Susumu Kitagawa receives Marco Polo Prize
April 3, 2015
On April 1, Susumu Kitagawa, director of Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), received the Marco Polo della Scienza Italiana (Marco Polo Prize for Italian Science) and delivered an award lecture at the symposium "Italy meets Asia 2015: Scientific Venue in Kyoto 2015" held in Kyoto.
This prize was established by the Italian government in 2011 to recognize researchers for their outstanding contributions to scientific and technological collaboration between Italy and Japan in the nanotechnology field. iCeMS Adjunct Professor Hiroshi Kitagawa received this prize in 2013; this year, Susumu Kitagawa and two Italian researchers are awarded.
Participants of the ceremony included academics from the nano-sciences, and prominent figures leading the research and development of nanotechnology. At the award lecture, Susumu Kitagawa explained his research on functional metal organic frameworks, the usefulness of porous materials in handling gas molecules and its interesting potential applications. Shinya Yamanaka, iCeMS Principal Investigator and director of Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, also delivered a speech at the plenary session.
Since 2011, the symposium series "Italy meets Asia", sponsored by the 
Embassy of Italy in Tokyo, the Consulate General of Italy in Osaka and other Italian institutions, has been held in Kyoto every year with the aim to accelerate development and collaboration of scientific technology between Italy and Japan. This year is the 50th anniversary since Kyoto established a sister city relationship with Firenze. Even more cultural and scientific exchange will be expected between the two countries.
Photos
Kitagawa delivering the award lecture
Kitagawa (right) receiving a plaque from Daisaku Kadokawa, Mayor of Kyoto
From left; Daisaku Kadokawa (Mayor of Kyoto), Fulvio Parmigiani (Professor at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste), Maurizio Fermeglia (Professor at University of Trieste), Susumu Kitagawa, Marco Lombardi (Consulate General of Italy in Osaka)
Group photo of the participants