PCD Group Project
What is PCD Group Project?
PCD Group Project is one of the requirements of PCD1 course. It will be conducted in the Year 1-2, and the project starts in February and runs for about 10 months. The project presentation will be given by each team at the end of the project and three awards will be given; Best Project Award, Best Community Award, People’s Choice Award.
Students will work with groups for chosen projects. This is student-centered project in which contents of activities will be decided by student groups.
●Through projects, students will learn how to present science information to a wide range of audience which lead to think about the impact of research on community.
●The students will also learn how to interact with others in diverse and intercultural environment through working in a team as well as exploring each other’s ideas in order to achieve group goals.
●All projects will have some components where students have opportunities to engage with local Okinawan community members.
Programing Learning Outcomes
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Design and present science information to targeted audience effectively
- Collaboratively plan and execute a team project
Group Project Choice
Click on the titles and learn more!
Kuroshio
What is Kuroshio?
Kuroshio is a student-run magazine that began as a professional development project in 2015. So far, four issues have been published and distributed on OIST campus, around Okinawa, and even internationally. The content has a few reoccurring pieces but is quite eclectic overall ranging from reflections on art and science to promotions for local businesses and events. Working on this magazine is an opportunity to learn more about OIST and Okinawa and to continue to strengthen our connection with the local community, in addition to building valuable real-world leadership, team building, and project management skills.
Outline
Kuroshio magazine is now published in digital format only. It is up to a group to decide how many publication times, how much information to publish, or article categories, etc.
◆Number of groups
- Max. 2 goups
◆Number of groups
- Max. 2 goups
Website & 1 min. Video
KUROSHIO → https://www.kuroshiomag.com
1 min. presentation video → here
OSMP
What is OSMP?
Creating environment where OISTers and Okinawan high school students could be engaged in a form of scientific mentoring program. Through the OSMP, local high school students are to be explored to various research fields, research methods and life as researchers.
OSMP could consist of: 1) Managing mentoring program including calling for OISTer volunteers to be mentors, arranging with local high schools, scheduling mentoring sessions, etc., 2) Visiting local high schools to provide science related activities such as science experiments and research presentations, etc., or 3) combination of both.
OSMP could consist of: 1) Managing mentoring program including calling for OISTer volunteers to be mentors, arranging with local high schools, scheduling mentoring sessions, etc., 2) Visiting local high schools to provide science related activities such as science experiments and research presentations, etc., or 3) combination of both.
Outline
It requires to coordinate with local high schools on visiting/inviting schedule. Targeting grade year could be up to a group to decide.
Japanese high school years; 1st year=16 years old 2nd year=17 years old 3rd year=18 years old
◆Number of groups
- Max. 2 goups
Japanese high school years; 1st year=16 years old 2nd year=17 years old 3rd year=18 years old
◆Number of groups
- Max. 2 goups
Website & 1 min. Video
OSMP → https://groups.oist.jp/osmp
1 min. presentation video → here
KODOMO IBASYO
What is Kodomo Ibasyo?
This program is a part of University Consortium Okinawa which OIST is one of the participating universities. The purpose of this consortium program is to provide places for young children where they can gather with friends to learn, play, and receive meals. PCD groups are to provide science related activities for those children.
Outline
Groups are to visit various Ibasyo locations located throughout the island. The Ibasyo managing center at Ryukyu university will match Ibasyo locations with groups according to interests/needs after mandatory pre-training. It will be up to PCD groups to decide frequency of their visits and activity contents.
◆Number of groups
- No limit number
◆Number of groups
- No limit number
Website & 1 min. Video
Kodomo Ibasyo → https://www.consortium-okinawa.or.jp/kg-vc/
1 min. presentation video → Team Anki
1 min. presentation video → Team Ajimaya
1 min. presentation video → Team Nago
1 min. presentation video → Team Yakena
3MT
What is 3MT?
Three Minute Thesis is a competition designed for students to explain their research in three minutes. Pre competitions are held at universities around the world, then finalists to compete at the final 3MT event in Australia (or online competition).
Outline
The group could plan pre competition event before the main 3MT final event date. Also, the group could plan 3MT events for university students in Okinawa/Japan to open up an opportunity to interact with local community.
◆Number of groups
- 1 ~ 2 groups
◆Number of groups
- 1 ~ 2 groups
Website & 1 min. Video
1 min. presentation video → Team 3MT
TE.CH
What is TE.CH?
