The 2009 "Millennium Science Forum" organized by Oxford Instruments was held at the British Embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday 11th November 2009.
The Millennium Science Forum was established in 1998 to promote scientific exchange between the UK and Japan and award prizes to young researcher from a Japanese University or research institute who have performed outstanding research in the area of condensed matter science. The prize is named after Sir Martin Wood, Founder and Honorary President of Oxford Instruments plc.
Previous winners of the Sir Martin Wood Prize include Dr Yasunobu Nakamura of NEC Corporation, Dr Tokushi Kizuka, Nagoya University, Dr Katsuya Shimizu, Osaka University, Dr Keiya Shirahama, Keio University, Dr.Ichiro Terasaki, Waseda University, Dr Toshimasa Fujisawa, from NTT basic research laboratories, Dr Yuzo Ohno, Tohoku University, Dr Tsuyoshi Kimura, Osaka University , Dr Kazutomo Suenaga, AIST, Dr Akira Ohtomo, Tohoku University, Dr Teruo Ono, Kyoto University and Dr Eiji Saitoh, Tohoku University.
Professor Hidetoshi Fukuyama from Tokyo University of Science chairs the Sir Martin Wood prize selection committee and 7 senior Professors from Japanese Universities sit on the committee.
The Sir Martin Wood Prize winner receives 500,000 Yen in cash and the opportunity to give a series of lectures in UK Universities.
The winner of the 2009 "Sir Martin Wood Prize" is Dr Yousoo Kim from The surface Chemistry Laboratory in RIKEN.
Dr Kim was awarded the prize for the study of local electronic structure and electron-stimulated reaction of a single molecule at surface and following the prize ceremony at the Millennium Science Forum, Dr Kim will give a lecture on his research.
The guest speakers at the Millennium Science Forum were Professor Stephen Holloway, Executive Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Liverpool and Professor Sukekatsu Ushioda, President, National Institute for Material Science (NIMS)