I am enrolling in the 22nd cohort of the Hokkaido University CoSTEP Science and Technology Communicator Training Program

CoSTEP is a science and technology communicator (science communicator) training program operated by Hokkaido University.

I have decided to participate as a member of the 22nd cohort.

In simple terms, a science and technology communicator is a professional or individual who engages in various activities to convey and disseminate technical and specialized information about science 🧪 and technology 🔬 to the general public, and to help solve social issues.

The features of Hokkaido University's CoSTEP are:

Both Hokkaido University students and working professionals can participate either online or in person.

This course spans about one year and includes lectures (generally 90 minutes each on Saturdays and Wednesdays), six assignments, and practical training conducted on-site.The participation fee is approximately 190,000 yen (varying depending on whether you attend in person or online, and whether you are a Hokkaido University student). It is incredibly affordable.
While other universities also offer science communicator training courses, CoSTEP is the only one that allows working professionals to participate at this price point. (Or so I believe.)

The special guest lecturers change every year. Some people decided to join because astronaut Mamoru Mohri is on the staff starting this year, and there are many lectures I am interested in. (I am particularly looking forward to the talk about the development of the Pokémon Sleep app by The Pokémon Company.)
The faculty staff have diverse backgrounds, ranging from planning science cafes to art, design, video production, writing, and infographic creation.

Because the lecturers change every year, there are a few repeat students. Some people who were rejected during the selection process when there were many applicants have reapplied and are taking the course this year. (Perhaps because the tuition fee increased from last year, there was a second round of recruitment this year, so I think everyone who applied was accepted.)

The online course is broadly divided into three categories:

A: Science Event Planning and Management
B: Science Writing
C: Infographic Production

I was also drawn to C, Infographic Production, but I decided to take Science Writing this time.

The opening ceremony on May 9, 2026, featured a special lecture by Kimiki Miyano (Associate Professor at the Center for the Promotion of Interdisciplinary Education and Research, Kyoto University).
It was content that made me think about my attitude toward the lectures and assignments I will be taking on from now on, leaving me with a sense of uncertainty.

On May 10, we had our first lecture and an in-person workshop!
I tried 'pattern language' for the first time.

Finally, the teacher left us with a comment that sounded like homework:
'Science communicators end up doing exactly what they were told not to do. Please think about why that is.'

I have no idea. lol
What could that mean?
Will I understand if I keep doing it...?

The second good thing about CoSTEP that I realized by going there in person:

People from various backgrounds gather here.

Not everyone is from a science background.

The backgrounds in terms of arts and sciences, age, and hometown are truly diverse.
What we all have in common is high motivation and excitement for the upcoming lectures.
In a lively and friendly atmosphere, we were able to have very active discussions during the workshops.

It is so encouraging to have so many peers working toward the same goal! I am really looking forward to what lies ahead!!

I will be posting reports on note for each lecture I take, so if you are interested in CoSTEP or science communication, please check them out! *Official reports are also available on the CoSTEP website!

(Honestly, the lecture structure and system are quite complicated, and just looking at the website doesn't immediately tell you what you can learn or what CoSTEP actually is, so I would like to summarize those aspects as well.)