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Nuclear Social Engineering Laboratory
Associate Professor / OBA Kyoko
- Create research that is truly your owns!
- Ask “Why?” and “How?” with an open mind!
- Seeing is believing―go and verify it yourself!
Associate Professor / OBA Kyoko
Associate Professor Kyoko Oba studies the relationship between nuclear technology and society. She encourages students to follow their curiosity and supports them as they explore ideas that matter to them. With her gentle guidance and warm, open atmosphere, the laboratory feels like a comfortable place to think, talk, and grow.
Research Content
Our laboratory examines the social and human dimensions of nuclear technology, an area often overlooked in traditional engineering. We study issues such as reactor restarts, high-level radioactive waste disposal, risk perception, safety culture, and disaster preparedness. Because technical solutions alone cannot address these challenges, we explore how people, organizations, and communities understand and respond to nuclear technologies. By integrating social science perspectives with engineering knowledge, our laboratory aims to develop broader ways of thinking about complex nuclear issues and contribute to more thoughtful and responsible decision-making in society.
Research Content
A Day in the Lab
Our laboratory is a relaxed and open place where students explore topics that genuinely interest them. Students meet with the professor regularly to talk about their progress and ideas. Conversations often go beyond research―we discuss lectures, news, and everyday events that spark curiosity. Students also have opportunities to visit sites, meet practitioners, and hear different perspectives firsthand. We enjoy creating spaces for learning, such as small discussion sessions and outreach activities for children. Each day is shaped by students’ interests, making the lab a comfortable environment to think, talk, and grow at their own pace.
Meeting
Thesis Subjects
- (M)Potential to Broaden the Public’s Responsibility of the High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site Issue.
Analysis of Newspaper Reports on Municipalities Accepting Literature Surveys - (M)Nuclear Policy Prospects in Japan and Taiwan after the Fukushima Daiichi Accident:
A Perspective on the Conflict between Pro- and Anti-Nuclear Camps
The number of
PhD Graduates
0
Major employers of Graduates
- Niigata Prefectural Government
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency
