2024.07.01

“p4c (philosophy for children) on the SDGs” event held with Student SDGs Promoters and children

On Wednesday, June 12, an exchange event was held with twelve six-grade from Akadomari Elementary School in Sado City and student SDGs Promoters from our university. This event was organized after the children at Akadomari Elementary School expressed the desire to visit Nagaoka University of Technology, which promotes the SDGs, and to have a conversation with our university students about the environment during their own research on the SDGs.

After trying a university cafeteria meal at Cafeteria 1, the children participated in a p4c (philosophy for children) session on the SDGs. Following a greeting by Prof. Matsubara (Director, Liaison Office for Secondary Schools, Elementary and Junior High School Support WG), the children introduced Akadomari in Japanese and English and participated in a p4c session according to the rules. The theme of the session was: “What SDGs do you most want to achieve?” Mr. Alejandro Isidro Martinez Sanchez, a third-year student in the Department of Science of Technology Innovation, acted as an interpreter while our university students and children explained why they thought certain goals were important and assessed each other’s understanding.

Next, after learning about Goal 12 (ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns), which Japan has not yet achieved, and about the large amount of e-waste, participants tried their hand at upcycling by creating accessories using broken electrical products that would otherwise be thrown away.

Finally, the group visited the Techno Museum, where Mr. Kaito Suzuki, an advanced course student and second-year master’s student in the Mechanical Engineering, explained the exhibits and Nagaoka University of Technology’s research findings.

Comments from the children included: “University is awesome!” “I had fun!” and “I want to see more, I don’t want to leave!” We were glad that the event contributed to make some of the children’s dreams come true.

Going forward, we will continue to provide an environment that will spark children’s interest and contribute to future learning, while striving to lay the foundation to foster future engineers and scientists, by communicating the wonder and fascination of engineering and science through activities to promote and raise awareness of the SDGs.