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Project Title:
Research and Development of Integrative Analyses for Marine Ecosystem Change and the Establishment of an Ocean Brain‑Circulation Platform
About this project
About this project
Understanding how marine ecosystems respond and adapt to Earth-system change is a central challenge for advancing regional to planetary stewardship. This JST‑ASPIRE project (December 2024 - March 2030), led by the Advanced Institute for Marine Ecosystem Change (WPI‑AIMEC) at Tohoku University and JAMSTEC, addresses this overarching challenge through an integrated, transdisciplinary approach that bridges physical oceanography, geochemistry, ecology, and mathematical data science.
The Japan team focuses on couple physical-biological observations and ecological research in the northwestern Pacific coastal regions, while the partner team leads complementary integrated observations across the Hawaiian Islands and the broader western Pacific. Together, we combine molecular and isotopic geochemical analyses with next-generation ecosystem change. Building on these joint efforts, we aim to develop a new class of marine ecosystem prediction models enhanced by AI and machine learning.
In parallel, this project will establish an "International Ocean Brain‑Circulation Platform", a framework designed to promote the global circulation of knowledge, talent and research culture in marine science. Through this platform, WPI‑AIMEC promotes international research exchange and human resource development in close collaboration with leading overseas institutions:
University of Hawaii at Mãnoa, USA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
University of California, San Diego, USA
Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Germany or University of Bremen, Germany
University of Tasmania, Australia
Graduate Education and Research Exchange
Graduate Education and Research Exchange
The JST‑ASPIRE project enabled the establishment of the ASPIRE Graduate Student Program, which supports selected graduate students at Tohoku University in conducting interdisciplinary research on marine ecosystem change while gaining extended international research experience. ASPIRE selected students are employed as Research Assistants and receive financial and institutional support to undertake 9–12 months of research at leading overseas partner institutions.
The program is open to graduate students enrolled in the International Joint Graduate Program in Environmental and Earth Sciences (GP‑EES) or in selected programs of Tohoku University’s Advanced Graduate School. Selection is based on alignment with the goals of the ASPIRE project, scientific potential, motivation for interdisciplinary research, and the ability to engage effectively in international research environments.
Through placements at the partner institutions listed above, the program fosters the development of internationally connected early‑career researchers and contributes to the global circulation of knowledge and talent in marine ecosystem science.
Research Cruise
Research Cruise
The JST-ASPIRE project supports a dedicated research cruise focused on improving understanding of how bottom and surface mixed layers differ and interact, particularly with respect to marine ecosystems and biogeochemical dynamics.
The project is led by Dr Masahito Shigemitsu (WPI-AIMEC and JAMSTEC) as the chief scientist. Observations will be conducted aboard the research vessel R/V Kaimei in the western North Pacific Ocean for a two-week period between August and October 2026.
The research team will include WPI-AIMEC members, together with researchers from ASPIRE partner institutions; the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, University of Bremen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. ASPIRE partner principal investigators will participate alongside several graduate students, providing a collaborative environment that integrates field‑based research with early‑career researcher development.
The cruise contributes to the JST‑ASPIRE project’s broader goal of developing integrative and internationally collaborative approaches to understanding marine ecosystem change.
About the JST‑ASPIRE Program
About the JST‑ASPIRE Program
The Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) program, operated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), aims to strengthen and sustain Japan’s scientific and technological capabilities. ASPIRE connects leading researchers in Japan with counterparts in advanced science, technology, and innovation (STI) regions through international joint research, while accelerating the global circulation of research talent. The program supports pioneering research and the development of the next generation of internationally engaged research leaders.
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