On February 13th, we took an electron microscope to the Shanghai Japanese School to give an outreach class to 140 students from five classes. This is the first time in three years that we've managed to carry out this activity.

For the past three years, strict systems to control communicable disease had been in place at schools in addition to China’s zero-COVID policy, so there were no workshop style lessons at all. However, the zero-COVID policy was rescinded in December of last year, and our company was the first to hold an outreach class at the school. We used the school gym as the venue, and the 140 students were able to gather there for the class.

The class came under career education, so it began with a speech from Chairman of the Board at Hitachi High-Tech Shanghai. After that, a remote lesson on the theme of “tackling the micro-structure of insects” was held from Hitachi High-Tech Headquarters in Japan. Three students had been selected to operate the actual a tabletop electron microscope as we observed human hair, pollen and a mask. During the Q&A session, the students posed astute questions such as “What is the purpose of manufacturing cutting-edge electron microscopes?”

The results of the survey included comments such as “It made me even more interested in science,” and “Chairman’s speech made me realize how important encounters can be.” We also received requests such as “I’d have liked there to be more time allowed for actually operating the microscope.”

Going forward, Hitachi High-Tech Shanghai will do our best to reflect such feedback from the students and hold classes which will stimulate their interest in science.

Students gather round, looking with interest into the electron microscope

Students listene intently to the talk from the man who is Head of the China Business Group and Chairman of the Board at Hitachi High-Tech Shanghai

A large number of students gathered for the remote lesson