High school students, who won the first prize in the video competition ‘FGL Challenge in Vietnam’ last February, visited Tohoku University from July 29 to August 3.

The students were introduced to laboratories associated with 3 undergraduate English courses of the FGL: Future Global Leadership program at Tohoku University. They got first-hand experience of novel and cutting-edge research on ‘Advanced Molecular Chemistry’, ‘Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering’ and ‘Applied Marine Biology’.

The students also enjoyed the ‘Tohoku University Open Campus’ along with Japanese high-school students during their first two days. This introduced them to the wide-ranging fields of study conducted at the university.

During the last leg of their trip, they firstly visited the Sendai city waste treatment facility to understand the sophisticated process of waste management here in Japan. Waste management is related closely to the theme of their competition video.

Then the students paid a visit to the Arahama elementary school and also visited the Yuriage Factory to learn about novel techniques for growing seaweed. Both facilities were located at the forefront of the area affected during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

The students had a great learning experience and provided positive feedback about their trip. They shall return with a lifetime's worth of learning, memories and fresh perspectives.