Every year, the "Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology", from the science ministry MEXT, recognizes individuals who have produced outstanding results in research, development, and promotion of public understanding of science and technology.
This year's awardees were announced on 10 April, and included seven KyotoU-affiliated researchers, three selected for the Prize for Science and Technology, and four for the Young Scientists' Prize.
The award ceremony took place Tuesday 17 April at MEXT.
Prize for Science and Technology
Research Category
Awarded to those who have produced highly creative achievements or inventions with the potential to advance Japan's science and technology
- Kazunari Akiyoshi, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
"Creation of nanogel-based materials and research on their biotechnological applications" - Fusao Oka, Professor Emeritus
"Research on constitutive equations for soils' elasto-viscoplasticity and simulations of localized deformation" - Takeo Kawabara, Professor, Institute for Chemical Research
"Research on asymmetric induction via memory of chirality"
Young Scientists' Prize
Awarded to researchers under 40, who have produced outstanding results as part of exploratory or innovative projects, demonstrating strong research and development capabilities
- Kentaro Kaneko, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
"Exploration of novel functions of metallic oxides in the metastable phase" - Jun Shimokawa, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Science
"Studies on comprehensive synthesis of natural products via pluripotent intermediate" - Toshiaki Matsui, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
"Studies on electrochemical energy conversion materials for hydrogen carriers" - Shunsuke Murai, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
"Studies on creation of next-generation light sources with plasmonic structures"
