iENFORCE2018

Biodata of Professor Yutaka Michida

Dr. Yutaka Michida, Professor of the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo. Professor Yutaka Michida is currently the Professor, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Japan. His research interest is in physical oceanography, particularly on the structure and variability of ocean currents in the surface layers, and ocean/marine data and information management, having published 100 or more scientific and technical papers including 54 referred papers in international and national journals. He has long experiences in oceanographic data management, as he served as the Deputy Director of Japan Oceanographic Data Center (JODC) in 1997-1999. After he moved to University of Tokyo, his major research target has shifted to the coastal waters, covering not only Japanese coast but the Upper Gulf of Thailand (UGOT).

Professor Michida has made remarkable achievement in the promotion of international cooperation since 1980s, starting from China-Japan Joint Research on the Kuroshio. In terms of ocean services, he has made remarkable contribution to the oceanographic data exchange policy and he has been contributing to the ocean circulation research in coastal areas. He served as a member of Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) Advisory Group - an Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO for 2009-2012. Professor Michida had been instrumental in the development of regular data management training courses for WESTPAC for many years. Recently,Professor Michida was awarded with the Prime Minister's prize for his outstanding achievements in promoting Marine State of Japan. The awarding ceremony was held at Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, on July 16.

He currently serves as the vice-Chairs of IOC, leading the IOC's tsunami-related activities. He has a balanced expertise from oceanographic research to ocean services, and long experiences in international and intergovernmental organizations and programmes, with invaluable achievements in promoting WESTPAC activities over 25 years.