Mr. Mamoru Hayashi (Chief researcher, Universal Design Research Institute; Vice editor, Nature Interface magazine)

¡ÈCitizen scientists assist enterprises and nations in conducting sustainable business based on independent professional research skills¡É. Michael Schneider (Active participant in a citizen science group; WISE-Paris), who received the Right Livelihood Award in collaboration with Dr. Jinzaburo Takagi, which is known as the alternative Nobel Prize in the field of citizen science, described it clearly. The statement was part of his speech delivered at an education hall in Tokyo on January 8, 2001 on the first anniversary of Dr. Takagi¡Çs passing.

Citizen science, which began in America during the Vietnam War era, was originally a movement started by scientists supporting citizens in protest against scientists who were mobilized by the government in an attempt to oppress citizens with lack of professional knowledge by referring to them as ¡Æignorants¡Ç.

Science and technology NPO represented by WIN (The Advanced Institute of Wearable Environmental Information Networks), established 30 years later, has similar aspects. Its significant role is to suggest prospective sustainable enterprises and specific business, utilizing advanced professional skills; moreover, it aims at spreading and sharing scientific knowledge. This implies that citizen science is entering a new expanding era.

Reforming structures of conflicts and oppositions will offer more opportunities for technologists, students, and citizens with professional skills to participate and practice citizen science naturally. Surely science and technology NPO is opening up the way.

Particularly, when dealing with significant social issues such as energy and the environment in collaboration with society and academe, it is worthwhile referring to Dr. Takagi¡Çs works, which repeatedly attempted to simplify and delve into highly advanced content of issues.

Connecting science and technology and culture; Museum Magazine

Aiming at the goal mentioned in the heading above, a new magazine called ¡ÆMeSci¡Ç was founded by National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Director, Mr. Mamoru Mohri).

In the opening interview, Ms. Keiko Kamito, Chief executive officer of Rachel Carson Society, and Director Mohri talked about Rachel Carson¡Çs last work ¡ÆThe Sense of Wonder¡Ç, whose other famous work is ¡ÆSilent Spring¡Ç.

Contents of magazines surely aim at science culture. Not only scientists such as Ms. Reiko Kuroda (Chemistry) and Mr. Yoichi Kaya (global worming activist), but also people from various fields appear. For instance, ¡Æthe environment and the human being and collaboration with light and music¡Ç by Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto (artist), and discussions on music-fan scientists or SF by Mr. Osamu Sakura and Mr. Osamu Kanamori (science history and science and technology studies) are included.

There are 70 pages in full color. Inquiries about the way of obtaining the magazines should be referred to National Museum of Emerging science and Innovation.

Mr. Takagi, who resigned as associate professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University and engaged in activities for Citizens¡Ç Nuclear Information Center to practice citizen science, and Mr. Mohri, who resigned as associate professor at Hokkaido University, became an astronaut, and attempt to establish science culture. Those two bona fide scientists share an interest in social activity based on advanced science knowledge and intercultural curiosity.

Science education- 2002 issue has not finished yet

A new course of study organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, which is to be fully operated in 2002, introduced a ¡ÆPeriod for Integrated Study¡Ç, having reduced by 30% the contents of other subjects in order to reinforce students¡Ç zest for living. However, as shown in the previous issue, many defects have appeared before it has been put into practice.

The January issue of ¡ÆLonza¡Ç featured an interesting report on ¡ÈStart of revolt at school against the new course of study¡É based on detailed interviews by Mr. Takehiko Kariya in the School of Education at the university of Tokyo and others. In the article, a Board of Education applied different terms to the Ministry¡Çs policy, connected contents of other subjects to the Period for Integrated Study, and presented policies that would prevent the decline of basic academic ability to primary and junior high schools.

In addition to primary school teachers¡Ç and private school principals¡Ç remarks, Mr. Yoji Takikawa, who appeared in the previous issue of NI, explains advanced science education he experienced during his studies in Britain and appeals for participation in a ¡ÆScience Curriculum Producing Society¡Ç for an educational decentralization age (See p.50). This is another form of practice to create new public education in collaboration with society and academe.