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About
Wonsuh Song
Wonsuh Song, Ph.D.
Geographer · Educator · Columnist
- Full-time lecturer, Shumei University
- Part-time lecturer, Waseda University
I am a geographer researching connections between the natural environment and human society. I serve on a committee of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and am active in the Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU) and the Association of Japanese Geographers. Through teaching, writing, translation and international exchange, I bring geographical perspectives to a wider public.
Research profiles & social channels
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I was born in Los Angeles, California, and grew up in Seoul, South Korea, where I completed my undergraduate studies. My academic interests lie in bridging human and physical geography, with a particular focus on interdisciplinary research.
My first encounter with Japan was during a winter trip in my freshman year of university. I was deeply captivated by the country’s refined culture, which inspired me to begin studying the Japanese language. In 2002, I came to Japan as a recipient of the Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship and later earned my Ph.D. in Science from the Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Tsukuba.
Currently, I teach geography, physical geography, and regional studies at Shumei University and Waseda University. My teaching philosophy is to share the fascination and intellectual depth of geography, encouraging students to appreciate its value as a lens through which we can better understand our world. I am committed to fostering global-minded individuals who can embrace cultural diversity and contribute meaningfully to international society.
My current research focuses on the intersection of agriculture and water issues, with a particular emphasis on California’s droughts, agriculture, and their correlation with wildfires. Beyond the lens of climate change, I explore the agricultural dimensions of wildfire occurrence, seeking to identify root causes and propose effective strategies for future mitigation.
Through both teaching and research, my goal is to advance knowledge in geography while inspiring students and colleagues to approach global challenges with curiosity, empathy, and scientific rigor.
Awards & grants
Awards 4
宋 苑瑞 (2022)第10回 Waseda e-Teaching Award Good Practice賞（授与機関：早稲田大学）10th Waseda e-Teaching Award (Good Practice Prize), Waseda University
宋 苑瑞 (2014)ヨーロッパ地球科学連合 (European Geoscience Union) 生物地形学セッション ベストポスター賞（授与機関：英国地形学会）Best Poster Award, Biogeomorphology Session, European Geosciences Union (conferred by the British Geomorphological Society)
宋 苑瑞 (2008)つくば市日本語弁論大会（日本語で話そう！つくばチャレンジ）最優秀賞（授与機関：つくば市国際交流協会）Grand Prize, Tsukuba Japanese Speech Contest (“Let’s Speak Japanese! Tsukuba Challenge”), Tsukuba International Association
Research grants 10
宋 苑瑞 (2022)日本科学協会海外発表促進助成（30万円）Japan Science Society Overseas Presentation Grant (¥300,000)「Are California Wildfires Caused by Climate Change?」米国地球物理学会2022大会American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2022
宋 苑瑞 (2021)日本科学協会海外発表促進助成（オンライン参加、5.6万円）Japan Science Society Overseas Presentation Grant (¥56,000, online)「Analysis of virtual water trade in California during recent drought」米国地球物理学会2021大会American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2021
宋 苑瑞 (2020)日本科学協会海外発表促進助成（オンライン参加、3.5万円）Japan Science Society Overseas Presentation Grant (¥35,000, online)「Remote teaching/learning experience in Japanese Universities」米国地球物理学会2020大会American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2020
宋 苑瑞 (2018)日本地理学会若手研究者国際会議派遣助成（10万円）Association of Japanese Geographers Young Researchers International Conference Dispatch Grant (¥100,000)「Biological weathering on the first gallery wall of Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia」第33回国際地理連合(IGU)33rd International Geographical Union (IGU) Congress
