Chief Executive Director of Miraikan – National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Dr. Mamoru Mohri is Japan’s first Scientist Astronaut, and the first Chief Executive Director of Miraikan-The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation.

Profile

Dr. Mohri was born in Hokkaido in 1948, obtained B.Sc and M.Sc at Hokkaido University and Ph.D. in chemistry at Australia’s Flinders University.  In 1992 he conducted 43 microgravity experiments with NASA Astronauts in the Spacelab-J and performed the first “Space Classroom”, broadcasted live and a Japan-wide event.  His second flight in 2000 saw him deeply involved in an Earth environment observation mission.  In 2003, Dr. Mohri broadcasted NHK’s first solar eclipse observation from Antarctica. Returning to Antarctica in 2007, he conducted a live, Earth environment science classroom from Antarctica in simultaneous connection with science museums in Japan, Australia, and Thailand.  He also went 6,500m into the deep sea to feature science demonstration experiments.  Dr. Mohri embraces exploring the unknown for science communication with public. Dr. Mohri hosted for Science Center World Summit 2017 as the Chair and established the “Tokyo Protocol” to contribute to achieving the UN’s SDGs Dr. Mohri has published over 150 papers in the fields of material and vacuum sciences, space microgravity research and science communication, and is the author of more than 30 books. In 1992, he was honored the Special Award from the Prime Minister of Japan, in 1993 awarded Honorary doctorate from Flinders University and in 2001, the First Outstanding Achievement Award from the Japan Society of Applied Physics, and the NASA Honor Award. In 2002 he was awarded Honorary doctorate from Hokkaido University and In 2004 Foreign Minister commendation for the 150th Anniversary of the Japan-US Relationship. In 2006 he was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia and in 2018 Dr. Mohri was awarded France’s Legion d’honneur “Chevalier”.
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