Advancing Science and Technology
The fields of scientific research and technological development literally form the backbone of the modern world. And Mitsubishi Electric is a major driving force in the development and application of technologies that turn bold new ideas into the things that make the modern world work. The company's philanthropic activities include programs designed to create the leading lights of tomorrow by motivating the youth of today to develop a genuine interest in science and technology.
Mitsubishi Electric Thai Foundation Scholarship Program
The Mitsubishi Electric Thai Foundation launched a scholarship program in 1995 to promote science and technology education. Every year, 45 students in three engineering universities in Thailand are selected to receive the scholarship. Recipients are students who excel in academics but are not able to receive sufficient financial resources from their family to devote themselves to their studies. This program is contributing to the development of science and technology in Thailand.
Japan Young Scientists Workshop (UK)
In August 2010 for the third consecutive year Mitsubishi Electric supported the 'UK - Japan Young Scientists Workshop' organised by Clifton Science Trust and held in association with the Babraham Institute and the Kaetsu Centre, at Cambridge University.
The workshop, which this year brought 55 post-16 senior high school students together from schools across Britain and Japan to live together for a week, allowed the students to interact during research on a diverse range of topics ranging from "the synthesis & manipulation of gold nanoparticles" to "Bioinformatics", the results of which were presented by the participants on the final day.
The students' presentations were attended by Dr Richard Pike, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry and also Lord Rees of Ludlow, President of The Royal Society, Master of Trinity College and Astronomer Royal, who gave a closing statement to the proceedings.
For more information about the UK-Japan Young Scientists Programme visit;
http://www.clifton-scientific.org/uk-japan.html
Science & Technology Education (Italy)
Mitsubishi Electric Europe, B.V. (Italian Branch) has become an official science and technology partner of the National Museum of Science and Technology "Leonardo da Vinci" in Milan. A long-term educational project is underway that's designed to motivate students of primary and secondary schools to take a serious interest in science and technology. In October 2005 an opening ceremony was held for a new permanent exhibit area at the museum dedicated to robotics, in which Mitsubishi Electric factory robots are integrated into special exhibits that include reproductions of technological ideas dreamed up more than 500 years ago by the great Leonardo da Vinci. Called Progetto EST (Education to Science and Technology), the project's goal is to be the biggest exhibit area in a European museum dedicated to robotics.
Donation of "The Secret of Satellites" to Kamakura City (Japan)
Mitsubishi Electric and Gakken Publishing Co., Ltd. published a cartoon booklet entitled "The Secret of Satellites" in fiscal 2011, with hopes that today's children, as bearers of our future, might deepen their interest and knowledge of satellites and perhaps even turn their attention to outer space and the global environment. As Mitsubishi Electric's Kamakura Works specializes in satellite projects, it donated a hundred copies of the booklet to Kamakura City, to promote interest in satellites particularly among children living nearby.
* Numerous copies of the book have also been donated so far to primary schools and libraries throughout Japan.
Diatone* Sound Experience on "Sound Day" (Japan)
On December 14, 2010, Mitsubishi Electric's Sanda Works invited ten technology club students from a local junior high school to take part in Diatone Sound Experience, an event to mark "sound day" (Dec. 6). The students listened to various sounds and learned through experience about the frequencies of sound that human beings can distinguish and about different speaker sounds that vary depending on the material of the speaker diaphragm. They also had the opportunity to listen to high-grade car speakers that cost 500,000 yen per set and compare the sounds before and after installation in an actual automobile.
* Diatone (Mitsubishi Diatone Speaker) is the brand name of an advanced speaker product manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric.
Factory Tours for Primary Schools (Japan)
Mitsubishi Electric's Kyoto Works provided factory tours to some 800 fifth-grade students from ten primary schools in Nagaokakyo City over a period of 11 days, from November 10 to 26, 2010. With the cooperation of the engineering and sales departments, the program was held for the first time as part of Kyoto Works' effort to become a more community-based factory. Seeing how the tour of the factory's production lines and showroom captured the interest of the students, Kyoto Works hopes to continue this program, and to firmly establish itself as a friendly presence in the local community.
Science Craft Class for Children (Japan)
A science craft class for children is held regularly at the Iida City Museum in Nagano, sponsored by a group of eleven companies operating in the Iida region. The program was begun in 1992 to spark children's interest in science and the enjoyment of making things, and has continued until today. From Mitsubishi Electric, section leaders' voluntary study group members have been a part of the program's operation since the beginning.
Four classes are offered every year to elementary school students in the fourth to sixth grades, on three-electrode motor cars, astronomical telescopes, solar cars, and FM radios, respectively. In addition to acting as instructors in all classes, Mitsubishi Electric members play a leadership role in organizing the class on three-electrode motor cars, as well as assume the responsibility of explaining the principle of photovoltaic power generation to the children before they actually create their own solar car.
Environmental Education at a Local Primary School (Japan)
On December 16, 2010, three employees of Mitsubishi Electric's Kamakura Works held a class on environmental education for 31 fifth-grade students at a local elementary school. The employees introduced various social contribution activities that all employees of Kamakura Works regularly engage in, with the objective of fostering environmental awareness among the students. Among the activities they introduced were: the energy conservation campaign that is implemented under the slogan, "Use only what is needed, only when needed, and only in quantities needed;" the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) campaign for the reutilization of water used for production; and factory and seaside cleanup events. The students also learned about satellites, including the Michibiki satellite, which was launched in 2010 to provide global positioning signals, and the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) for carrying supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
The students were intrigued, and listened intently, boosting hopes that the undertaking has planted the seed of environmental interest in the students.
