Integrating Science, Culture in Osaka

Posted: October 30, 2006

The International Federation of the Societies of Cosmetic Chemists (IFSCC) not only integrated cosmetic sciences at the 24th IFSCC Congress held Oct. 16-19, 2006, in Osaka, Japan, but also united nearly 2,000 delegates of different cultures from around the globe.

This year’s congress theme: “Integration of Cosmetics-related Sciences and Technologies,” reflected the belief that the value of cosmetics in the 21st century cannot be discussed solely in terms of academic knowledge, technology or sensibility. According to Yoshimaru Kumano, PhD, president of the SCC of Japan, steering committee chairman of the 24th IFSCC Congress, and incoming IFSCC president, “It is our mission to recognize and to maximize the new value of cosmetics by integrating all the relevant scientific and technological disciplines.” This year’s congress did just that.

Opening Ceremonies: The opening ceremony and welcome reception was officially opened by Kumano, who briefly addressed delegates with the hope that this year’s congress would help to integrate and create new values. Following Kumano, Gianfranco Secchi, immediate past president of the IFSCC, welcomed attendees, expressing his wish: “that this three-day conference will be very busy with not only scientific hearing but an exchange with colleagues of scientific ideas, interests and research.”

Additional opening remarks were presented by local government officials including a special appearance by Japan’s Imperial Highness, Princess Takamado, who congratulated the society for the advancements made in cosmetics over the years and commented, “We ask a lot of our cosmetics, increasingly blurring the borders between sciences and medicine.”