Welcome Address from the Chair

Dear IWX2025 participants,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 10th International Workshop on X-ray CT Visualization for Socio-Cultural Engineering & Environmental Materials (IWX2025), held online and in person on December 2–3, 2025. This year’s subtitle, “Challenge to Medicine, Science–Engineering Collaboration,” reflects our commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research. X-ray CT, a powerful technology for visualizing internal structures, now underpins investigations across diverse fields. As is often said, innovation begins at the intersection of disciplines; I trust this workshop will serve as a springboard for such fusion and lay foundations for future breakthroughs.

The origins of our activities date back to 2006, when the GeoX Center was established. In 2008, our scope expanded from geo-environmental studies to the aquatic environment and materials engineering, and the center was renamed the X-Earth Center (X-ray CT on Eco, Aqua and Resource Technology). With the installation of a microfocus X-ray CT scanner in 2010, our work became increasingly interdisciplinary, welcoming collaborators from archaeology and paleontology. The X-Earth Center was selected as a Core Project (Type B) at Kumamoto University in 2010, enabling further research achievements and broader outreach. In 2016, upon completion of that program, our activities continued within the newly established International Research Organization for Advanced Science and Technology (IROAST).

In 2020, we introduced two additional systems—a high-power, high-resolution microfocus X-ray CT and a nano-focus X-ray CT—both operational since April 2021. Together with our existing platform, we now operate three complementary CT systems. The new microfocus unit enables in-chamber mechanical testing under various conditions, while the nano-focus system functions as a three-dimensional X-ray microscope with nanoscale resolution. These capabilities help us transcend earlier technical limitations and contribute more substantially to science and society. Kumamoto University is fortunate to offer such a comprehensive CT environment, rare both in Japan and internationally. (IROAST concluded its activities in March 2025.)

The 10th IWX adopts a hybrid format to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all participants. For our colleagues joining from Europe and elsewhere, we have arranged the program to facilitate active, real-time discussion across time zones. For those visiting Kumamoto, we hope you will also enjoy the region’s rich culture and cuisine.

I look forward to fruitful, cross-disciplinary discussions and to witnessing how X-ray CT will inspire new directions in your respective fields. Thank you for your participation and support.

With best wishes,

Toshifumi Mukunoki
Chair, IWX2025
Kumamoto University, Japan