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Satoru Ikeuchi

いけうち さとる

Ikeuchi Satoru

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1944-12-14 （Himeji, Hyogo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Himeji, Hyogo, Japan → Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan → Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan → Tokyo, Japan → Osaka, Japan → Nagoya, Aichi, Japan → Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan

Career

Occupations
Astronomer, Astrophysicist, Author, Science Communicator, University Professor, Peace Activist
Active Years
1967-
Affiliations
Kyoto University, Hokkaido University, The University of Tokyo (Tokyo Astronomical Observatory), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Osaka University, Nagoya University, Waseda University, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)
Memberships
World Peace Appeal Seven Committee, Scientists for Article 9 (initiator), Japan Skeptics (executive committee), Joint Committee Against Military-Academic Collaboration (co-representative)
Influenced By
Chushiro Hayashi

Education

Hyogo Prefectural Himeji Nishi High School
Period: 1959-1963
Year of Graduation: 1963
Country: Japan
Faculty of Science, Kyoto University
Faculty of Science / Department of Physics
Degree: 学士（理学）
Period: 1963-1967
Year of Graduation: 1967
Country: Japan
Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University
Graduate School of Science / Physics (Doctoral program)
Degree: 博士（理学）
Period: 1967-1975
Year of Graduation: 1975
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: Structure and evolution of galaxies focusing on gas and stellar mass fractions

Awards

Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award (JR Prize)
1993
Work: The History of the Universe My Father Told Me (4 vols)
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: Winner
Japan Science Publication Award
1993
Work: The History of the Universe My Father Told Me (4 vols)
Organization: Japan Science Publication Award Committee
Result: Winner
Kodansha Publishing Culture Award — Science Publishing Prize
1997
Work: How to Think and Learn Science
Organization: Kodansha
Result: Winner
Papyrus Prize
2008
Organization: Papyrus Prize Committee
Result: Winner
Mainichi Publishing Culture Award — Special Prize
2019
Work: Why Scientists Must Not Engage in Military Research
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: Special Prize

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Bubble Cosmology

1988 Popular science / Cosmology

Presents the concept of bubble cosmology and explains the structure and evolution of the universe for a general audience.

cosmologycosmic evolutiontheoretical physics

Introduction to Pseudoscience

2008 Science criticism / Popular science

A primer on identifying pseudoscience and the importance of the scientific method, aimed at improving scientific literacy.

pseudosciencescience educationcritical thinking

Why Scientists Must Not Engage in Military Research

2019 Social science / Ethics

Discusses the social responsibility of scientists and ethical issues of military research, presenting a critical view of military-academic collaboration.

scientific ethicsmilitary research issuesscience and society

The History of the Universe My Father Told Me (4 vols)

1992 Children's science / Popular science

A four-volume series explaining the history of the universe to children.

history of the universechildren's science education

Bibliography

  • Large-Scale Structure of the Universe and Galaxies (Maruzen, 1988)
  • Bubble Cosmology (Uminari-sha, 1988)
  • The History of the Universe My Father Told Me (4 vols, Iwanami Shoten, 1992)
  • How to Think and Learn Science (Iwanami Junior Shinsho, 1996)
  • Introduction to Pseudoscience (Iwanami Shinsho, 2008)
  • Why Scientists Must Not Engage in Military Research (Misuzu Shobo, 2019)

Adaptations

  • Appeared on 'The Temptation of Frankenstein' (NHK BS Premium) (2015-2018)

Translations by Author

  • R.J. Tiller, Stars (co-translator, Kyoritsu Shuppan, 1974)
  • J.L. Rosenthal, Big Bang, Big Bounce (translation, 1991)
  • National Academy of Sciences, To Those Aspiring to Be Scientists (co-translation, 1996)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, explanatory proseEssayistic arguments combining exposition and critique
Recurring Motifs
relationship between science and societyresponsibility of scientistsfundamental ideas in cosmologyimportance of science education

Legacy

In addition to his academic work in cosmology, he is recognized for long-standing public engagement on the relationship between science and society and the ethics of scientists. His children's and popular science books have contributed to improving scientific literacy.

Academic Societies

  • Astronomical Society of Japan
  • Scientists for Article 9

Archives

  • researchmap profile (Satoru Ikeuchi)
  • Nagoya University — affiliation records (Professor Emeritus)

In Popular Culture

  • Appearance and contributed essay for NHK's 'The Temptation of Frankenstein' (program/book)
  • Public lectures and media contributions on science topics

Quotes

  • Science is an activity of continually asking questions; critical verification is indispensable.
    Source: Introduction to Pseudoscience (2008)
  • Scientists bear responsibility to society; facile involvement in military research is incompatible with that responsibility.
    Source: Why Scientists Must Not Engage in Military Research (2019)

Trivia

  • An asteroid is listed in related items bearing his name
  • His elder brother is the literary scholar 池内紀
  • He served as an initiator of Scientists for Article 9