Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.
Eggs of Science
For the "Excited"
Yukako Matsumoto (Department of Earth and Planetary Science, 1st Year Master's Student)
Birthplace : Osaka, Japan
Alma Mater : Seifu Nankai High School
The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science
Q. What were you interested in when you were in junior high school ?
A. Anything I thought looked interesting.
I actively participated in anything that looked interesting or fun, such as business contests, short-term overseas study abroad programs, university-sponsored physics courses for high school students, and even surgery experience programs.
Q. What made you decide to enter the Faculty of Science?
A. Because I wanted to learn more about the solar system.
I have loved space since I was a child and kept a scrapbook about it. A lecture I took in my second year of college deepened my interest in the solar system, and I am currently conducting research on the formation of the solar system and the origin of living materials.
Q. What do you like about the Faculty of Science at the University of Tokyo?
A. Many enthusiastic professors
I am impressed that the professors seem to enjoy talking in every class. In addition, I am always stimulated during practical training by the teachers' brightly shining eyes as they teach us.
Q. What do you enjoy about research and study?
A. Being able to challenge what no one knows yet.
The world of science is full of knowledge built by many predecessors and phenomena that no one knows yet. I enjoy the challenge of going into uncharted areas with the hope of gaining new knowledge.
Q. What kind of research would you be interested in if you could do something different from what you are doing now?
A. I would like to become more familiar with plants and animals.
I was very interested in hearing about vegetation and aquatic insects during a joint fieldwork with the Department of Biology. Also, I was addicted to the morning drama "Ranman," and I find it romantic to encounter unexpected plants in the mountains.
Q. Do you think you are lucky?
A. I am blessed with wonderful people.
I feel that my connections with people who support me and encourage me to do what I love and want to try are helping me grow.
Q. Where do you get your inspiration ?
A. When I am in a daze
I often come up with ideas in a moment of inspiration rather than when I am sitting still thinking about something. Recently, I came up with a hypothesis for my graduation thesis while looking up at winter diamonds.
Q. What do you do on your days off?
A. Train travel
I like to go on train trips to see the rich natural scenery using special tickets offered by train companies. I once toured the Kanto metropolitan area and its six prefectures while riding the train for a whole day.
Q. Are you a morning person? Or a night person?
A. I would like to say I am a morning person, but...
I usually arrive at the university at 8:30 a.m. and have experiments scheduled in the morning, so I try to lead a morning life. However, I often feel clear-headed at night after it has quieted down, and sometimes I end up staying up until late at night.
Q. What do you do to relax during your daily research and study?
A. Watching travel-related YouTube videos.
I often watch videos of trips using public transportation on the Saionji Channel, ZAKI Channel, and Suit Channel. I enjoy imagining where to go on my next vacation while watching these videos.
地球惑星環境学科3年生の造岩鉱物光学実習で描いた岩石薄片のスケッチです。実習を通して、偏光顕微鏡を用いた鉱物鑑定ができるようになりました！
Message