Fourth International Workshop for Far East Asian Young Rheologists Held

January 21 – 23, 2009

The 4th International Workshop for Far East Asian Young Rheologists (IWFEAYR-4) was held jointly by the Institute for Chemical Research of Kyoto University and three of the Institute’s international academic exchange agreement partners: the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Engineering of Suranaree University of Technology (Thailand), the Advanced Rheology Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China) and the Brain Korea 21 in Chemical Engineering of Seoul National University (Korea.) The Workshop was held from January 21 to 23, 2009 at Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Held annually, the Workshop strives to enhance international cooperation and exchange efforts for young researchers who will lead the material science and rheology research field in the near future (especially in Asia), and seeks to promote the field. The 4th Workshop, held this year, drew more than 100 participants (including 25 Japanese) from various countries, such as Korea, China, Thailand, Myanmar and the U.S. Most of the 100 participants were graduate school students, who enjoyed interactions in a casual atmosphere through research presentations, discussions and a party. The Workshop has thus far provided many opportunities for faculty staff and graduate school students of the Institute’s overseas partner organizations to study at the Institute itself, which is one of the Workshop’s excellent outcomes.

The 5th IWFEAYR will be held in Korea in 2010.