Hello, this is Hiroki Hayakawa, a second-year master’s student who entered the program in the fall.
On Monday, August 17, I gave my final presentation on my master’s research on mineral carbonation using seawater at Eco-Lab.
Although my specific research topic changed as I progressed from my undergraduate studies to the master’s program, looking back, I have spent approximately two and a half years working on research related to mineral carbonation. When I first started my research, there were many things I did not understand. However, through my research, I gained a great deal of knowledge and experience and feel that I was able to grow little by little. In addition to conducting experiments in the laboratory, I was fortunate to have opportunities to visit external facilities and industrial plants, which allowed me to see environments different from those I usually experienced. Looking back, the past two and a half years have been a truly valuable period during which I learned a great deal and had many opportunities to gain new experiences through my research.
With the completion of my master’s thesis final presentation, my student life in the Iizuka Laboratory has also reached an important milestone. Rather than focusing on my final presentation or research itself, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the time I have spent in the laboratory and express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me along the way.
When I first joined the Iizuka Laboratory, I was its first undergraduate student. I remember that there were many things I did not know, from how to conduct research to the basics of experimental procedures and how to operate laboratory equipment. During that time, Professor Iizuka, Professor Ho, Watanabe-san, Takahashi, Namba-san, Katsumata-san, and many other staff members kindly taught me everything from the basics and helped me countless times throughout my research. Whenever my experiments did not go as planned or I had difficulties with experimental methods, they were always willing to listen to my concerns and offer advice. I truly feel that I would not have been able to continue my research this far without everyone’s support.
During my time in the laboratory, I also had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people, including fellow students in my cohort, junior students, and international doctoral students. Although each of us worked on different research topics, discussing our research during seminars, having casual conversations in our daily lives, and taking part in the laboratory’s many events have all become important memories of my time in the laboratory. Spending time with people from diverse backgrounds and communicating with one another in English and Chinese was also a truly valuable experience.
I was also given the valuable opportunity to conduct research in Taiwan for one and a half months. Working in a different environment and interacting with professors and students there was a great source of inspiration, not only for my research but also for my personal growth. I was able to have this experience thanks to the tremendous support I received from Professor He. It was one of the valuable opportunities that I was able to gain because I was a member of the Iizuka Laboratory.
From the time I joined the laboratory until now, both the laboratory environment and its members have gradually changed. Having been part of the laboratory since its early days, and being able to witness and contribute to its gradual development, has been a particularly special experience for me.
With the completion of my master’s thesis final presentation, my student life in the Iizuka Laboratory has now reached a turning point. However, the things I have learned here, the people I have met, and the time I have spent in the laboratory will remain valuable to me for many years to come.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the professors who have guided me, the staff members who have supported my research every day, and all the fellow students with whom I have shared my laboratory life.
I am truly grateful to have been able to spend this time as a member of the laboratory, from its early days to where it is today.
Thank you all very much for everything.