The 3^rd year class

With the slogan “fostering global leaders with high sociability and strong leadership as well as deep expertise,” we U-ATOM students have a lot of opportunities to acquire a broad knowledge of nuclear energy, let alone study a variety of liberal arts.  Especially the overseas trainings are outstanding, you can witness the latest nuclear research and can improve your communication skills through international exchange.  These can be your significant knowledge and experiences that you never expect from classroom lectures.  It is truly “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Transferring to U-ATOM, I believe you can improve yourself and gain not just comprehensive knowledge of nuclear energy but also world standards of wisdom.  On the other hand, the wide variety of programs means you will have busy days at U-ATOM here.  The days might discourage you along the way sometimes, but I think it also can be a valuable part of your life.  The important thing is to take the first step towards your future.  This is your big chance for self-realization.

I studied water treatment and water environments in undergraduate school. Currently, I major in nuclear engineering and conduct research related to analytical chemistry. I enrolled in U-ATOM in order to engage in further study of separation engineering and energy issues, areas in which I have always been interested. Peaceful use of nuclear power is established based on social literacy and international cooperation in a variety of specialized fields. I hope to become a professional who understands these relationships and is capable of making decisions. Therefore, I believe it is necessary to deepen my comprehensive understanding from a wide range of perspectives including political science, economics, industry and culture. The diverse coursework and training at U-ATOM help me to cultivate broad knowledge. I spend each day learning together with my classmates and senior students.

The disaster at Tokyo Electric Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant occurred when I was in my second year at university. At that time, I was enrolled in the nuclear engineering department, and I was asked countless questions regarding nuclear power plants and radiation by concerned people around me. I had been confident in the safety systems of modern nuclear power plants and was therefore shocked at the Fukushima disaster.  Although I had originally been interested in reactor physics, the disaster led me to change my focus to safety. I decided to come to Japan and enroll at U-ATOM in order to study the cause of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster and to work to improve nuclear power safety in the future. Today, I am studying technical and social issues for ensuring the safe and peaceful use of nuclear power throughout the world.

A severe accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant occurred while I was studying Physics at another university and that was how I first come to know about the influence of nuclear power generations in society and Japan’s approach to nuclear energy issues.  Acquiring the social, scientific and medical perspectives in the field of nuclear power, then I have the hope of becoming the one who can relieve anxiety of nuclear radiation for every single person.  Thus, I decided to join U-ATOM which gives me opportunities to gain a wide variety of knowledge even more than the area of specialization.  Furthermore, U-ATOM has unique features in visiting nuclear plants and institutions and interacting with the people across the borders.  There are days with full of my research work and other activities, I feel I have been growing day by day through the amazing experiences.  Let’s have a challenge for U-ATOM, it is an exciting place for those who want to be active globally with a wide variety of vision.

The greatest feature of U-ATOM is its wide range of educational program.  “Nuclear power” covers many different spheres from social science, politics to natural science.  Here in U-ATOM, opinion leaders are often invited to deliver some lectures not only involved in the field of Nuclear but are also in diverse fields, and those lectures are highly motivating to explore our future and to recognize the depth of nuclear energy.  Additionally, we have many opportunities to speak in English, especially during the overseas trainings.  Some might feel uneasy about using English, and I used to be just like that.  Now my English has improved by entering U-ATOM and I don’t even hesitate to speak English at all.  I realize that the important thing is, to express yourself and a strong will to improve yourself. 
U-ATOM is busy but worth it, especially for those who have aspirations to acquire diversified viewpoints in addition to your specialized fields. 

U-ATOM promotes knowledge more than domain of expertise, meanwhile about legislation, politics, economy, safety culture, risk communication and risk management related to nuclear energy.　 U-ATOM offers the students precious opportunities to widen new horizons, open up and gain insight into nuclear engineering on a global scale, for instance, meeting admirable engineers,　specialists, participating symposium with international students, visiting　international agencies.  U-ATOM devotes to round out education beyond pumping things in.  That explicit orientation leads the U-ATOM students to scope the real goals out, and to endeavor to challenge.