I was in charge of the sixth installment of the "Ph. Dreams" series of reports by graduate students Hokkaido University Sorachi Saito, an 8th class student who was hired by Ambitious Leader's Program Fostering Future Leaders to Open New Frontiers in Materials Science (ALP) in 2021 (Hokkaido University Graduate School Chemical Sciences and Engineering It is. ALP is an educational program that fosters human resources who study cross-disciplinary studies centered on material science, cultivate high abilities as members of society, and who will play an active role internationally in a wide range of fields such as not only academic and research institutions but also private companies after obtaining a degree. Although the period as a subsidy project of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology ended in March 2020, it continues to be active as a project of Hokkaido University.
こんにちは。ALP８期生の斉藤空知です。「空知」という名前は北海道の地名「空知地方」に由来しています。父がこの空知地方出身で、僕にこの名前をつけました。高校までは群馬県に住んでいましたが、名前にひかれて北海道大学に進学しました。北大なら初めて会う方もすぐに名前を覚えてくれます。「空を知る」と書いて空知。自然科学を学んでいるので、この名前はとても気に入っています。
To synthesize never-before-seen polymers
In graduate school, I am doing research on "making polymers using natural product synthesis techniques". Natural product synthesis is the artificial production of complex compounds that are originally produced by organisms and plants in the natural world. On the other hand, macromolecules are substances with a molecular weight of 10,000 or more, with thousands or more atoms and molecules linked together. Examples include polyethylene and polystyrene, which are now indispensable in our lives. Polymers are mainly synthesized by polymerization reactions. For example, polystyrene is a polymer made by preparing many styrenes and connecting them together. Until now, polymers have generally been synthesized by polymerization. However, if we use natural product synthesis techniques that can precisely synthesize molecules with complex structures, we believe that it will be possible to synthesize unprecedented polymers. In order to synthesize macromolecules that no one has ever seen before, I am conducting research by shaking the flask every day.
To become a science communicator
Well, there are various reasons for pursuing a doctoral course, but the professors in the Department of Chemistry, School of Science of Science gave me the opportunity. In the future, I would like to become a science communicator. Science communicators stand between science and technology experts such as researchers and engineers and society, and serve as a bridge to deepen mutual understanding. It is also the role of science communicators to think about problems in society that can be asked by science but cannot be answered by science. When I was in my third year at university, I had the opportunity to speak with many professors, and when I spoke frankly about my dreams for the future, they all said, "If that's the case, then you should pursue a doctorate!" I was surprised that professors with different research fields and different values offered advice on pursuing a doctoral degree in unison. I was convinced that if I studied chemistry in depth, I would be able to convey my research in a persuasive and easy-to-understand manner. For the future, in addition to research, recently I have been studying science communication at ALP and participating in many scientific events as a member of a local NPO. I'm learning little by little in Hokkaido now, but I'll do my best to become a science communicator who can contribute to the world beyond the sky.
