The 114th Institute for Chemical Research Annual Symposium held (12 December 2014)

The 114th Institute for Chemical Research (ICR) Annual Symposium was held at the main venue of Kihada Hall, Uji Obaku Plaza, on 12 December 2014.

The morning program included the following presentations: "Precision design and application of polymer-brush-afforded hybrid particles" by Associate Professor Kohji Ohno, "Synthetic molecules that protect cells from anoikis and their use in cell transplantation" by Ms Heidie L Frisco-Cabanos, a researcher at the ICR, "Structural analysis of polymer surfaces and interfaces with synchrotron radiation grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (SR-GISAXS)" by Assistant Professor Hiroki Ogawa, and "A new experimental method to determine the electron affinity of organic semiconductors and its application to organic electronics" by Assistant Professor Hiroyuki Yoshida.

In the afternoon, an award ceremony for the ICR Award for Young Scientists and ICR Award for Graduate Students was held and lectures were delivered by four of the awardees. The ICR Award for Young Scientists was awarded to Assistant Professor Eiichi Kayahara and Mr David Tex, a researcher at the ICR. The ICR Award for Graduate Students was awarded to Mr Koichi Nagata, a second-year student in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Science, Mr Ahmed Mohmed Mohamed, a third-year student in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Mr Hidetaka Nishimura, a second-year student in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Engineering. Mr Nishimura was absent from the ceremony due to a lecture he was required to attend.

In the Hybrid Space at Uji Obaku Plaza, there were 69 poster presentations, and briefings were given on the following six research projects selected as ICR Grants for Promoting Integrated Research for FY2013: "Spectroscopic detection of chiral molecules of theoretical existence" (Assistant Professor Tomoyuki Yoshimura), "Development of the synthetic method for precise control of primary structures of π-conjugated polymers via direct arylation polymerization: combination of experimental and theoretical approaches" (Assistant Professor Masayuki Wakioka), "Investigation of photocarrier dynamics in perovskite-based solar cells" (Mr Quang Phuong Le, a researcher at the ICR), "Dielectric screening effects on the optical properties of nanomaterials" (Program-Specific Associate Professor Yasuhiro Yamada), "Strategic synthesis of high-performance core-shell structured catalytic nanoparticles with low Pt loading" (Dr Ryota Sato, Assistant Professor of ICR) , and "Synthesis and applications of non-innocent PNP-pincer type phosphaalkene ligands" (Assistant Professor Katsuhiko Takeuchi). Lively discussions and questions-and-answers ensued after each presentation.

The 114th ICR Annual Symposium highlighted a wide range of achievements related to cutting-edge research projects in an accessible manner, with a total of 170 people in attendance. Participants included not only students and researchers at the ICR but also specialists from other organizations and members of the general public. The poster presentation also attracted a large number of people and the event wrapped up on a high note.

A large number of staff and graduate students also participated in a social gathering held in the Hybrid Space at Uji Obaku Plaza after the symposium.

Related link

• The Institute for Chemical Research
  http://www.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index_J.html
  http://www.kuicr.kyoto-u.ac.jp/announce/2014/news_141212.html [in Japanese]