[Topics] We conducted the "Kyushu University Agricultural Research Facility Experience Learning" as part of the high school-university collaboration project.

Many students and teachers from Itoshima Agricultural High School participated in this unique experience that only Kyushu University can offer.

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On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the Environmental Control Center for Experimental Biology hosted the "Kyushu University Agricultural Research Facility Experience Learning." This event was conducted as part of the high school-university collaboration project, with 17 students and 3 teachers from Fukuoka Prefectural Itoshima Agricultural High School (hereafter referred to as Itoshima Agricultural High School) participating. At the Ito Campus, lectures and exercises by faculty members from both centers, as well as facility tours, were conducted.

Itoshima Agricultural High School is one of the three agricultural high schools in Fukuoka Prefecture. Located in the agriculturally rich Itoshima area, the school specializes in agricultural education and has produced many individuals who will lead the future of the local agricultural, livestock, and food industries.

At Kyushu University, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Agriculture collaborate to offer teaching courses related to agricultural science. By fulfilling specific credits, students can obtain a "High School Teacher's License (Agriculture)." This collaboration with Itoshima Agricultural High School has deepened through these teaching courses, leading to the realization of this high school-university collaboration event.

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The morning session, where participants experienced classes at Kyushu University

In the morning session, Professor HYAKUMURA Kimihiko from the International Development Section of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Associate Professor HAMAOKA Norimitsu from the Tropical Crops & Environment Section conducted lectures and exercises. Professor HYAKUMURA's lecture introduced the "Education, Research, and International Cooperation of the Tropical Agriculture Research Center," followed by a workshop-style exercise on "The Lives of People in Tropical Rural Areas." The students actively shared their opinions, making it a meaningful time to encounter different perspectives and values.

Next, in Associate Professor HAMAOKA's lecture, he introduced the "Research Vision for International Co-Creation in Tropical Agriculture," covering topics from local farmland issues to challenges in tropical agriculture and international collaborative research topics. After the lecture, the students toured the laboratories and other facilities of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Many students were amazed by the scale of the facilities.

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The afternoon session, where participants engaged in hands-on experiences and tours

In the afternoon session, after touring the Agriculture Zone, Professor YOSHIDA Satoshi from the Environmental Control Center for Experimental Biology conducted lectures and exercises. First, while touring the advanced environmental control facilities at the center, he provided an overview of the "Significance of Biological Environment Regulation in Biology" using familiar topics. Next, a hands-on exercise titled "Touching Leafy Vegetables Grown in Experimental Facilities" was conducted, where participants experienced harvesting lettuce cultivated with nutrient solutions under artificial light to learn about the foundational technologies of plant factories.

The students who experienced the lectures and tours gave positive feedback, saying, "I enjoyed the classes," and "I expected university classes to be difficult, but they were very easy to understand." There were also many active questions and opinions, indicating a high level of interest in agricultural research at the university. In the survey conducted after the experience learning, students commented, "It was a valuable opportunity to learn about agricultural research at the university and to tour advanced research facilities." Additionally, it was evident that they had a strong interest in advanced agricultural technologies such as promoting sustainable agriculture, using plasma in agriculture, and the mechanisms of plant factories.

Kyushu University will continue to conduct high school-university collaboration projects that broaden the perspectives of high school students and enhance their individual abilities.

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Research-related inquiries

HAMAOKA Norimitsu, Associate Professor
Mail：nohamaoka★agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Please replace the ★ in the email address with @.