Hiroshi Okochi is a Professor at Waseda University's School of Creative Science and Engineering, Department of Environmental Resources Engineering. He has held this position since April 2008, following previous appointments as Associate Professor at Waseda University (2007-2008) and Tokyo Metropolitan University (2005-2007). His research laboratory, the Atmospheric and Aquatic Environmental Chemistry Research Laboratory, focuses on understanding Earth's chemical cycles with field sites including Mount Fuji, Tanzawa Mountains, Ikuta, Fukushima, and Cambodia. His research motto is 'Decoding the chemical information of air, water, and forests to explore coexistence between humans and nature,' with the goal of training 'Earth Doctors' who can manage the health of our living planet. Dr. Okochi earned his Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1997 under Professor Masatatsu Sadakata. He completed his graduate studies at Tokyo Institute of Technology's Graduate School of Integrated Science and Engineering and his undergraduate studies at Waseda University's School of Science and Engineering. His academic journey included research positions at the University of East Anglia in the UK and Kanagawa University before joining Waseda University. Dr. Okochi's research spans Atmospheric Chemistry, Environmental Analysis, Aquatic Chemistry, and Precipitation Chemistry, with a growing focus on airborne microplastics. His work investigates transboundary air pollution, air-forest interactions, cloud water chemistry, and urban-induced heavy rainfall phenomena. He has conducted extensive field observations on Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama, examining atmospheric processes in the free troposphere and their environmental impacts. His recent research has pioneered the study of microplastics in high-altitude cloud water and their potential role in cloud formation. His publication record shows a clear evolution from traditional atmospheric chemistry toward emerging environmental concerns, particularly microplastics research. The 15 most recent articles (2022-2024) demonstrate his leadership in identifying airborne microplastics at high altitudes, understanding their characteristics, and assessing their potential environmental and climatic impacts. His work combines sophisticated analytical techniques with intensive field observations to address pressing environmental challenges. Atmospheric Environment Society Academic Award (Saizou Ketsu Prize) 2018 Environmental Chemistry Academic Award 2017 Dr. Okochi serves in numerous professional capacities, including as a Standing Director of the Atmospheric Environment Society, Vice President of the NPO Fuji Mountain Meteorological Observatory Utilization Society, and Director of the Japanese Society of Environmental Chemistry. He holds visiting positions at Japan Women's University, Tokyo University of Science, and Saitama Prefectural International Center for Environmental Sciences. His research has received substantial support for projects examining atmospheric pollution, microplastics, and urban-induced heavy rainfall phenomena. Dr. Okochi leads an active research group conducting field studies across diverse environments from Mount Fuji to Southeast Asia. His laboratory develops and applies advanced analytical methods for environmental monitoring, with particular expertise in atmospheric chemistry and microplastic analysis. The team's work on urban-induced heavy rainfall has provided new insights into how air pollution interacts with meteorological processes to create localized extreme weather events in urban areas.
