[No. 170] Akihiro Nishino

After graduating from the Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, I went on to complete a master's program. I now work in development at a company called Nippon Steel Chemical & Material Co., Ltd. When I was asked to write this, it had only been a year since I graduated, so I am still new to the professional world. I feel it is difficult for me to talk about anything based on my career as a professional. However, for that very reason, I believe I can share my experiences from a perspective that is relatively close to that of a student, and I hope it will be of some help to all of you.

Before entering the Faculty of Science and Technology, I was thinking of advancing to the faculty out of a desire to be involved in "monozukuri" (manufacturing) and create new things, but I had no concrete vision of what I wanted to study or what kind of work I wanted to do. Therefore, I remember struggling to decide which field of study to choose when I learned about the "gakumon" (academic discipline) system. That is not to say I could not find a field I was interested in; on the contrary, I was interested in a variety of academic fields. After enrolling, I took lectures in many fields, including electricity, machinery, architecture, and information technology. I did not dislike studying, so taking many lectures was not a burden (although my grades were not great). In addition, in the Department of System Design Engineering (SD), where I advanced, students are encouraged to acquire foundational knowledge in multiple fields rather than mastering only one specialized area, so I took almost every lecture available. This may make me seem like a diligent student, but honestly, I did not want to devote myself to studying a single field when my future direction was not yet set. At the time, my decision to advance to SD was based on the simple idea that "I don't want to limit myself to one specialized field. I want to dabble in various things." However, looking back now, the SD concept of "creating new value by comprehensively utilizing foundational knowledge and technology from different fields" applies directly to my current development work, and it was the right decision to have developed an attitude of absorbing foundational knowledge from multiple fields.

From my fourth year as an undergraduate, I was assigned to the Oya Laboratory, which conducts research on advanced materials and optimal design, where I requested a research theme related to the molding of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). It was a very interesting theme with a wide range of scales, from the molecular structure of materials to the size of products, and I approached it from multiple perspectives, including theory, simulation, and experimentation. In my research, I also wanted to try various things, so I dabbled in different methods, which led to some struggles, such as delving into literature in the unfamiliar field of chemistry and repeatedly trying and failing with optimization analysis. In the laboratory, we did not divide roles for a single theme; instead, each person had to do everything, which was challenging, but it helped me develop a multifaceted perspective and various skills. There were times when I lost my way as the direction of my research was not set, but I was eventually able to shape it into something concrete and even had the opportunity to present my research at the ICTP, the most prestigious international conference in the field of plasticity and its related technologies. I am still close with the lab mates with whom I shared these struggles, and we go on trips together every year. In fact, I feel our bond has grown stronger since graduation.

Currently, partly due to my research theme during my studies, I am involved in development work related to carbon fiber, working to expand its range of applications in infrastructure and general industrial use. The reason I decided on my desired industry and company during my job search was learning that the application of carbon fiber was expected to expand in the architectural field. Since I had a background of studying architecture while majoring in mechanical engineering, I thought I could do a job that spanned both fields. Carbon fiber is expanding its applications beyond traditional heavy industry, and my studies at SD, where laboratories from various fields including not only mechanical engineering but also civil engineering and architecture are gathered, have been extremely useful. In the future, I hope to make a contribution by applying carbon fiber in completely new areas, but for now, I am learning new things every day and approaching my work with the mindset of being half a student, in a good way.

During my time at university, I tried my hand at various studies so as not to narrow down my options, and in doing so, I think I may have postponed making choices about my future. I do not know if that was good or bad, but the "let's try to study anything" attitude I acquired as a result is still useful today. I believe that only a minority of people find their university activities and studies directly linked to their future jobs, but the attitude toward tackling things that you develop at university is something that connects to your own attitude after graduation. Therefore, I think the best thing to do while you are a student is to find something you can enjoy within the university and work hard at it. Keio University is a blessed environment that provides the place and the people for that purpose.