OLYMPUS TECHNOZONE Vol.69 2007-11
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INDEX
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What can scientists and businesses do for the children of today and the people of tomorrow?
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Waku-Waku Science Program
Volunteers from the Olympus facility in Hachioji City, Tokyo, visit local elementary and junior high schools to teach the children about the fun of science through experiments and projects. This program has been run by Olympus employees since 2003. (Note: Waku-waku means "exciting" in Japanese.) |
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Natural Science Observation Contest
Olympus is a co-sponsor of this contest, which was established to give children an opportunity to present the results of their own research and scientific projects during the summer vacation. It was first held in 1960. The 47th contest in 2006 attracted 8,285 entries from elementary school children and 1,670 from junior high school students. (Website: http://www.shizecon.net). |
You said earlier that culture includes emotions and language. I am glad that Riken provides its scientists with opportunities to remember these things.
These are essentially issues that require a response from society as a whole. They are not questions for individual research institutes or companies, but rather for the whole of society, including families and communities.
We are involved through our microscopes and other products, and we will do our best to contribute.
Olympus is a co-sponsor of the Natural Science Observation Contest for elementary and junior high school students, and voluntary groups of employees from our facility in Hachioji City, Tokyo, visit local elementary and junior high schools to teach the children about the fun of science through experiments and projects.
These things are important. Every year during Science and Technology Week we open up our Wako Campus to the public. This year there were 6,500 visitors, and the place was alive with excited children. Some say children are no longer interested in science, but seeing those children convinced me that science still has a future.
Science is fascinating. As living creatures, human beings are instinctively eager to learn about nature and the real world. They enjoy learning. By understanding and learning about nature we begin to understand our own position and situation, and we learn to be humble.
The world has certainly become more convenient, and we can no longer tell what is real and what is virtual. But we need to take care of the real world in which we live. And we should allow our children to accumulate many kinds of experiences from when they are small. It may be difficult, but that is why we adults need to think about what we can do.
I am saddened by the tendency to focus too much on efficiency and results, and by the spread of the market economy. Money is a tool, not a goal. We must first create an economy that values culture, and a civilized society based on respect for culture. In all that we do, we must never lose sight of respect for culture, because we all need culture as a foundation for our hearts and minds.
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