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Part 1: Creativity of Japan's Science and Technology
Chapter 2 Current State and Issue of Japan's Science and Technology
Section 6 Public Understanding of Science and Technology
1. Youth and Science and Technology


Young people are the carriers and appreciators of science and technology in the future. Therefore, the education of science and technology, and physical science is essential for fostering human resources of broad interest.

(Youth's Disinterest in Science and Technology, and Physical Science)

It is widely known that those who have produced excellent achievements in science and technology began to have interest in science in their elementary school days. Meanwhile, youth's disinterest in science and technology, and physical science has been pointed out recently.

The follow-up survey by the National Institute for Educational Research indicates a tendency that as they advance in grade, their interest in physical science diminishes ( Fig. 23 ).

Fig. 23 The Interest of Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High School Students in Science and Technology, "Does sciences interest you?"

Intellectual creativity is the most vital resources for Japan. Therefore, it is a critical issue for Japan to cultivate interest and concern about science and technology.

(International Comparison on Dreams for the 21st Century, of Junior and Senior High School Students)

According to the survey (1999) conducted by the Japan Youth Research Institute on the dreams for the 21st century among the junior and senior high schools in Japan, Korea, the U.S. and China, Japanese youth have lost dreams and are changing from the future-oriented to the present-oriented, and have also lost the ideals of industrial society such as diligence and effort-making ( Fig. 24 ).

Fig. 24 International Comparison about the 21st Century Dreams of Junior and Senior High Schools

It is extremely important to let the youth acquire knowledge enabling them to think by themselves about the relation between science and technology and society, have a dream on science and technology, and expand their volition to challenge it. In science education at school, experiential and problem-solving type of study should be enriched through observations, experiments and theme-studies. On top of that, it is also important for them to provide opportunities to come in touch with science and technology through extracurricular activities at sites such as high educational institutes, museums and science halls.


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