JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Q. How did the parents who participated in the event respond?

Group work

There are many people who say they don't know how to teach science to their children. For example, even if they buy their kids books on space, they don't read these books themselves. That said, when they see their children work hard and participate in scientific experiments in front of their eyes, they seem to be impressed. Many parents often say, "Thank you for encouraging my child to have an interest in science."
In addition, the event rekindles an interest in space among parents who haven't thought about science since their own school days. A lot of people say, "I came here only because I had to bring my child, but I just found myself getting into it."
The world thinks of Japan as a scientific nation, but the current number of Japanese post-secondary students in science-related fields is appallingly low - less than 30 percent of all students. That's especially low compared to the West. Our company's president graduated from a university in England, and he can hardly believe this low number. I think if parents have an interest in science and encourage their children's interest, more children will go into scientific fields, and science in Japan will get a boost.
These responses from parents are greatly appreciated, and we would like to continue enlightening adults as well as children.

Q. What are your hopes for the Space Education Center?

Commemorative photo shoot in a space suit

At last year's event, the cooperation from JAXA staff was great. JAXA lent each of our staff members one of its blue space suits, gave the children booklets about space, exhibited models of the H-II B Launch Vehicle and the International Space Station, displayed the space suits so that children could get their photos taken in them, and put messages from participating children on the Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki.
Children who participated were excited about talking to people who actually work for JAXA, and I feel that the gap between the general public and Japanese space development lessened a bit after we hosted this event together. When we surveyed the participating children after the event, there were quite a few who said they had decided they wanted to become astronauts. So I feel we got a great response to last year's Cosmic College, and we would definitely like to continue this project with JAXA in the future.

Courtesy: Discovery Communications, Inc., © 2010