Makoto Mizui is a Japanese student who joined the GSC Domestic Program at the beginning of his third year at the University of Tokyo. For his research internship, he went to the Vienna University of Technology in Austria.

Where are you from in Japan?

Saitama Prefecture, which is north of Tokyo and has great nature, nice scenery, and many beautiful rivers. In Saitama, I like to visit Kawagoe which is a city that has traditional buildings from the Edo era. It also has many souvenir shops and temples, so it’s an enjoyable place to visit.

When did you first hear about GSC?

Around September or October in my second year of university. A professor told us about GSC and I became interested in it. After reading the GSC webpage, I decided to apply to the program.

What motivated you to apply?

GSC provides Japanese students with the chance to interact with foreign students and go abroad on a research internship. I thought it was a good opportunity for me to experience the global world. I also wanted to go abroad to see the frontiers of science with my own eyes.

How is GSC a unique program?

GSC is unique in the School of Science because it is the first undergraduate program in which all classes are taught in English. I think it’s a great feature and good chance for us to experience the international world. Also, Japanese and international students are in the same classes and work together in the labs, which makes it easy for us to talk and interact with each other.

What is it like to study alongside international students on GSC?

Third year students have lab work in the afternoon and Japanese students are partnered with international GSC students. If something goes wrong, we can ask one another about it and solve the problem together, which is a good experience.

The international GSC students are also active and positive. Japanese students tend to get nervous or worry when they make a mistake during an experiment but when the international students encounter such a problem, they try again or think of a solution. It encourages me to keep trying.

For your research internship, why did you choose to go to Vienna?

I first discussed my research internship with Professor Yamanouchi. He encouraged me to go to the Vienna University of Technology and study about ultrafast lasers, photochemistry and photophysics. I thought it was a good chance to learn more about a field I was interested in. I could also apply my experiences in Vienna to my research in Professor Yamanouchi’s laboratory.

Had you ever traveled abroad?

No, I had never experienced going abroad. I hadn’t even been on an airplane, so many things were a first for me actually.

How was your experience at the Vienna University of Technology?

Really great. All the students and teachers were very kind, the equipment in the laboratory I did my internship in was great and their research topics were very interesting. I could participate in their experiments and learned more about ultrafast lasers. I also went sightseeing to places such as Schönbrunn Palace and Kahlenberg, which is a hill with nice scenery.

Did anything in Vienna surprise you?

People in Vienna were so flexible with time, they didn’t come into university as much, but seemed very productive. In Japan, I used to spend a long time studying but compared to the students in Vienna, I didn’t concentrate as hard. I am now trying to change my lifestyle. I try to spend less time on studying but I concentrate more. It is better to take a rest at times and not to work too hard.

How else have you changed since joining GSC?

Before I joined GSC, I was not actually motivated to learn English, but after I became more interested in the global world and in communicating with international students. Now I keep studying to improve my speaking, writing and listening skills. During my research internship in Vienna, I was able to use English and I learned about the lives of students and researchers at an international university. I have also learned about the cultures and customs of other countries. Since going abroad, I feel more positive that I want to go abroad again or even work abroad. I think it changed my life a lot and it motivated me to study chemistry more.

What will you do after graduating from the University of Tokyo?

Being on GSC has encouraged me to eventually study abroad again or even work abroad. I think it has also broadened my chances of being involved in the international world. I am now interested in going to America because it has a strong academic community and uses English as an official language.

What sort of person makes a good GSC candidate?

Students who have a strong curiosity for not only GSC but also for chemistry, science, foreign countries, or cultures. The stronger their curiosity, the better suited they are for GSC.

What advice would you give to someone considering GSC?

If you have even a little bit of interest or curiosity in GSC, I recommend to just try it.

Students at the University of Tokyo should not see English as a language barrier, but instead a bridge to communicate with other students and the international world.