Brief History of ILTS
The Institute of Low Temperature Science (ILTS) was founded in 1941 as the first research institute affiliated with Hokkaido University to promote interdisciplinary studies on various natural phenomena occurring in the cryosphere. The ILTS owes its establishment to the achievements of Professor Ukichiro Nakaya, the first person in the world to create artificial snow crystals. In 1995, the ILTS was reorganized as a nationwide joint-use institute to promote the fundamentals and applications of various natural phenomena occurring in the cryosphere. The ILTS was reorganized again in 2008 and is now composed of three research divisions (Water and Material Cycles Division, Frontier Ice and Snow Science Division and Environmental Biology Division), Joint Research Division and Pan-Okhotsk Research Center. In 2010, the ILTS was approved as a nationwide joint-use institute and a networking hub of academic exchanges with various research communities.
Chronology
| 1941 | Establishment of ILTS as the first research institute of Hokkaido University Opening of Physics, Meteorology, Biology, Medical, Applied Physics and Oceanography Sections |
| 1963 | Opening of Section of Snow Disaster Science |
| 1964 | Opening of Frost Heaving Section |
| 1965 | Opening of Monbetsu Sea Ice Laboratory |
| 1966 | Opening of Section of Frost Injury in Plants |
| 1968 | Relocation to the present site completed |
| 1970 | Opening of Snow Hydrology Section |
| 1973 | Opening of Biochemistry Section |
| 1975 | Expansion of a research building |
| 1981 | Opening of Section of Snowfall Mechanism |
| 1991 | Closing of Section of Snowfall Mechanism Opening of Section of Cryo-climatology |
| 1995 | Reorganization of the ILTS as a nationwide joint-use institute Opening of Marine and Atmospheric Science Section, Cryospheric Science Section, Basic Cryoscience Section, and Boreal Environmental Sciences Research Section |
| 1997 | Completion of a new laboratory building |
| 2000 | Completion of a new research building |
| 2003 | Start of renovation of old buildings |
| 2004 | Closing of Monbetsu Sea Ice Laboratory Opening of Pan-Okhotsk Research Center in Sapporo campus |
| 2008 | Completion of renovation of old buildings Organizational reformation of the ILTS Opening of Joint Research Division, three research divisions (Water and Material Cycles Division, Frontier Ice and Snow Science Division, and Environmental Biology Division) |
| 2010 | Approval as a nationwide joint-use institute and a networking hub of academic exchanges with various research communities |