PR Team Report on Miraikan Workshop “Mirai Camp: Let’s Think About SDGs Close to Home!”

Hello! I’m Iizuka from the Social Relations Division of the Public Relations Business Headquarters.

By the way, are you familiar with “SDGs Week”?

It refers to approximately one week that includes September 25 (GLOBAL GOALS DAY), the day the SDGs were adopted, and is designated as a period to raise awareness and inspire action toward promoting and achieving the SDGs.

Today, our PR team will bring you a report on a workshop event held at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation during SDGs Week!

About the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (hereinafter: Miraikan) serves as “a platform for creating the ‘future’ together with you,” offering exhibitions and programs that allow all people to envision an exciting future. On November 22, 2023, the permanent exhibitions underwent a major renewal for the first time in seven years. This facility is attracting attention for its future evolution!

▼Check out this article about a team member’s previous visit to Miraikan!
National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation Special Exhibition: You and Robots – What Are Humans? @ Odaiba | Visit Report

In conjunction with SDGs Week, Miraikan hosted an event called “Mirai Camp: Let’s Think About SDGs Close to Home!”

Two workshops were held: “Tenji Fragment Workshop: Turn Exhibition Memories into Accessories” and “Your Robot Workshop: What Kind of Robot Will Be Your Future Partner?”

Off to the Workshop!

Upon arriving at the venue on the third floor, we were greeted by Geo-Cosmos, the symbol of Miraikan.

With the impressive Geo-Cosmos in view, let’s first take a look at “Tenji Fragment Workshop: Turn Exhibition Memories into Accessories”!

This workshop utilized acrylic panels from exhibitions that ended in late August, as new exhibitions were set to open in November.

Participants created original accessories by threading ball chains or leather cords through acrylic panels cut into various shapes, and the completed items were given as commemorative gifts!

I actually tried it myself, and since the shapes and patterns are random, it was surprisingly difficult to decide which acrylic panel to use. (laughs)

Here is the completed key charm!

Not only is it easy to make, but transforming these “fragments of exhibitions” into “accessories” allows us to carry on Miraikan’s history and memories in a different form—a truly wonderful initiative.

Incidentally, I wrote the date on the back as a memento.

Since this workshop could be experienced casually without reservations, it was bustling with many visitors. All the prepared acrylic panels were transformed into accessories!

Experience “Robot” Programming!?

Next, let’s take a look at “Your Robot Workshop: What Kind of Robot Will Be Your Future Partner?” which features “robots,” the theme of the new exhibition opening in November!

In this workshop, participants can design original future robots to solve everyday challenges related to the SDGs and experience how robots actually work through simple programming activities.

When designing original future robots, various ideas emerged, such as robots that help with familiar household chores like “cooking robots” and “cleaning robots” that clean towns and oceans. Some children even came up with an “all-purpose robot” that does everything—cleaning, cooking, and homework! Their free and flexible ideas were heartwarming.

And then came the much-anticipated programming experience. The workshop used robots from “SOBIEGO,” a programming educational material we are involved in developing!

Through collaboration between departments within our company, we successfully planned an event that connects our educational materials with Miraikan’s PR!

▼Read more about SOBIEGO here!
Wise Integration’s Tamiya Robot School Sendagaya Classroom Opens! Teaching Children Programming in a Classroom Utilizing Office Space

When you actually try it, even just “moving forward and turning right” requires combining codes like “move forward for 3 seconds + stop + rotate 90 degrees right + stop,” which is surprisingly complex and challenging.

In this workshop, children decide for themselves which route to take to reach the goal and then program the course accordingly.

Many children struggled, with robots continuing to move forward when they wanted them to stop or spinning in circles continuously, but it was wonderful to see them all persevere and try again, saying “Let’s try this instead!”

Above all, the children’s smiles when the robots successfully performed the movements they intended were priceless.

New Permanent Exhibitions Opening in November!

As mentioned at the beginning, Miraikan underwent a major renewal of its permanent exhibitions for the first time in seven years on November 22!

Four new exhibitions themed around “Robots,” “Global Environment,” and “Aging” were scheduled to open, allowing visitors to explore how to confront societal challenges related to each theme and discover hints toward solutions through exhibition experiences based on the latest science and technology.

Please pay attention to the opening of Miraikan’s new permanent exhibitions. We encourage you to visit!