2025 Women Researchers Global Development Encouragement Award
- Education
- Sophia School Corporation
- Research
On June 2, 2025, the award ceremony for the “2025 Women Researchers Global Development Encouragement Award” was held at the Yotsuya Campus. This award is aimed at female students in the Graduate School of Science and Technology, recognizing their outstanding research achievements and encouraging further contributions to the field of science and technology. This year, five students enrolled in the second year of the master’s Program were honored with the award.
President Sugimura delivered a congratulatory address, stating, “This award is the result of the students’ proactive efforts and the dedicated guidance of their professors.” She also expressed her hopes for the future, saying, “I encourage you to continue conducting research with a broad perspective, embodying the unique qualities of Sophia University.” Each recipient received a certificate from President Sugimura, and the awardees shared their joy at being selected, along with their passion for research.
Following the award presentation, the students discussed their research topics and the current state of the Faculty of Science and Technology in Sophia University with professors. The students’ research topics were diverse, including studies on resource recycling materials, superconductivity used in linear motor trains and nuclear fusion, among others.
Their contributions to the advancement of their research fields were evident, not only domestically but also internationally, as demonstrated by their participation in international conferences, oral presentations, and publications in academic journals.
One student remarked, “It is encouraging to see an increasing number of female researchers.” In response, President Sugimura highlighted that “Sophia University has a higher proportion of female students in the Faculty of Science and Technology compared to other universities.” However, a supervising professor pointed out that the proportion of women in the Department of Applied Sciences, which primarily conducts research in electrical engineering, remains relatively low within the Faculty of Science and Technology. The professor emphasized the significance of this award and expressed hope for an increase in the number of female researchers in the future.
The ceremony concluded with a powerful message from Professor Takai, Chair of the Graduate School of Science and Technology, who urged the students to “leave a lasting legacy by ensuring your research achievements are recorded in academic journals.”
As a student, I was deeply moved by the awardees’ passion for their academic pursuits. This experience has left a profound impact on me, inspiring me to approach my own research with even greater enthusiasm and dedication.