Profile:Hiromi Yokoyama, Doctor of Science, is an associate professor in charge of public relations and scientific communication at the School of Science, the University of Tokyo. In addition to being in charge of informing the public of the research activities being undertaken at the School of Science, she teaches science communication at the Graduate School of Science. She is also a lecturer for MAJESTy (Master of Arts Program for Journalist Education in Science and Technology) at the Graduate School of Political Science, Waseda University, and lectures at several other universities.
In 2004, she received a doctoral degree in science from the Tokyo University of Science for her achievements in experimental particle physics. She started writing about science in 1999 while she was a student. In 2007, she was the recipient of the 2007 Science Journalist Award conferred by the Japanese Association of Science & Technology Journalists in recognition for her series of web articles titled “The Story of Light and People-The Concept of Seeing.” These were designed to be accessible and attractive articles that could serve as an introduction to basic science. A film she wrote and directed was honored with an award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at the 48th Science and Technology Film/Video Festival.
In addition to her intensive writing activities, she serves as a member of science councils for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, contributing to discussions as a young opinion leader in the area of governmental support for science, and is also a member of selection committees for children’s book awards and Science Journalists Award.
Her character is remarkable for the deep understanding she has about the importance of basic science. She calmly speaks and acts based on her vision of what the government should do to support basic science.
Personal history:
Yokoyama was born in Tokyo, in December 1975.
She graduated from Futaba Elementary School, Futaba Junior High School and Futaba High School. It was as a second grader in junior high school that she first formed the wish to become a missionary for science.
In graduate school, she majored in experimental particle physics and high-energy physics.
From June 1999 to September 2004, Yokoyama was a full-time member of the K2K SciFi Group at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization under a partnership between the Graduate School of the Tokyo University of Science (laboratory of Kozi Nakai) and the Organization.
In September 2004, she received a doctoral degree in science from the Tokyo University of Science.
From October 2004 to March 2005, Yokoyama served as a special researcher at the Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology.
From January 2005 to March 2007, Yokoyama served as a senior researcher at the Hayama Center for Advanced Studies (laboratory of Kohji Hirata), the Graduate School for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI).
In April 2007, Yokoyama became an associate professor in charge of public relations and scientific communication at the School of Science, the University of Tokyo.
interview (newspaper):
nikkei press(Japanese) pdf
yomiuri press(Japanese)web1, web2
Prize
9 May, 2007 Winning!The 2nd Japan Science Jounalist Prize
The Story Of Light and People
26 Feb, 2007 Winning! The 48th Scinece movie festival
Proze of The Minister of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technplogy
Articles written for AAAS"Science" and many magazines in Japan like "Kodomo no Kagaku(Science for Kids)", "Science(Kagaku)","Nature Interface", "Soukendai Journal", "Tenmon Guide","Techno Current", Kyodo News, Tokyo Newspaper, Perican, NikkeiBP, Nikon, TTI, POINT, Image science, Asahi Kako, Kagaku Miraikan and JAXA.
English article:
Nikon
The Story of Light and People—The Concept of Seeing
(translated by a staff member)
best choice:"The ability to see and falling in love"
AAAS Science
"Collateral Damage"
"Junior Faculty Hope Name Change Will Lead to Greater Independence"
E-mail: yokoyama at s.u-tokyo.ac.jp
