Suzukake Science Day 2022, an open-day event for children, prospective students, and other members of the public which focuses on activities on Tokyo Tech’s Suzukakedai Campus, was successfully held in hybrid format on May 14 and 15. Suzukakedai Open Campus, which included Institute-wide and School-specific graduate-level information sessions, was held mainly online over the same weekend.
Suzukake Science Day is all about sharing the joys and experiences that science and technology offer, introducing to the public the cutting-edge research conducted at Tokyo Tech laboratories, and encouraging budding scientists and engineers to find their paths at the Institute. After a complete cancellation in 2020 and an online event in 2021 due to the pandemic, Tokyo Tech friends welcomed the chance to enjoy the celebration both virtually and face to face this year.
Saturday, May 14 — Route 16 and Japan: A special lecture
Professor Yanase
On May 14, author and Tokyo Tech Professor Hiroichi Yanase gave a lecture on “Route 16 and Japan,” revealing secrets about one of the main thoroughfares in the Kanto region through topographical, historical, cultural, and economic perspectives. The lecture about Route 16 — which runs just southwest of Suzukakedai Campus — was joined by approximately 120 participants both in person and online, many of whom had plenty to ask during the Q&A session that followed.
Route 16, shaped like a horseshoe, runs both along Tokyo Bay and the hilly prefectures surrounding the metropolitan area
Sunday, May 15 — Organization for Fundamental Research members introduce their challenging research topics
On May 15, four young researchers affiliated with the Organization for Fundamental Research (OFR), established in July 2018 as a place to foster specialists in fundamental research who will provide strong support for academia in the future, provided easy-to-understand talks about the challenging research they are currently working on. Approximately 80 people tuned in both in person and online. This session, like the one on the previous day, closed with a lively Q&A session.
OFR lectures
Epigenetic mechanisms explored through live cell imaging
Assistant Professor Yuko Sato, Institute of Innovative Research (IIR)
Constructing artificial structures in cells
Assistant Professor Takayuki Miki, School of Life Science and Technology
Towards future healthcare with mobile biosensors
Assistant Professor Mana Toma, School of Engineering
Wireless communication integrated circuits connected to space
(from left) OFR Director Naoto Ohtake, Assoc. Prof. Shirane, Asst. Profs. Miki, Sato, and Toma
Twenty labs invite public to explore their activities virtually
This year, 20 Tokyo Tech research laboratories representing various fields opened their doors to the public online. Based on their daily research activities, members from these labs introduced various topics that included explanations of common illnesses, experiments using microorganisms and other objects around us, and a look at the latest research equipment at the Institute. Most labs also provided real-time interactive and on-demand research introductions in addition to their Open Campus information sessions.
Talks by 20 labs that joined Suzukake Science Day 2022
- Human interface that utilizes muscle activity
Professor Yasuharu Koike, Institute of Innovative Research (IIR)
- AI doctor: The world of AI-aided diagnostic imaging
Professor Kenji Suzuki, IIR
- Experiencing scent through virtual reality
Professor, Takamichi Nakamoto, IIR
- Interfaces to understand one’s own brain
Associate Professor Natsue Yoshimura, IIR
- Manipulating molecule orientation with light to create new functions
Professor Atsushi Shishido, IIR
Associate Professor Shoichi Kubo, IIR
- Pencils turn into diamonds!
Professor Masaki Azuma, IIR
Associate Professor Takafumi Yamamoto, IIR
- Useful nano-tools through self-assembly
Professor Michito Yoshizawa, IIR
Associate Professor Tomohisa Sawada, IIR
- Alzheimer’s and structural biology: Understanding the disease at the molecular level
Professor Yoshitaka Ishii, School of Life Science and Technology
- Organic chemistry: Origins of biotechnology
Professor Hirokazu Urabe, School of Life Science and Technology
Associate Professor Takeshi Hata, School of Life Science and Technology
- Radiant antibodies: Opening up future diagnostics
Professor Hiroshi Ueda, IIR
Associate Professor Tetsuya Kitaguchi, IIR
- Iron in the body: Important yet unknown roles
Professor Takafumi Ueno, School of Life Science and Technology
- Gene-controlled material transport across the cell membrane — Observing water movement
Associate Professor Akira Kato, School of Life Science and Technology
- How information and materials move in our cells
Professor Masayuki Komada, IIR
- Why people get cancer and possible cures
Professor Shinae Kondoh, School of Life Science and Technology
Assistant Professor Tetsuya Kadonosono, School of Life Science and Technology
- Welcome to the world of protein science
Professor Hideki Taguchi, IIR
- Organic synthesis: Exploring and manipulating biological functions to discover new drugs
Professor Hiroyuki Nakamura, IIR
Associate Professor Satoshi Okada, IIR
- Extreme environmental microorganisms with unlimited potential
Associate Professor Rie Yatsunami, School of Life Science and Technology
- The world of microorganisms
Professor Masaaki Wachi, School of Life Science and Technology
- Intelligent support systems that adjust the “pause”
Professor Yoshihiro Miyake, School of Computing
- Architecture of the future
Professor Susumu Kono, IIR
Kurarika science class guides 45 elementary school students
As in previous years, members of the Tokyo Tech Alumni Association also held Kurarika, an experimental science class that attracted 45 elementary school students and their guardians over the weekend. This year, the participants — joining from all across Japan — created two types of flutes from milk cartons and straws while receiving instructions from Tokyo Tech alumni online. Based on the post-session survey, over 90 percent of students and all guardians said they would like to participate in similar events in the future.
Kurarika members conducting class
Despite, the continuing challenges posed by COVID-19, the Tokyo Tech community is looking forward to welcoming participants of all ages at Suzukake Science Day 2023.
