Welcome to the IXAS world !

Aug. 19, 2009

Hello everyone! Welcome to the IXAS community.

It is my greatest pleasure to serve as a chair of the IXAS for the whole community. I expect a wide readership for our community, from an end user who is starting up x-ray absorption experiments to a fully dedicated experts working at synchrotron radiation facilities. As technology progressed becoming state-of-the-art, one has to spend long time to get used to instruments while it is getting more and more difficult to get updated. The IXAS has started as a mother body of international conference on x-ray absorption fine structure so that the related researchers have fair opportunities to have conferences geographically and scientifically. All previous conferences were successful, demonstrating the needs to "get together" to discuss the core science of this field, get acquitted with experts, directly talk to them, hear the lectures and get the updated information. Nowadays, due to the electronic publishing of major scientific journals, the information exchange has rapidly progressed. However, there is still a great need to provide complementary information to a scientific community which can not be realized by conventional journals and I believe that the IXAS will play even more important role in information exchange of our scientific activities.

Although in the beginning, our community was strongly influenced by the “core” science researchers but as a result of rapid progress in light sources, monitoring techniques and theoretical understanding, the wall between the fundamental and application has quickly faded. Indeed quite many researchers have been "exported" and "imported" from other fields of applications. I understand that now we strongly need a forum to provide "knowledge" that may beak through one's research problems without spending too much time and cost.

The IXAS is planning various measures to promote their regional and international activities that are expected to contribute to the development of individual researcher skills and knowledge in the field of x-ray absorption spectroscopy and related phenomena. The IXAS future plans for the period of 2009-2011 are summarized below.

Securing sufficient budget: Fund raising activities are to be conducted regionally and internationally and will include scientific grants from governments and private corporations to operate our programs. Donations from private companies not within the definition of a non-profit corporation are accepted to sustain the fundamental activities. The IXAS formed IXAS Supporting Corporations consisting of six private companies closely working in the research fields of our concern. In 2009, total $1, 500 was donated by this forum. We are also working in funding from the government to secure the future budget.

Strengthening of ties with other organizations: The current number of registered members (700) underestimates the number of active researchers evaluated by the number of proposals and researchers at synchrotron radiation facilities. I expect that the number of registered members would increase to around 1,000, providing increasing benefits and providing information to inspire voluntary registrations. Educational and training seminars will greatly contribute to expanding individual researcher's knowledge and expertise. The IXAS can find relevant experts for those meetings on a regional and international basis. The IXAS will act as backup or a supporting organization for domestic and/or international scientific meetings, giving advice in the field of x-ray absorption and related phenomena. We plan to provide scientific advice through the website.

I would like you to visit the IXAS Portal and get updated information. It is my pleasure to have opportunity to contribute to the whole community.
Sir Francis Bacon’s phrase "scientia potentia est" is interpreted as "Knowledge is Power". I hope that we will provide knowledge that can be converted power by you.

Representing the executive committee,

Editor in Chief
Hiroyuki Oyanagi

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