DATE2025.08.20 #Events
Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.
School of Science, The University of Tokyo Homecoming Day 2025 -Experience the Wonderland of Science with Your Family-
School of Science, The University of Tokyo has designated Homecoming Day as a "Family Day," during which alumni and alumnae give lectures for families to attend.
The lectures are designed to be accessible to children in the upper grades of elementary school.
We hope that this will be an opportunity for children full of curiosity to experience the world of science.
Date and Program
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 13:30 Start (Doors open at 13:00)
13:30~13:35 Greetings from Dean of the School of Science, OHKOSHI Shin-ichi, Professor
13:35~14:05 Lecture 1: "Unveiling the Invisible Universe: Hot, Violent, and Full of Secrets" by BAMBA Aya, Associate Professor, Department of Physics
14:05~14:15 Q&A for Lecture 1
14:15~14:25 Break
14:25~14:55 Lecture 2 "What's happening in the tropical oceans" by MASUMOTO Yukio, Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science
14:55~15:05 Q&A for Lecture 2
15:05 End
Introduction of Lecturers and Lectures
Lecture 1
"Unveiling the Invisible Universe: Hot, Violent, and Full of Secrets" by BAMBA Aya, Associate Professor, Department of Physics
Career Summary
After earning her Ph.D. in Science from Kyoto University, she held research positions at RIKEN, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, and Aoyama Gakuin University. Since 2016, she has held her current position. She is involved in the development of space-based X-ray telescopes, including XRISM, and conducts observational studies of supernova remnants—the remains of stellar explosions marking the final stages of a star's life.
Lecture Content
When you think of the universe, you might picture a quiet, empty night sky filled with stars. But when we observe the universe using X-rays—light that the human eye cannot see—we discover a cosmos filled with incredibly hot and violent celestial objects, far beyond what we could imagine.
Lecture 2
"What's happening in the tropical oceans" by MASUMOTO Yukio, Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science
Career Summary
He was an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Science, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Science, and a program director at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology before assuming his current position in 2013. His major research focuses on ocean and climate variability in the tropical regions.
Lecture Contents
While the tropical oceans give the impression of being calm and warm, there is a spectacular climate variation taking place under dynamical coupling between the atmosphere and the oceans. Let's have a look on the role of the ocean in this climate variation, known as the El Niño phenomenon, and its impacts on the marine environment.
Intended Audience
Elementary school students (upper grades), their parents, and graduates of this university
Live streaming via YouTube is open to everyone without registration.
Participation Fee
Free of charge
Registration link (on-site participation only; advance registration required)
Registration has closed as we have reached the maximum number of on-site participants. Thank you for all the applications.
No registration is required for online participation.Click here to participate online.
Notes
- Elementary school students must register together with a parent or guardian and come to the venue together.
- For families, only the representative of the family is required to register. Please enter the name and e-mail address of one representative as well as the grade level of the children who will participate on the day of the event.
- At the venue reception, we will confirm the automatic e-mail sent when your application is accepted or the reminder e-mail sent just before the event date. Please note that if we are unable to confirm your registration, you will not be allowed to enter the venue. (A printout of the e-mail is also acceptable.)
- School of Science provides "Barrier-Free Support". Please contact us in advance if you need facilities, information security, or other considerations due to a disability or other reason.
Location
Koshiba Hall, Faculty of Science Building No.1, Hongo Campus, The University of Tokyo Access Map
Live Streaming
Anyone can watch the live streaming from the YouTube channel of the School of Science without prior registration. We invite the general public, as well as high school and university students, to attend. The lectures will be available on demand until 23:59 on October 19 (Sun.).
Other Information
The materials for participants (PDF) will be available here from around 10:00 a.m. on the day before Homecoming Day until the end of the lecture.
Click here to view BAMBA Aya's presentation materials. Click here to view MASUMOTO Yukio's presentation materials.
Please note that the materials will not be distributed at the venue, so those attending on-site can download them from here.
Each lecture will be followed by a Q&A session .
Questions will be accepted via Slido, so please bring your own device to the venue.
Please enter the lecture-specific access code on the Slido website to ask questions.
Please note that this access code is only valid on the day of Homecoming Day 2025.
Questions for BAMBA Aya, Associate Professor, Department of Physics: # 3441934
Questions for MASUMOTO Yukio, Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Science: # 6226839
Organized by
School of Science, The University of Tokyo
Contact
Office of Communication, School of Science, The University of Tokyo
email: kouhou.s@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp