Exploring Science in Seattle: Koishikawa High School Program 2025

Exploring the UW WISH Medical Simulation Laboratory

From August 18-22, FIUTS had the joy of welcoming students from Koishikawa Metropolitan Secondary School in Tokyo for a week of science exploration at the University of Washington and across the Seattle region. The school is designated a “Super Science High School”, and the program brought together leading researchers, cutting-edge labs, and inspiring cultural experiences to inspire students to deepen their learning and explore career paths in science fields.

Practicing Public Speaking Skills

Students met with faculty and researchers to learn about engineering, materials science, assistive robotics, and high-performance computing. They tried their hands at medical simulations, studied packaging and sustainability, and even got a close-up look at the electron microscope! Beyond campus, they visited the DigiPen Institute of Technology, the Museum of Flight, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Garden, and the Microsoft Visitors Center.

Throughout the busy week, students reflected on what surprised them, what challenged them, and what they found most inspiring. Many shared that seeing science applied to real-world problems gave them a new perspective on their own research projects.

“I was surprised that technology can connect to art and nature, like glass and engineering,” one student said after visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass.

“The healthcare visit helped me to visualize my future more clearly, because I want to work in a medical field,” shared one student after visiting the UW WISH medical simulation lab

“I practiced giving speeches, emphasizing the important things. My presentation was very long, but the Ambassadors helped me to make it shorter and clearer.” one student reflected on the public speaking workshops

The week ended with a final dinner where students presented their own research topics to the group, celebrating all they learned and the friendships they formed.

We are so grateful to the many UW faculty, local partners, and community members who made this experience possible. We are so inspired by the curiosity and creativity these young scientists brought to every session, and we hope to see them again in Seattle as they pursue their future careers as scientists!