Chemistry Chat

In this journal, we would like to introduce science club activities by junior and senior high school students, who are striving hard for a dream to become a future scientist. On this occasion we visited a science club at Rikkyo Ikebukuro Junior & Senior High School on January 22, 2013, just after the National Center Test for University admissions was held. They have achieved excellent results in competitions such as the International Chemistry Olympiad and Japan Science & Engineering Challenge. Education at Rikkyo School emphasizes a focus on the pursuit of truth and cooperation, and aims to nurture independence of students. We were invited to their laboratory after a greeting with a teacher/club advisor Mr. Goto and a teacher/assistant advisor Mr. Tsushima at the entrance, and saw students there performing experiments on their own.

In academic year 2012, 22 students (10 junior high and 12 senior high) belong to the club. Activities are taking place four times a week for two hours each. An interesting feature of the club is that students form a team with those having the same theme, appoint a team leader and make experiment plans on their own. Teachers are pretty busy supporting students’ entire activities, giving strict safety guidance on their experiment plans and preparing facilities, equipment and chemicals at their requests. “I would like students to experience a self-motivated study like the one in university laboratories” says Mr. Goto, a teacher/advisor. One of the other great appeals is that the school is attached to a university so that, as necessary, students may use facilities of nearby Rikkyo University, College of Science.

Both seemed to have been fascinated with chemical experiments.