The Gender Equality Promotion Office, Gifu University hosted a campus tour for junior high school students on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The tour was conducted as part of the "Gifu Women Scientists' Support Project¹," being undertaken since Gifu University was selected for the 2023 program to support female students to take science courses promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The following are the major objectives of the project; 1) secure diversity in research, 2) convey the advantages of science studies to female junior and senior high school students, their guardians and school teachers within Gifu Prefecture, 3) help building future career paths and present role models for female researchers, and 4) implement number of programs (visiting lectures, inspection tours, exchange meetings, etc.) to support female students to study science courses in the future.

On June 15, a total of 101 second-year students from Nagara Junior High School (Gifu City) attended with the support from "Gifu MIRAI's" of Gifu City Board of Education.

After a brief inspection on campus facilities, the students listened to Vice President OYABU Chiho (Diversity, Human Rights and Library) concerning each faculty, campus life and students' academic/business careers after their graduation. Next, five undergraduate and graduate students who are studying science courses engaged in a "Relay Talk" and shared their views about their studies at Gifu University. They talked about their experiences of course selection focusing on "love to study," meeting with friends on campus, and their future career paths.

In the latter half of the tour, the students were invited to inspect the Center for Advanced and Smart Die Engineering Technology (G-CADET) and the University Library. At G-CADET, students observed the metal mold press experiments. Professors at the Center explained the cutting-edge metal processing techniques using artificial intelligence for the students to understand well by using simple words. At the Library, the students observed the book shelves which are storing huge number of books. At the Archive Core of the Library, the students had a chance to see animal specimens and skeletal presentations on display.

The following are the comments by the students found at the questionnaire; "I realized there are various courses to choose after listening to the talks of the GU students." "I learned that there are many specialized fields in science courses," and "I become more interested in science studies." These comments show the students' strong interests in taking science courses in the future. The teachers who accompanied the students also said, "The tour offered the students a great opportunity to see the world unknown to them," and "The students had an excellent experience to think deeply about their own future." Throughout the tour, both the students and the teachers talked a lot about the study subjects, and academic and business careers in the future.

The "Gifu Women Scientists' Support Project" will continue to offer various programs for female junior and senior high school students, their guardians and teachers within Gifu Prefecture. Please send your message to <habataki@t.gifu-u.ac.jp> for your inquiries about the project.

1) tentative English name