Taking part in the Science Fair in Hyogo

The RIKEN BDR participated in the 15th Science Fair in Hyogo held in Kobe on Sunday, January 29, as one of the cooperating organizations. This event has been held annually since FY2008 to provide an opportunity for the students from high schools and technical schools in Hyogo Prefecture, mainly those that have been designated as Super Science High Schools (SSH) by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), to present the results of their research projects. This year was the first time in three years that the event was held in-person at the campuses of Kobe University, University of Hyogo, Konan University and the RIKEN Center for Computational Science located on Kobe’s Port Island.

From RIKEN BDR, Genshiro Sunagawa, team leader of the Laboratory for Hibernation Biology, gave a lecture titled, “Toward realization of human synthetic hibernation,” and answered questions from the students after the talk. In the poster session, the BDR organized a booth introducing the latest research being carried out at the Center, including Sunagawa’s work on hibernation, efforts toward laboratory automation by incorporating robots and AI in life science experiments, the molecular mechanisms of the eukaryotic transcription process as revealed by cryo-electron microscopy. A tissue clearing technology developed by BDR researchers was also introduced at the booth by showing an actual specimen that was rendered to appear transparent to the eye. Many students and teachers stopped by to ask questions and engage in discussions. The staff from the BDR Public Relations Group also visited a few of the poster presentations by high school students and provided feedback and suggestions on their work.

Other programs at the Science Fair included tours of the Fugaku supercomputer organized by the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), and a science café where students could drop by to casually ask questions and discuss what life in the sciences at university is like with members of Science Supporters Hyogo, a volunteer group of mainly university students from Hyogo Prefecture.