20 October 2016 saw the conferment of the Jagiellonian University honorary doctorate upon Professor Yukihiro Ozaki. The title was awarded in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the development of broadly understood molecular spectroscopy. It was also a way to acknowledge his special affection for Kraków and the Jagiellonian University.
During the ceremony, the Rector of the Jagiellonian University Prof. Wojciech Nowak recounted the accomplishments of the Japanese scientist: outstanding achievements in the field of molecular spectroscopy, pioneering research on the development of modern spectroscopy methods, such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering , imaging methods using infrared radiation, spectrometry in the area of the far ultraviolet, chemometrics and spectral analysis as well as theoretical studies on hydrogen bonding spectra and the possibility of using these studies in chemistry, biology and material engineering. The Rector also pointed to Prof. Ozaki’s long-term cooperation with the community of Polish chemists working in the field of molecular spectroscopy and his contribution to the development of this field of study at the Jagiellonian University through joint research projects and scientific publications as well as research stays.
In the laudatory speech, Prof. Marek Wójcik from the JU Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry presented the academic career, achievements and merits of Prof. Yukihiro Ozaki, with special focus on his over 30-year-long fruitful collaboration with the JU Faculty of Chemistry.
In his address, Prof. Ozaki said that he was very honoured and pleased to receive the honorary title from the Jagiellonian University. He also expressed his gratitude to the JU Rector and all people present at the ceremony, which, he said, he would never forget.
Prof. Yukihiro Ozaki was born in Sakai, Osaka in 1949. He graduated from Osaka University in 1973 with a BSc degree in chemistry. He also obtained MSc (1975) and PhD (1978) degrees from the same university. Since 1993, he has been a professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Technology at the Kwansei Gakun University. Currently he is a Vice-President of this university.
He is a world class expert in the field of molecular spectroscopy, who has greatly contributed to the development of research and education in this discipline. For his achievements, he has received numerous awards from research and higher education institutions from all over the world. He has published 771 original publications and 38 review articles, and co-authored 18 patents. His publications appeared in eminent scientific journals, including the Journal of Physical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry. Prof. Ozaki also co-authored 8 books on the fundamental issues of molecular spectroscopy.
