Prof. Izumi Washitani was born in 1950.  In 1972, she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Science at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Tokyo, and obtained her Ph.D. at the Graduate School, The University of Tokyo in 1978.  She served as Lecturer of Biological Science, Tsukuba University (1986-1992), and Associate Professor of Biological Science, Tsukuba University (1992-2000).  Since 2000, she has served as Professor of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo.  Also, she is a Member of the Central Environment Council, Science Council of Japan. 

In 1997, she was awarded an Encouragement Prize at the 5^th EXPO ’90 Prize, The Konosuke Matsushita Memorial Foundation, Japan.  She won the Award for Environmental Conservation given by the Minister of the Environment, Japan in 2008, and The MIDORI Academic Prize, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan in 2013.

Prof. Washitani specializes in ecology and conservation ecology.  Now she is engaged in a wide range of studies related to biodiversity and nature restoration.

Her major publications include:  

“Hozen Seitaigaku Nyumon (in Japanese, Introduction to Conservation Ecology)” (Bun-ichi Sougou Shuppan); “Shizen-saisei, Jizokukanou na Seitaikei no tameni (in Japanese, Restoration of Nature – toward the Sustainable Ecosystem)” (Chuko Shinsho); “Ten to Chi to Hito no aidade (in Japanese, Among Heaven, Earth and Humans)” (Iwanami Shoten); “Seibutsu Hozen no Seitaigaku (in Japanese, Ecology for Biological Conservation)” (Kyoritsu Shuppan); “Seitaikei wo Yomigaeraseru (in Japanese, Revive the Ecosystem)” (NHK Shuppan); “Kounotori no Okurimono (in Japanese, Gifts of Storks)” (Chijin Shokan); “E de wakaru Seitaikei no Shikumi (in Japanese, Ecosystem by Illustrations)” (Kodansha); “Nippon Shizen Saisei Kikou (in Japanese, A Book of the Restoration of Nature in Japan)” (Iwanami Shoten); “Chikyu-kankyo to Hozen-seibutsugaku (in Japanese, Global Environment and Conservation Biology)” (Iwanami Shoten); “Iwanami Booklet, <Seibutsu-tayousei> Nyumon (in Japanese, Iwanami Booklet Series, Introduction to <Biodiversity>)” (Iwanami Shoten); “Seiyou-maruhanabachi wo Oe –Gairai-seibutsu towa Nanika (in Japanese, Chase to the buff-tailed bumblebee, - What alien species is -)” (Doshinsha); Iwanami Junior Shinsho “Satoyama – Seibutsu-tayousei to Seitaikei-moyo (in Japanese, Satoyama – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Patterns) (Iwanami Shoten); “Shinsai-go no shizen to do tsukiauka (in Japanese, How We Should Face Nature after the Great East Japan Earthquake) (Iwanami Shoten).”