Hello From AOBAYAMA | School of Engineering, Tohoku University

The School of Engineering of Tohoku University in Sendai is a world leading institution when it comes to robotic expertise. It is with this in mind that the Tohoku University Engineering Summer Program (TESP) on Robotics was created in 2010 to offer international students a unique opportunity to be involved in cutting edge and pioneering research. The program is divided into a series of English lectures conducted by internationally renowned specialists and hands-on activities in leading laboratories on various research topics such as nano-robots and space rovers. In addition, the program offers extra activities that expose students to Japanese culture. Overall, TESP provides students with academic and cultural experiences that will greatly enrich their academic effort and broden their global outlook.
The 2014 program was held from July 28 to August 8. This year TESP gathered 35 students from all over the world. Each day, after the morning lectures, they joined laboratories where they carried out hands-on activities. One afternoon during the first week was dedicated to Japanese culture. The students had the opportunity to wear a Kimono and experience Japanese tea ceremony in an authentic tearoom. TESP also organized a one-day trip to a movie set and candle painting shops. The students could then slip back in time in a typical Edo era village. During their free time, they had the opportunity to visit Matsushima, said to be one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, where many small islands in the bay are covered with pine trees. Sendai is the scene of various events during summer and the participants could enjoy the famous Tanabata Festival as well as the festival eve firework.
The TESP graduation ceremony took place the last day, following oral presentations and performance demonstrations of the hands-on activities. the international students and the organization team composed of the professors and some Japanese volunteer students gathered downtown for a sayonara party. At the end, the ”pop stars of tomorrow” went to karaoke to celebrate their last night in Sendai with a last song.