Introduction

Schedule: October 12-14, 2013
Venue: Niigata University, Ikarashi Campus
Host: Niigata University, Japan

The International Congress on Natural Sciences (ICNS) was initiated by Prof. Tae Hwa Kim (Dean, College of Natural Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan, Korea), Prof. Morimitsu Tanimoto (Former Dean, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan) and Prof. Wen-Chun Hong (Dean, College of Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan) to establish a forum for the exchange of academic resources among sisterhood universities. The first ICNS was held in Pukyong National University on August 25, 2011 (as named ICNS2011). The ICNS2011 offered five sessions (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science) for more than 80 participants to share their research achievement and scientific information.

The second ICNS was held in Kaosiung on October 23, 2012. A total of 145 participants attended this congress and 117 presentations, including 6 plenary lectures were delivered.

The international organizing committee of ICNS2012 decided that Niigata University, Japan to host ICNS in 2013. Prof. Kudo (Dean, Faculty of Science, Niigata University) accepted the obligation and coordinated to form the International Organizing Committee for ICNS-2013, with the following members.

The International Organizing Committee has decided to continue the tradition of ICNS to offer five parallel sessions (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science) for participants. We wish that the participants will have opportunities to share their experience and friendship with each other during the ICNS-2013. We also hope that participating universities can establish a stronger international relationship to promote a better academic cooperation in the near future. We do wish that the tradition of ICNS will be continued to strengthen the comprehensive relationship among the sisterhood universities, and the forum of ICNS will be held annually to link the international cooperation relationship between the participating groups.