CROSS LABORATORY 

The laboratory receives funding from Science Tokyo to support Prof. Cross's teaching and research activity.  Lab members  regularly apply for research grants from JST, JSPS, NEDO and NATO as well as from other sources. In 2020, the lab received a Japan Society for the Promotion Science (JSPS) ¥8,580,000, 5 year basic research grant to conduct research on developing and testing a Personalized Online Adaptive Learning System, grant # 20H01719. ​ POALS is a web-based learning management system (LMS) that can be adapted to popular LMS such as open edX, and Moodle. It helps learners succeed in an online learning environment by training them metacognitive skills in order to be autonomous learners. We introduce adaptive learning to personalize the learning experience. The systems supports the instructor by utilzing an analytics dashboard that gives implicit feedback about the students leaning progress so the instructor can provide interventions, if necessary.  

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In 2025, the lab began conducting research in flow batteries with Japanese companies, universities in Japan and Greece. The lab was awarded a research grant from NATO's Security and Peace program for 3 years from May 2025 - May 2028. Further information will be made available after the project kicks off. 

 

In 2025, Dr. Sasipa received a 3-year grant from the Japan Science and Technology Agency to dry digest waste materials to produce biogas from April 2025 - March 2028. The project is a research collaboration with South Africa and Mozambique. Anaerobic digestion (AD), a process in which microorganisms convert organic waste into value-added products such as biogas and soil ameliorant, offers the advantage of simultaneously achieving waste management and renewable energy generation. Dry anaerobic digestion (dry AD) has benefits such as smaller reactor volume as well as less energy requirement for heating and mixing compared to conventional wet anaerobic digestion (wet AD). Check more detail here.

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External funding from donations or joint corporate research collaborations are welcome on research topics related to on-going laboratory that impact the environment, improve online education, renewable energy policy and biofuels R&D.  Donations earmarked to the Cross lab are welcome and can be made to the Tokyo Tech School of Environment and Society via the online donation form.