Sharing the Fun and Excitement of Science

In Nobel Prize Award Ceremony this year, there were four Japanese who were awarded for Physics and Chemistry Prizes. On one side, there has been concern about children avoiding to study science. What can adults do to grow passion in science among children? In year 2002, we asked an awardee of Physics Nobel Prize, Professor Koshiba Masatoshi.

Professor Koshiba invested his money award to establish "Heisei Foundation for Basic Science" which aims to promote basic science. Targeting high school and university students, he is opening "classrooms to enjoy science" whereby lecture is conducted without dropping the quality level of the most advanced science. It is not "fun class" but "a class to enjoy". If one does not put any effort, one will not be able to enjoy the class. He emphasized that he "wants the young people to have enthusiasm and ambition".

"Like it is said in public, people do not feel that Japanese children are avoiding science" said Professor Koshiba. The issue that he is concerned about is "basically the potential of the children who like science and do well in science, is not being fully realized by the children themselves, and is not shown because of the their education and environment".

"In order to share and pass on the fun and excitement of science to students, the teachers themselves have to love science, and to have the feeling that science is enjoyable is indispensable" said the Professor. If a teacher thinks that "Because it is compulsory, so I teach", the students might not develop the love for science. One teacher in a primary school said that in the school whereby teachers teach all subjects, it is impossible to teach science and share the love of science at the same time.

So, what should we do? "Although the government said 'We do not have budget', we can do something about it by setting up an organization consisting of almamaters or associated graduate students within a set period of time to plead for the importance of teaching science while sharing the love of it as well" said Professor Koshiba

Comments: I agree that indeed it is important to have love and passion in whatever you are doing, whether it is to do what you love to do, or to love what you are doing, because it is a pity if you feel forced to do something. In the case of learning science, school plays a very important role to cultivate the passion of learning among children, and it is sad that today there are a lot of schools that might forget the essence of educating young minds and developing their interests, and instead just continue to do teaching and learning so the students can pass the examinations, and often the school pays less careful attention to whether the fun and excitement of learning something is passed on or not.

NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama

Indonesia

APM 2nd Year, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University