Page 12 - Shimadzu Journal vol.3 Issue1

Interview

It requires investigation of extremely large number of the parts that are useful to us. In that sense, I feel a little bad for those
different parameters. living organisms (laughs).
During these investigation and analysis stages, we use LC and
GC systems from Shimadzu Corporation to analyze a wide That is certainly a very interesting perspective.
variety of chemical substances. We don't have the luxury of Thank you so much for talking with us today.
owning every type of analytical instrument available, so
sometimes we borrow an EDX system or other instruments

from a separate laboratory in Osaka University. Since we are
trying to determine an unknown process, we are very grateful
for the almost consultant-like technical advice Shimadzu
provides regarding the methods we should use for analysis.
Recently, we have also been focused on researching the
relationship between floating plants and microorganisms. We
have confirmed a phenomenon where very powerful chemical
decomposing microorganisms are concentrated at the root area
of floating aquatic plants, and we are now researching ways to
utilize them for treating wastewater or purifying the
environment. This concentration of microorganisms at the root
of these plants is not a coincidence, but is probably due to a
reaction to some sort of communication substance secreted
from the plant, such as vitamins, proteins, amino acids, or
sugars. By analyzing this intermediary substance in order to Dr. Michihiko Ike
identify it, we hope to build a more efficient cleaning system.
Chemical analysis will provide an important key for that as Professor of Engineering
well. There are still several hurdles we need to clear before we Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering,
achieve a practical system, but we intend to continue Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
researching this as technology that would be particularly
useful. After completing his master’s program at the Osaka University
Graduate School of Engineering and working in a corporate job,
intermediary substance in order to identify it, we hope to build Dr. Ike joined Osaka University as an assistant professor in 1990.
a more efficient cleaning system. Chemical analysis will provide After then serving as associate professor, he has held his current
an important key for that as well. There are still several hurdles
we need to clear before we achieve a practical system, but we position since 2006. During that period, he received a grant
intend to continue researching this as technology that would from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture to work as a
be particularly useful. researcher at the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg in
Germany in 1998 and 1999.
What do you foresee researching in the future?
I think research will need to be more predictive. Thirty years ago there
were probably only a handful of people that viewed CO2 emissions as
a problem. However, the global warming phenomenon could have
been predicted from a careful analysis of several factors, including
social and economic progress. In my field, I think we need to gain a
solid understanding of how the natural and human worlds work by
thoroughly analyzing the ecosystems of water and soil. By doing so,
we can discover the next approaching risk as early as possible, and
thereby take actions to change economic or other activities in the
human world, for example. As long as we are researching the
extremely complicated ways in which the natural world works, I am
sure we will continue to rely on help from Shimadzu Corporation.
Note that by “utilizing” biodiversity we mean something slightly
different from activities to simply protect nature. For example,
protecting a plant simply because it is unique to a particular area is
difficult to justify, making it also difficult for local governments to
spend public funds to protect it. However, if the roots of that plant
attract microorganisms that clean the water, so that it clearly
demonstrates an added value of decomposing harmful pesticides and
chemical substances, then protecting it is easier to justify. If the
utilization of biodiversity results in systems that allow future
generations to also enjoy the services provided by the ecosystem, then
perhaps there is hope for an equitable distribution. However, in
actuality, the expression “utilizing” biodiversity seems a little
presumptuous and lately I am starting to feel that we are being too
careless or exploitative with plants and microorganisms for the sake of
environmental protection. By creating an inferior environment
without regard to what they may prefer and utilizing a part of their
innate will to live, maybe we are simply protecting them selfishly for

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