School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo　Research Center for Water Environment Technology

The final lecture by Professor Hiroaki Furumai was held on March 14, 2022, with members of the Water Environment Technology Laboratory (Furumai Lab) and the Research Center for Water Environment Technology (RECWET) serving as executive committee members. A hybrid event, held online and in lecture room 141 of Engineering Building 14, enabled people from far away and overseas were able to join. As a result, a total of 400 people participated, including those who graduated from the Furumai Lab, faculty and students from the University of Tokyo, companies, other universities, governments, etc. RECWET and the Executive Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all.
On the day of the event, Dr. Ikuro Kasuga, chair of the executive committee, moderated the event, Prof. Satoshi Takizawa, director of RECWET, made opening remarks, and then the lecture titled "Urban Water Cycle and Dynamism of Water Environment" was given. Beginning with research on phosphorus elution from bottom sediment as a student, he first introduced how he has developed his research in the environments at Tohoku University, Kyushu University, and Ibaraki University. Next, He talked about the whole research he has been doing at the University of Tokyo; organic matter derived from algae in lakes and reservoirs, urban non-point pollution, use of rainwater and reclaimed water in urban water circulation systems, fecal contamination derived from overflow water during rainy weather, and control and management of urban flood risk. Then he introduced the important results. Finally, he looked back on his 38 years of teaching life and conveyed to the younger generation the importance of going out and accumulating various experiences and collaborating with researchers and engineers in various fields. The 90-minute lecture ended. After the lecture and question-and-answer session, the faculty members of the laboratory presented wine made in 1997, the year Prof. Furumai arrived at the University of Tokyo. Researchers and students who had received guidance from Prof. Furumai presented a bouquet of flowers. Prof. Tsuyoshi Fujita, Dean of the Department of Urban Engineering, gave a closing address.
Industrial newspapers, Nihon Suido Shimbun and Suido Sangyo Shimbun, dated March 31, 2022 reported in detail on the final lecture.
Prof. Furumai has been working as a professor at the Chuo University Research and Development Initiative since April 2022. (Please refer to the "Research unit for advanced urban drainage management")

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