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Newly Appointed Science Teachers from Kawasaki Municipal Junior High Schools Visited iCONM
On May 21, 25 newly appointed science teachers from Kawasaki Municipal Junior High Schools visited King SkyFront (KSF), an international strategic hub located in the coastal area of Kawasaki City and designated as a part of the Life Innovation International Strategic Special Zone. This visit was organized by the Kawasaki City Board of Education with support from the Kawasaki Coastal Area International Strategy Headquarters.
At the beginning of the program, representatives from the Kawasaki Coastal Area International Strategy Headquarters introduced KSF. They explained how the coastal area of Kawasaki City played a central role in the Keihin Industrial Zone and contributed to Japan’s rapid economic growth. They also described how the city’s early efforts to address environmental pollution led to a shift toward environmental science and life science, resulting in the establishment of KSF.
Following this, Dr. Shimazaki, a Communications Manager at iCONM, gave a presentation on nanomedicine research being conducted at iCONM, one of the core institutions within KSF. He explained the concept of nanomedicine and introduced iCONM’s vision of creating a society where people can live without being concerned about illness. He also introduced Project CHANGE, which was launched in the autumn of 2022, and discussed the Care Education Program currently being implemented at high schools in Kawasaki City. Referring to the continuing trend of a declining birthrate and aging population and the increasing shift toward home-based medical care, he emphasized the importance of care education and the need for future generations to acquire the knowledge necessary to support and care for their family members.
The participants were then divided into three groups for a tour of the iCONM facility. Staff members stationed on each floor provided detailed explanations of the research environment and equipment. The visit left a strong impression on the participants, who commented that they had learned the importance of managing diversity, had encountered many experimental instruments for the first time, and were surprised by the large number of international and female researchers working at the institute.
