Science Agora 2012 was held at Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) and its neighboring facilities in Tokyo Odaiba Waterfront during 2 days, Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, 2012. Science Agora is a complex event offering a diversified occasion for seeking the ways to realize a better society through science and technology. Under the theme “Finding a good relationship between you and science,” Science Agora 2012 focused on communication. This aimed to think about and discuss together how to establish a better relationship between science and ourselves in order to construct a better society after the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear power plant accident. As a significant outcome of this year, Science Agora succeeded in focusing on science communication not only from the perspective of introducing the pleasures and wonders of science but also from various viewpoints.
Furthermore, to familiarize participants with scientific environment, three special zones were newly provided; “researchers’ zone” with exhibition by researchers and research institutes, “regional collaboration zone” with exposition of scientific museums and organizations interested in regional collaborative activities, and “students’ presentation and teachers’ communication zone” with participation of junior-high and high school students and teachers. The interaction was developed not only between visitors and exhibitors but also among the special zones, which created a new style of communication at Science Agora. Together with the special zones, the total number of programs participated this year exceeded the previous record with more than 200 programs including symposia, discussion sessions, science laboratory classrooms, exhibition booths and poster presentation.
JST hopes the interaction at Science Agora generates further collaboration and revitalizes science communication activities in every region throughout Japan. The next Science Agora will be held at Miraikan and its neighboring facilities from Saturday, November 9 to Sunday, November 10, 2013.
JST, an integrated organization of science and technology in Japan, establishes an infrastructure for the entire process from the creation of knowledge to the return to the society. For more information, visit http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/