Final Proposal Report for aReorganization of SPRUC Research Groups for the Second Term 2014-2015
2014-Jan-12
Chair of SPRUC committee on SPring-8 Utilization
Chair of Working Group for the Reorganization ofSPRUC Research Groups
Atsushi Nakagawa (Osaka University)
Since SPring-8 began operation for the public, use of the facility has changed accordingly with increasein diversity in science and industry. The SPring-8 Users Community (SPRUC), which was establishedin April 2012, is an organization that all SPring-8 users can participate in. One of the aims of SPRUC isto collaborate with SPring-8 in contributing to the improvement of facilities, and development ofmeasurement technology. At present, SPRUC has 30 “Research Groups”. Research Groups areexpected to be an information interface between all users in each field and SPring-8 facilities. Moreover,they should demonstrate active involvement in producing benefits to science at SPring-8. However, thepresent organization of the Research Group system is not fully effective to users from diverse fields ofacademia and industry. This is a serious problem, as most users lose the opportunity to provide ideasand feedback to the SPring-8 facilities (RIKEN/JASRI). Thus the organization of Research Group mustbe altered to facilitate the offering of a collective opinion from all users of SPring-8 facilities. It is also
very important for the organization of SPRUC Research Group to provide information of current
activity and future effort to both scientific society and general public. In this report, “Working Groupfor the Reorganization of SPRUC Research Group” proposes the following strategies and concept.
1. Organization of Research Groups
1.1 Revision of research category and clarification of the relationship between Research Group andbeamlines (BL)SPRUC Research Groups should be aware of their responsibility to provide contributions todecisions about future evolution of the SPring-8 facility. Therefore, SPRUC has to establish atransparent system through which SPRUC Research Groups can provide a clear and effective appeal
to public, academic and industrial community detailing their activity and future efforts. For the next
two-year term (2014~2015) of SPRUC, the nine current research area categories are revised to thefollowing four research fields:
“Biomolecules”

“Fundamental Characterization”

“Applied Materials”

“Measurements”

Each Research Group belongs to at least one of these fields. It is possible to choose multiple fields
to accommodate multidisciplinary research. It has been noted that there seems to be two types ofcurrent and future Research Groups: a subject-based group and a method-based group. Such
different backgrounds of Research Groups have been considered in the definition of proposed
research categories.
Since the definition of research area and involvement of BL serves as a basis of a SPRUC researchgroup, all the BLs relevant to the target area of a Research Group should be specified in the ResearchGroup application for next term. Based on this information, a diagram with each area of research as avertical axis, and BL as a horizontal axis will be created. Each research group will locate on a crosspoint of this diagram as shown in Fig. 1. The research developments of each BL would be clarified,and more easily understood by a potential user of SPring-8.
1.2

Multidisciplinary Research Groups
Following a specified research theme or problem-solving topic, new SPRUC “multidisciplinary”

Research Groups should be established within the fixed period. This new type of Research Group isexpected to be a fusion of multiple Research Groups, beamlines and technical methods.
In this system, SPRUC preferentially support the area of research in which marked growth isexpected by active use of SPring-8. It would be of great benefit for SPRUC to communicate
progress/activity to academic, industrial and public society. The research group advisers will consistof experts, and is responsible for drawing up the proposal for a research theme.

2. Application of Research GroupIn the current rule of SPRUC, Research Groups make a formal application every two years fortheir continued activity. If any Research Group were to be dissolved, the representative would haveto consult with the SPRUC Committee of Utilization and Research Group adviser to consider themigration of members to another Research Group, in order to maintain the registered members of thedissolved Research Group.
The new multidisciplinary type of Research Groups will be established in the Committee ofUtilization by the recommendation of advisers of Research Groups. An individual SPRUC member

would need to register to join the new Research Groups.

3. Responsibility and evaluation of Research Group
Each Research Group undertakes the responsibility in promoting the following activities:* The maximization of benefit produced by advanced utilization of SPring-8 facilities.
* The research activity must be communicated to academic and industrial communities to demonstrateactive involvement of SPring-8 and acquire further potential users.
*Users’ opinions regarding the upgrade of BLs and future evolution of the SPring-8 facility must berepresented and proposed to the facility every year.
* A report of survey of the members must be produced as a commissioned work from JASRI
Once a year, implementation status of activities in the Research Group would be subject to evaluationby the adviser. Results of the evaluation will be reflected in the support plan for the activity of the next
fiscal year.

・Each	  Research	  Group	  belongs	  to	  at	  least	  one	  of	  four	  research	  ﬁelds.	  
・New	  Research	  Groups	  are	  created	  to	  accommodate	  all	  users.	  
・Mul�disciplinary	  Research	  Groups	  are	  established.	

Fig.1	  	  Organiza�on	  chart	

WG	  of	  Reorganiza�on	  of	  SPRUC	  Research	  Groups	  	Commi�ee	  of	  u�liza�on	
New	  SPRUC	  Research	  Group	  Organiza�on	

Review by	
Advisor	

Fundamental	  Characteriza�on		

Biomolecules		BL	  →	Research	  Group	  A	Research	  Group	  F	BL	  →	
BL	  →	‥‥	

BL	  →	

Research	  Group	  B	Research	  Group	  	  C	Measurements		

Applied	  Materials	  Research	  Group	  E	Research	  Group	  D	Research	  Group	  I	Research	  Group	  G	Research	  Group	  H	New	New	

Research	  Group	  J	New