NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute for FY 2012 in Japan

这项行动资助波特兰州立大学的Nicholas Day于2012年夏天在大阪水田的大阪大学开展了一个研究项目，题为“一种刺激二氧化碳转化为甲醇的光吸收催化剂”。主持这项研究的科学家是福泉纯一博士。该研究项目的学术价值在于促进了对潜在可再生能源的了解。这项研究的直接重点是研究一种具有利用可再生资源生产液体燃料的潜在能力的新型材料，该液体燃料可以在现有的基础设施中利用。特别是，一种金属钴poly-tetrakis-5，10，15，20-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin正在被用来仅利用阳光将二氧化碳还原为甲醇。在不久的将来，甲醇被视为一种可行的能源。EAPSI奖学金的更广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍各自所在地的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及了解社会、文化和语言。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期为国际合作进行教育，从而确保拥有一支具有全球意识的美国科学队伍。还计划向宝冢基塔高中的学生展示太阳能电池。考虑到日本和美国对新能源的高需求，向日本学生提供可再生能源教育具有非常重要的意义。

This action funds Nicholas Day of Portland State University to conduct a research project, entitled "A light-absorbing catalyst to stimulate the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol," during the summer of 2012 at Osaka University in Suita, Osaka. The host scientist is Dr. Shunichi Fukuzumi.The Intellectual Merit of the research project is advancing the knowledge of potential renewable energy sources. The direct focus of this research is to investigate a novel material with the potential ability to use renewable resources to produce liquid fuel which can be utilized with current infrastructure. In particular a cobalt metallated poly-tetrakis-5,10,15,20-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin is being used to reduce carbon dioxide to methanol using only sunlight. Methanol is seen as a viable source of energy for the near future.The Broader Impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Also planned is a solar cell demonstration to students at Takarazuka-Kita high school. Providing education of renewable energy sources to students in Japan is highly relevant considering the high demand for new energy sources in Japan and the U.S.