I think there are only a few people who can say straight away what the "Master of Arts Program for Journalist Education in Science and Technology (MAJESTy)" is all about. This program was established as part of the Graduate School of Political Science in 2006 to cater for journalists who specialize in Science and Technology, where a wide range of expert knowledge is required. As one the field-experience aspects of this program, I collected news material from the "Waseda Techno-Fair."

Building No. 63 of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the exhibition site, was full of the Faculty’s own laboratories and of booths set up by participating companies. At first I had no idea what questions to ask because so many of the exhibits were new to me, but people in the booths came out one after another and kindly explained to me what they were. I soon learned that one piece of technology can be used in many different ways.

Cell phones, something we use in our everyday lives are a good example. I knew semiconductors were installed in cell phones, but I did not know that "vacuum technology" is used for the surface processing of the semiconductor. Moreover, this vacuum technology is applied to research into the cosmos, among other things. Although the exhibited fields were very varied, I realized that all these cutting-edge technologies are "creating the foundation'" of everything in our daily lives.

For laboratory students, meeting those companies that already offer products important to our lives must have been a fresh experience. In fact, the participating companies included not only those that collaborate with the laboratories of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, but also those that offer lab equipment to Waseda, that have graduates from Waseda, and so on. There were students who came to know that the equipment they use for experiments is also used in technology that they are not familiar with.

It was a valuable experience for someone like me, who originally comes from a background of social studies. I came to know about the relationship between science and technology as a result of this field work and I felt that the more I learn the more interesting it becomes. I have heard that a similar event is due to be scheduled for next year. I heartily recommend that not only science major students but also non-science students give it a visit.