Healthy Environment advances the recognition that human health and environmental health are inseparable. The Stream develops molecular, digital, and field-based tools to monitor biodiversity, assess ecosystem resilience, and anticipate risks to both nature and society. Projects range from pioneering eDNA metabarcoding for coral reefs and eRNA-based biodiversity monitoring of fish, to new approaches for tracking ocean currents, terrestrial ecosystems, and soil microbiomes that link environmental processes to nutrition and human health. These world-first systems not only provide rapid, scalable, and cost-effective monitoring methods but also generate baselines critical for understanding climate impacts on ecosystems. By situating Okinawa as a living laboratory while designing globally transferable protocols, the Stream creates practical pathways for conservation, climate adaptation, and long-term resilience of both ecosystems and communities.
R&D Leader
Timothy Ravasi (OIST, Professor)
Projects
Fish Biodiversity Monitoring in Coral Reefs through Environmental DNA and Environmental RNA
Advances molecular and computational protocols using eDNA and eRNA to monitor fish biodiversity in coral reef ecosystems. Generates biodiversity indices and catalogues for stakeholders, supporting reef conservation and restoration in Okinawa.
PI: Timothy Ravasi
Development of Coral eDNA Metabarcoding
Develops eDNA metabarcoding methods to survey coral reefs more efficiently, focusing on scleractinian corals in the Ryukyu Archipelago and beyond. Provides molecular tools to monitor reef health and strengthen conservation under climate change.
PI: Noriyuki Satoh
Developing Tools and Databases for Integrated Monitoring of Marine Plankton Diversity
Builds tools that integrate eDNA sequencing, automated imaging, and machine learning to monitor plankton diversity. Complements the coral and fish work, creating an integrated marine biodiversity monitoring platform.
PI: Filip HUSNIK
Soil to Plants to Herbivores: Exploring the Hidden Flow of Health
Explores how soil microbiomes shape plant metabolomes and how these, in turn, affect the health of herbivores. Connects environmental processes directly to nutrition and human well-being, with applications for agriculture and food security.
PI: Chikae TATSUMI
