Every year, the Aoba Society for the Promotion of Science awards a select few of female graduates who have produced outstanding achievements during their scientific doctoral studies. This award is given to female students selected from the whole doctoral cohort across the Graduate School of Science and the Graduate School of Life Science at Tohoku University. Named after Dr. Chika KURODA, the first female to receive a chemistry doctorate in Japan from the Faculty of Science, the award was founded in 1999 to encourage female researchers in their scientific endeavors and careers. Over the last 15 years, 45 female students have been honored.