 All eleventh graders undertake an individual research project. Each student chooses an area of interest, takes a year to study it, and writes up a report. The topics chosen have included cloning technology and physical barriers to disabled people in public transport systems. |
Meikei
High School
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| Yukiko Ebina | ||
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"At
first I had a hard time because the books didn't make any sense, and
I regretted my choice," recalls Yukiko. She kept reading more books,
though, and became more curious. She exchanged e-mail with researchers,
and she even went to Kyoto to receive advice on her project from an
expert. "I was surprised that he was willing to meet with a regular
high school kid like me." There she learned about the leading edge of
genetic research through a tour of an experimental stockbreeding facility
and by looking at instruments that are used in genetic engineering experiments. |
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Yukiko Ebina |
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 Yukiko
comments, "I'm glad I met the expert because my interest in the subject
deepened after talking with him, and I learned things that books didn't
contain." In the summer, she took a course that was open to the public
at Tsukuba University near the school. She dissected mice and participated
in experiments, such as fertilizing eggs taken from the mice. This gave
her greater confidence in her research project. |
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 "Through
it, I found out that cloning has both good and bad points. I used to think
that cloning is dangerous, but now I realized that it could be applied
to making medical products and could ensure a stable supply of food. Of
course there are problems, too, but I think everyone should learn more
about the technology before passing judgment on it. Right now I think
it's okay to use the technology in things like infertility treatment,
even though it's important to have some sort of regulation." |
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Yukiko, who says the project gave her an opportunity to think deeply about what it means to be human, is beginning to think about studying genetic engineering in college.
Photos: (©PANA) |
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Yukiko
Ebina looked through the reports written by former students during winter
break of tenth grade--the first step in the year-long process. "Since
it's a special project, I wanted to do something unique." The topic
she chose was cloning technology. Yukiko decided to take a stab at it
since she wants to pursue a career in medicine.