An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

64 History of the International Rice Research Institutevember 1960. He was offered the post in March 1961 and started work on 1 July.His first assignment, at that early stage in IRRI’s development, was to draw upa list of basic equipment and supplies that IRRI would need in its laboratories.Next he was to make a thorough search of the literature on the chemistry of therice plant, with particular reference to the chemistry of the grain.As in the case of Vergara, Juliano was appointed to an associate position —that of associate chemist — with the understanding that a more senior personwould be selected as head of the department. By 1968, Juliano had beenpromoted to the position of chemist and head of the Department of Chemistry.His research work has concentrated on the chemistry of the rice grain and hesoon became internationally known for his contributions to the knowledge ofthe changes occurring during rice ripening, especially with respect to proteincontent and quality and to variations in the composition of the starch indifferent varieties.In the earlier years, however, a senior chemist still had to be found. Becauseof the advanced nature of rice chemistry in Japan, IRRI naturally started itssearch in that country. Kihara said that some of his colleagues in Japanrecommended highly a young, Japanese chemist, Takashi Akazawa.Akazawa’s biographical data were sent to IRRI, and he was invited to thePhilippines in late June 1961 for an interview. When Akazawa was offered theposition of chemist and head of the department, he replied that he wasinterested provided that IRRI would hire other Japanese scientists. He wasassured that this was a distinct possibility and that he would be kept posted ondevelopments. After Tanaka was hired, Akazawa accepted the offer, and hisappointment was confirmed to begin 1 July 1962.Akazawa did some excellent basic research on starch biosynthesis inripening grains and on the nitrogen metabolism in rice leaves. In late 1964,however, he found it necessary to return to Japan, where, at Nagoya University,he has continued a distinguished career.In 1964, Yasuo Natori was a scientist on the staff of the School of Medicineof the University of California in San Francisco. Word travels fast among Asianscientists and, having heard that Akazawa would leave IRRI, Natori appliedfor the vacancy. Highly recommended by his colleagues in California, he wasinvited to IRRI for an interview and was hired. Natori was highly effective buthis real interest was to return to his native Japan to work as a biochemist in auniversity. He found such a position in mid-1966 and left IRRI to join thefaculty of a Japanese medical college. By that time, Juliano, as mentioned, hadbecome well established in his field of the chemistry of the rice grain andsubsequently was made head of the Department of Chemistry.AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERINGAfter Johnson completed the construction of the experimental fields in 1961-62, he started his research program. He realized that machinery, designedespecially for the small rice farmer of Asia, was sorely needed. In his travels,he had been impressed with the equipment that Prince Debriddhi Devakul ofThailand’s Rice Department had designed. Arrangements were made to have