VOICESDeans in their Own Words

As s ociation of Leadin g Wom enRe s ea rch e r s in En gineering,
Toh oku Univ ersity

Dean, Schoolof Engineering

Dean, Graduate Schoolof Information Sciences

ITO
Akinori

KATONei

The ratio of female researchers in engineering is low,which is a common issue worldwide. In Japan, thesituation is even more serious.
However, as seen in the Tohoku University DEI Promotion
Declaration launched last year, our and society's
awareness are changing dramatically.
We will fully support activities of ALicE to make Tohoku
University open to people of various backgrounds,regardless of gender.

Society 5.0 aims to create a future society where, withthe help of AI and robots, our lives are enriched byintegrating virtual spaces with existing physical spaces.
Information science is not limited to advances intechnology like AI, IoT, data mathematics, and robotics. It
also takes on numerous global issues through an
integrative approach that combines the humanities andthe sciences. We will do our utmost to support theactivities of ALicE so that more female researchers canbe active in the field.

Dean, Graduate Schoolof Environmental Studies

Dean, Graduate Schoolof Biomedical Engineering

YOSHIOKA
Toshiaki

SAIJO
Yoshifumi

Efforts are being made to address environmental issues
from various angles, including dealing with resources,energy, food, disasters, and daily life. Values towards theenvironment vary depending on one's position, andthere is never just one answer, and it is important foreveryone to pool their wisdom and deepen mutual
understanding. The Graduate School of Environmental
Sciences supports the activities of ALicE, which strives tocreate a brighter future society that is easier to live in.

ALicE Ma scot

Zundanuki

ALicE

Biomedical engineering is considered as aninterdisciplinary area of medicine and engineering. It isin fact the crossroad of the needs and seeds ofmultidisciplinary people. We are proceeding medical
device innovation by the design thinking approach inwhich we emphasize the unmet clinical needs of various
people and our sympathy to the people in problem
solving. Let’s create a bright and healthy future bydevelopments based on various viewpoints. Graduate
School of Biomedical Engineering is continuously
supporting ALicE activities.

B eco m in g fem a le resea rch ers
a ctive in th e wo rldZundanuki is a zunda (edamame)-colored tanuki (a Japanese racoon dog) that lives inAobayama. Its mouth forms the Japanese kanji エ, for engineering, and on its belly is thepattern of the Japanese bush clover, featured in Tohoku University s logo. This tanuki has akeen interest in engineering, science, and technology!


 ※ The engineering at Tohoku University is the collective term that encompasses Tohoku University s Graduate School ofEngineering, Graduate School of Information Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Biomedical
Engineering, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Environment
Conservation Center, and the Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems.

                                                                  ­ ­                                              ­  ­ ̲                               Pur p o seTRSupporting theAdvancement of Womenin Engineering

AININ

G & SUPPORT

Develop andSupport
Female Studentsand Researchers

women in engineering and fosteringawareness of gender equality and career

NESSNS

COmind. We work to support the training ofUSGRANDDE

Foster Gender
Equalityin the Fields ofEngineering

Develop aGrand Design toRaise Awarenessabout Career
Continuity

GNin the fields of engineering with peace ofIO

SI

which women can continue their careers

CWe are working to realize a society incontinuity opportunities.

At Tohoku University Engineering,
we respect diversity as the way to realize
a truly prosperous society.

in Tohoku University and Beyond.

Women’s Challenge Grand Prize

society by creating technologies that support our daily lives andby generating new innovations. Currently, society is complex and

Women’s Challenge Support Grand Prize

constantly changing, leading to various challenges. However,This award is sponsored by the Cabinet Office’s

solving these challenges requires viewing engineering from

Gender Equality Bureau. It aims to honor women who

diverse perspectives.

excel in various fields and the organizations that

Tohoku University is actively promoting Diversity, Equity &support them, in order to recognize role models for

Inclusion (DEI) in the field of engineering, declaring its

taking on challenges to heighten momentum towardcommitment to realizing diversity. This entails recognizing thegender equality in society.

dignity of all students and faculty members, respecting theirindividuality, and fostering mutual understanding, allowing themto dedicate themselves to learning, teaching, research, andwork.

While women remain a minority in the field of engineering, theirperspectives and contributions are expected to be crucial forsolving various challenges. To support an increasing number ofAssociation of Leading Women Researchers in Engineering,Tohoku University (ALicE) will continue to provide support.

Additionally, ALicE celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023, andwe sincerely thank everyone who has supported this initiative.

Awarded the 2016 Women’s Challenge Award (Cabinet Office)

Recognized as Improving the Research Environment for Female Engineering Researchers

Engineering is a discipline that guides us towards a better future

women researchers to thrive in the field of engineering,

A ct i vi t i e sProfessor

TANAKA Mami
Graduate School of
Biomedical Engineering/
Graduate School of Engineering
Director, ALicEA c t i v i t ie s

Q&AQ

Promoting Visibility of Female Researchers/
Appeal of Engineering

Support for Work/Life Balance
between Research and Childcare/nursing care

Science Experience Program

Nursery/Resting Rooms

informationGrants for Babysitters and Other Childcare
Services for Engineering Researchers
We provide subsidies for the part of utilization
fees of babysitters or temporary childcare services
to engineering researchers who need assistancein balancing childcare and research activities.
This support is available to all, regardless ofgender, and is also accessible to students. Pleasecheck our website for more details.

