Event Report: KGRI Virtual Seminar Series "High School Student Discussion Forum" (Held on August 26, 2020)

September 4, 2020

Event Report on the KGRI Virtual Seminar Series "High School Student Discussion Forum"

An online discussion forum was held on August 26 as a follow-up for high school students who participated in the four-part KGRI Virtual Seminar Series, "Japan and the World in the Corona Era: Considering Whether to Treat the New Paradigm as a Crisis or an Opportunity," which took place from June to July 2020.

Approximately 15 outstanding high school students from across Japan and the United States participated, giving presentations in three groups. Moderated by KGRI Director Masato Yasui, Group 1 presented on the theme of "Medicine and Science & Technology," Group 2 on "Economy and Labor," and Group 3 on "Society and Law." Each presentation was followed by a discussion.

The "Medicine and Science & Technology" group gave a presentation titled "Challenges in Responding to the Second Wave of COVID-19." They clarified challenges such as the deteriorating environment for self-restraint and the prediction of severe cases by using various data, including comparisons with other countries, information consolidation, and the utility of IT. They also offered innovative proposals characteristic of high school students. A lively discussion followed the presentation. Group members commented that it was a valuable experience to be able to consider the issues as their own.

The "Economy and Labor" group presented on "The Future of the Tourism Industry." They proposed new ideas for balancing COVID-19 infection control with travel and accommodation. Facilitator Hiroki Nakatani, a KGRI Project Professor, commented that the tourism industry was a fitting example of a small business significantly affected by COVID-19. In addition to tourism, the group also examined issues such as charging for plastic bags and the employment difficulties faced by university students.

The "Society and Law" group gave a presentation on "The Ordeal of Democracy." They reportedly made a conscious effort to create their presentation by gathering as much concrete, quantitative data as possible from reliable sources to avoid presenting misinformation or reaching subjective conclusions. The group held detailed discussions on sub-themes such as "national character" and "travel restrictions." One group member commented, "I feel like I've vaguely grasped an answer to the question, 'What can I do during the COVID-19 pandemic?' I want to put these ideas into action going forward."

Overall, it was an unexpected delight for the organizers that, despite the short preparation period, the high school students from across Japan and the United States were able to prepare their presentations with such enthusiasm and intensity, using not only video conferencing systems like Zoom but also chat applications like Slack.