UArctic x LRF Fellow: Strengthening Arctic Research Collaboration in Japan
From 1–5 June 2026, UArctic x LRF Research Fellow Dr Bahareh Kamranzad visited the University of Tokyo under a Royal Society International Exchanges grant, together with three PhD students from the University of Strathclyde.
Hosted by Professor Takuji Waseda and his research group at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the visit included a joint research seminar where PhD students from both universities presented their work, exchanged ideas, and discussed opportunities for future collaboration. The seminar highlighted strong connections across Arctic ocean, coastal and climate research, while supporting engagement between early-career researchers.
During the visit, Dr Kamranzad presented her UArctic x Lloyd’s Register Foundation-funded project, Impact of Marine Heatwaves on Sea Ice for Arctic Navigational Safety. The project examines how climate-driven changes in marine heatwaves and sea ice may affect navigational conditions and maritime safety in the Arctic. She also presented related research on Arctic wave extremes.
The group also visited the Wave-Ice Tank facility at the University of Tokyo’s Kashiwa Campus, a specialised laboratory developed by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) to support research on wave–ice interactions.
The visit strengthened research links between the University of Strathclyde and the University of Tokyo. It also created new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and PhD student development in Arctic ocean and climate research.