In Japan, STEM education in collaboration with space has begun to attract attention in the last few years. This is due to reforms in Japanese educational system, which started its first phase in the beginning of 2020 academic year. In an era of ever advancing science and technology, children are required to think and act independently. For active learning, various "inquiry-based learning" curriculums have been introduced in elementary, middle, and high schools across Japan, and parents are probably feeling these rapid changes in school education. Do you know that space-based inquiry learning curriculums are attracting attention as a "comprehensive learning opportunity"?

Currently, numerous experiments are being conducted on the International Space Station to solve global problems. Nowadays, even children can participate in these space experiments.
The most famous space education in Japan are the contents from JAXA Space Education Center, and there are numerous other curriculums provided by educational institutions and companies nationwide. However, there were only a handful of curriculums that could provide practical applications with space. Given this dilemma, the "Space Science Laboratory - Challenge to Make Crystals in Real Space!" started up in 2022 to provide realistic and active learning curriculum that allows middle to high school students to participate in real space experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). If your children are interested in space, this will definitely be an unforgettable experience for them! (and don’t we wish that adults can join too!)

"The Space Science Laboratory" is a six-month activity based curriculum conducted after-school, based on concepts of STEM Education in collaboration with space and real-life experience. The curriculum targets middle to high school students from all over Japan, with them participating in real space experiments using the ISS. The theme of the experiment is "drug discovery research", a space experiment regularly conducted on ISS. To be specific, students work on protein crystal formation in space. The participation fee is $700 per team, a price incredibly low considering launch and recovery cost of these experiments can be approximately $60,000/kg. Teams of 3-4 students are required to apply, and within two to three weeks after the application, the ground experiment kit arrives and the team conducts preparatory experiments in their school science lab for about a month. About one month before the launch, all participating teams gather at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (A.K.A. Miraikan) in Tokyo to prepare their experimental samples to be launched into space. The students' experimental samples will be delivered to the ISS by Space-X Falcon 9 rocket, and after about a month of space experiments, they will return to the earth again. The result of the experiment can be seen through formation of the crystals, and after each team observes and compiles their results into a scientific report, all participating teams gather again for the presentation. After sharing what they have learned from each other, the after-school activity of six months come to an end.

The first Space Science Lab, which started in October 2022 consisted of 25 middle to high school students from Tokyo, six teams in total. One of the participants was a student who decided to participate was due to his liking for the manga "Space Brothers". In the manga, there was a scene in which a protein crystallization experiment is conducted on the ISS for drug discovery research especially for the incurable disease, ALS.
“I am very excited to be able to try the experiment I read about in the manga" the student comments. Other space-loving students, who commented "loves the stars" and "see infinite possibilities in space," gathered together to participate space experiments for the first time in their lives. Then, in June this year, the students gave a nervous but dignified presentation at their presentation event held in Tokyo.

Presenter A: "Through this event, I was able to learn the process of conducting experiments, and I also became better at handling lab equipment better, which made the experiments much more enjoyable."
Presenter B: "I learned that it is important for many people to cooperate with each other and share the results of experiments, whether it be successes or failures. I hope that by accumulating data from a large number of people, we can all contribute to the advancement of medicine."

A team of experts in space experiments supports the "Space Science Laboratory", which provides hands-on learning experiences. The experiment kits used by middle to high school students are the exact same as the real kits used in universities and laboratories. If the students have any trouble with an experiment, they can consult directly with the space experiment specialists. In addition, the teaching materials are editorially supervised and taught by an active astronaut training instructor. The latest information on space experiments and the realities of space developments are explained in an easy-to-understand manner. Another attraction of this curriculum is the opportunity to come in contact with experts that have various roles in the space industry.

The achievement of "What I made went to space on a real rocket" will be an unforgettable experience for children for the rest of their life. In addition, the curriculum will help children develop not only a basic knowledge of experiments and science and technology, but also gives them a perspective that we are coming at an era where many solution to global problems will be dependant on space.
The second season of "the Space Science Laboratory" is scheduled to be held in the summer of 2023. If you are interested, please be sure to check it out.

Are you interested in translating the curriculum to suit your language? The team of experts in space experiments can provide a taylored experience for your country, state, or jurisdiction.

Many think that introducing space education in a school curriculum is overly complex to achieve, mostly due to lack of information - but in fact it is NOT. Starting with "Space Science Laboratory", there are wide variety of free and paid space curriculums with various subjects and easy-to-use contents available from JAXA, NASA and other private companies in Japan and abroad. ASMILLA aims to continuously provide information for recommended curriculums from among many others, so make sure to check-back every now and then!

This service is an example of Kirara Edu provided by JAMSS.

●Source:
Announcement of "The Space Science Laboratory"(Japanses only)
Kirara will be launched to the ISS in March 2023