Japanese chemical society elects first female president

‘I feel very honoured to be selected,’ says surface chemist Maki Kawai about her appointment as president of the Chemical Society of Japan (CSJ). Starting her two-year term on 23 May, Kawai is the society’s first female president since it was founded in 1878. During her presidency, Kawai will focus on the society’s international and interdisciplinary work.

When Kawai was nominated she recalls that ‘I was just about to retire my professorship with the University of Tokyo and was thinking of working more for the chemical community. I wasn’t seriously thinking about what to do in that moment, but I started to consider the role of the president and the CSJ when I became the final candidate.’