Tohoku University and Ochanomizu University have signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement.Dr. Chika Kuroda (1884-1968), a pioneer of Japanese female scientists, graduated from Ochanomizu University's predecessor, Women's Higher Normal School, and in 1913, Tohoku became the predecessor of Tohoku University as the first female imperial university student. Having advanced to Imperial University, he will work to promote diversity and strengthen research capabilities in the field of science.
According to Tohoku University, the signing ceremony was held at the Tokyo branch office of Tohoku University in Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and President Hideo Ohno of Tohoku University and President Kimiko Murofushi of Ochanomizu University signed the agreement.
The content of the collaboration is to deepen research in the fields of engineering and information science at Ochanomizu University and systematically promote diversity at Tohoku University. Along with being dispatched to the Faculty of Science, Ochanomizu University faculty members will be dispatched to Tohoku University to contribute to improving the gender balance of Tohoku University, where the ratio of female faculty members remains at about 14%.
Dr. Kuroda is from Saga prefecture.From Women's Higher Normal School to Tohoku Imperial University, engaged in research on natural pigments and became the second female doctor of science in Japan.After that, he taught at Tokyo Women's Higher Normal School, which was renamed to Women's Higher Normal School, and Ochanomizu University, and is considered to be a pioneer of female scientists.
The footsteps of Dr. Kuroda have been inherited as a symbol of women who aspire to research in the natural sciences, and the "Chika Kuroda Award" has been set up at Ochanomizu University and Tohoku University Graduate School of Science.