“TE.CH” is a new group project (from Class 2020) designed to provide students practical and comprehensive teaching experiences, including curriculum development and administrative work. The contents do not have to be technology related; it is up to you what class you create!
Outline
TE.CH group members will develop their own curriculum, and classes will be designed to meet the level of understanding of the audiences. Target audience will be local community members from outside of OIST, and the venue is not limited to OIST. Online sessions are also acceptable. See more information follow the link below.
◆Number of groups
- no limit number
◆Number of groups
- no limit number
Website
More details → What is TE.CH?
SOFO
What is SOFO?
Do you fancy teaching Science for young generations? If yes, please join the program called “SOFO - Science Outreach for Future OISTERs”. We plan to create Science Education Outreach programs for local Okinawan Junior High School students. We will focus on Unna Junior High School.
Outline
SOFO is planning to:
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
- Set up a Science Club at Unna junior high School.
- Creating annual plan and preparing materials for the Science club
- Recruiting students to join the club.
- Running the club (weekly? Monthly? TBD)
- Supporting other science activities for the school (e.g. how to create easy to understand level of presentation - @総合的な学習の時間. TBD
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
Website
More details → Coming soon
Honey bee saves coral
What is Honey bee saves coral?
The "honey bee saves coral" is a well established collaboration project since May 2019 between Onna village office, OIST as well as local beekeepers. In short: Bee colonies are provided to farmers who rent their land to keep the colonies (securing income), they learn about bees and to beekeep (environmental education) and in return, they keep the bees happy (change of farming practices, more diverse flower sources, less toxins -> leading to ecological improvement and reduced red soil erosion protection coral reefs)
Outline
OIST students interested would closely interact with Onna village office as well as with local beekeepers to plan and take part in public events to raise awareness and to spread knowledge. In addition, they can plan small scientific projects to collect data and provide scientific advice, think about new outreach methods and represent OIST as collaboration partner in public events. Be creative, share knowledge and interact and learn from our local collaboration partners!
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
Website
More details → Honeybees Help Save Okinawan Coral?!
Science Demo
What is Science Demo?
Building library of demos featuring research field of OIST units. The demo will be possibly displayed at Okinawa City Science Museum. Group picks a unit of OIST and build a demo to introduce the unit's research field (not the specific research itself, but about the field). The demo needs to be transportable, robust, easy to communicate, science related, and interactive.
Outline
Decide which research field your group will feature and come up with a demo idea. Dr. Wilson (GS CP section) will provide consultation if needed. The group might need to contact various sections/divisions of OIST to receive support on building a demo. The group needs to plan public events where the demo can be introduced to local community.
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
◆Number of groups
- 1 group
Website
Timeline
Prerequisite
Each group member needs to:
- Read and understand GS Safety Protocol website (*coming soon)
- Check off each required item on the site
- Submit a project proposal from the button below if you are a group leader
Budget
Each team will have access to financial support for the project, maximum amount of 50,000JPY. After your project is approved, your budget amount is fixed, NO additional budget requests accepted. Please consider all aspects involved in carrying our your project. A format of the budget sheet is up to each team, but please include detailed information.
Purchase Request Procedure
Any purchases must be requested at least ONE MONTH prior to the preferred delivery date using the PCD1 Group Project Purchase Request form below button
*Please do NOT make any purchases on your own without consulting with PCD coordinator.
Purchasing from Amazon (jp) would be a smooth process, please search items from amazon.co.jp and let us know the links.
Any other purchases need to be invoice purchase base meanig you need to have estimates from vendors, then approval process within OIST to follow. Upon approval, you could purchase items and be invoiced. OIST then pay to the vendors.
The purchase request is not completed until PCD coordinator approves it. After approved, GS will handle the purchase and when the products are delivered, we will notify the students for a pick-up of the products.
Teams - online community
There is an online community for Group Project Class 2020.
Let’s help each other and make team stronger! Also, PCD team is here to help and support you all :)
You can join the teams from here → Class 2020 Teams
Class 2019 archive
At the end of projects, each group gives presentation, Class 2019 had an online presentation. Each group created 1 min. presentation video. Please check from → here!
The winning teams for Class 2019 were
- The Best Project Award: 3MT team - 3 minute thesis
- The Best Community Award: Anki team - Kodomo Ibasyo
- People's Choice Award: Kuroshio team - Kuroshio magazine