宋 苑瑞 (2014–2016)岩石の生物風化への耐久性評価－日本と韓国の石造文化財を事例に（日本学術振興会 外国人特別研究員奨励費 230万円）Durability assessment of rocks against biological weathering: Case studies on stone cultural heritage in Japan and Korea (JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship, ¥2,300,000)
研究協力者 (2014–2017)カンボジア・アンコール砂岩の風化プロセスに関わるクリープ変形と風化環境の研究（日本学術振興会 科学研究費助成事業 基盤研究(B) 598万円，代表: 藁谷哲也）Co-researcher: Study on creep deformation and weathering environment related to the weathering process of Angkor sandstone in Cambodia (JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), ¥5,980,000; PI: Tetsuya Waragai)
研究協力者 (2014–2017)塩類風化に伴う岩屑の生産速度と岩盤壁面の形状変化（日本学術振興会 科学研究費助成事業 基盤研究(B) 481万円，代表: 小口千明）Co-researcher: Production rate of debris and morphological changes of rock walls caused by salt weathering (JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), ¥4,810,000; PI: Chiaki Oguchi)
宋 苑瑞 (2009)日本科学協会海外発表促進助成（21.4万円）Japan Science Society Overseas Presentation Grant (¥214,000)「Laboratory experiments on bacterial weathering of granite and its constituent minerals」国際地形学会International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) Conference
宋 苑瑞 (2006–2007)日本科学協会笹川科学研究助成（60万円）Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant, Japan Science Society (¥600,000)「Bacillus subtilisによる花崗岩の風化プロセスの解明」Study on the weathering process of granite by Bacillus subtilis
宋 苑瑞 (2002–2008)日本政府文部科学省奨学生MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship, Government of Japan
Societies & committees
企画委員会副委員長（2025年 – 現在） / Vice Chair, Planning Committee (2025 – Present)
日本地理教育学会 (The Geographic Education Society of Japan)
会員（2025年 – 現在） / Member (2025 – Present)
日本地理教育学会 (The Geographic Education Society of Japan)
地球人間圏代議員（2024年 – 2026年） / Council Member, Human Geosphere Section (2024 – 2026)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
第37回国際地質学会議 (The 37th International Geological Congress 2024) 組織委員会委員（2023年2月2日 – 2024年12月31日）/ Organizing Committee Member (Feb 2, 2023 – Dec 31, 2024)
その他 / Other Committee Memberships
集会専門委員会委員（2024年 – 2026年） / Committee Member, Meeting Management Committee (2024 – 2026)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)
グローバル戦略委員会幹事（歴任：2024年 – 2026年） / Former Executive Secretary, Global Strategy Committee (2024 – 2026)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
Leadership Development / Governance Committee 委員（2023年 – 現在） / Committee Member, Leadership Development / Governance Committee (2023 – Present)
米国地球物理学連合 (American Geophysical Union, AGU)
Springer Nature Journal Regional Environmental Change (REEC) 編集委員（2023 – 2024）/ Editorial Board Member (2023 – 2024)
その他 / Other Committee Memberships
地球人間圏セクションボードメンバー（2022年 – 現在） / Board Member, Human Geosphere Section (2022 – Present)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
グローバル戦略委員会委員（2022年 – 現在） / Committee Member, Global Strategy Committee (2022 – Present)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
百周年記念事業実行委員会委員（2022年 – 2026年） / Committee Member, Centennial Anniversary Project (2022 – 2026)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)
地理学のアウトリーチ研究グループ（YouTube編集・管理）（2022年 – 現在） / Member, Outreach Research Group in Geography (YouTube editing and management) (2022 – Present)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)
企画専門委員会委員（2022年 – 現在） / Committee Member, Planning Committee (2022 – Present)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)
地理系女子フォーラム共同設立（2022年6月15日） / Co-founder, Women in Geography Forum (June 15, 2022)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)
ダイバーシティ推進委員会委員（2013年 – 現在） / Committee Member, Diversity Promotion Committee (2013 – Present)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
会員（2012年 – 現在） / Member (2012 – Present)
日本地球惑星科学連合 (Japan Geoscience Union, JpGU)
企画幹事（2009年 – 2023年） / Executive Secretary, Planning Committee (2009 – 2023)
日本地形学連合 (Japanese Geomorphological Union, JGU)
会員（2006年 – 現在） / Member (2006 – Present)
米国地球物理学連合 (American Geophysical Union, AGU)
会員（2003年 – 現在） / Member (2003 – Present)
日本地形学連合 (Japanese Geomorphological Union, JGU)
会員（2003年 – 現在） / Member (2003 – Present)
日本地理学会 (Geographic Association of Japan, GAJ)