Introductory Science Experiments” (which started in 2004) is a compulsory subject on science experiments for approximately 1,700 first year students in science courses (medicine, dentistry, science, engineering, agriculture, and pharmacy). This is an (integrated-type) experiment subject (composed of 12 kinds of experiments, divided into 5 themes, such as “Earth and Environment,” “Life,” “Materials,” “Energy,” and “Science and Culture”) that integrates the natural science specific areas of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth science. It was designed to teach the study methods of natural science and to enable students to grasp matters from a multidimensional perspective. From FY2007, a science experiment subject “Introductory Science Experiments for Humanities” started targeting the 1st year students in liberal arts courses (literature, education, law, and economics). In consideration of the fact that human society is supported by scientific and technological progress, this subject was newly designed and developed as a way to experience natural science and to serve as a base to learn logical thinking. It receives very high evaluations from enrolled students every year and also draws much attention from the rest of society. The faculty members of this section play a central role in planning experiment subjects, preparation of teaching materials, improvement and maintenance of the teaching environment, including experimental equipment and facilities, class implementation and support, report guidance, study instruction, grade evaluation, practical FD activities and self-questionnaire surveys by semester, and other aspects. In addition, as a feature, the development of attendance and grade information system allows the easy understanding of attendance levels of enrolled students, the status of report submission, the status of grades, and many other aspects. This information is fed back to study instruction methods and followed up by student support in cooperation with the University Counseling Center, Student Health Care Center, Division of Education and Student Support, Section of Education Support of faculties, and other concerned parties.

Internationalization of education in Tohoku University is also an important issue. Aimed at developing and producing leading human resources in international society in a high quality international education environment worthy of a world leading university, it started to develop courses where academic degrees can be acquired solely through classes in English. In addition to existing graduate school courses, three undergraduate courses were established in 2011. The faculty members of this section have been working hard particularly on the development of undergraduate natural science course basic education programs and have achieved respectable results by being in charge of a diversified and large number of basic lectures. For the purpose of education quality improvement, they regularly hold meetings to provide education information to each other and discuss the improvement of teaching methods. As a result, more than 80 percent of faculty members who are in charge of classes received high evaluations in the students’ class evaluation. In cooperation with the Global Learning Center, improvement in the study environment and the upgrading of liberal arts and science education for global human resource development are currently in progress.

Itaru Nakamura（Organic Chemistry）

Professor

Norihiro Nakamura（Geology）

Xavier DAHAN（Computer Algebra）

Satoshi TOMITA
（metamaterials, electromagnetism of matter）

Toshihiko MAEYAMA（Physical Chemistry）

Takuma YAMASHITA（Atomic and molecular physics, radiochemistry）

Kenjiro MIKI（Nuclear Physics ）

Mayumi MUJIN（Volcanology, Nano-Scale Volcanic Petrology）

Toshituki KODAMA
（condensed matter physics, nano-micro technology,
magnetics, optical physics, metamaterial）

Seiichi NISHIZAWA（Department of Physics）