The ILC Club was created for Iwate students in order to increase their awareness of science as a future path, as well as a place for them to think about Iwate’s future. The induction ceremony for the 2nd group of students took place on July 17th at the Malios building by Morioka Station in Morioka City. There, 4 middle school students were inducted. They will visit CERN in Switzerland for 6 days from June 30th – August 4th, and learn more about the most advanced science and technology in the world.

This year’s members are Sakura Sugawara (3rd year at Daito MS in Ichinoseki City), Yu Osakashita (3rd year at Higashi Mizusawa MS in Oshu City), Manato Sato (2nd year at Tsuchibuchi MS in Morioka City), and Wakana Hiramatsu (2nd year at Kamaishi MS in Kamaishi City).

Managing Director of the Iwate Nippo, Hiroyuki Kawai, cheered them on: “I hope that you learn from groundbreaking research and use it in your future endeavors.” Hiroaki Kumagai, vice-director of the reporting division of Iwate Nippo, gave a seminar on the ILC, where he taught the four students that the candidate site for the ILC was in the Kitakami mountains of Iwate, and the ILC would be a large-scale particle collider that has the potential to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

Mr. Osakashita said, “I hope to learn about what kind of research goes on at CERN, and how that affects the world.” Ms. Sugawara said, “I’d like to know what kind of technological advancements the ILC will bring.”

Mr. Sato said, “I will work my hardest to convey the need for the ILC to the people of Iwate and Japan.” Ms. Hiramatsu said, “I hope to learn more while thinking about how this will affect Iwate’s future.”

These students also gave a presentation on the ILC Club’s activities at Aiina next door on the same day. This was part of the Iwate Science Symposium/All-Iwate Science Museum event.

The ILC Club is part of Iwate Nippo’s Japan ILC 2030 project, and last year’s group of 5 students also visited CERN. They also gave presentations on their studies within Iwate and in Tokyo. The Japan ILC 2030 project was started to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Iwate Nippo last year.