ICOMC23 (International Conference of Organometallic Chemistry): Visits to Germany and France (Göttingen-Jena-Rennes-Toulouse; July 6-25, 2008)

Prof. Akita visited Germany and France for three weeks. He was invited to the 23rd International Conference of Organometallic Chemistry (ICOMC23; July 13-18; Rennes; organized by Profs. Dixneuf and Bruneau) as an invited speaker. He met a lot of colleagues there. Before the conference he visited Göttingen (Prof. Franc Meyer) and Jena (Prof. Sven Rau), and after the conference he visited Prof. Jean-Pierre Launay (Tolouse). He visited Göttingen and Jena for the first time, and he has been to Rennes and Toulouse four and two times, respectively, including the present visits. It has been determined that the 26th conference (2014) will be held in Sapporo, Japan (chairman: Prof. Takahashi). Prof. Akita will be a secretary of the conference and will be resposible for the satellite symposium in Tokyo area. We welcome evrybody who is interested in organometallic chemistry and Japan.

Prof. Akita has found that the sunset in Europe in summer is so late (〜10 pm) that European people are good at enjoying evening life (dinner, talking etc.).

1. Prof. Meyer / Göttingen

lecture (01); Prof. Franc Meyer (young and very talented full professor 02), Prof. Sheldrick (SHELEX... 03), Wöhler's statue (04), the former chemistry building with the name plates for Profs. Gmelin etc.(05)

2. Prof. Rau / Jena

lecture (01); with Prof. Rau (another young talented professor) in front of the Prof. Hein's statue (02), from the station Paradies?? (03)

3. Köthen-Halle-Leipzig (as a tourist): the places related to his favorite composers, Bach and Handel

Köthen (01), Halle (Handelhaus, statue etc. 02), Leipzig (2nd visit since 2000; St. Thomas 03, 04; Opera & Gewandhaus 05); The train passed through Mühlhausen-Erfurt-Weimar-Weissenfels-Halle-Köthen-Leipzig... impressive trip (06).

4. ICOMC23 (Rennes; Organized by Profs. Dixneuf and Bruneau)

lecture (title, lecture, medal) ; sea fruit at a restaurant (02), with Prof. & Mrs. Grubbs and Dr. Koike (research associte of Akita's group; a former postdoc of Prof. Grubbs; 03), St. Malo (04), conference banquet (Profs. Braunstein & Gladysz 05, Profs. Claver, Oro, Collins & Marder 06, Profs. Gladysz, Lavigne & Claver 07, Profs. Dixneuf & Bruneau 08)

5. Nantes-Tours (as a tourist)

Nantes: castle (01, 02), Jules Verne museum (03, 04), passage (05)

Tours: castle (01), Loire river (02)

6. Prof. Launay / Toulouse

lecture (01); with Prof. Launay in front of the dome for the electron microscope, a monument? (02), capitol square (03), cathedral (04), Garonne river (05, 06), Midi canal (07), cassoulet / local food (08), Sushiyaki (Sukiyaki + Sushi ?! 09)

7. Carcassonne-Castre (as a tourist)

Carcassonne (01, 02), Castre (Goya museum 03)