(Dean's log) Lecture series for Junior and Senior High Schools: Aiko Gakuen, Ehime Prefecture

On 22 October 2024, a total of 235 high school students and 50 parents attended a lecture by Dean Kato.

The room was filled with a sense of seriousness, but the audience burst into laughter when Dean Kato shared anecdotes from his high school days. After the lecture, a roundtable discussion followed with 85 students who were interested in Dean Kato’s research and his experiences as a student. They stayed and actively asked questions, creating an opportunity for a lively exchange.

Students gave comments such as, "Dean Kato’s lecture was very easy to understand, and the scope of the story was so vast that I was constantly impressed. There are many professors at UTokyo who are doing research that will open up the future, and I was excited to think that the day when the world of our dreams will come true is really possible". Another student said, "I was really surprised and moved to learn that Dean Kato's research has become something useful to society by changing perspectives from different angles". It was a valuable time to gain a deeper understanding of engineering. We also received many messages of gratitude from parents, such as, "In a situation where there are few opportunities to meet top-class scholars and business leaders, being able to meet and interact directly with the world's top people was a very valuable experience for the children", and "It was a wonderful lecture that really showed how the research carried out by the Faculty of Engineering is being applied in the real world".

I was impressed by Dean Kato’s words: 'doing research for the sake of others'. I hope that the students will live their lives with that kind of perspective.

Midori Aoki (Metaverse School of Engineering)