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1. What prompted you decide to participate in the "JSPS Science Dialogue" program?
When participated in the "JSPS Science Dialogue" Program in the first time, I found that it was very beneficial to both the High School students and me. Since the High School students and young generation are potential leaders of world scientific frontier, I assume that JSPS is actively encouraging in the development of future science leaders. I also suppose that JSPS Science Dialogue Program is a catalyst for young students with the participation of JSPS post-doctoral research fellows to sharpen their creativities in the world of science. So, I think that participation in this program as a post-doctoral fellow will be a contribution to challenging and breakthrough activities of JSPS.
2. To what did you give greatest attention in preparing and giving the lecture?
Although I was keen to introduce to the students to my home country of England, I decided that the most important element of the lecture should be that related to science. My main goal was to demonstrate to the students that science (in particular biology, of course!) can be really cool! I therefore focused on this section of my talk and attempted to incorporate lots of interesting facts about the natural world around us, and why science is so important.
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?
Since I am not an English native speaker, I prepared my lecture in English very thoroughly under the guidance, advice and encouragement of my host Professor, Prof. Hiromitsu Hama. I also collect information about the English communication skills of Japanese High School students. So, I did not find any difficulties to give lecture in English to Japanese students. I think that it would give better results if we can carefully and thoroughly scrutinize our lecture by using
-information about the students and the schools where lecture will be given
- suitable choice of research topics for High School students
- student-centered style of lecture presentation.
It will also be helpful if we can give a significant merit on the role of communications in English with Japanese students.
4. Could you give your impression with regard to participating in this program?
First of all, I would like to say that the "JSPS Science Dialogue" program itself is very impressive one. I deeply felt that "I am greatly honored and pleased to participate in this program". This program led to discover that the two different academic atmospheres, Universities and High School, are making science promotion in the common framework of learning and promotion of nature. I definitely believe that this program plays an important and significant role in science promotion that JSPS stands for.
5. Was it meaningful in terms of your fellowship activities?
Absolutely, this program was meaningful in terms of my fellowship activities. Researchers do research for the society as a whole. This program gives opportunities for research fellows to open their research doors and share their knowledge to real world especially with High School students. Responses and participation of students will be helpful as inputs of fellow's future research work for real world. So, this program is beneficial to not only students but also the fellows themselves.
6. In what ways do you think the students benefited from the program?
This program is beneficial to the students in many ways. It will sharpen their learning abilities and widen their horizon of science frontier and English communication. This program will also deepen their creative thinking and approaching to new problems in science promotion. They will also grab some ideas and clues how researchers are contributing to science promotion of real world.
7. Could you give some overall advice or comments to future participants in the program?
It is absolutely correct to say that the "JSPS Science Dialogue" program is an integral and vital part in the way to the science promotion. The name "JSPS Science Dialogue" itself is rich with science meanings and research ideas which needed to be explored. It promotes the science world as whole.
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