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International Affairs Students Current Students Alumni Faculty/Staff Careers--> TOHOKU UNIVERSITYCREATING GLOBAL EXCELLENCE Search 日本語 Contact Tohoku University --> About Facts & Figures Facilities Organization Chart History President's Message Top Global University Project Designated National University Global Network Promotional Videos Academics Undergraduate Graduate Courses in English Exchange Programs Summer Programs Double Degree Programs Academic Calendar Syllabus Admissions Undergraduate Admissions Graduate Admissions Fees and Expenses Financial Aid Research Feature Highlights Research Releases University Research News Research Institutes Visitor Research Center Research Profiles Academic Research Staff Campus Life International Support Office IT Services Facilities Dining & Shops Campus Bus Clubs & Circles News University News Research--> Arts & Culture Health & Sports Campus & Community Press Release--> International Visit Alumni Careers Events Exhibits Music Special Event Lecture Alumni--> Map & Directions Campus Maps & Bus--> Facilities Map--> TOHOKUUNIVERSITY About Academics Admissions Research Campus Life News Events International Affairs Students Current Students Alumni Faculty/Staff Promotional Videos Subscribe to our Newsletter Map & Directions Contact Jobs & Vacancies Emergency Information Site Map 日本語 Close Home Research Feature Highlights Motoko Kotani: By the Numbers Feature Highlights Motoko Kotani: By the Numbers Motoko Kotani was a curious child, a self-described loner who found both adventure and solace in books. While her younger brother was the school soccer star popular with everyone, Kotani spent her days reading her way through the stacks in her local library. "When I was young, I was uncomfortable around people," says Kotani. "Reading was my way of communicating because it made me think. I would read anything - history, science, detective stories, biographies. I was very curious and always had many questions. I tried to talk to my teachers - like a kid asking Why? Why? Why? all the time - and I was frustrated because they could not answer my questions." Eventually one teacher did and one subject proved to be a life changer. "The mathematics teacher was the only one who listened to me. He would either correct me if I was wrong, or praise me if I was right. It was stimulating to have such discussions and that is how I came to like mathematics." A Mathematician in Life Kotani would go on to study mathematics at the University of Tokyo and receive a D.Sci from Tokyo Metropolitan University. After several years as a researcher and lecturer, she joined the Mathematical Institute at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Science in 1999. Kotani's research is in geometry, focusing on the symmetry of figures, and how understanding of discrete groups is improved through the inclusion of geometric structures. In 2000, Kotani developed a mathematical idea that provides the tools to understanding the relationship between the characteristics of materials in the macroscopic everyday life and the microscopic, atomic world. "Every material consists of single atoms. If we want to use materials, we need to understand their properties - for example texture, elasticity or colour - which depend entirely on the structure and characteristics of the atoms involved. So, if you want to develop new materials, you need an understanding at the microscopic or atomic level." A Mathematician at Work In 2012 Kotani was appointed director of the Advanced Institute for Materials Research, one of Tohoku University's flagship institutes. AIMR was originally established to create new and innovative materials by bringing together researchers from the fields of materials science, physics, chemistry and engineering. Kotani brought mathematics to the mix, playing a bridging role and serving as principal investigator of the Mathematics Unit while leading the administration and operations of the institute. "There are common features behind the different disciplines of materials science, but they haven't always been able to explain themselves to each other. Now we have mathematics as our common language." According to Kotani, discrete geometric analysis is useful because it can be a bridge between scales and take into account detailed geometric data and the relationship between structure and property. "Most of the challenges in materials science lie in how to understand a disordered system. For example, we combine material A and material B to make a structure of a certain property. The resulting A plus B is just a method, a disordered system created by coincidence. It is not the reason for its property. If we can describe, numerise or conceptualise the structure, then we are not limited to A plus B because we might be able to get the same property using C plus D. "So to understand the reasons behind certain properties, there needs to be a description of disordered systems which lead to particular characteristics. And discrete geometric analysis is the discipline that makes a description of these structures possible." A Mathematician for Life Kotani speaks often of mathematics being a catalyst for freedom. In her words, mathematics is "the magic that makes everything possible." She contends that developing materials in the traditional way would lead to some improvements but not a revolutionary breakthrough. "Traditional development is confined to the 2- or 3-dimensional space. However, with mathematics you have complete freedom to investigate higher dimensions, construct ideas for new materials and create a recipe to realize the materials of your dreams." It's rare that a person who has devoted a life to one field should crave more time to spend thinking about it. But like the child who kept asking why, Kotani, the adult, admits she's still looking for answers. "After I retire, I want to spend my days reading and thinking and creating new mathematical ideas, without any distractions. Now I have a position in the university where I get a lot of information and ideas from around the world. When I retire, I want to shut all that down and concentrate on just thinking." Links: Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Math Group Professor Motoko Kotani Director, Advanced Institute for Materials Research Executive Director, RIKEN Awards President, The Mathematical Society of Japan, 2015 - 2017 Executive Member, Council for Science and Technology Policy Cabinet Office, JAPAN, since 2014 Member, Board of Governors, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation, since 2014 25th Saruhashi Prize, 2005 Feature Highlights 2018-05-11 In Conversation with Susumu Satomi 2018-04-04 Motoko Kotani: By the Numbers 2018-02-02 Yoshimichi Sato: Making Rational Choices 2017-09-07 Anawat Suppasri - Carried by the Waves 2017-05-30 Kyoko Sengoku-Haga: A Portrait of the Artist as an Historian 2017-04-19 Aiming high: Shigeru Obayashi is innovating human flight 2017-01-17 Exploring the Earth and its neighbors 2016-11-04 YUI Project - Ties that Bind and Save Lives 2016-10-12 Sea Change 2016-08-22 Brain training turns back your cognitive clock 2016-07-11 Forcing liquids into a squeeze 2016-06-03 Brain buster: Noriko Osumi is uncovering the links between genetics and brain development 2016-05-26 Sparking the next revolution in data science 2016-05-10 Taking memory for a spin 2016-04-11 Fueling the hydrogen revolution 2016-01-12 A Planner by Design 2015-10-29 Robo Rescue! 2015-10-01 Understanding Muscles 2015-08-31 Some sense of touch 2015-07-31 Surrogacy and the Law Page Top About Tohoku University Academics Admissions Research Campus Life News Events International Affairs Students Alumni Promotional Videos Subscribe to our Newsletter Map & Directions Contact Tohoku University Jobs & Vacancies Emergency Information Site Map Media Enquiries Parent & Family Support Public Facilities Contact Tohoku University