HiSci Lab: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM

HiSci Lab workshops support the advancement of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), by encouraging female high school students in Okinawa Prefecture to continue their education in STEM subjects. The initiative was developed by OIST Diversity Section in 2014 and was formerly known as the "Science Project for Ryukyu Girls Science Camp," before being re-named “HiSci Lab” in 2020.

The 2021 HiSci Lab took place in two parts, first online on February 27th and second face to face on March 13th. During these events, the participants attended talks by female researchers from Okinawa Prefecture, who explained how they chose their fields of study and shared their experiences of life as a researcher. In the online session, Dr. Yuko Kakazu, also from Okinawa and now working at the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, gave a lecture on astronomy. In addition to inspiring lectures, students were given the opportunity to participate in hands-on experiment and fieldwork with PhD students and Post-Doctoral researchers at OIST.

Project Collaborators

HiSci Lab 2021 is sponsored by Okinawa Prefecture and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University Development Promotion Prefectural Council, and supported by the Orchid Bounty Fund.