Science, Self-discovery, and New Connections: Koishikawa Metropolitan Secondary School Visits Seattle
This August, FIUTS was excited to welcome 13 students from Koishikawa Metropolitan Secondary School in Tokyo for a week of science, technology, communication, and cultural exchange!
With a focus on STEM, the students spent the week exploring university research, meeting faculty and technology professionals, practicing their English communication skills, and getting to know Seattle with FIUTS Student Ambassadors.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Students had the opportunity to visit labs and research spaces across the University of Washington, including the WISH Lab at UW Seattle and Innovation Hall at UW Bothell. They saw a scanning electron microscope in action and met with researchers working in sensor systems and artificial intelligence.
The group also visited the UW Global Innovation Exchange and Microsoft, where they were able to learn more about how research and new ideas in science and technology can be developed into real-world applications.
Finding Confidence Through Connection
Beyond learning about science and technology, an important part of the program was giving students opportunities to experience university and daily life in Seattle.
FIUTS Student Ambassadors joined the Koishikawa students throughout the week for lunches, campus activities, excursions around Seattle, and the final dinner and presentations. Spending time together gave students the chance to practice English outside of the classroom, ask questions about university life, and make new friends.
“The Ambassador system is truly amazing,” one teacher shared. They described the opportunity to interact closely with local and international students as an invaluable experience that could inspire Koishikawa students when they go to college in the future.
From Science to Storytelling
Communication was another important part of the week. Through workshops with FIUTS, students practiced public speaking and English presentation skills, explored the connections between science and art, and prepared presentations on their own research and interests.
After days of lectures, lab visits, conversations, and exploration, the final presentations gave students a chance to step into the spotlight and put their new skills into practice.
For many, it was their first time presenting in English to university professors and an international audience.
And in true FIUTS fashion, the week was about more than what students learned. It was about who they met, what they discovered, and how those experiences changed the way they see the world.
The Koishikawa students packed a lot into one week! They explored new areas of science and technology, experienced life on a U.S. university campus, practiced communicating in English, discovered Seattle, and built friendships with FIUTS Student Ambassadors.
One teacher summed up the experience simply as “an invaluable and unforgettable experience for the students.”
Thank you to the students and teachers from Koishikawa Metropolitan Secondary School, the UW faculty and researchers who shared their time and expertise, our wonderful FIUTS Student Ambassadors, and everyone who helped make this program possible. We were so happy to welcome Koishikawa to Seattle and hope to see them again in the future!