On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Dr. SHIRATORI Sakiko (Project Leader, Information and Public Relations Office) delivered a lecture on the theme of “Global Food and Nutrition Issues” at Yatabehigashi Junior High School as part of the Tsukuba Science Outreach Program.

The program is an initiative organized by Tsukuba City, where researchers visit local schools to conduct special classes and explain their research. Activities include hands-on experiments that students do not normally experience at school. This program leverages the unique characteristics of Tsukuba Science City to promote science and technology awareness, deepen young people’s interest in science, and foster curiosity.

The lecture was initially planned to be held at the gymnasium but was changed to an online format due to the hot weather. The lecture was broadcast to a total of 237 ninth-graders (third-year junior high school students) and faculty members, covering various issues such as global malnutrition and obesity, the necessity to provide healthy diets to a growing population, and the importance of balancing these needs with global health and sustainability.

We hope that this opportunity sparked interest in food and nutrition issues among the participants.