On October 25, Dr. Kiyoto Kurima, a researcher at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)'s Neurobiology Research Unit, visited Okinawa Prefectural Miyako High School. The visit aimed to inspire Miyako Island high school students by connecting them with local researchers. Dr. Kurima provided insights into higher education, career paths, and research opportunities, helping students envision their future careers more concretely.
During the Miyako High School Lecture event, Dr. Kurima addressed 160 first and second-year students enrolled in the school's Literature and Science Exploration Course. Additionally, high school students from other schools on Miyako Island participated in an after-school lecture session.
Dr. Kurima, who was born in Miyako Island, stated: "I have been engaged in research overseas and at OIST as a scientist, but the road to this point has been a series of choices and not a straight road. I encourage all high school students to consider their future career development with a broad and open-minded perspective."
The after-school lecture explored the topics discussed during the main lectures in greater depth. They provided students with detailed insights into the specific attractions and challenges of research, higher education, and various career paths. This initiative helped deepen students' interest in science and research, while also clarifying their future career choices. Additionally, discussions with Dr. Kurima broadened their understanding of the diversity of career opportunities available.
Yushi Kawamitsu, a second-year student at Miyako High School, hopes to join a Faculty of Education and become a mathematics teacher after graduating: "Dr. Kurima's course was an eye-opening experience for me and taught me that there is more than one way to achieve my goals," he shared.
"I like English and had thought about studying abroad, but after attending this lecture, I realized that I can not only study English, but I can also pursue another specialty that I am good at. Dr. Kurima's lecture broke down my stereotypes," Sora Tomori, a first-year student, remarked.
"In remote island areas, it is rare to hear from researchers conducting cutting-edge research, so I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Kurima for holding this lecture. If we give up on education in remote islands, we will never be able to move forward, so I believe that this opportunity was very meaningful for these students, and that the lecture was a turning point in their career paths and lives," explained Yuki Shimabukuro, a Biology Teacher at Miyako High School.
The principal of Miyako High School, Yoshikazu Matsubara, stated, "Dr. Kurima was a former student at this school, now at a leading international research institution. He shared his research expertise and personal academic journey, including high school, university, and graduate studies, as well as his research experiences in the U.S. This provided a valuable learning opportunity for our students to consider their future career paths. The high level of student engagement and many questions highlighted the success of the lectures. His thoughtful responses were greatly appreciated."
To view more photos from the event, please access the OIST Flickr page here.
