Professor Nobutoshi Nawa of the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, who also serves as Sub-Program Director (Sub-PD) of the GX Frontier Visionary Initiative, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), was awarded the title of Honorary Professor by Osh State University in the Kyrgyz Republic on September 10, 2026.
The honorary title was conferred in recognition of his contributions to advancing the SATREPS air pollution project, promoting academic collaboration between Japan and Kyrgyzstan, strengthening research collaboration between Osh State University and its Japanese partner institutions, and enhancing the research capacity of Osh State University.
Nawa serves as the Japanese Principal Investigator of the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) air pollution project in the Kyrgyz Republic, jointly implemented by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Through this project, researchers as well as government institutions in Japan and Kyrgyzstan are working together on air quality monitoring, regional chemical transport modelling, satellite-based air pollution assessment, exposure assessment, and health impact research.
On the same day, Nawa also received a Certificate of Honor from Osh City. The certificate recognized his contribution to the establishment of the first air quality reference monitoring station in southern Kyrgyzstan, his contribution to the implementation of scientific research projects on environmental conditions, as well as his active engagement and professional expertise.
The awards were presented in conjunction with the 2nd Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting of the SATREPS air pollution project, held at Osh State University on September 10, 2026, and the opening of a newly established air quality reference monitoring station and air quality research laboratory. The JCC meeting brought together participants attending both in person and online. Participants from Japan included representatives of Science Tokyo, Kyushu University, St. Luke’s International University, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Participants from Kyrgyzstan included representatives of Osh State University, the International Higher School of Medicine, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzhydromet, and Osh City. Representatives of international cooperation agencies and organizations, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), also participated. The participants reviewed the progress of the project and discussed priorities and plans for future research and activities.
The new air quality reference monitoring station and research laboratory will serve as key research infrastructure for the Inter-Institutional Research Center for Air Pollution Studies (IRCAPS) established at Osh State University. By integrating these facilities with satellite observations, regional chemical transport modelling, and health impact assessment, the project aims to generate scientific evidence on air pollution and its health impacts in Kyrgyzstan and to strengthen sustainable research capacity.
The opening of the air quality reference monitoring station and activities undertaken through the SATREPS project were also covered by local media in the Kyrgyz Republic, including the public broadcaster UTRK and news outlets such as 24.kg, Vesti.kg, Reporter.kg, and Open.kg. In addition, Osh City Hall and Osh State University shared information about the project through their official websites and social media channels, helping to raise awareness of the project’s activities.
The conferral of the Honorary Professor title by Osh State University and the recognition from Osh City reflect the continuing collaboration among research institutions and government organizations in Japan and Kyrgyzstan that has been developed through the SATREPS project.
The project will continue to advance research on air pollution and its health impacts in Kyrgyzstan while further strengthening academic collaboration between Japan and Kyrgyzstan through the development of sustainable research and human resource capacity.
