Commemorative Lecture by Professor Emeritus SHIRAKAWA Hideki - The 151st+50th Anniversary of the University of Tsukuba -

A commemorative ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the University of Tsukuba was held at the Tsukuba International Congress Center on September 30.
Professor Emeritus SHIRAKAWA Hideki, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, gave a commemorative lecture titled "My Research and Tsukuba: Tokyo Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Tsukuba."

During the Q&A session that followed, one of the participating students asked him about the appeal and thrill of science, to which he replied,

"I was attracted by the fact that when one substance is transformed into another, its properties change completely. However, the fact that the versatility of plastic has led to mass consumption, which in turn has created various harmful effects, should be reflected upon and is an issue for future studies."

When asked about his memories of living abroad, he replied,

"I had a hard time with speaking English but actively tried to get used to it. The research environment was comfortable, and human relations were smooth."

He gave encouragement to the students who have a bright future.