2020 tables: Institutions - Earth & environmental sciences

The 2020 tables are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019.

Table criteria

# Institution Share 2018 Share 2019 Count 2019 Change in Adjusted Share* 2018–2019
1 The University of Tokyo (UTokyo), Japan 46.13 49.91 137 4.8%
2 Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Japan 22.51 22.90 79 -1.4%
3 Tohoku University, Japan 21.92 19.88 57 -12.1%
4 Kyoto University, Japan 12.27 16.41 48 29.6%
5 Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), Japan 10.88 15.59 50 38.9%
6 Hokkaido University, Japan 17.55 14.02 44 -22.5%
7 Kyushu University, Japan 5.55 9.89 34 72.6%
8 Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Japan 6.38 8.49 23 28.9%
9 National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan 7.96 8.32 33 1.4%
10 Nagoya University, Japan 16.11 7.77 30 -53.2%
11 National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), Japan 4.38 7.24 17 60.1%
12 Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS), Japan 6.12 6.82 33 7.9%
13 Okayama University, Japan 3.76 6.67 22 72.2%
14 Gifu University, Japan 4.05 5.93 7 42.0%
15 Ehime University, Japan 3.54 4.91 18 34.3%
16 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan 5.62 4.38 26 -24.6%
17 National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan 8.50 4.05 17 -53.8%
18 Kobe University, Japan 1.60 3.83 13 132.5%
19 Hiroshima University (HU), Japan 3.81 3.47 13 -11.7%
20 University of Tsukuba, Japan 1.60 3.01 15 81.9%
21 RIKEN, Japan 2.14 2.85 10 29.1%
22 Kanazawa University (KU), Japan 3.16 1.96 11 -40.1%
23 Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Japan 1.40 1.86 9 28.7%
24 Osaka University, Japan 3.02 1.75 6 -44.0%
25 Shizuoka University, Japan 1.37 1.73 5 22.4%
26 Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Japan 0.76 1.68 5 114.3%
27 Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT), Japan 0.32 1.65 5 398.2%
28 The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (Sokendai), Japan 1.78 1.55 20 -15.7%
29 National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan 0.57 1.51 5 158.2%
30 Hirosaki University, Japan 0.05 1.45 7 2702.1%
31 Kochi University, Japan 1.46 1.37 13 -9.1%
32 Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Japan 0.85 1.34 4 52.9%
33 Gakushuin University, Japan 1.33 2 N/A
34 National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan 1.49 1.24 5 -19.2%
35 Ibaraki University, Japan 1.46 1.24 7 -18.2%
36 Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), Japan 1.00 1.23 3 19.1%
37 Ritsumeikan University, Japan 0.09 1.20 5 1206.7%
38 Nagasaki University, Japan 1.14 3 N/A
39 Hot Springs Research Institute of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan 1.13 2 N/A
40 Toho University, Japan 0.91 1.12 4 19.1%
41 Keio University, Japan 0.39 1.08 4 165.7%
41 Akita Prefectural University, Japan 1.08 2 N/A
42 University of the Ryukyus, Japan 1.49 1.07 2 -30.1%
43 Niigata University, Japan 0.22 1.05 5 364.6%
44 Chuo University, Japan 0.83 1.00 1 16.9%
45 Chiba Institute of Technology, Japan 1.38 0.98 4 -30.8%
46 Shinshu University (SU), Japan 0.19 0.91 2 378.3%
47 Yokohama National University (YNU), Japan 0.71 0.85 2 16.6%
48 Waseda University, Japan 0.30 0.84 4 174.0%
49 Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Japan 0.45 0.82 6 76.0%
50 Soka University, Japan 0.80 2 N/A
51 Tokai University, Japan 0.50 0.79 4 52.9%
52 Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan 0.74 3 N/A
53 Saitama University, Japan 0.01 0.71 1 8414.8%
54 National Museum of Nature and Science (Kahaku), Japan 0.36 0.70 4 88.4%
55 Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU), Japan 0.37 0.61 4 62.0%
56 National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology (MPAT), Japan 0.61 2 N/A
57 Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Japan 0.60 1 N/A
58 Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Japan 0.17 0.58 2 229.8%
59 Chubu University, Japan 0.01 0.58 4 6804.1%
60 National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Japan 0.05 0.56 7 987.5%
61 Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI), Japan 1.13 0.54 3 -53.7%
62 Fujita Health University, Japan 0.29 0.53 2 80.9%
63 Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (TUPLS), Japan 0.50 1 N/A
64 Meiji University, Japan 0.09 0.49 2 423.5%
65 The University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan 0.46 4 N/A
66 Chiba University, Japan 1.94 0.43 1 -78.6%
67 Building Research Institute (BRI), Japan 0.42 2 N/A
68 Tokyo Gakugei University (TGU), Japan 0.19 0.41 2 107.4%
69 Public Works Research Institute (PWRI), Japan 0.33 0.40 1 16.3%
69 JEOL Ltd., Japan 0.40 1 N/A
69 National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan 0.40 1 N/A
70 National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS), Japan 0.39 0.37 2 -7.4%
71 Hokkaido Information University, Japan 0.36 3 N/A
72 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI), Japan 1.50 0.33 1 -78.5%
72 FujiFilm Corporation, Japan 0.68 0.33 1 -52.4%
72 Nippon Steel Corporation, Japan 0.33 1 N/A
72 Shimizu Corporation, Japan 0.33 1 N/A
72 Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated (TEPCO), Japan 0.33 1 N/A
72 Ibaraki Fishery Research Institute, Japan 0.33 1 N/A
72 West Japan Engineering Consultants, Inc., Japan 0.33 1 N/A
72 Shimane Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Science, Japan 0.33 1 N/A
73 Tokyo University of Science (TUS), Japan 0.16 0.33 3 98.2%