Participant Voices
I could learn more
about research andcampus life. I was
more motivated tostudy. (High SchoolStudent, Gunma)

It was a good experience forme to hear from professions
that I’m not usually involved
with. It was great to talkalmost one-on-one withthem at the roundtable.
(High School Student, Fukui)

I attended the Mini-Forum withmy junior high school daughter.
She was interested in medicine,but engineering seemed morefamiliar to her. She said she would
look into engineering more in thefuture. (Parent, Miyagi)e n g _ a l i ce @ g r p . to h o ku . a c. j p

Researcher Voices

Mini forums are held at Open Campuses,
where female faculty, professionally working
graduates, and students give lectures andopen dialogues and hold round-tablediscussions (Q&A sessions). We encourage
anyone interested to attend.

information“In the future, I would like to go abroad andbuild up experience and achievements tofurther open up opportunities for working
women. I hope that the next generation can
do so, and create an environment where
women in research can easily travel.”

We hold seminars and networking eventsfor female researchers and students inengineering aimed at improving their skills
and developing their careers.

ht t p s :/ / al i c e . e ng . to h o ku . a c. j p / o m p a ti b i l i ty

Secondment of Research Support Staff for Engineering ResearchersIntroducing Female Researchers andResearchers Raising Children
We provide on-site lectures (also availableonline) at mainly girls’ high schools to givethem a broad understanding of the appealof engineering. We also introduce female
researchers in engineering in our newsletter,on our homepage, and via SNS.

We dispatch research support personnel (administrativeassistants) to researchers who find it difficult to secure
research time due to childcare, caregiving, or societalcontributions. Support for societal contributions isavailable exclusively for female researchers, while
support for childcare and caregiving is available
regardless of gender. Please feel free to consult with us
if you encounter any difficulties. Please check ourwebsite for more details.

“For young researchers, the ability to build
an international network early in your career
has a huge impact on the development of
your own research. I hope everyone cantake advantage of this program to actively
participate in international conferences andgain experience testing their research.”

Seminars/Networking Events

Application for Babysitting Fee Subsidy

Researcher Voices“It was a huge relief to be able tohand off clerical paperwork I had
long put off. I now feel morerelaxed and have more time tothink about my home life.”

We support the active recruitment andpromotion of female researchers. We
are working to improve laboratories,
daycare rooms, and women’s restingrooms, so that female researchers canconduct their work with peace ofmind.

This program subsidizes a portion of travel
expenses participating in academicconferences, joint research meetings, andtraining programs, as well as expenses forsubmitting and reviewing papers in English forfemale researchers and students. There are 2
application periods per year, in May andOctober. The maximum amount is 200,000 yen
for overseas travel expenses and 80,000 yen
for domestic travel expenses. Application
forms can be downloaded from our website.

For inquiries about the nursery
T E L 0 2 2- 7 9 5-5 6 78

Efforts to Actively Hire Female Researchers

STEP-ALICE Program

For all faculty, educational researchers, andenrolled students in Engineering, we provide
a nursery space for the temporary care ofchildren, and a quiet resting room for thoserequiring a space to rest or breastfeed. It canalso be used for temporary childcare during
meetings or academic conferences.

We hold science experience programs forelementary and junior high school students
in order to further their knowledge in various
science fields. We also hold laboratory tours
for female junior and senior high school
students, where they can actually experience
research in those fields.

Mini Forum for Female Junior andSenior High School Students

Nurturing Women Leaders in Engineering“It was great to hear directly fromexperienced female researchers about what
they think about the future and turning
points in their lives, such as marriage,
childbirth, and childcare.”“Listening to senior students andresearchers, I felt like I can work hard now
toward my goals, and it made me lessanxious about the future.”

Q

What should I do if my lab work does not end
until night time?

Aobayama Station on the Sendai City subway line is conveniently
located on Aobayama Campus. In addition, there is support for female
students through the Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association. You
can also take a taxi if you are returning home late at night.

QWill I be able to balance home life and research?

We can provide assistance in the form of babysitter fee subsidies
and research support personnel to assist in balancing research andchildcare. There are also spaces available for use as temporary
childcare during academic conferences.

Problem-Solving through Information Sharing

Women in the engineering by the numbers
Ratio of female
students enrolled
in the engineering Male

Sharing/Providing InformationFemale
Students

13%

Students

We operate a mailing list for female students
a n d r e se a r c h e r s i n th e e n g i n e e r i n g f o r
the purpose of providing and sharinginformation. We share public information
including childcare, research grants, andevent information.

Information on research feesand overseas travel expenses
Information on nursery schools
and babysitters
Information on eventsand symposiums at/
outside of Tohoku University

For Inquiries about the mailing list

Full description of support systems

en g _a l ic e@ g rp. t oh oku . a c . j p（851 people）

87%※As of May 2023

School of Engineering Post-Graduate Career (women)
Other

2%

Graduate school ata different university 3%

Jobhunting

18%

Graduateschool at
TohokuUniversity77%※March, 2023 graduates

Talk Desk
Researcher and Student Voices

What kind of discipline is engineering?

Engineering is a discipline that improves people’s lives and society.
Through the power of science and technology, we create new things
and work to solve problems. Because we create things that benefit
society, it is also known as a discipline of social doctors.

We accept consultation regarding female
students and researchers, from all
researchers and students of either gender.
Talk Desk (ALicE)TEL 0 2 2 -7 9 5-5 6 7 8
en g _a l ic e@ g rp. t oh oku . a c . j p

Other Consultation Desks

Student Support Center

Counseling RoomHarassment Consultation DeskGender Equality Consultation Desk

Career after completing Graduate School of Engineering
Master’s program (women)
Other6%

Enroll in Tohoku University
doctoral program 15%※March 2023 graduate school graduates

ALic E M a sc ot Z u n d a n u k iJobhunting79%