The 10 Japanese Female STEM Students Return Home Empowered with Diversity Mindsets
From February 10 to March 13, 2024, 10 participants of the “TOMODACHI-STEM Women’s Leadership & Research Program” engaged in research internships at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and Rice University in Texas.
Prior to their departure, on February 4, 2024, the 10 participants had the opportunity to visit Dow Chemical Japan Limited, the sponsor of this program. During the visit, each participant presented on their current studies, reasons for joining the program, and they engaged in discussions about their career paths and the role of women in STEM fields. Dow Chemical employees provided insights into the company’s corporate culture and their own career journeys. Mr. Patrick McLeod, President of Dow Chemical Japan Limited, encouraged the participants and said, “Looking forward to seeing the transformation.”
During the five weeks of research internship, 10 students stayed at either Lehigh University in Pennsylvania or Rice University in Texas and participated in various workshops and activities for research, career, and leadership development. The Lehigh and Rice students met weekly via Zoom to discuss their lab experiences and meet with faculty members from both universities who presented their research. While Lehigh and Rice University organized separate programs for respective students, both participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions on the theme of “The Current State and Future of Women Researchers in STEM Fields” and network with female researchers.
At Lehigh University, students were given a private tour of the Lehigh Design Labs where they had the opportunity to see cutting-edge technology and use equipment such as laser cutters, 3D and metal printers, and T-shirt printers. At Rice University, students had a luncheon with the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and discussed pursuing higher education in the United States. They also attended a reunion with alumni of the TOMODACHI-STEM program and strengthened their bonds and connections with fellow participants. Professor Junichiro Kono, who has been supporting this program from its inception, remarked, “We were enormously impressed with the students’ work ethic, creativity, teamwork with other lab members, and perseverance to complete their projects in the very limited time frame.”
Before returning home, the ten students visited Dow Chemical in Houston, Texas where they gained broad knowledge about careers in industrial research. Through their connections with people they met, involvement in communities, and participation in academic and cultural activities, the students achieved the objectives of the program and facilitated learning and growth from diverse perspectives.
After returning home, the participants once again visited Dow Chemical in Japan on April 5th where two students gave presentations about their experiences in the program. Ms. Shiori Ogino from Rice University reflected on the visit to Dow Chemical in Houston and said, “I had no idea what being an industrial researcher would be like. After talking to many different researchers, I learned that they work on diverse projects with different companies. I was and am still not sure about what kind of research I am interested in, but if there are different projects available, I wouldn’t be hesitant to try.” Ms. Monami Muto shared her program experience at Lehigh University and said, “I liked the research environment in the U.S. because it was more open with people having free discussions. After the program, now I think about going back to the U.S. in my career more.” Following the presentations, lively discussions were held on the program experiences and changes in perspectives on careers. Now that they have returned home with diversity mindsets, the participants were advised by Mr. McLeod not to forget their responsibility to think about what they can do and how they can collectively make an impact.
Participants are expected to leverage their experiences in this program and take the lead in the STEM field as alumni.
