Assistant Professor NAKAMURA Hidehito of Kyoto University\u2019s Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science held a press conference at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on October 2 to announce new developments in the \u201cN Project.\u201d The initiative is a dialogue-based learning program in which high school students communicate the excitement of science to elementary school children and their communities. It was formally announced that the project will now expand for the first time to public elementary schools\u2014specifically, four schools, 50 classes, and a total of 1,704 pupils.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his 20 years of experience leading science workshops, Dr. Nakamura noted, \u201cUntil now, our activities have only reached children and families who were already enthusiastic about science.\u201d He emphasized, however, that \u201cscience is not just an academic discipline\u2014it is a universal language that enables dialogue among people.\u201d <\/em>He underscored the importance of approaching students in the academic middle group and those in the humanities, explaining that the new program was designed to reach those who might otherwise feel distanced from science.<\/p>\n The upcoming lessons will feature meteorology for lower grades and radiation for upper grades, conducted in small groups of four to five elementary students per high school instructor. Each 45-minute session will use hand-drawn sketchbooks and quizzes to encourage active participation and discussion.<\/p>\n Dr. Nakamura explained that many high school students choose the humanities track not because they like<\/em> classical Japanese or Chinese literature, but simply because they struggle with math<\/em>. As a result, they often develop an inferiority complex toward science and lose motivation to learn it. \u201cEven if we present physics or chemistry topics, humanities students tend to think, \u2018I can\u2019t beat the science students,\u2019 or \u2018This is not for me,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we needed a theme where everyone\u2014science or humanities\u2014can start from the same line.\u201d<\/p>\n One such theme was tritium contained in the ALPS treated water at Fukushima Daiichi. It is a topic that neither side knows in depth, allowing all participants to discuss on equal footing. Radiation is often associated with anxiety and prejudice, but learning it scientifically helps students understand that \u201cit is not necessarily something to fear.\u201d<\/em> By addressing such a sensitive social topic, the program aims to:<\/p>\n Foster scientific literacy, and<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Cultivate the ability to face socially sensitive issues with an open mind.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Principal HIRANO Kota\u00a0of Osaka High School, whose nearly 2,000 students take part in the N Project, highlighted its transformative effect: \u201cAbout 70% of the participants are humanities students. After the project, many of them start reading physics reference books or watching science-related videos on YouTube. The educational effect is completely different from ordinary classes.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Nakamura emphasized that the goal is not to teach scientific knowledge to children:<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about showing elementary school students what it means to be inspired by science. If they see cool high schoolers and think, \u2018I want to be like them,\u2019 that\u2019s enough.\u201d Specially Appointed Professor KAWABATA Yuji, also of Kyoto University\u2019s Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, praised the project:<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough the N Project is only in its third year, by providing multiple opportunities for students to express themselves, we\u2019ve seen measurable improvements in their non-cognitive skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n He described the expansion into public schools\u2014with the cooperation of Suita City\u2014as a \u201ccompletely new stage\u201d for the program. Classes will begin on October 20, rolling out sequentially at Momoyamadai Elementary School, Tsukumodai Elementary School, Satakedai Elementary School, and Senri Takemi Elementary School. Future plans include a joint press conference with overseas authorities, suggesting that the N Project is now looking toward international collaboration.<\/p>\n Two high school students from Osaka High School attended the press conference, sharing their experiences and aspirations.<\/p>\n A humanities-track student, Samukawa decided to join the N Project after regretting having declined committee and student council roles during junior high school. \u201cWhen I entered high school, I made up my mind to face everything positively,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Her main goal is to convey the excitement of science<\/em>, not simply to \u201cteach.\u201d Explaining her biggest challenge, she said: \u201cI can\u2019t use kanji when talking to younger children. For example, I can explain to adults what an anemometer is, but to first graders, I have to draw careful pictures instead.\u201d<\/p>\n Aspiring to work in the entertainment field, Samukawa said, \u201cI want to become someone who can talk to all kinds of people. This project is a great chance to improve my communication skills.\u201d To her peers, she offered a heartfelt message: \u201cIf you take on a challenge, you really can change. I want others to feel that too.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Yokota said she had no clear goals before entering high school, but she learned about the N Project through her older sister. \u201cI wasn\u2019t good at science, but since they said it didn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re in the humanities or sciences, I decided to give it a try,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n As her opportunities to present increased, she noticed her communication and presentation skills improving. \u201cNow I approach science classes differently\u2014not just memorizing formulas for tests, but because I want<\/em> to learn,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Regarding her upcoming interactions with elementary students, she added, \u201cI want to show that by taking even one small step, your world can expand so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Having no younger siblings herself, she also hopes to learn how to interact naturally with younger children.<\/p>\n To her fellow students, Yokota offered encouraging advice: \u201cDon\u2019t think something has nothing to do with you\u2014just try it. Even if it doesn\u2019t directly connect to your future career, it will connect to something else: presentation skills, communication skills, confidence. Knowledge isn\u2019t the only thing that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Professor Kawabata concluded by praising both students:<\/p>\n \u201cFor ordinary high school students to stand here and speak in their own words is remarkable. The fact that students from the academic middle zone can think independently and speak under pressure is, in itself, a great achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Assistant Professor NAKAMURA Hidehito of Kyoto University\u2019s Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science held a press conference at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) on October 2 to announce new developments in the \u201cN Project.\u201d The initiative is a dialogue-based learning program in which high school students communicate the excitement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1250],"tags":[385,1386,1385,352,1384,659,560],"class_list":["post-7665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rd","tag-education","tag-elementary-school","tag-high-school","tag-hrd","tag-n-project","tag-next-generation","tag-science"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7665"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7665\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7670,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7665\/revisions\/7670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jaif.or.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nReaching Humanities Students Through New Themes<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nEducational Impact Beyond Traditional Classrooms<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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He added that the project also provides high schoolers with an opportunity to develop career awareness by \u201cswitching roles\u201d from learners to mentors.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nA New Stage: Public Schools Join the Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Initially, some schools expressed concern about using radiation as a theme, but after witnessing students\u2019 presentations at the Osaka\u2013Kansai Expo, many teachers shared the initiative on social media and became supportive. Parents have also responded positively, saying, \u201cOur children have started talking about science and current news at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nVoices of the Students: \u201cExcitement\u201d and \u201cCourage\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
SAMUKAWA Kotone (3rd year): \u201cI Want to Share the Excitement of Science\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nYOKOTA Sakurako (3rd year): \u201cHave the Courage to Step Forward\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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