Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > WHITE PAPER ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY2003 > Part3 3.3 3.3.5 3.3.5.1

  In Japan,many observers indicate that the younger generation and many other members of society are growing further alienated from science and technology.In order to improve this situation,it is extremely critical to foster an interest and aware-ness of science and technology among the younger generation,and to create an environment that fosters science and technology-oriented human re-sources of a high standard.

  The development of the socioeconomy of Japan has been largely supported by science and techno-logy.In light of the major role played by science and technology education in such efforts,it is necessary to strive to further enhance such education.

  Science education at the elementary and second-dary education level emphasizes observation and experimentation,topic learning through pro-active investigation of topics,and learning through problem solving.Expanded efforts are also being made to foster in children scientific ways of looking at and thinking about the world around us.

  Starting in FY2002,the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology has been implementing the"Science Literacy Enhancement Initiative,"which integrates policies related to science and technology education.Specifically,the Ministry is implementing efforts such as"Super Science High Schools,"where curriculums that emphasize science and mathematics are being studied and developed,and the"Science Partner-ship Program,"which provides opportunities to children to come into contact with science and technology and enriches teacher training by promoting collaboration between universities or research institutes and schools.In addition,the Ministry is proceeding with efforts to develop digital materials for science and technology education that make use of the latest research results,and to develop systems for providing these materials to schools.The Ministry is also moving ahead with efforts on the planned development and expansion of science education equipment,such as experimental equipment at schools.Moreover,decisions have been made for the future promotion of efforts such as the"Rika Daisuki School,"model schools for promoting of science education,which will endeavor to raise children's intellectual curiosity and spirit of inquiry through an emphasis on experimentation and observation in elementary and junior high schools.

  At the same time,in the area of industrial education,practical,hands-on learning has been further expanded in order to adequately respond to progress in an industrial society.To achieve this objective,workshops and other meetings are being held in order to train instructors in new industrial technologies,and efforts are being made for the planned development and expansion of industrial education facilities and equipment at the high school level,in keeping with the new courses of study. The prefectural governments are making good use of scientists,engineers,and other individuals who do not have a teacher certificate to serve as special part-time teachers,in order to support opportunities for children to learn directly from experts in their respective fields.

  Additionally,in FY2002 the Education Personnel Certification Law was revised,thereby enhancing instruction in specialized subjects by making it possible for teachers at junior and senior high schools to provide instruction in science and other subjects at elementary schools.

  With the unprecedented growth of science and technology in recent years,there have been major changes in the makeup of basic scientific know-ledge which students need to acquire at the university level.There has also been an increase in the number of issues that require ethical judgments,including global environment problems and life science fields such as genetic engineering.For this reason,students specializing in disciplines other than science and technology must also acquire knowledge related to natural sciences,and must foster an ability to make judgments in a broad range of fields based on this knowledge.Those students who are majoring in any subject within science and technology must acquire a broad range of scientific knowledge and ability to make judgments above and beyond their major of choice.In light of this situation,it is critical to strive to cultivate in students an ability to make judgments and so forth from a broad perspective,by expanding the realm of general education.With the support of the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology,universities are actively engaged in efforts such as the establishment of courses of study with interdisciplinary and integrated content,in addition to courses of study made up of seminars with small groups of students,and classroom study that incorporates internships and volunteer activities.

  The Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science,and Technology is implementing measures to promote the increased understanding of science and technology,through the holding of public lectures on science and technology at universities and colleges,and through the development and expansion of the University of the Air that offers courses in science and technology.The Ministry also sup-ports symposiums and science lectures targeted at either young people or adults in the general population to disseminate information about the latest research trends,etc.

  In addition,classrooms and other facilities at primary and middle schools,or at universities and specialized training colleges,are opened up on weekends to hold scientific experiment classes for children.Furthermore,in order to expand upon and effectively utilize the functions of science museums,the Ministry is implementing a variety of pilot programs with the coordination and cooperation between museums,schools,and other related institutions,and is also implementing programs to introduce the successful results of these programs on a nationwide level.Additionally,the Ministry is implementing specialized training for curators and other museum specialists employed at natural science museums,etc.,in order to improve their level.

  The National Science Museum implements education and promotion activities throughout the year that serve to deepen the understanding of science and technology,and also implements training programs for science educators and curators of natural science museums.

  Currently,the museum is promoting improvement of the new Building No.2facility,where emphasis will be placed on exhibitions focusing on a certain main theme each time,based on the latest research results and on multi-faceted viewpoints.

  The Japan Science and Technology Agency(JST)operates the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation(MeSci).This museum takes advantage of visual and hands-on participatory exhibits to introduce in an easy to comprehend manner the most advanced and recent science and technology,usually thought of as very difficult to understand.The museum also acts as a general base for the dissemination of information to promote understanding of science and technology,and also as a place where scientists capable of generating creative ideas may interact.

  In addition,MeSci works on developing new exhibition techniques that allow patrons to gain more familiarity with the most advanced science and technology and also supports science and technology education activities in cooperation with local schools.MeSci also canvasses widely for ideas that are appealing to young people,to be tested and displayed for use in its exhibitions.Furthermore,MeSci supports the development of educational programs in which young people can experience the fun and appeal of building things and of science and technology through experiments or robot technology study at school and at MeSci.