On Friday, June 6, two student teams from Ritsumeikan Uji High School participated in the 31st Annual Meeting of the Japan Society for Food Chemistry, held at Ritsumeikan University’s BKC campus. Their participation served as an interim presentation for their research projects in the “Core Inquiry” course, a signature component of the IG course curriculum for third-year students.

“Core Inquiry” is a unique, student-driven program in which students develop and pursue their own questions over the course of three years. The aim is to nurture independent thinkers who can engage deeply with their interests across subject areas, ultimately fostering a mindset of creators rather than passive learners.

During the event, our students took part in a poster session, presenting their research alongside peers from other schools. They received valuable feedback from experts in the field and engaged in discussions that helped deepen their understanding of the intersection between food and science.

Notably, Ichizo Fujimoto (Grade 12) received the prestigious Shimadzu Award for his outstanding presentation titled “Beyond Complete Nutrition: Technology and the Future of Food.” This remarkable achievement reflects the depth of his inquiry and the innovative thinking that our program strives to develop.

This opportunity came through a connection with Professor Sakaguchi of Ritsumeikan University’s College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, who visited our school last year through the Career Navi 2 program. The event also served as a meaningful experience in university-high school collaboration, allowing students to build academic relationships and gain exposure to real-world research settings.

We look forward to seeing how these experiences continue to shape our students’ academic and personal growth in the future.