Selection of Fiscal 2026 Institutions for the 'Support Program for Junior and Senior High School Girls in Choosing Science Career Paths'

JST (President: Kazuhito Hashimoto) has decided on the selected institutions for the fiscal year 2026 'Support Program for Junior and Senior High School Girls in Choosing Science Career Paths.' The 7th Science, Technology, and Innovation Basic Plan aims to promote gendered innovation and expand the base of science and technology personnel who aspire to inventions and discoveries by enhancing science and mathematics education and promoting support for female junior and senior high school students in choosing science career paths. Furthermore, the 6th Basic Plan for Gender Equality aims to nationwide improve the interest and understanding of students, parents, and teachers regarding careers in science and technology. It focuses on promoting women's choice of science and engineering paths and nurturing next-generation female science and technology personnel through opportunities to deepen interest in STEM fields to dispel unconscious bias and improving images of science and engineering education and professions through information provision. Based on these plans, the 'Support Program for Junior and Senior High School Girls in Choosing Science Career Paths' supports various initiatives to increase interest and concern among female junior and senior high school students in science and engineering fields and to encourage them to pursue science career paths (Support amount: up to 6 million yen per case per year, support period: up to 3 years). This year's recruitment was conducted from January 21, 2026 (Wed) to February 18, 2026 (Wed), with 24 applications. After review by a committee composed of external experts, four institutions were selected based on the results. This brings the total number of institutions implementing this program in fiscal 2026 to 15 locations. For details of the project, please refer to the website below: URL: https://www.jst.go.jp/cpse/jyoshi/ For example, global climate change, energy and resource issues, infectious diseases, and food problems. Numerous difficulties stand in our way, and solutions are required to overcome them. JST tackles these difficulties with 'science and technology.' Supporting basic research and startups to create new value, planning research strategies, nurturing human resources as the foundation of research, disseminating information, and operating the University Fund to support International Excellence Research Universities. JST serves as a compass for ships crossing rough seas, showing the path to follow and supporting science and technology from various angles while connecting safe and prosperous lives to the future. JST is a National Research and Development Agency that plays a core role in promoting science, technology, and innovation policies. List of Selected Institutions for the Fiscal 2026 'Support Program for Junior and Senior High School Girls in Choosing Science Career Paths' Institution Name: Obirin University Project Name: 'Science Career Choice Support Program Based on Liberal Arts Thinking: Finding "Actually Science" - Discover! Science' Outline: One of the challenges of Japan's school education system is the current situation where students avoid choosing science paths early due to a sense of weakness in science subjects by the time they enter high school. Therefore, this project 'Discover! Science' will pull out interest, concern, and admiration for science through experiences, centering on visiting classes for female junior and senior high school students and online courses for parents and children. In achieving this, it emphasizes the interdisciplinary learning method that is a feature of Obirin University's College of Liberal Arts, planning various programs under the keyword 'Actually Science.' For promotion, coordinators and university student mentors will serve as instructors based on the achievements of the career support project 'Discover!' Using PR know-how through networks with junior and senior high schools, it aims for 1,500 female students to participate annually. Institution Name: Gifu University Project Name: 'Gifu Science Flight Support Project' Outline: Gifu Prefecture is one of the world's leading clusters for the aerospace industry, designated as the Asia No. 1 Aerospace Industry Cluster Special Zone, and is also an advanced area for manufacturing technology combining tradition and innovation, home to Seki City, one of the world's top three cutlery production areas. In this project, Gifu University, with cooperation from the Gifu Prefectural Board of Education, will target female junior and senior high school students, parents, and teachers throughout the prefecture. It will stimulate interest and concern in the engineering field, which has the lowest female ratio, by providing visiting classes using familiar manufacturing as an entry point, tours of affiliated companies and related facilities, robot workshops using programming, and information dissemination regarding career choices and career paths, thereby constructing a support model for career choices directly linked to the growth industries Gifu boasts to the world. Institution Name: Numazu National College of Technology (Numazu KOSEN) Project Name: '(Provisional) Fuji no Kuni Project to Open the Door to Science - Thinking Together about the "Science Path"' Outline: Target the eastern region of Shizuoka Prefecture to implement a regional cooperation program that supports the arousal of interest in science and engineering fields and the formation of career awareness. In this region, there are few science exploration bases, and information and experience opportunities regarding science career paths are insufficient. Therefore, in addition to hands-on workshops, visits to companies and research institutions, and interactions with female engineers and students, it will reach out to parents and teachers and build a network of science teachers.