Next summer, a group of biochemistry majors and STEM students from across campus will pack their bags and board a plane to Japan to gain experience tackling biochemistry research in an intercultural setting.
As the inaugural cohort in the Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan Study Abroad Program, the students will get an introduction to lab-based research at Hiroshima University, which is located about a 20-mile drive from Hiroshima City in southern Honshu (Japan’s largest island). On day trips and weekends, they will take a break from the life sciences to explore the city and surrounding region. Participants will receive three credits of Biochemistry 375.
The program is led by Erica Shu, teaching faculty in the Department of Biochemistry. Shu was inspired to develop the program after a visitor from the study abroad office came to talk to her introductory level biochemistry class about programs abroad. “The students are always so interested to learn about opportunities abroad,” recalls Shu. She searched opportunities available through UW–Madison and noticed there were no short-term, faculty-led programs where students could focus on introductory level biochemistry research and coursework while immersing themselves in a new culture.
“This program is for anyone with an interest in exploring Japan who also wants to do some biological or biochemical research. Students can build research experience in a totally different cultural environment, even if they are new to lab work,” explains Shu. “As a graduate student, I worked as a visiting researcher at Hiroshima University, so I know it’s a welcoming place to learn and a beautiful part of Japan to visit.”
Shu, who was born in China and moved to the United States for her undergraduate studies, believes that cultural exchange is important to building a robust, inclusive scientific community at home and around the world. “There’s a level of self-reflection that comes from realizing what is considered normal or polite or strange is simply cultural,” says Shu. “Visiting other countries can give us insights into how labs are set up and how science is conducted in different cultural settings. That can help to build collaborations in the future.”
Applications are now open for the Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan Study Abroad Program. For more information about the program and to apply, visit the program description. For more about other study abroad opportunities that are supported in part by the Biochemistry Department, see the department’s International Opportunities page. To explore additional programs that are a good fit for Biochemistry majors, visit the Biochemistry Major Advising Page (MAP).
Written by Renata Solan, Department of Biochemistry. Photos are courtesy of Erica Shu.