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Some 30 undergraduate students from the University of Washington and other partner universities from the United States and United Kingdom took part in this year's STEM Summer Programme (TSSP), an interactive exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Running from June 23 to July 18, the programme offered participants a comprehensive overview of the university's academic offerings through a carefully curated blend of lectures, laboratory visits and cultural workshops that showcased both cutting-edge research and traditional Japanese heritage.

Professor Kazuya Yoshida's popular lecture on Robotics for Space Exploration set an inspiring tone early in the programme. The lecture covered key robotics technology for lunar and planetary exploration, including hardware design, motion mechanics, sensing and navigation control and AI. "These days the capability of AI is growing very rapidly, and the students are obviously very interested in what AI can do," said Yoshida. "There were several good questions from them, and we had an interesting discussion about how today's AI can be used in near-future space exploration."

"The class on robotics and space was my favourite," said Tai Schaefer, a third-year computer science student from Penn State University. "I enjoyed our visit to the professor's lab, seeing the researchers working on their projects and hearing about the Moonshot programme. It was really inspiring and interesting!"

Another perennial favourite was Associate Professor Yoshiaki Abe's lecture on aircraft design, which combined theoretical aerodynamics and structural mechanics with practical learning through paper plane flight observations.

"I explained the basics of how to design an aeroplane," said Abe. "But of course, design is based on more than just aerodynamics; it also takes into account structural features and that's what I wanted to emphasise."

Students were treated to immersive experiences in the university's Realisation Workspace, a 3D visualisation facility where they could "experience" the turbulent flows around an airport and microflows in molecular-scale simulations. They also visited the institute's low-disturbance wind tunnel, where they could feel the flow speed and physically interact with the principles being taught.

Former university president Professor Hideo Ohno returned to the classroom to give a lecture on the active field of spintronics, which utilises the spin of the electron as an additional degree of freedom in electronic devices. He began by explaining the fundamental principles of magnetisation reversal, including methods that use magnetic fields or electric currents. This provided a foundation for understanding how data is stored and read from magnetic hard disk drives, a technology that uses pioneering research done at Tohoku University.

To reinforce these concepts, students engaged in a small experiment using permanent magnets and a compass to help them visualise how to store information in a magnet. They then visited the laboratories and a clean room.

The four-week curriculum addressed a wide variety of other STEM disciplines, including quantum theory, active tactile sensor systems and environmental radiation. The students also heard about a research expedition in Arctic waters, and a 17th century mission from Sendai to the Vatican.

A particularly impactful session by professors from the International 雷速体育_中国足彩网￥在线直播 Institute for Disaster Science (IRIDeS) was a multidisciplinary examination of how and why earthquakes and tsunamis occur, with observations and lessons from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Led by Professor Takeshi Kakegawa from the Department of Geosciences, the group then spent a day in the coastal areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

"I liked how we had a really good range of perspectives, like the scientific perspective and then the more psychological perspective and then the rebuilding perspective," said Cordelia Tierno, an engineering student from the University of Washington. "It was interesting to hear the lectures and then go on the field trip to actually see the places we talked about."

Professor Fumio Ohuchi's lecture on Japanese swords provided a captivating intersection of cultural heritage and materials science, examining these historically significant artefacts through a modern scientific lens, followed by an enlightening visit to a swordsmith's factory.

In addition to the stimulating academic sessions, the students enjoyed cultural immersion through weekly Japanese language classes and workshops on traditional arts such as flower arrangement (kado), tea ceremony (sado) and aikido. They also visited the castle town of Shiroishi and the historical Chusonji Konjikido temple.

For many participants, the programme offered more than just academic knowledge - it provided personal growth and cultural understanding. "I honestly think the best thing was gaining confidence in myself because travelling alone here was a big step for me," said Freya Mottley, a first-year environmental science student from the University of East Anglia. "The content we're learning here is world-class. My university doesn't have many of these machines so it was cool seeing it in person and thinking, 'Wow, I can work in this field if I really put my mind to it.' It's been very inspiring."

"These exchange programmes are designed to show students what Tohoku University can offer and also help those who are still undecided explore potential academic paths," said Professor Yumiko Watanabe, one of the programme's organisers. "But of course, our biggest hope is that they also gain an appreciation for Japan that entices them to come back."

For more information about TSSP and other Tohoku University's exchange programmes, please visit: https://www.insc.tohoku.ac.jp/english/exchange/