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Engineering Japan: Exploring Engineering in the Heart of High-Tech provides a unique opportunity for pre-engineering freshmen/sophomore students to get hands-on experience learning about creative science and engineering at one of Japan’s leading universities. Lectures, laboratory work and field trips will introduce students to a wide range of engineering topics and techniques and broaden their understanding of engineering disciplines. In addition, students will engage with traditional and modern Japanese culture through language lessons, cultural activities, and field trips to engineering industry and cultural and historical sites.
This four-week program, specifically designed by Tohoku University for UW students, is divided into three components.
The first component provides students with an introduction to science and engineering principles through a combination of lectures and activity-based laboratory projects at the new Creative Engineering Centre. UW students will be divided into several groups and work with selected Tohoku engineering students as team collaborators on the projects introducing key engineering concepts from different disciplines, including measuring human hairs with lasers, observing the particle and wave nature of the light, designing and constructing paper airplanes, and assembling electric motors.
In the second component of the program, students will continue to explore the topics and projects from the first component through more advanced lectures and activities. UW students will join other international students for the Tohoku University Science Summer Program where students will participate in advanced lectures on topics including spintronics, robotics, disaster science, and human design activities. Students will explore selected topics in project groups and present a final presentation at the end of the program.
The third components consists of a series of field trip, including Japanese sword smith experience, Toyota automobile factory tour, experience in disaster affected area caused by the 2011 Easter Japan Earthquake, and visit to Japan Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC).
During the four-week program, lessons and site visits will show students how Japanese society impacts the country’s culture of science and engineering. The program provides Japanese language training and exposure to traditional local culture through workshops and site visits.
UW Credits
UW Credits
Students will earn 6 credits of ENGR 296: Engineering Study Abroad for the program.
The credit for this program is not pre-approved to count toward any degree requirements. However, students can check with their departmental advisers to review the course information and consider it to count toward degree requirements, most likely technical electives.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to meet the following learning objectives:
Learn about state-of-the-art science and engineering topics
Develop a nuanced understanding of engineering disciplines
Gain experience working in a scientific laboratory setting to further understanding and knowledge
Contribute effectively in diverse and multicultural groups to achieve scientific outcomes
Be able to recognize and appreciate differences and commonalities between the engineering cultures of Japan and the U.S.
Eligibility Information
This program is designed for ENGRUD students and those in other science majors after their first or second year at UW. This program gives students the opportunity to work hands-on with projects in several disciplines of science and engineering and work in interdisciplinary teams with other students.
The program is suited to students who have taken beginning and intermediate college-level science and engineering coursework. Therefore, the program is not optimal for junior and seniors.
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