Workshop for High School Students Held under the Project CHANGE
On March 7, we conducted a workshop for 36 second-year students from the Science Department at Kawasaki City High School for Science and Technology, in collaboration with young researchers from Project CHANGE. This workshop, now in its third iteration, aims to help students realize that the challenges of a super-aged society are not distant issues, but are directly related to their own futures, and that they have the power to effect change.
Building on the preliminary classes held last December (https://change.kawasaki-net.ne.jp/en/topics/news/76), we engaged in group discussions to address various issues identified by each team, focusing on scientific solutions. The following members participated as facilitators and commentators (titles omitted):
Facilitators:
- Manami Takaoka (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo)
- Yuki Mochida (Lecturer, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)
- Mao Hori (Assistant Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University)
- Mayumi Matsuda (Lecturer, Kawasaki City University of Nursing)
- Mizuki Naito (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo)
- Yukihiro Kanda (Researcher, iCONM)
Commentators:
- Michiko Yagi, Nurse, Executive Director, Kawasaki Nursing Association
- Shoko Sawada, Nurse, Head Nurse, Kawasaki Memorial Hospital
- Haruka Yamagami, CEO, Soelte Co., Ltd.
- Supervisors: Mikako Arakida (Vice President, Kawasaki City University of Nursing), Seiko Hirokawa (Professor, Kawasaki City University of Nursing), Ayumu Igarashi (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo)
There were no specific formats for the presentations; instead, teams showcased their individuality by either assigning roles for different topics or having one member present as a representative. Feedback from facilitators and commentators included remarks such as, "I gained new perspectives," "You took into account the realities of care settings," and "I'm looking forward to seeing how you plan to sustain this economically in the future."
Kawasaki City High School for Science and Technology plans to continue this program as part of its curriculum. We hope that some of these students will go on to contribute to care innovation in the future.
