(Updated at the 7th ISRS Symposium on December 5, 2019)
1. Name and Purpose
The name of this organization shall be the International Society of Rare Sugars, hereinafter known as the ISRS.
The purpose of the ISRS is to perform world-wide activities for scientific society on rare sugars by international scientists with a variety of research fields. (Definition of rare sugars is described elsewhere.)
2. Membership
2.1 The membership shall consist of two classes, regular members (an individual) and supporting members (corporation and institutions) that are interested in rare sugars.
2.2 Application for membership shall proceed on the ISRS homepage.
2.3 Each member may not pay annual dues.
3. Constitution
3.1 The International Committee shall be composed of 10-15 international scientists with a variety of research fields and shall be responsible for all the ISRS activities.
3.2 The International Committee selects President and Vice-President.
3.3 The International Committee may appoint Advisory Board members whom the International Committee may consult.
4. Management
4.1 Head Office
The Head Office is in Kagawa University. The Head Office consists of Secretary Board and Web Board. The International Committee selects all officers of Head Office from members working in Kagawa area.
4.1.1 Secretary Board
The Secretary Board consisting of a chief secretary, a vice-chief secretary, an accountant and a few secretaries who manage general office works.
4.1.2 Web Board
The Web Board consisting of a chief web editor, a vice-chief web editor and a few web editors who manage the ISRS homepage and circulates information on rare sugars.
5. Finances
All the activities are supported by donations from regular members and supporting members.
6. ISRS Award
The ISRS Award be an award for leaders in rare sugar research that makes a significant contribution to human welfare and health.
(1) The ISRS Award seeks to recommend and reward those who have excellent research results that enhance the significance and value of rare sugars.
(2) The ISRS Award shall encompass all rare sugar-related fields such as production, physico-chemical properties, food, effects on animals and plants, etc.
(3) There shall be 1 or 2 recipients of the ISRS Award.
(4) The ISRS shall invite the ISRS Award Recipients to the next ISRS international symposium to give a special “Award Lecture”.
(5) In general, nomination for the ISRS Award shall be evaluated primarily on original papers that have been published in five years prior to the next ISRS International Symposium. Reviews and proceedings are not considered as original papers.
(6) The International Rare Sugar Society Symposium Executive Committee shall establish the International Rare Sugar Society Award Recommendation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Award Recommendation Committee). The Award Recommendation Committee shall consist of several researchers from diverse research fields. The International Committee on Rare Sugar Research (hereinafter referred to as the International Committee) and the Award Recommendation Committee shall select the ISRS Award Recipients by close consultation.
(7) The following ISRS members can nominate candidates for ISRS award.
1. Members of the International Committee
2. Members of the Award Recommendation Committee
3. Others recommended by the President of ISRS
(8) The ISRS Award Recipients shall be selected as follows:
1. The Nominator(s) (7.1 -7.3 above) shall nominate one paper, detail the reasons for the recommendation, the title of the paper, the name of the first author, and the name of the corresponding author, in the prescribed recommendation form, at least six months before the beginning date of the next scheduled ISRS International Symposium. Reference materials, such as the paper, shall be submitted with the recommendation form.
2. The Award Recommendation Committee shall, by committee or sub-committee, select and rank the top 5 candidates from all nominations.
3. The Award Recommendation Committee shall (i) inform the candidate researcher (or research group) about the possible nomination for the ISRS Award, (ii) confirm who is the appropriate ISRS Award Nominee author among all of the authors of the paper, and (iii) request the submission of a CV of that person to the committee.
4. If the nominees for the ISRS Award have equal levels of research accomplishment, preference shall be given to younger researchers.
5. The Award Recommendation Committee shall contact the ISRS Award Nominee(s) to confirm their willingness to accept the ISRS Award and confirm that they will be able to participate and present an “Award Lecture” at the next ISRS International Symposium. As a general rule, those who that cannot participate in the ISRS International Symposium shall not be selected for the ISRS Award.
6. If the ISRS Award Recipient(s) cannot be selected by the above procedure, the next candidate shall be advanced as a recipient.
7. The Award Recommendation Committee shall nominate the ISRS Award Nominee to the International Committee, and the International Committee shall select the ISRS Award Recipient(s) after due consideration.
(9) The above provisions shall be proposed to the general meeting at the ISRS International Symposium by the International Committee and shall be discussed with the symposium participants. The same procedure shall apply for modification to these regulations.
(10) The above provisions shall become effective on December 5, 2019.
7. Amendment
Any modification of constitution and regulation will be proposed by the International Committee; the information will be posted on the ISRS homepage.
About the ISRS Award
(Updated at the 7th ISRS Symposium on December 5, 2019)
Rare sugar research was initiated in Kagawa University in the 1970s. In inheriting over four billion years of history of rare sugars, researchers have begun a new journey to elucidate their significance and value. Researchers have been challenged to restore monosaccharides as key constituents of the glycoscience world.
This challenge has led to the discovery of new methods of producing rare sugars and of physiological functions which have in turn led to the accelerated progress and expansion of rare sugar research worldwide. Consequently, the International Society of Rare Sugars (ISRS) was established in 2001.
ISRS has hosted international symposia biannually or triennially from 2002 to disseminate core research on the elucidation of production methods, physical properties, and functionality in many fields. Since then, applied research has progressed dramatically, and has led to innovation.
In view of this evolution, the ISRS shall establish the “ISRS Award” for research to enhance the significance and value of rare sugars that are developed around the world. The ISRS Award be an award for leaders in rare sugar research that makes a significant contribution to human welfare and health under the regulations as described above in Constitution and Regulation of the ISRS.