Education and Research of Analytical Chemistry in Japanese Universities
Hiroshi Nakamura
President, the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry
Professor, Tokyo University of Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2641 Yamazaki, Noda-shi, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
e-mail: nakamura@rs.noda.tus.ac.jp
1. Education of analytical chemistry
(1) Undergraduate education of analytical chemistry, typical number of credit or class hours for analytical chemistry:
In Japan, education and research of analytical chemistry in universities and junior colleges have been mainly carried out in six major faculties; science, engineering, agriculture, pharmaceutical science, dentistry and medicine. Although fundamental analytical techniques such as absorptiometry and fluorometry have been taught in all disciplines, choice of advanced techniques has been dependent on the faculty. In general, analytical methods for metals and other inorganic compounds are major targets in faculties of science and engineering. On the other hand, biogenic substances are common analytes in faculties of life science. However, the actual circumstances are greatly different depending on the university and the faculty, so the case of Tokyo University of Science is shown as an example. The university has seven faculties and about 2.0 × 104 students. As to analytical chemistry class, 2~5 classes are imposed for graduation (1 class: 90 min × 15 weeks). In all cases, the number of analytical chemistry class is only one and the rest is instrumental analysis class. One laboratory course in analytical chemistry is essential and one laboratory course in instrumental analysis is also required depending on the department.
(2) Textbook used in analytical chemistry class and experiment. Language used in the class and the textbook:
Because analytical chemistry class and experiment are generally performed in Japanese, as in the cases of other courses, so many Japanese textbooks on analytical chemistry are currently available in almost every field.
2. Representative research works of analytical chemistry in Japanese universities
Many types of analytical research have been actively continued in Japan. For example, the papers presented at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry (JSAC) in 2008 (611 papers in total) are associated with bioanalysis (11.5%), environmental analysis(10.3%), analysis of metallic materials (10.0%), liquid chromatography (6.4%), extraction and ion exchange (5.9%), molecular spectral analysis (5.6%), atomic spectral analysis (5.2%), X-ray analysis (4.3%), analytical reagent (4.3%), microanalysis (4.1%), sensors (4.1%), electrochemical analysis (3.6%), mass spectrometry (3.6%), laser (2.9%), electrophoresis (2.9%), sampling & pretreatment (2.6%), forensic science (2.5%), gas chromatography (2.3%), flow injection analysis (2.1%), reference materials (2.0%), NMR (1.5%), elemental analysis (1.5%), organic polymers (1.1%) and analytical reactions (0.8%).
Almost all the faculty members and graduate students of analytical chemistry are belonging to JSAC. In many cases, the faculty JSAC members are also members of other societies such as the Chemical Society of Japan, the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan and Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. Therefore, the outcome of the research works may be subjected to their general journals and foreign professional journals such as Analytical Chemistry, Talanta and Anal. Chim. Acta as well as two academic journals issued by JSAC, Analytical Sciences, an international journal whose latest impact factor being 1.735 and Bunseki Kagaku, a domestic one written in Japanese.
3. Future prospect or plan for the analytical chemistry education/research systems of the universities
Needless to say, analytical chemistry or analytical science is a basis for all experimental sciences as well as a powerful frontier tool since it can provide them a novel methodology to give breakthrough. In this sense, analytical chemists should have their vocation and pride so that the analytical chemistry education/research should be carried out firmly on the line. In order to accelerate the development of analytical chemistry in Asian countries, JSAC proposed a construction of Asian Analytical Chemistry Network (AACN) in ASIANALYSIS X (August, 2009) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As a part of aid to strengthen AACN, I would like to propose an“Olympic Games in Analytical Chemistry in Asian Countries ”to encourage Asian students.
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Professor Hiroshi Nakamura
Present posts:
Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
President of The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry (JSAC)
President of Division of Liquid Chromatography, JSAC
President of The Society of Life and Environment (SOLE )
Academic background :
1968 Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
1970 Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
1974 Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
Occupational career:
1971 Research Assistant, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo
1973 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Tokyo
1974－76 Visiting Fellow, National Institutes of Health ( NIH )
1976 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Tokyo
1986 Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Tokyo
1994 Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
1996 Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science
1996 Trustee, Tokyo University of Science
2005 Director, Tokyo University of Science
Awards
・The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award for Younger Researchers, 1979
・The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award, 1998
Research interests:
Separation science ( LC, LC-MS, GC, GC-MS, SFC, SFE, CE )
DNA science (forensic science, human roots )
Environmental analysis
Screening of physiologically active substances