Prof. Dr. Ken-ichi Takao
The Fujiwara Institute of Technology was founded in 1939. The Department of Applied Chemistry
is one of the oldest departments established at that time. The Fujiwara Institute of Technology became Keio University’s
Faculty of Engineering in 1944, which was reorganized into the Faculty of Science and Technology in 1981. Our department has
more than 100 students per academic year and has graduated more than 8,000 students to date. As such, it is an environment
where you can meet many people. You can deepen your interactions with your classmates, as well as with your seniors and juniors,
and we believe you will be able to find irreplaceable friends.
In our department, students can learn the fundamentals of a wide range of areas of chemistry, including
physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, materials chemistry, electrochemistry, environmental chemistry, chemical engineering, analytical chemistry,
organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biochemistry, and acquire knowledge and skills related to their application. In the fourth year,
students are divided into 15 laboratories and spend a year working on their bachelor's thesis research, deepening their
understanding of their area of specialization. In this way, our department emphasizes both the “fundamentals” and the “applications” of chemistry,
and while we offer courses in a “broad range of areas”, we ultimately aim to cultivate “deep expertise” in our teaching and research.
Our department has the following four distinctive research fields.
Materials
design
Environment / Analysis / Chemical Engineering
Organic
science
Bioscience
In each laboratory, faculty and students are enthusiastically engaged in research that they find
“interesting” in their respective fields. Please also have a look at the pages introducing
the research areas. In addition, our department offers a flexible curriculum that allows you to freely choose
your course subjects without being limited to these areas. Again, you can acquire knowledge in a wide range of fields.
Keio founder Yukichi Fukuzawa emphasized the importance of learning for oneself and explained
the meaning and value of learning. In his book “An Encouragement of Learning,” he states
that learning is something that is useful in real life. On the other hand, the study of chemistry has brought
many benefits to mankind, such as maintaining health and achieving a rich life. In addition, former
Keio University president Shinzo Koizumi said, “Practice makes the impossible possible.” In the same way, research has the power to make
the impossible possible. If you want to make such discoveries and inventions and contribute to the future through chemistry,
please join us in the Department of Applied Chemistry.
Thank you.
Ken-ichi TAKAO (Professor),
Head of Dept. of Applied Chemistry in Keio University.