Astronomer Kakazu delivers lecture by TV phone from Hawaii

Astronomer Kakazu delivers lecture by TV phone from Hawaii

Using a TV phone, astronomer Yuko Kakazu spoke from the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii to students of the Okinawa Shogaku High School on 6 December.


December 12, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

Astronomer Yuko Kakazu delivered a lecture to students of Okinawa Shogaku High School using a TV phone from the Subaru Telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Hawaii. A total of 63 first to third grade students of the International Culture and Science course took part in the class held on December 6. Kakazu’s lecture was titled “The Travels of an Uchinanchu astronomer: My 6,000-mile journey and 13-years of dreaming about the universe.” A former student of the school, after studying in the United States she has been involved in astronomical research in France and Hawaii. Based on her experience abroad, she told the students how wonderful it would be if they were to work abroad. She said, “By spending time with people from different countries and understanding the diverse values those people have you come to develop an objective view of Japan.”

Several countries have observatories on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. Kakazu explained why it is such an ideal location, saying, “Because the islands are so far away from land the air is constantly flowing, making it clean.” She explained about the latest developments with new observatories and showed them an 18th century star map from Ishigaki-jima.

Kakazu encouraged the junior students, saying, “The world is a big place. The universe is even bigger still. Try not to put a lid on your potential.”

Rizu Iriomote, a first-grade student who had just recently transferred from Ishigaki-jima, said, “Kakazu-san is fantastic. She’s got a global vision and is still pursuing her dreams.” Soshi Nobu, a first-grade student, said, “I am proud that someone like Kakazu-san has been to our school.”

Noriko Bousckri, who is in charge of the International Cultural Science course, summed up the motivation behind the lecture. She said, “We want the students to go abroad to understand where Okinawa stands in the world and to think about the Okinawa of the future.”

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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