Online seminar: Linking techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and scenarios

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming online seminar in our seminar series of the JST Social Scenario Research Project “Social scenario research program towards a carbon neutral society “.

This seminar will discuss how to bridge the gap between technological advancements and societal adoption for achieving a carbon-neutral future. The focus will be on integrating models that analyze the economic feasibility and environmental impact of technologies (techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment) with models that simulate broader societal changes (socio-economic scenarios). Two experts, Professor Otomo and Professor Kikuchi, will present their research on hydrogen production as a case study and engage in a discussion about connecting these different models.

[About Dr.Junichiro Otomo]
Dr.Junichiro Otomo is Professor at the School of Environment and Society, Institute of Science Tokyo. He completed a doctoral program in Chemical Systems Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo in 1999, earning a Ph.D. in Engineering. He was appointed as an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, at the University of Tokyo in January 2007, and assumed the current position at Tokyo Institute of Technology in January 2021. Dr. Otomo serves as a researcher at the JST Low Carbon Society Strategy Center and a visiting professor at the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy, Kyushu University since April 2022, and conducts research within the Energy and Information Course of the School of Environmental and Socio-Engineering, specializing in electrochemistry, reaction engineering, and energy systems theory. Additionally, he leads the integrated energy science initiative at Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Recipient of the Chemical Society of Japan Outstanding Paper Award of 2014 (Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan).

[About Dr.Yasunori Kikuchi]
Dr. Yasunori Kikuchi is Professor at the Institute for Future Initiatives , The University of Tokyo. He completed the doctoral program in Chemical Systems Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo in 2009, earning a Ph.D. in Engineering. He was appointed as Associate Professor at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology in April 2019, and assumed the current position as a Professor in February 2024. Concurrently, Dr. Kikuchi serves as the Director of the “Platinum Society” Comprehensive Donation Lecture, and supervises a research laboratory at the Graduate School of Engineering. He specializes in Process Systems Engineering and Chemical Systems Engineering, and received numerous awards, including the Japan LCA Society Research Encouragement Award, the Society of Chemical Engineers Research Encouragement Award, the Biotechnology Society of Japan Award, and the World Cultural Council: Special Recognitions. Dr. Kikuchi donducts research on proactive life cycle assessment methodologies for pre-commercial technologies, and promotes the introduction of novel technological systems in local communities through industry-academia-government collaborations.

[About the Project and the Seminar Series]
The JST Social Scenario Research Project aims to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society in Japan, emphasizing sustainable development through science and technology. This initiative envisions a desirable future society and explores the pathways, options, and strategies to achieve it. Since April 2023, the project has expanded to integrate knowledge from a broad range of researchers, including those from the humanities and social sciences, fostering further development and societal contribution. A key aspect of the project is the “Social Scenario for Accelerating Carbon Neutral Transition,” focusing on both quantitative and qualitative analyses of carbon-neutral technologies, and developing strategies for societal implementation and system design. The seminar series with scenario experts is part of this effort, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and strategies to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral society.

Email: cn-scenario-group★g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp (★→@)

**For inquiries about this event, please do not reply to this email. Instead, send your questions to the address provided above.