Professor Theodor Berchem , President, Würzburg University
Dr. Manfred Osten, Secretary General, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Professor Uwe Czarnezki ,Chair, the JSPS German Fellow's Alumni Association
Professor Yasuo Tanaka, Director, JSPS Liaison Office, Bonn

Honored guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am both pleased and honored to be able to say a few words of greeting on behalf of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science at the opening of this symposium here in Würzburg.

I wish to begin by extending our sincere appreciation to all the speakers and participants who have taken time out of your busy schedules to join us in this symposium.

JSPS carries out scientific exchange programs with a great many countries around the world. Among them, we have achieved a very high level of success in our programs with Germany, especially through our partnerships with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, DAAD, DFG and Max-Planck Society.

JSPS Bonn liaison office was established for the purpose of promoting even further scientific exchange between Japan and Germany. Since 1996, the office has, in collaboration with the German JSPS alumni association, organized this series of symposia to advance scientific exchange between our two countries.

Held this time on the theme "Science and Society," this symposium is the eighth in the series. For it, we have assembled an outstanding group of speakers, each of whom is a leader with an astute knowledge in his area of specialization. I feel privileged that we will be able to partake of their views and insights. Indeed, this symposium offers an excellent opportunity to advance the dialogue on this important theme by addressing it from a variety of perspectives.

I would like to take this opportunity at the opening of the symposium to extend our sincere appreciation to Professor Uwe Czarnezki and the other members of the JSPS Club for their cooperation. Our thanks also go to the staff of the Humboldt Foundation, as well as to Dr. Yasuo Tanaka and his staff at our Bonn Office.

Finally, I would like to touch upon the relationship between the city of Würzburg and Japan. It was here that Philipp Franz von Siebold was born. In the early 19^th century, toward the end of Japan's feudal period, Siebold voyaged twice to Nagasaki. During his stays, he introduced Western medicine and contributed greatly to the cultivation of modern science in Japan. I find it only fitting that this symposium on "science and society" should be held here in Siebold's birthplace. Indeed, I am moved by the flow of history that has brought us to this new milestone in scientific exchange between Germany and Japan at the turn the 21^st century.

I wish you all the utmost of success in your activities at this symposium.

Thank you.