On September 10, the fifth presentation session by recipients of the 2024 Okayama University SDGs Promotion Award was held at the university’s faculty and department liaison meeting. Five groups were selected for awards across four categories: “Education,” “Research,” “Other Workplace Contributions,” and “Student Group Initiatives.” At this session, the Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions, which received the Excellence Award in the “Other Workplace Contributions” category, presented an overview of its activities in FY2024.

The Department of Comprehensive Technical Solutions plays a key role in advancing the university’s vision. Multiple working groups (WGs) collaborate closely as they carry out their initiatives. The Activity WG organizes training programs and activity reports, contributing to the professional development of technical staff. The Community Engagement WG leads outreach programs, including mobile science demonstrations, participation in science events, and engineering workshops for elementary school students. These activities are conducted in collaboration with various faculties, such as the School of Engineering and the School of Science, and have expanded to include farm experiences, stargazing sessions, and more.

Director TAMURA Yoshihiko commented, “Through science outreach activities in the community, we aim to nurture curiosity and a ‘spirit of scientific inquiry’ in children, increase the number of people interested in science, and foster individuals who can creatively solve problems with rich scientific insight.”

President NASU Yasutomo expressed his encouragement, saying, “J-PEAKS aims to create a platform where staff and faculty transcend their job titles to contribute to university-wide system reform. It is highly meaningful for technical staff to present their initiatives in such a setting.”

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