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1. What prompted you decide to participate in the "JSPS Science Dialogue" program?
Yeh, During the JSPS eOrientation I came to know about this short of extra activity program, indeed, I feel happy to participate under JSPS Science Dialogue to interact with and sensesatize the young talented students of high school towards science frontier and it was an ideal opportunity to contribute personally to Science dialogue mission.
2. To what did you give greatest attention in preparing and giving the lecture?
After getting in touch with concerned teacher, I felt that slides should be more of figures/pictures/flow chart types, rather then text. Since, it is difficult to explain the terms used in molecular biology to those who aren't familiar with basic genetics. These terms sometimes at university level and mature audience loose focus when overwhelmed by technical terminology in a presentation. So, finally keeping in mind all parameters, I made my presentation likewise just adding the simple keywords and students enjoyed a lot. Whilst delivering my talk I made efforts to speak slowly and clearly, however even though it was in mind, perhaps I speeded up during my presentation for few difficult slides. Moreover another purpose of talk was to give the students practice of listening to English. I guess my presentation was more successful due to the translations in Japanese that my host scientist Dr Ikegami gave to the students during my presentation.
3. Did you find it difficult to give a lecture in English to Japanese students? Could you give some advice to future lecturers on how to facilitate communication with Japanese students?
Not exactly, indeed my host scientist assisted me and translated my talk in Japanese which makes student more inquisitive listen my talk with full interest, as before my talk I provided them the hand outs of my presentation to enable them to familiarize themselves what I am going to talk. It would be better to have good communication with the school teacher prior to presentation, to know exactly the level of English & how you one can make possible easy way of talk. Infact more important is that whatever you have decided to present, hand out must be reach to students at least one week before so that they can have idea about the talk and can preparing themselves to listen talk and before students listen talk they must have idea that what is theme of talk, so that they can get the talk.
4. Could you give your impression with regard to participating in this program?
I think this was first time talk outside high school in Science dialogue program. While, on arrival at British hills, every students felt like that they are not in Japan rather than they feel themselves somewhere in foreign, as every staff member of British hills was talking in English. I was looking the faces of students first day that they were quite nervous. So I think it was great experience for them in their life, which would have never been possible. Moreover, I also feel that it's good for researchers to get out of the lab from time to time and explain why & what they are contributing to public. I was particularly happy to be so warmly received and welcomed by British Hills staff, Fukushima which is located in beautiful mountain with fantastic scenery. Overall it was a pleasant experience.
5. Was it meaningful in terms of your fellowship activities?
Yeh, it was meaningful to participate in JSPS's science dialogue program with school student's especially, a kind of experience, which I never had earlier. Though I oftenly teach post graduate students. I always encourage and inspire the young students about cutting edge of science and to broaden their understanding.
6. In what ways do you think the students benefited from the program?
Theses shorts of programs are very beneficial to school students because this was good chance for them to feel and see the international standard, an opportunity to mix with and hear English talk on advanced frontier areas of science, which I think never happen at least in high schools. Side by side students have an idea about foreign county too. Probably, after this program, students might have opted to practice their talk in English.
7. Could you give some overall advice or comments to future participants in the program?
It is a wonderful experience for JSPS fellows. If JSPS fellow is efficient in Japanese then he will enjoy a lot in his talk otherwise also but must accompany with some Japanese translator would be nice. One must provide the handout as early as possible so that students may get an idea about the research presentation background, of course easy for them to understand.
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