Three Tokyo Tech High School of Science and Technology students have received the Best Poster Award at Korea Science Academy Science Fair (KSASF) 2023, held from June 27 to 30 at the Korea Science Academy of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).
Award winners (from left) Tomoya Yamaguchi, Hinako Sakaguchi, Yua Fujisawa
KSASF, a biennial contest during which high school students from around the world share their research through oral and poster presentations in the fields of mathematics, science, and technology, was held in person for the first time in four years in 2023. This year, the event included representatives of 29 schools from 20 countries and regions.
Starch-degrading enzymes in miso soup broths
Second-year Tokyo Tech high school students Yua Fujisawa, Hinako Sakaguchi, and Tomoya Yamaguchi brought home the award thanks to their “Comparison of Starch-Degrading Enzymes in Ingredients of Japanese Traditional Dishes.” Specifically, the team prepared five kinds of broth used in miso soup and observed how enzymes degraded the starch contained in the broths through an iodine-starch reaction experiment. In addition, the high schoolers used an application to extract color information from the broths, allowing them to quantitatively compare color changes in the solutions.
Members in action during poster presentation
Oral presentation of research results
Tokyo Tech High School of Science and Technology team members
- Yua Fujisawa, 2nd year, Applied Chemistry Course
- Hinako Sakaguchi, 2nd year, Architectural Design Course
- Tomoya Yamaguchi, 2nd year, Electrical and Electronics Course
Comments from team leader Fujisawa
This advanced research using familiar, every-day objects was challenging, and presenting our research in English was also difficult. I think we achieved this award thanks to the support of our teachers and others around us, and for that I am truly grateful. In the future, I would like to make the most of this valuable exchange with other high school students.
