Dr. Shinichiro Nakamura – Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies

Dr. Shinichiro Nakamura

Nagoya University
Sociohydrology, water resources management, water history

Associated Member of the Young Academy for Sustainability Research (YAS)
October 2024 – September 2027

Last Update: 08.11.2024

Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Shinichiro Nakamura is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Nagoya University, Japan. His expertise encompasses sociohydrology, water resources management, and water history. Dr. Nakamura began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo, where he advanced research on water history and climate change adaptation in Asian countries. After receiving his Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 2014, he moved to Nagoya University, where he continues to focus on the dynamics of human-water feedbacks, particularly in Japan and the Asian monsoon region. His interdisciplinary approach merges engineering and social science perspectives, providing a comprehensive view of water management challenges. Dr. Nakamura has been actively involved in research projects across Asia, addressing both contemporary and historical dimensions of water-related issues, and he remains committed to promoting sustainable water resource management.

Selected Publications

Oki, T., Hashimoto, J., Murakami, M., Sasagawa, M., and Nakamura, S. (2024): Water infrastructure of all, by all, for all. Nature Water. doi:10.1038/s44221-024-00338-y.
Nakamura, S., Nakai, F., Ito, Y., Okada, G., & Oki, T. (2024). Levee system transformation in coevolution between humans and water systems along the Kiso River, Japan. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 28(10), 2329-2342.
Perera, C., & Nakamura, S. (2023). Conceptualizing the effectiveness of flood risk information with a socio-hydrological model: A case study in Lower Kelani River Basin, Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Water, 5, 1131997.
Nakamura, S., T. Oki, S. Kanae (2022): Lost Rivers: Tokyo’s Sewage Problem in the High-Growth Period, 1953–73, Technology and Culture, 63 (2),427-449.
Nakamura, S. and OKI, T. (2018): Paradigm Shifts on Flood Risk Management in Japan: Detecting Triggers of Design Flood Revisions in the Modern Era. Water Resources Research, Volume 54, Issue 8, 5504-5515, doi:10.1029/2017WR022509.

YAS Project

Comparative study of human-water interaction mechanisms between Asia and Europe.

This project aims to compare human-water interaction mechanisms across Asia, including Japan, and Europe, identifying unique differences and shared patterns. Water-related disasters like floods and droughts result from complex interactions between human and water systems, shaped by technological and cultural factors. Since its emergence in the 2010s, sociohydrology has shown that these mechanisms vary regionally, influenced by development histories, cultures, and social norms. This project seeks to inform sustainable, context-specific water management practices, aligning with YAS’s focus on “Human-technology-environment relations.”
Initially, the project will conduct a comparative study of flood-related interactions between Japan and Germany, with plans to expand across Asia and Europe to explore diverse water challenges. The University of Freiburg, renowned for its expertise in human-environment interactions, will be integral to this research. The on-site period there will refine the project framework through interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing understanding of human-flood interaction mechanisms. This fellowship will also expand my international network, paving the way for long-term collaborations beyond the project’s completion.