Observing Tiny Creatures in the Soil! The IHI Group Conducts “How Soil Works” Outreach Class in Kagoshima
On July 24, 2026, the IHI Group held an outreach class titled “How Soil Works” at the Kagoshima Museum of Environment, a center for environmental learning and conservation activities in Kagoshima City. Twenty-two local children and parents from 11 families attended. Professor Yoshimura and Research Assistant Ogawa of Ochanomizu University served as instructors. Three representatives from the museum, including its president, and two IHI employees also participated.
Participants learned how forests and soil support ecosystems and then used microscopes to observe and sketch soil organisms. Participants commented, “It was fun to use a microscope for the first time,” “I was amazed to see soil organisms with my own eyes,” and “The explanations were easy to understand.” The class gave children and their parents an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the natural environment around them.
For the IHI Group, which operates energy- and rocket-related businesses in Kagoshima Prefecture, initiatives like this that bring together industry, academia, and local communities play an important role in nurturing the next generation of science and technology talent and fostering trust with local communities. They also contribute to the sustainable development of the region while strengthening the foundation that supports the Group’s business activities.
The IHI Group will continue to pursue initiatives like this in close collaboration with local communities and educational institutions.
