Keiko Machida - Retiring in AY2021

I was hired as a laboratory assistant at the Keio University School of Medicine in 1979. The first time I met Professor Akira Tsujioka, who was a Vice-President at the time, was in his office at the Jukukan-kyoku (Keio Corporate Administration). I still remember being overwhelmed by the stately building. Under Professor Tsujioka, I taught chemistry experiments to first-year students at the School of Medicine for about nine years. I then transferred to the Faculty of Economics, where I have been teaching chemistry experiments to non-science students under Professors Toru Oya, Kenichi Shimizu, and Koji Ioku.

Natural science education involving experiments for non-science students is one of the distinctive features of Keio University, and I believe it is a course rarely seen at other universities. The course focuses on teaching the concepts and methodologies of natural science by incorporating experimental elements such as hands-on experiments and demonstrations. For four years starting in fiscal 2005, I also participated in the activities of the "Distinctive University Education Support Program (GP)" for "Natural Science Education Emphasizing Experiments for Non-Science Students."

Non-science students often have their exposure to science-related classes and knowledge limited at an early stage of their high school education. And I feel they tend to rely on searching for literature and information. Experiments are a direct experience, a process of thinking for oneself, organizing, and summarizing what has occurred within oneself by reproducing it. I believe that developing the ability to think for oneself becomes an important foundation for decision-making when making various choices. This is something that will be very useful even when they move on to their specialized education.

When I actually interacted with the students, I was initially shocked by many things, such as their reliance on the internet, asking others, or copying before thinking for themselves. However, as they repeat the experiments, a wonderful change becomes visible: they begin to think for themselves, work with their own hands, and learn.

In this modern age overflowing with information, I believe that this experiment-based education is extremely important for thinking about a single phenomenon using various methodologies. And I feel that being involved in such a course has been very meaningful for me as well. I believe that this distinctive course will become even more significant in the future.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me at Keio University and wish for the continued development of the Faculty of Economics and Keio University.

(Interview conducted in January 2022)