RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS)
- Kazuo Shinozaki
Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) carry out research on carbon, nitrogen and metals, based on a fundamental understanding of biological functions and chemical diversity, with the aim to contribute to building a more sustainable society. In the carbon project, they are investigating research on CO2 utilization by enhancing photosynthesis, while conducting metabolic engineering research using novel catalysts. In the nitrogen project, they are trying to develop high-yield plants with low input of fertilizers, and efficient ammonia production processes with novel catalysts. Finally in the metal project, they are developing methods for recovering metals from urban mines through biofunctions of plants and microbes. Reduction of the use of rare metals, replacing them with newly developed catalysts using abundant metals is also their mission. In addition, the center is building research infrastructure based on metabolomics and chemical banks to promote the production and use of the biological resources needed for this research.
Deputy Director, CSRS: Hiroyuki Osada (D.Agr.), Kazuki Saito (Ph.D.) and Zhaomin Hou (D.Eng.)
Coordinator, CSRS: Yuji Kamiya (Ph.D.)