On June 2, the selection committee for the FY 2018 Education Award by the Zoological Society of Japan met in Tokyo and selected Associate Professor Hiroshi Fukuda of the Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science as the award winner. This award is annually presented to an individual or group who has greatly helped familiarize the public with zoology.

Associate Professor Fukuda has made enormous achievements in taxonomic studies of molluscs (e.g., he described new species, such as Turbo sazae in 2017 and Satsuma akiratadai in 2015), and in the international dissemination of the niku-nuki technique of removing the soft parts from the shells of molluscs for specimen preparation. As a member of various committees organized by the Ministry of the Environment and other organizations, he has edited the Red Data Books, estimated rare and threatened species, and conducted environmental conservation actions. His diversified contributions to zootaxonomy and biodiversity conservation helped him win the award.