Tateo Usui

Short Bio:

Tateo Usui was born in 1946. He graduated from Osaka University in 1969, and from Graduate School of Engineering in 1974 and got the degree of Doctor of Engineering. He worked at Osaka University from 1974 until 2010 as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor. He worked at Fukui University of Technology from 2010 until 2012 as Full Professor. From 2012 till 2017, the title of Guest Professor in Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University was given to Prof. Usui. He started his third career as Visiting Professor, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil, from 2013 until now. Over the span of 55 years, his research activities focused primarily on Ironmaking including reduction behavior and kinetic analyses of iron ore agglomerates (pellets and sinter), pre-reduction behavior of iron oxide pellets with coal carbonization gas for an Iron Bath Smelting Reduction Process and rate enhancement by using semi-char and semi-charcoal for carbon composite pellets; as well as experimental and thermodynamical or kinetic studies on environmental problems (CO2 and Dioxin emissions), on refining of steel, on elimination of tramp elements from used steel, and on reduction of hydrocarbon volume in carburizing process of solid steel. Prof. Usui was granted numerous prestigious awards for his outstanding research and academic activities such as Prize of JSME from JSME (The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers) in 1977; Nishiyama Commemorative Prize (Scientific Achievement Commemorative Prize) from ISIJ (The Iron and Steel Institute of Japan) in 1986; Gakujutsu Kouseki Prize (Scientific Achievement Merit Prize) from ISIJ in 2006, Tanigawa – Harris Prize from JIM (The Japan Institute of Metals) in 2011; Yamaoka Prize (Joint Research Prize for distinguished Group Research Activities) from ISIJ, 6 times, in 1986, 1993, 1995, 2003, and 2013 as a member and in 2007 as the chairman; Nishiyama Medal (Academic Prize) from ISIJ and Fray International Sustainability Award from FLOGEN Star OUTREACH in March and October, 2019, respectively. Most recently, Prof. Usui received the Iron and Steel Merit Award from ISIJ on “Fundamental Studies on Ironmaking and Steel Processing in Consideration of Resources and Environment” in March, 2020, and also won the "Special Service Award" from Japan Society for Research Policy and Innovation Management, Japan in October, 2020. In addition, he has held distinguished Chairman positions leading the research group in ISIJ on Iron Ore Sintering Process for Limonite Ore, and heading the organizing and steering committees of international conferences such as 4th ICSTI (International Conference of Science and Technology on Ironmaking) in 2006 and ISISD (International Symposium on Ironmaking for Sustainable Development) in 2010. Currently, he is a Steering Committee Member for an Ironmaking Forum of High Temperature Process Division in ISIJ, just now from April 2022 acts as Chairman for working group on outstanding Biomass Usage in ironmaking for Carbon Neutral, and an Advisory Board Member for “The Research and Development of Ironmaking Process Using Ferro-coke,” NEDO, Japan, which was finished in March, 2023. On July 11, 2023, he was appointed as the chairman for 9th International Symposium on Advanced Sustainable Iron & Steel Making in SIPS2023 (Assis International Symposium).