Wiley Fosters Research Excellence with Annual Polymer Science Award

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. announced today that two outstanding researchers have been selected as the recipients of the seventh annual “SPSJ Wiley Award", which Wiley organizes in conjunction with the Society of Polymer Science Japan (SPSJ).

The award announcement was made at the SPSJ Macromolecular Symposium in September, 2009, held at Kumamoto University. In attendance were the President and officers of SPSJ, as well as members of the press.

Masami Kamigaito from Nagoya University won the prize based on her paper, “Discovery and Development of Transition Metal-Catalyzed Living Radical Polymerization”. Ryo Yoshida from Tokyo University was the other award winner, for his work in the paper, “Development of Polymer Gels with Autonomous Responding Function”. The winners each received a cash prize and gave a lecture at the Symposium.

Sponsored by Wiley, the SPSJ-Wiley Award was first launched in 2002. Now into its seventh year, this award seeks to recognize and promote the development of creative and outstanding research in the field of polymer chemistry or physics. Aimed at chemists aged 45 years or younger, the award is given to two researchers each year, one each from the Chemistry and Physics areas of polymer science.

The award winners were nominated by the SPSJ Polymer Science Award Committee in June this year.

“Wiley is focused on adding value to materials research and continues to be an active supporter of the scientific community in Japan. The rigorous award criteria and high caliber of the SPSJ selection committee who serve as judges ensure that this year’s awardees are the best and the brightest in their fields,” said Dr. Peter Gregory, Wiley’s Publishing Director for Physics and Materials Science.

Professor Mitsuo Sawamoto, President of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan, added, “We are delighted that Wiley continues to support our efforts to foster that spirit of materials research excellence, and help further develop the quality and caliber of polymer scientists. This award reinforces and recognizes their significant contributions to the field of polymer science research."