The 8th APT (Asian Particle Technology Symposium) 2021 was held at Grand Front Osaka from Monday, October 11th to Thursday, October 14th, 2021. This APT was launched mainly by the Japanese Society of Powder Technology, Japan in order to promote the development of the powder technology in Asia and the exchange of researchers in this field. The first meeting was held in December 2000 in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It has been held about once every three years, but this is the first time it is held in Japan. The Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation supported this symposium as part of its grant projects of the fiscal year 2021.
In the opening remarks on the first day, Professor Satoru Watano, Osaka Prefecture University, the chairperson of the symposium, reported that the venue of this symposium had to be changed just before holing it due to the sudden official decision to use the reserved facility for the vaccination to control the COVID pandemic. He explained about the situation which required to take the style of hybrid conference using both face-to-face and online communication. He announced that despite such strict conditions, there were more than 300 presentations and more than 400 applications for participation from home and abroad. The symposium began with the plenary lecture by Professor Makio Naito of Osaka University. At the symposium, the lectures and research presentations were given for four days using five hall/rooms, until after 6 o’clock in the evening on the longest day, and there was also a live question-and-answer session with active discussions.
At this symposium, the “Young KONA Award” was set for young researchers under the age of 40 as part of the 30th anniversary specific projects of the Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation. About 40 presentations applied for this award, which were reviewed on the second day. From these applicants, six researchers were selected as the awardees. The whole process concerning this award was managed by the Organizing Committee of this symposium, from application reception to screening and awarding, under the auspices of the Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation. Then, before the closing on the 14th, the final day, there was an award ceremony in the main hall of the venue. President Yoshio Hosokawa handed each award winner a letter of presentation and a supplementary prize.
In the closing remarks, the Chairperson Professor Watano reported that most of the research presentations were made as scheduled and it was a great success. Although it was difficult for researchers overseas to attend face-to-face meeting, they could join the symposium virtually. It was then announced that the next symposium would be held in Brisbane, Australia in three years, and the next chairpersons sent online invitation messages.
The venue for the symposium, Grand Front Osaka. The conference room was on the second basement floor.
Lecture scene, opening remarks being given by Chairperson Prof. Watano.
Young KONA Award presentation ceremony. President of Hosokawa Powder Technology Foundation, Mr. Hosokawa (center left in the photo), Symposium Chairperson, Prof. Watano (center right in the photo) and six winners.
