Enhancing science and technology
communication through
the power of design

Work and study abroad experience, and becoming a working student at SFC

I studied interdisciplinary design at Goldsmiths, University of London, and after working for an advertising agency, I returned to Japan and continued working while pursuing my own creative projects. I wanted to combine the experience and skills I had gained through my work and systematize them in my own way so I returned to academia for a graduate degree.

I have always worked in both science and technology as well as art and design, so I decided to pursue an interdisciplinary field at graduate school. SFC attracted me because it accepts working professionals, and I had known Professor Akira Wakita and graduates of the Wakita Laboratory through work. I was impressed by their high-quality research results and the character of the professor, who is also an artist actively involved in the creative process, so I applied to the Wakita Laboratory Keio SFC.

Fusing science and technology communication with the arts

My research focus at SFC is "Applying art and design methods to science and technology communication."

My research is on science communication which involves conveying scientific and technological knowledge and facilitating dialogue between researchers and the general public. I believe that for society to engage with science and technology, it is important to have scientific knowledge, but also an emotional understanding. Therefore, I am researching content development methods incorporating art and design techniques.

I first encountered science communication while working on exhibitions at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Science communication at science museums involves using exhibitions and hands-on activities to convey scientific and technological information to visitors of all ages and encouraging dialogue so visitors can develop their own perspectives. I planned interactive exhibits on the global environment using cutting-edge technology, research and development of 360-degree video, and events. After that, I started working as an IT engineer, but continued to exchange information with my former colleagues. My interest in science communication never waned, so at SFC, I wanted to try a cross-disciplinary approach combining design and art concepts with IT skills.

Specifically, I am working on climate change-themed "emotional" data visualization works using generative AI. Scientific data visualization is based on presenting facts objectively. Many such visualizations require a certain level of skill to interpret. However, I deliberately aim to evoke personal memories and emotions, encouraging viewers to interpret and imagine the work in their own way so they can relate global issues such as global warming and sea level rising to their own lives. I am developing works and workshops based on this approach.

One of these initiatives, "Water City - Speculative Map of Sea Level Rise," was selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs Project to Support Emerging Media Arts Creators in 2024.

Using human imagination and AI to envision the future

"Water City - Speculative Map of Sea Level Rise" is a realistic visualization of Tokyo in 2300, which has undergone significant changes due to climate change, using satellite photos, terrain data, and generative AI. When we think of sea level rising, we tend to imagine pessimistic images of flooded areas. Based on data published by IPCC as the "worst-case scenario for global warming," simulations of Tokyo in 2300 show that approximately half of the city will be submerged. However, this map does not express whether this future is good or bad, but rather allows us to imagine the daily lives of people living in a city that has been transformed in this way. I tried to recreate the feeling of looking at a map of an unfamiliar city you plan to visit and letting your imagination run wild. Imagining the life that exists there and living conditions, climate change and sea level rises suddenly become more relevant. Furthermore, imagining specific lifestyles allows for consideration of the future of cities and technology, in addition to climate change.

In October 2024, I teamed up with a science communicator to exhibit "Water City - Speculative Map of Sea Level Rise" at Science Agora hosted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. When we asked visitors, "How do you think you would live in Tokyo?" we heard many imaginative responses, such as, "The roads will be submerged, so everyone will need a boat," and "Instead of regular clothes, wetsuits will be developed."

In addition, I have presented the technical aspects of this work using generative AI at SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 and am continuing to develop it.

Expanding science communication and enhancing scientific literacy in Japan

Going forward, I will work on how to collect feedback from workshops on the "Water City - Speculative Map of Sea Level Rise." One advantage of SFC is there are researchers from various fields to help find solutions.

I am also interested in developing tools for visualizing open data and incorporating the results into society. Engaging in research while systematizing comprehensive ideas is an advantage of an academic environment.

I want to contribute to the promotion of science communication. If "science communicator" becomes a popular profession, it will lead to improved science literacy.

Furthermore, now that I am back in academia, I want to write papers and present at academic conferences, contributing to the academic community.

I also hope to be able to contribute my skills to the field of education. There are many challenges I want to take on.

Your knowledge and skills become your unique strengths

In high school, I enjoyed using PCs to create music and videos, which I presented at school festivals. After graduating from university with a degree in design, I worked for a while before enrolling at the School for Poetic Computation (SFPC) in New York, a media art school where students learn expression using computers. Afterwards, I worked on exhibition planning and engineering at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, along with digital policy support for government agencies. I enrolled in the Graduate School of Media and Governance to consolidate the knowledge and skills I had acquired in an academic setting.

Knowledge, skills, and experience are things that many people possess individually. However, my ability to systematically organize them and develop them by integrating science and technology communication with art and design has become a major strength that only I can offer.

If you are absorbed in something you love, someday it will become the foundation for creating something new that is uniquely yours. I think the appeal of SFC is that you can define things that do not yet have a name. I hope you will enjoy taking on many different challenges.

Introduction of Laboratory