Science Event for High School Students “Rikochallenge” Held!
On August 10, the science experience event “Analysis Experience School and Shimadzu Tour, Rikochallenge—Summer of 2023—” was held at Shimadzu Head Office for high school students learning STEM.
Shimadzu organized this event to support the “Rikochallenge (*),” an initiative promoted by the Gender Equality Bureau of the Japanese Cabinet Office. 23 high school students tried using Shimadzu’s instruments and visited the showrooms. They were also able to have a variety of experiences through interaction with Shimadzu’s engineers.
- *Riko means science and technology in Japanese.
What is the “Rikochallenge”?
The Rikochallenge is an initiative led by the Gender Equality Bureau of the Japanese Cabinet Office to encourage female students (*) to take an interest in STEM fields so that they can form a clear image of their future and select their career path.
- *Shimadzu called for the participation of both male and female students.
Shimadzu Corporation joined the “STEM Girls Support Network” in 2017, as well as became a “Rikochallenge Supporting Organization” to support this initiative.
Interaction with Engineers through Experience with Real Instruments
In this year’s event, in addition to the experience of using Shimadzu’s analytical and measuring instruments and visiting the showrooms of analytical instruments and medical systems, the participants also toured the workplace.
In the experience of analytical and measuring instruments, the students tried testing the hardness of confectionary using a small tabletop testing machine, and experienced measurement of caffeine contained in drinks such as coffee using a liquid chromatograph. The participants were astonished at the speed of the analysis, and they were greatly interested in the unexpected test results.
Sampling a drink with a syringe
When the sample was injected into the instrument, the analysis results were displayed.
In the tour of the medical systems showroom, the students experienced a simulated examination using actual instruments.
Note: At this event, X-ray imaging was not performed.
A participant who heard the explanation of the medical systems said, “I learned that the useful medical instruments are made from the demands of the people involved in medical treatment. Though the shape and functions of the instruments appeared to be so ordinary, these features were realized by the ideas and efforts of all the people involved in their development.”
Comment from the Person in Charge of the Event
The students seemed to be nervous at the beginning, but as the program progressed, they gradually absorbed in the world of science and technology. They actively asked questions, participated in the experiments, and experienced operating the instruments, etc.
Creating these opportunities for the younger generation to come into contact with science and technology opens the door to a new world for them. I feel that this is an important social role for Shimadzu, and I would like it to be continued.
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