NEWS

The "Hirameki Tokimeki Science - Welcome to the University Lab" event was held at APU on Saturday, July 20st, and Sunday, July 21st. Oita National College of Technology, participating in the event for the first time, sent 26 students to attend the seminar on the 20th. Oita Maizuru High School and Iwata High School, who have participated in previous years, sent 25 and 13 students respectively to attend the seminar on the 21st.  

Students observing the workings of a computer and LCD screen

Held jointly by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, APU, and the Asia Pacific Innovation Management Center (AP-IMAC), the "Hirameki Tokimeki Science" program aims to nurture intellectual creativity in the young minds of the future and also present research achieved through Grant-in-Aid funds from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Now in its seventh year, the seminar was lead by APM Professor NAKATA Yukihiko under the theme of "Japanese Manufacturing and International Management: From the Birth of LCD Calculators to the Development of LCD Televisions and Solar Batteries".  

Professor NAKATA's lecture focused on "how LCD works" and "Japanese manufacturing from the viewpoint of LCD ". With the cooperation of the former Sharp Oita Technology Center Director Mr. SHUTO Yoshihisa, participants disassembled a laptop computer and observed the structure of the LCD inside. APU domestic and international students also participated as teaching assistants (TA) and held group discussions and presentations on creative technologies based on a viewing of the NHK program “Project X”.

Following this, Mr. SHUTO explained the history and development of the electronic calculator and gave an introduction of the world's first desktop electronic calculator, on display at the British Museum.

Student participants from Oita National College of Technology

The seminar proved to be a great opportunity for the high school students to get a glimpse into the workings of a laptop computer and the world's first calculator, satisfy their intellectual curiosity and develop their creativity. 

Student participants from Oita Maizuru High School and Iwata High School

At the conclusion of the event, Professor NAKATA handed all of the participants a "Future PhD" and encouraged the students to carry on the world-renowned Japanese tradition of manufacturing and research.