Minutes of the FAPS Council Meeting
- September 14th, 2023 İstanbul, Türkiye
1. Opening Remarks and Greetings :
The council meeting was chaired by Prof. Ayse Zehra Aroguz, on September 14th, 2023 at 12:05 PM. The following Council Members of the Federation of Asian Polymer Societies (FAPS) attended the meeting.
- Professor Hiroyuki Nishide (Japan).
- Professor Takashi Kato (Japan).
- Professor S. Ramakrishnan (India).
- Professor S. Sivaram (India).
- Professor Yury Shchipunov (Russia).
- Professor Ayse Zehra Aroguz (Türkiye).
- Professor Xiao Hu Matthew (Singapore).
- Professor Anil Kumar (India).
- Professor Ying-Ling Liu (Taiwan).
- Assoc.Prof. Nanthiya Hansupalak (Thailand).
- Professor Zi-Chen Li (China) attended the meeting via zoom link.
2. Discussion Topics :
Prof. Ayse Z. Aroguz summarized the 8th FAPS Polymer Congress and shared various pictures and videos taken during the event. General information about IUPAC was also provided in the opening speeches of the congress. Prof. Nishide also mentioned that the presenting IUPAC is necessary during the opening ceremony to raise awareness among participants. He also pointed out that we need to make an effort to have gender neutrality among speakers and participants. Prof. Aroguz explained that IUPAC also desires an equal distribution of male and female speakers.
She also pointed out that she reached out to many more members from various countries; however, some members couldn’t attend due to various reasons. She mentioned that the effort made to schedule the congress dates without overlapping with other important meetings and international congresses.
During the opening ceremony, the importance and the history of the FAPS were explained by Prof. Nishide.
Prof. Aroguz emphasized the need to update FAPS's website. She suggested providing a link, especially after the FAPS page should be updated during the congress organization. Every member found this suggestion necessary. The members agreed that an active FAPS website is needed, containing historical details about FAPS and all its activities. Prof. Anil Kumar from India volunteered to create the website and populate it with the help of members once the site is ready.
The congress includes nearly 30 plenary and invited lectures. Oral and poster presentations from 15 different countries also contributed to the 8th FAPS congress.
The next FAPS Council Meeting is planned to be held online in 2024 in İstanbul,Türkiye. Prof. Sivaram pointed out that Prof. Aroguz should complete the membership formalities of ACS and pay the membership fee.
It was also decided that the next FAPS Congress (9th International FAPS congress) will be held in Singapore in 2025. Professor Xiao Hu Matthew from Singapore presented the progress of the 9th FAPS Polymer Congress, during the opening ceremony.
Some members felt that the midyear council meeting can be held online, as it becomes difficult for many to travel to Türkiye again for a one day meeting. Prof. Aroguz was requested to explore the possibility of conducting the midyear meeting (in 2024) can be conducted either hybrid or fully online.
Prof. Mathew Hu informed the council that he will host the next FAPS meeting to be held in 2025 and take care of the FAPS activities in 2025 and 2026.
It was mentioned that Indonesia and Thailand had expressed their interest in hosting the FAPS 2027 meeting. Since there was no representation from their respective societies, the council could not take a decision yet. Prof. Z Chen Li from China informed that if required, he will host the FAPS 2027 meeting.
Prof. Sivaram the current representative of India, explained the history of FAPS and activities of SPSI in brief. He also, informed the council that he will be retiring and he will no longer be the council members SPS. India will be represented by Prof. S Ramakrishnan (Past president) and Prof. Anil Kumar (Current President).
The council recorded and expressed their gratitude for the service provided by Prof. Sivaram towards the growth of FAPS since 2011.
Prof. Ramakrishnan put on record the council's appreciation for the excellent organization of FAPS 2023 by Prof. Aroguz and her team.
The council meeting concluded with well-wishes.
