Calling for Public Relations Student Interns

The Public Relations and Communication Division of Hokkaido University has been accepting Public Relations Student Interns for the purpose of disseminating information from the students’ perspective and developing public relations personnel. Currently, the division is accepting Science Writing Interns and Digital Media Interns. (For the details, look at the bottom of this article)

The intern Tachibana (far right, black down jacket) interviewing students at a laboratory

Hina Tachibana, a senior student at the School of Fisheries Sciences, who has been working as a Science Writing Intern has now completed her program and sent us the following testimonial.

“I worked as a science writing intern at Hokkaido University’s Public Relations Division for over half a year. I researched for professors with interesting research, contacted them via email for an interview, and visited their laboratories. I asked them about their current research, listened to the stories of the students in their labs, and asked for their messages to readers; I then wrote articles in both Japanese and English. I also introduced on social media the campus of the School of Fisheries Sciences, to which I belong, and events in Hakodate City, where the campus is located. Through this internship, I learned basic business etiquette and the skills to convey technical content for the general public. I also experienced first-hand the excitement of public relations activities that communicate research-related content to the world, and I think this was a good experience for considering my future career choices.”

Tachibana interviewed Associate Professor Jun Uetake of the Tomakomai Research Forest, one of Hokkaido University’s field research facilities, Visiting Professor Hidemasa Kondo of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and Visiting Associate Professor Tomohiko Yamazaki of the National Institute for Materials Science—both of which accept Hokkaido University students through a collaborative graduate school systems. Based on these interviews Tachibana introduced their research activities in articles written in Japanese and English.

You can read Tachibana’s articles here:

• The mystery of the microorganisms that melt glaciers
• Practical applications of antifreeze proteins
• Fusing life science and nanotechnology “Collaboration between Hokkaido University and NIMS”

The Intern Tachibana receiving explanations from Associate Professor Jun Uetake at Tomakomai Research Forest.

The Science Writing Interns cover research activities while Digital Media Interns cover a wider range of activities taking place at the University. Hokkaido University students who are interested in these programs are encouraged to apply.

Click here to see the internship details in English.