The "Science Project for Ryukyu Girls Science Camp" began in 2014 as a program to help inspire high school girls in Okinawa Prefecture to choose a career in science.
This program was renamed as "HiSci Lab" in March 2021. HiSci is an acronym for "High School" and "Science". The pronunciation is the same as Okinawan greeting, "Haisai!”
HiSci Lab does not only convey the joy of science but it also features testimonials from female scientists (role models) on what inspires them to pursue a career in science, what they have experienced in their university lives, and their current lives as researchers. The program also allows the participants to interact with female scientists. The advice from female scientists who are conducting cutting-edge scientific research will definitely be useful for your future!
HiSci Lab also serves as an opportunity for high school students who are interested in the same field to meet and interact with each other.
The theme of HiSci Lab program changes every year, and even if you participate every year, we are sure that you will learn something new!
The theme for this year is “The science of food, clothing and shelter on our islands”
The workshop is scheduled for 3 days and 2 night.
In the field of "Clothing," students will study the traditional Okinawan crafts of bashofu and Ryukyu indigo. Bashofu, a traditional Okinawan craft, is one of the OIST Innovation initiatives that OIST is currently focusing on, and students will learn about traditional crafts x science and technology x entrepreneurship.
Regarding "food," Professor Hidetoshi Sase, head of Plant Epigenetics Unit at OIST, will introduce the "Churaotome Research and Development Project" initiated in 2012. In addition, with the cooperation of a local chef, a talk on local production for local consumption and Okinawa's healthy longevity diet will be given, along with a cooking class to learn more about local seasonal ingredients.
For housing, students will learn about "Sustainable Living Architecture," an experiment conducted by Professor Hiroaki Kitano, who heads Integrated Open Systems Unit.
Female high school students living in Okinawa (27 people)
Registration fee
Free registration (accommodation included)
※For remote island participants, travel expenses are provided.
Application deadline
December 1st, 2024 (Sun)
※ The selection result will be announced via email by the end of December 2024. Please check your settings to ensure that you can receive emails from @oist.jp domain.
Application method
Please submit personal statement (within 400 characters in Japanese) on why you wish to participate in this workshop.
《Applications are closed》
Workshop Schedule
January 11th, 2025 (Sat)
13:00
・meet at OIST
Participants who live on remote islands: We will contact you individually.
Participants who live on the main island: Transportation from home to OIST is required.
January 11th, 2025 (Sat)
14:00-18:00
・Introduction to OIST
・Science Career Talks by Female Scientists
・Campus Tour / Lab Tour
January 12th, 2025 (Sun)
9:00-18:30
・Introduction of OIST Innovation Initiatives and Learning about Ryukyu Indigo Dyeing.
・"Chura-Otome Research and Development Project"
~Development of a new variety of indigestible rice that yields high yields in subtropical climates~.
・Talk on local production for local consumption and Okinawa's healthy longevity diet and cooking class.
January 13th, 2025 (Mon)
9:00-15:00
・What is comfortable living with 100% renewable energy?
Learn about ”Sustainable Living Architecture”
January 13th, 2025 (Mon)
15:00
・Participants from the main island of Okinawa will be dismissed around 3:00 p.m.
Guardians will need to pick up their children from OIST.
・Participants from the remote islands will be transported to Naha Airport by courtesy car.
Additional Information
【 Meeting point 】
The meeting point for the workshop will be at OIST.
Participants from Okinawa main island will need to arrange their own transportation to OIST (January 11th) and from OIST (January 13th).
【 Accommodation and Meals 】
The workshop is of 3 days and 2 night.
Accommodation and meals during the workshop will be provided by OIST.
【 Transportation 】
Transportation from the workshop venue to and from the accommodations will be provided by OIST.
For participants living on remote islands, OIST will provide the following in addition to the above.
・Round-trip airfare from the nearest airport to Naha Airport
・Round-trip transportation from Naha Airport to the workshop venue
Workshop Venue
OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology )
The meeting place on Janualy 11 is OIST.
Click here for a map.
Fureai Learning Center
workshop venue for January 12.
Click here for a map.
OIST Seaside House
Accommodation will be at the OIST Seaside House.
Click here for a map.
Organizer: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Co-sponsored: Okinawa Prefecture / Council for Promotion of OIST
click here for a map
