Shizuoka Prefecture

A hands-on study program for elementary through high school students called, “Study the Sea on a Research Ship” (SSRS)was held from August 3 through 8 in Shizuoka Prefecture’s Suruga Bay. The event, which was organized by the Japan Science Society, in cooperation with Tokai University and the Oceanographic Society of Japan, with financial support from the Nippon Foundation. This year marked the fourth time that SSRS has been held. The 79 participants were selected based on essays related to the sea, and then divided into ten groups. Each group was then assigned a research theme, such as marine weather or the diversity of sea life.

Onboard the Bosei Maru

On the first day, participants attended a class at Tokai University’s Miho Training Center. The following day, they boarded the Bosei Maru, a Tokai University marine research and training vessel, and sailed from Shimizu Port. They then pursued marine research activities over the next two days. For their marine observations, the young researchers used the same equipment used by Tokai University for coursework and research.

The Bosei Maru is a large marine research ship. For this study session, researchers at the School of Marine Science and Technology at Tokai University, including Professor Yoshihisa Kato, as well as Hokkaido University Graduate School Professor Michio Kishi and Yokohama National University Professor Tomohiko Kikuchi, boarded the ship to provide advice and guidance to the participants. In addition, 17 graduate and undergraduate students from the School of Marine Science and Technology at Tokai University assisted the participants as tutors. With encouragement from the tutors, the participants gradually came to understand the basics of marine research and formed fast friendships with other group members.

Unidentified deep-sea fish found during sampling

On August 8, the final day of the study session, the groups announced the results of their observation and research. Participants offered a wide range of comments in response to their experience. “I got to see fish I’ve only seen in textbooks before,” said one participant; “I’m interested in marine research now,” said another. Despite the widespread belief that many of today’s high school students lack interest in science or marine issues, the students who participated in the study session demonstrated keen interest and an affinity for the sea. In fact, some past participants of this program have gone on to study at the School of Marine Science and Technology at Tokai University.