2020 Portraits of Student Diversity at Keio

Whether it's floor tape for social distancing or an arrow emphasizing the location of disinfectant, subtle cues have become a commonplace sight since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been used to great effect to combat the virus. These cues are the product of a field of behavioral economics known as "nudge theory," which helps trigger cognitive processes to favor a desired outcome. Second-year student Nozomi Nakamura leads the student association at the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care and is currently working on research into nudge theory, which is particularly effective with young people. First, she uses results from an attitude survey of around 500 university students nationwide to analyze what is not being done and why. The results inform potential solutions such as proposing nozzles that dispense an appropriate amount of disinfectant and smartphone cases that can hold disinfecting wipes. "I hope to continue conducting research that has a social impact. I'm also interested in building better facilities for people with dementia and studying the benefits of co-educating disabled children alongside healthy children."

(Original article published in Portrait in the Winter 2021 (No. 309) issue of Juku.)

Imagine a world with no traffic jams or crowded trains, a world where you can move about safely and seamlessly. And imagine that the cost and time required for the construction of this kind of transportation system is only one-tenth of railways. Two years ago, Takamasa Suchi teamed up with like-minded friends to found Zip Infrastructure, Inc., which aims to realize this dream-like transportation system, which he intends to build using self-propelled ropeways. This summer, he even succeeded in self-propelling a one-seater ropeway at a test site. If realized, ropeways can also be expected to help move goods and bring disaster relief to places in need. "I'm hoping to unveil it as a new mode of transportation alongside the flying car and the maglev at the Osaka Expo in 2025." However, this dream is nothing more than a checkpoint for Suchi. "I want to apply this technology to the construction of a space elevator by 2050. My goal in life is to create an era in which space travel is possible for everyone." After graduation, he plans to concentrate on his company's development to make these grand ambitions a reality.

(Original article published in Portrait in the Autumn 2020 (No. 308) Issue of Juku.)

Fifth-year medical student Kanon Kobayashi wants to play music that touches people's hearts. Even as she studies to be a clinical physician, she continues to perform as a professional violinist, even winning several international awards and taking lessons from world-famous violinists. Kobayashi is currently focused on Arts Meet Science (AMS), an academic project that brings together medical students from the Tokyo University of the Arts, the University of Tokyo, and Keio University to explore the possibilities of collaboration between science and the arts. The project discusses points of contact between the two areas to think about ways to utilize art in medicine and then apply it in practice. "I've personally been saved by music, so I believe in its power to heal," she says. This summer, she plans to visit the United States to tour a hospital that is leading the way in music therapy in order to better understand its effects.

(Original article published in Portrait in the Spring 2020 (No. 306) Issue of Juku.)

*These articles appeared in the 2021 Winter (No. 309), 2020 Autumn (No. 308), and 2020 Spring (No. 306) issues of Juku.
*All affiliations, years, and titles are current as of the time of their respective publication.