The Science Castle Project aims to develop human resources who can identify and solve problems on their own,Project to support middle and high school students in all aspects of their research activitiesThe project is a "research mindset". The junior and senior high school student researchers who participate in the project will acquire a "research mindset" and grow up to become human resources who can change the world with a "scientific approach" as a weapon in future society.

 

At Science Castle,libernessis working with various partners (companies and universities) to stimulate the sensibilities of teenage researchers and promote their research activities. We hope to build partnerships in accordance with the characteristics and intentions of each partner organization.

 

The positioning of partnerships at Science Castle in the corporate world is also changing: some companies are focusing on partnerships as a form of CSR (corporate social responsibility), while others have adopted the philosophy that research is difficult and they would very much like to support it, or to foster the next generation of research talent in the XXX field. In recent years, some companies have come to share common goals that transcend generational boundaries (e.g., wanting to conduct bold research toward 2050, or wanting to address health and disability in society as a whole). Gradually, companies and teenage researchers are becoming more aligned and on equal footing.

 

 

When employees of partner companies participate in these activities, they often say that they have decided to do more of what they want to do, that they have become more motivated, and that they have changed the way they think about their careers. By experiencing the values that lie at the root of their own companies and by talking directly with teenagers, they can be stimulated and their ideas can be enriched. RIVERNESS has also received news of improved engagement survey figures.

 

Please contact us when you want to put a new spin on your company's research activities.

 

<Examples of Science Castle applications in the corporate world

Community and Social Contribution Activities

Educational opportunities for junior high and high school students for the purpose of building mid- to long-term relationships are not established. Or, it is used as a solution to issues such as the fact that the activities are often limited to volunteer activities.

Philosophy and Purpose Education (Inner Branding)

The purpose of this program is to increase the number of employees who, through the opportunity to explain their company's philosophy and perspectives to the next generation, gain a new and deeper understanding of those philosophies and perspectives, and are able to speak about them in their own words.

Branding for the next generation (to solve the shortage of industrial human resources)

The total number of industrial human resources is decreasing due to the aging and declining population, resulting in a shortage of necessary human resources. In addition, activities to broaden the base of industry are not being undertaken. Utilization as part of branding for the next generation to solve these issues.

 

Reference Article:

A Dream Over 12 Years: Serious Dialogue Between the Next Generation and Businesses Begins" (Kyoiku Ouen vol.61)

 

Possibility of "co-education" on labor shortage problem of Japanese companies
Resolving the Manpower Shortage in Businesses from a Human Resources Sustainability Perspective" (Human Resources Support vol.24)

You can participate in the Science Castle project in one or a combination of four major projects.

• interpoint (interword separation)Participation in convention projects
• interpoint (interword separation)Establishment of a research fund for middle and high school students
• interpoint (interword separation)Conducting future workshops
• interpoint (interword separation)Next Generation Research Institute Project

Participation in convention projects

Participate in booth exhibits, judge dispatch, and special events at Science Castle Tokyo/Kanto, Osaka/Kansai, and Asia.

Booths will be available to exchange ideas and distribute items. By speaking with the 100-200 teens attending the conference and their accompanying teachers, you can create a strong connection with the educational field.

Establishment of a research fund for middle and high school students

This is a program to support research by setting up a Science Castle Research Fund, collecting research based on themes set by partners, and providing research funds for applications with particularly outstanding ideas. In addition to financial support, we can provide specialized equipment and assign our own researchers and technicians as research coaches. 6 to 9 months of involvement with the partners will create a deep collaborative experience.

Reference: List of Science Castle Research Funds under application, under review, and past Science Castle Research Funds

Conducting future workshops

The Future Workshop is a workshop that borrows the conceptualization skills of teenage researchers to drastically change the way business people think and create the power to implement ideas. Then, what will the future person say to their present selves? This project is an attempt to draw up a picture of what the current research should be based on the suggestions from the teenagers who have seen this future. The partners will orient the workshop by setting themes such as "Forests in 2050" and "Space Utilization in 2050," and participate in discussions with teenage researchers.

Next Generation Research Institute Project

After the Science Castle competition, there is a gap where students are "forced to abandon the research they have done up to high school" due to career events such as completion of classes and club activities, entrance exams, and insufficient access to research environments in their first year of college. In order to solve this problem, the Next Generation Research Institute was established by people who have participated in competitions (alumni). They have started their activities with the aim of creating a place for their own research.

This is where we can jump even further beyond the boundaries of the Science Castle Research Fund and the convention and create a long-term relationship.

 

→directional marker or indicator ADvance Lab (Next Generation Laboratory), an institute for next generation researchers in their teens to 22 years old.

 

Other Projects:

Co-education project" in which company employees, children, and school teachers nurture each other together

We will meet with you to discuss whether this is really a good fit for your company and what specific activities are possible.

Please feel free to contact our Educational Development Division via the "Contact Us" form or by phone.