【Hida City, Gifu】Lecture for Junior High School Students by University of Tokyo Vice President and Cosmic Ray Researchers: 'Is Failure a Passport to Space?' to be Held on June 12th

A special lecture titled 'Mountain, Space, and School of Hope' will be held at the gymnasium of Kamioka Junior High School in Hida City, Gifu Prefecture (Mayor: Junya Tsuzuku) on Friday, June 12th.

Leading-edge researchers unraveling the mysteries of the universe and a Vice President of the University of Tokyo have been invited to speak on the theme 'Is Failure a Passport to Space? ~ Finding Our Hope from 'Good Failure'~.' While this lecture is intended for students of Kamioka Junior High School, it is open to the general public as a free public lecture.

This is a valuable opportunity to hear from Vice President Yuji Genda, who is also a Director of the University of Tokyo.

Event Overview

■ Date and Time
Friday, June 12th, 14:00 - 15:30
■ Venue
Kamioka Junior High School Gymnasium (1 Sakuragaoka, Kamioka-cho, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture)

■ Participation Fee
Free

■ Registration
Not required

Valuable Learning Open to the Public

How do a pioneer of 'Hope Studies' and leading space researchers perceive 'good failure'? If various failures in daily life can be utilized for the next step, perhaps those failures were not in vain. The target audience ranges from young people worried about their career paths to adults living in an era of rapid change. Anyone from across the nation, not just local residents, can participate in this valuable 90-minute session.

Even Top Researchers are 'Full of Failures'

Junior high school is a sensitive time when students begin to worry about their future. The immense challenges faced by researchers might seem like a distant world to them. They might feel that these teachers are special beings untouched by failure. However, even the most advanced researchers are actually full of failures.

In this lecture, Professor Genda will explain his concept of 'good failure' in a way that is accessible to junior high school students, while discussing how failures have been overcome in the challenge of observing cosmic rays and gravitational waves. Through their stories, the lecture aims to provide an opportunity for students, as well as adults struggling with daily work and careers, to reframe everyday failures and setbacks as 'steps toward the future (hope).'

Speaker Profiles

〇 Yuji Genda (Director and Vice President, The University of Tokyo / Professor, Institute of Social Science)
A pioneer of 'Hope Studies.' He researches how people can live with 'hope' in society. He is also knowledgeable about the career and future anxieties of young people.

〇 Shoichi Ogio (Director, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo)
A leader in solving the mysteries of the universe. He researches mysterious particles that shower down from space. He is particularly knowledgeable about high-energy cosmic rays.

〇 Masatake Ohashi (Specially Appointed Professor, Tokyo City University / Specially Appointed Researcher, Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo)
A specialist in gravitational waves. He has been deeply involved in the KAGRA project, which aims to detect 'gravitational waves,' the ripples of the universe.

Experience the Cutting Edge of Space Research and Feel Its Appeal

The venue, Kamioka-cho in Hida City, is a hub for cutting-edge space research facilities such as Super-Kamiokande, KamLAND, and KAGRA, which is scheduled for a public opening the following week. At the same time, it is blessed with beautiful and rich natural environments, including the Yamanomura area at an altitude of about 1,000 meters and the Takahara River, once named Japan's No.1 clear stream for sweetfish. Why not take a short break from your daily routine and visit Hida Kamioka to experience the cutting-edge knowledge of 'space' and 'hope'?

Hida Space Science Museum Kamioka Lab

A facility dedicated to broadly communicating the appeal of research exploring the mysteries of the universe and elementary particles, and creating a new relationship between science and society. Located inside a roadside station, admission is free.

Organizer and Co-organizer

Organizer: Hida City
Co-organizer: Institute for Cosmic Ray Research, The University of Tokyo

Contact Information

Hida City, Kamioka Promotion Office, Regional Development Division
Phone: 0578-82-2253

About Hida City, Gifu Prefecture

Hida City is a small city with a population of approximately 21,000, surrounded by mountains including the Northern Alps, with forests accounting for about 94% of its total area. In addition to abundant natural resources, it is a treasure trove of diverse and unique regional assets, including the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Furukawa Festival Okoshi Daiko,' astrophysics research facilities such as 'Super-Kamiokande' which contributed to a Nobel Prize in Physics, and the rural landscapes that served as the model for the blockbuster anime film 'Your Name.'