans various areas, including sustainability and resilience in urban environments, ecosystem services modeling, and inclusive wealth assessment. Takeuchi has served in numerous prestigious positions, including as Senior Vice-Rector at the United Nations University and Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations. He continues to shape environmental policy and research as Chair of the Nature Conservation Committee of the Central Environment Council, Government of Japan, and as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Sustainability Science. His vision for a sustainable society in harmony with nature, adaptation strategies for climate and ecosystem changes, and assessment of natural capital and ecosystem services have significantly influenced global environmental strategies and policies.

Masahide Horita is a Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at The University of Tokyo. He specializes in collective decision-making, infrastructure systems management, and safeguard policies for development projects. Horita received his PhD from the London School of Economics in 1999 and worked at Durham Business School before joining the University of Tokyo in 2000. His research focuses on group decision support for international cooperation, conflict management, and problem structuring methods. Horita has contributed significantly to the field through publications such as "Innovations in Collaborative Urban Regeneration" and papers on climate change negotiations and strategic interactions in international natural gas trade. He teaches courses on sustainability science and infrastructure management, including "The Past, Present and Future of Infrastructure in Japan" in the UTSIP program. Horita's expertise spans social infrastructure management, project governance, and environmental and social safeguard policies, making him a key figure in addressing complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.

Yuto Kitamura is a Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science at the University of Tokyo. He received his B.A. in Education from Keio University in 1996, followed by his M.A. and Ph.D. in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Kitamura's expertise lies in comparative education and international educational development, with a focus on education policies in developing countries, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. His research encompasses various aspects of education, including basic education, teacher training, and higher education development. Kitamura has held several prestigious positions, including working as an Assistant Education Specialist at UNESCO in Paris and serving as a Fulbright Scholar at George Washington University. He has also been a visiting professor at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh and a member of the international advisory board for the Master of Education Program at Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. His major works include co-edited volumes on educational reforms and development in Southeast Asia, such as "The Political Economy of Schooling in Cambodia" and "Emerging International Dimensions in East Asian Higher Education." Kitamura's contributions to the field of comparative education and his extensive research on educational development in Asia have established him as a leading expert in international education policy and reform.