Words from the Chairperson
Toshihiro KASUGA (Nagoya Institute of Technology, Professor)
I have been appointed as the 15th President at the General Meeting held on September 29, 2022, succeeding Professor Hirokazu Nakayama of Kobe Pharmaceutical University. I will work under the new organization as shown in the list of officers.
Professor Kazuaki Hashimoto of Chiba Institute of Technology and Mr. Hidetoshi Sato of Shimonoseki Mitsui Chemicals have been appointed as Vice Presidents. Professor Nakayama will continue to assist us in the management of the society as an Executive Director. I would also be happy to receive various opinions from Honorary President, Professor Kimihiro Yamashita, and the advisory board members.
This year 2022 marks the 36th anniversary of the establishment of the Japanese Association of Inorganic Phosphorus Chemistry (JAIPC), and a wide range of academic and technological topics related to inorganic phosphorus chemistry have been discussed so far. Recently, there may seem to be an emphasis on the development of functional materials, and this would not be possible without fundamental studies. I believe that the studies on inorganic phosphorus chemistry being discussed in JAIPC are promoted in line with the current trends. I believe that JAIPC plays a platform role to create and develop functions of biomaterials, battery materials, catalysts, structural materials, environmental materials, living materials, and so on, based on inorganic phosphorus chemistry.
JAIPC is a small society, but I believe that we can/should take advantage of this flexibility in our activities. The main activities of this society are the publication of “PHOSPHORUS LETTER” (PL) and the international journal “Phosphorus Research Bulletin” (PRB), and the organization of the Annual Symposium on Inorganic Phosphorus Chemistry. I believe that it is an important responsibility of this society to make good use of these activities, especially in fostering young researchers who will lead the next generation and in promoting collaboration between industry, government, and academia. I also believe that this society’s role is to create opportunities for individual members to interact and trigger new collaboration on inorganic phosphorus chemistry. Online meetings and discussions are very convenient and helpful, but I still believe that face-to-face discussions would generate new ideas. As the COVID-19 measures are gradually being eased, the International Symposium on Inorganic Phosphate Materials (ISIPM), which has been postponed, is being prepared to be held in a face-to-face meeting.
We would like to make a small contribution to the activities of JAIPC. I sincerely welcome the frank comments and remarks about our scientific activities at JAIPC.