74 University of Hyogo, Japan 0.32 4 N/A
75 Rikkyo University, Japan 0.31 2 N/A
76 Public Works Research Institute, Japan 0.25 0.30 3 17.5%
77 Asia Arsenic Network (AAN) Miyazaki Office, Japan 0.29 1 N/A
78 Yamaguchi University, Japan 0.21 0.25 1 12.8%
78 Kumamoto University, Japan 0.46 0.25 1 -47.7%
78 Doshisha University, Japan 0.63 0.25 1 -61.2%
78 Toyota Technological Institute (TTI), Japan 0.25 1 N/A
78 Hokkaido Research Organization (HRO), Japan 0.25 1 N/A
78 Tohoku Gakuin University, Japan 0.25 1 N/A
78 Rissho University, Japan 0.25 1 N/A
78 Japan Coast Guard Academy (JCGA), Japan 0.25 1 N/A
78 National Institute of Technology, Kumamoto College, Japan 0.25 1 N/A
79 Akita University, Japan 0.20 0.22 1 6.8%
79 Kagoshima University, Japan 1.01 0.22 1 -78.6%
79 Octscience Co., Ltd., Japan 0.22 1 N/A
80 Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan 0.22 3 N/A
81 KIKAI Institute for Coral Reef Sciences, Japan 0.21 1 N/A
82 Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan 0.02 0.20 9 855.7%
83 Water Resources Environment Center (WEC), Japan 0.20 1 N/A
83 Shikoku Research Institute Co., Ltd., Japan 0.20 1 N/A
83 Kanto Gakuin University, Japan 0.20 1 N/A
83 Civil Engineering and Eco-Technology Consultants Co, Ltd., Japan 0.20 1 N/A
84 Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan 0.13 0.19 2 49.2%
85 Fukushima Prefectural Centre for Environmental Creation, Japan 0.01 0.19 1 1753.5%
86 Yamagata University, Japan 0.15 0.17 2 10.2%
87 Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA), Japan 0.25 0.17 2 -33.3%
88 Nagoya City Environmental Science Research Institute, Japan 0.14 0.17 1 13.1%
88 Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences (NUPALS), Japan 0.11 0.17 1 45.4%
88 Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan 0.17 0.17 1 -3.1%
88 Sophia University, Japan 0.17 1 N/A
88 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), Japan 0.17 1 N/A
88 Institute for Global Change Adaptation Science (ICAS), Ibaraki University, Japan 0.17 2 N/A
89 Fukuoka University, Japan 0.20 0.15 1 -25.4%
89 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), Japan 0.60 0.15 1 -75.1%
90 High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Japan 0.09 0.15 2 59.6%
91 Asia Air Survey Co., Ltd., Japan 0.17 0.14 1 -16.9%
91 The Kitasato Institute, Japan 0.14 1 N/A
91 Tokushima University, Japan 0.14 1 N/A
91 Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan 0.14 1 N/A
92 Tottori University, Japan 0.14 2 N/A
93 Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), Japan 0.14 0.14 2 -4.3%
94 Prefectural University of Kumamoto (PUK), Japan 0.25 0.13 1 -51.5%
94 Shimane University, Japan 1.21 0.13 1 -90.0%
94 Fukushima Prefectural Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Department, Japan 0.13 1 N/A
94 Fukushima Prefectural Research Institute of Fisheries Resources, Japan 0.13 1 N/A
95 Kagawa University, Japan 0.05 0.11 1 115.4%
95 Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan 0.09 0.11 1 18.5%
95 Remote Sensing Technology Center of Japan (RESTEC), Japan 0.24 0.11 1 -55.2%
96 Aichi University of Education, Japan 1.00 0.10 2 -90.3%
96 Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Japan 0.10 1 N/A
96 Museum of Nature and Human Activities, Hyogo, Japan 0.10 1 N/A
96 National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM), Japan 0.10 1 N/A
97 Research Organization for Information Science and Technology (RIST), Japan 0.10 1 N/A
98 Otsuma Women's University, Japan 0.08 1 N/A
98 Goshoura Cretaceous Museum, Japan 0.08 1 N/A
99 St. Luke's International University, Japan 0.08 1 N/A
99 Japan Bird Research Association, Japan 0.08 1 N/A
100 University of Yamanashi, Japan 0.41 0.07 2 -83.7%

Footnote

Each year, the Nature Index publishes tables based on counts of high-quality research outputs in the previous calendar year. Users please note:

  1. The data behind the tables are based on a relatively small proportion of total research papers, they cover the natural sciences only and outputs are non-normalized (that is, they don’t reflect the size of the country or institution, or its overall research output).
  2. The Nature Index is one indicator of institutional research performance. The metrics of Count and Share used to order Nature Index listings are based on an institution’s or country’s publication output in 82 natural-science journals through 2022, in 2023 64 health-science journals were added to the Index. The 146 journals in the Nature Index were selected on reputation by an independent panel of leading scientists in their fields.
  3. Nature Index recognizes that many other factors must be taken into account when considering research quality and institutional performance; Nature Index metrics alone should not be used to assess institutions or individuals.
  4. Nature Index data and methods are transparent and available under a creative commons licence at nature.com/nature-index/.

The Nature Index database undergoes regular updating, corrections, adjustment of institutional hierarchies, and removal of retracted papers and thus the live website can differ from the frozen annual tables.

*The change in adjusted Share accounts for the small annual variation in the total number of articles in Nature Index journals. Share values have been adjusted to 2022 levels to calculate the percentage change. For more information on the adjustment, please see the Adjusted metric explainer.