MIT Alumni Association of Japan to Host 'MIT Japan STEAM Workshop 2026' for Schoolgirls in Collaboration with Science Tokyo

## MIT Alumni Association of Japan to Host 'MIT Japan STEAM Workshop 2026' for Schoolgirls in Collaboration with Science Tokyo

The MIT Alumni Association of Japan, representing graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Japan, announced it will co-host the 2026 MIT Japan STEAM Workshop in partnership with the MIT-Japan Program, which sends MIT student interns to Japan.

Since 2023, the MIT Alumni Association of Japan has been conducting workshops for the younger generation, aiming to expand the population interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) fields.

This workshop is an experiential educational event designed to allow children who will lead Japan's future to encounter the appeal of STEAM, fostering creativity and inquiry while maintaining a sense of curiosity. Facilitators for the workshop include current MIT students interning in Japan and MIT alumni. Participants will be divided into groups to experience science and engineering through hands-on activities, such as DNA extraction experiments and the traditional MIT Egg Drop. The workshop aims to teach the joy of STEAM, collaborative work, and the real-world applications of scientific experiments.

Given the significant gender gap in the STEM-learning population in Japan, the MIT Alumni Association of Japan aims to contribute to reducing this gap. Consequently, the workshop is open exclusively to female elementary school students in grades 5 and 6, and female junior high school students in grade 1.

For this STEAM workshop, Ayano Kagami, CIC Catalyst APAC Director, will be welcomed as a guest speaker. With a Ph.D. in Science and expertise in molecular biology and genetics, she has research experience at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and MIT, and is currently involved in supporting startups and promoting innovation.

Participation is free, thanks to the support of Science Tokyo, which provides the venue, and sponsor Kendall Square Ventures. Applications are open to students who want to challenge themselves with STEAM or try new things.

## Event Overview
- Date: Sunday, July 26, 2026
- Venue: Kuramae Hall, Kuramae Kaikan, Science Tokyo, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
- Capacity: 60 participants
- Deadline for applications: Friday, June 19, 2026, at 23:55
- Eligibility: Exclusively for female elementary students (grades 5-6) and junior high school students (grade 1)

* The event will be held in rainy weather. Parental accompaniment is not required.

## Guest Profile
Ayano Kagami, Director of CIC Catalyst APAC. Ph.D. in Science, specializing in molecular biology and genetics. A graduate of the University of Tokyo, she has worked at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology before studying at MIT in 2017. Since 2021, she has been with CIC, supporting life science startups and their international expansion.

## About the Organizations
- MIT-Japan Program: Established in 1981, providing opportunities for MIT students to work and research in Japan.
- MIT Alumni Association of Japan: Founded in 1911, the first alumni association outside the US, with over 1,900 members.