The Origin and Prospects of the Department
Our department was reorganized in 1999 to become the present form by fusing the former "the Department of Organic & Polymeric Materials" based on materials science and engineering and "the Department of Polymer chemistry" based on applied and industrial chemistry.
The groups for education and reserch of the department are organized to bring up students to be creative researchers and engineers.and to explore the essential nature of organic and polymeric materials, such as their reactions, structures, properties, functionalities and processing. In addition, we shall contribute to social progress through a wide range of applications of these materials.
From the period of the Hellenic Republic and Roman Empire, life of people and industries that are the foundation of civilization cannot exist without various kinds of materials. Organic and macromolecular substances occupy an important position near at hand, in particular, in Japan and Asia that have "the culture of tree & paper" in contrast to "the culture of stones" in Europe.
In the present society, it is almost impossible to find what is not from organic or macromolecular substances. Of course, our body itself is exactly an advanced organism of many organic and macromolecular substances. Such familiar substances had not been recognized as "macro"molecules or very big molecules until 70 years ago. Until then, we utilize them as useful and versatile materials without the regognition what they are. However, after the Second World War, the development of organic materials and polymer sciences is amazing.
The department has been producing a large number of high fruits of reserach and excellent talented scientists and engineers over 40 years or more as a center of "organic and macromolecular research in Japan and the world" (a center of excelence). Now, we are going forward on education and personnel training with maintaining high research activity.
Panthlet of Our Department 2005
[2.3MB]