Nagase Viita Researcher Appointed Vice-Chair of Okayama University UNESCO Chair

Nagase Viita is pleased to announce that Ooi Lia (Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture), our lead researcher at Nagase Viita currently on a secondment to Okayama University, has been appointed Vice-Chair (Environmental Education) of the Okayama University UNESCO Chair.

This marks the first time that a non-Japanese Vice-Chair has taken on this role within the Okayama University UNESCO Chair.

As an Associate Professor (Special Appointment), Dr. Ooi Lia acts as the Principal Investigator of the joint research course “Laboratory of Glycobiology and Phytochemistry” established through collaboration between Okayama University and Nagase Viita. Through this initiative, Dr. Ooi is deeply committed to contributing to the continued growth and global impact of the collaborative laboratory, creating new and meaningful value together through her expertise in glycobiology, microbiology, agricultural science, environmental science and sustainable food systems.

Through this appointment, Nagase Viita places high importance on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a key part of our mission. By uniting the strengths of academia and industry, we aim to bridge the gap between industrial innovation and global academic contributions. Leveraging Dr. Ooi’s leadership within the UNESCO Chair, we are committed to accelerating international collaboration and expanding the reach of our joint research. We will continue to drive social impact by integrating our expertise in carbohydrate science with the Okayama University UNESCO Chair’s goals, working together toward a more sustainable society.

^{Appointment ceremony: Dr. Ooi Lia (left) and Professor Atsufumi Yokoi, UNESCO Chairholder and Vice President (right)}

■Profile of Dr. Ooi Lia 

【Affiliation】
Laboratory of Glycobiology and Phytochemistry, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University

【Research Expertise】
・Plant Physiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology
・High-throughput Sensor and Biosensor Technologies
・Environmental Monitoring, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Disaster Risk Reduction

【Areas of Research】
・Fabrication of high-throughput biosensors for environmental toxicity monitoring
・Investigation and elucidation of the molecular mechanism of stomatal responses to airborne environmental pollutants (stomatal physiology and plant physiology)
・Development of high-throughput AI-assisted electronic tongues for sensory evaluation
・Investigation of the potential of carbohydrates in enhanchig stress resistance in plants
・Investigation of the effects of abiotic stresses on plant physiology
・Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth promotion by bioactive substances

【Academic and Career Highlights】

・The latest news from Okayama University on this topic: Associate Professor (Special Appointment) Ooi Lia Appointed as Vice Chair of the Okayama University UNESCO Chair - Okayama University

・Joint research course press release: Okayama University and Nagase Viita Co., Ltd. Launch Joint Research Course: “Laboratory of Glycobiology and Phytochemistry” | Nagase Viita Co., Ltd.