Philosophy of Manai
Do What You Love
Manai’s mission is to create such a world where people can freely immerse themselves in the things they love.
The human race had to sacrifice a lot in order to gain freedom. Through the tireless efforts of our ancestors, many of us are able to live a life free of oppression, feudal systems, doctrines and traditions. But now, if you look around, there are many people who are unconsciously oppressed by morality, collective promises, moods, pressure and restricted behavior.
It seems that freedom today comes with the price tag of a restrained heart. It can be said that we can become free in our true sense when we were able to get rid of things like common sense and common understanding, as well as pressure, which inconveniences us because they are motivated by our own beliefs and interests.
Create a place for people to meet ‘academics · peers · coaches · self-affirmation’
Manai will create a world where people can truly and freely pursue the things they love. Learning is the only way to make people free. By learning, people become free from the narrow world view and customs, the fixed ideas created by the atmosphere, and they will be able to live their own lives.
Manai will create a place where people can meet different disciplines. There, one can find what they are interested in and experience the immersion in the study where they can act out of impulse and gut feelings.
Manai will create a place where people can meet lifetime peers. Peers to cooperate with, sometimes even compete with and work hard together – these relationships will surely continue for a lifetime.
Manai will create a place where people can gain coaches. Elders you will meet at Manai may not be a typical teacher. They are people who can enjoy studying thoroughly by themselves and constantly pursue their passion and lead people through their own actions.
Manai will create a place where ‘self-affirmation’ will occur. Originally, schools are not place to learn things. It is a place to gain confidence and peace of mind through experiencing feelings like “I can do it” or “I am okay as I am.” The sense of “I can do it” is the driving force to challenge the difficult things at first glance, and the sense that “I am okay as I am” is the foundation of the spirit to take another step.
Update our learning
People learn only from immersion. When you are deeply immersing yourself to something, you learn as much as you can in the process. Even if it is unbalanced, Manai will place importance on exploring and digging deeply into the subjects of his or her interests.
Everyone gathering at the same place, at the same time, acquire knowledge in a one-way method, memorizing and reproducing it in tests. Repeating this does not allow people to immerse themselves in their favorite things and therefore cannot gain learning to become free. We know that, and a lot of people also already know.
Learning makes people free. We want to update our learning so that people can be motivated by the voices in their head, learn by getting immersed, and become free.
Features of Manai
Research-centered student life
Students will focus on their own research.
While using research as a pillar of studies, students will also do experiment programs and workshops.
Students will not have one set timetable. Each individual will build their own schedule. In their research, students will set the themes by themselves, conduct experiments in collaboration with the Manai Mentor and other external mentors, repeat hypothesis verification, create report/article and present. Manai will not have one-way lectures. We believe that students gain maximum learning through interests, immersion and interaction with Mentors.
Collaboration with external research institutes and researchers
Manai does not ‘lock’ their students into a box called school.
Learning at Manai does not just happen inside Manai’s facilities. Students will visit universities and research institutes that partners and collaborates with Manai according to their own research, and develop research by obtaining mentoring from researchers working at the forefront. Manai’s students, Manai Mentors, researchers cooperating and collaborating – the whole network together, makes Manai.
Diversity
The most important value at Manai is to affirm the difference from others.
To acknowledge the differences can be the biggest factor in research, and in cooperation with others in research and important in the process of creating new things. A diverse group that goes beyond nationality, gender, age and background with different ideas can help students grow to their potential and expand their horizon.
Student life after enrollment
Science-centered student life
At Manai, students will not have a common timetable
Students will optimize their own schedule, centering on what they want to learn.
Mainly focusing on research, students will spend their days selecting workshops and experiment programs provided by Manai.
Sometimes, in order to obtain a high-level research environment, students will use nearby universities, laboratories and other facilities to conduct research. If necessary, some students may immerse themselves into research all day long, while other days may be a camp style overnight research using weekends. On the other hand, students may exchange ideas and discuss with colleagues at lunchtime and cafe time and may continue discussions online after returning home. In addition to studying and research, students can enjoy recreation and extracurricular activities – as well as other activities they like with their friends.
There will be no days that are the same at Manai.
Research
Manai will not have a typical lecture style learning, but will have the students’ research as a main method of learning. We learn the most when we are proactively approaching things. We can explore further and deeper by immersing ourselves. Investigate thoroughly. That is to research.
Analyze, investigate in detail, make hypotheses, plan an experiment and repeat seeking solutions to every problem. Experiencing those in depth, creates a sense of self-affirmation, creative thinking and problem-solving will enrich one’s life. Students will choose research themes that they are interested in and proactively learn by themselves, which will help them grow with new knowledge and discoveries.
Innovative Program
Individually tailored program to learn through research.
No simple knowledge-acquiring courses, provide students an environment where they can proactively learn by themselves.
Under the guidance of the Mentor, students will immerse in their studies everyday and be able to write and present their research papers. Manai will provide every environment necessary for its research.
Manai will make full use of our network with researchers around the world and secure access to abundant and good quality knowledge and resources.
By providing these environments, we believe that not only can students freely immerse themselves, but also express themselves to their fullest.
Program
Mentoring
Mentoring plays a big role on working on research-centered programs. The Manai Mentors, who are science educators and researchers at top institutes from all over the world, will guide the research and support the learning experiences in various ways.
Mentoring includes
- Deciding a research topic based on students’ curiosity and interests.
- Introducing students to appropriate literatures, researchers and/or research institutes
- Help students plan and conduct experiments
- Check the progress of research and give students advice
- Preparation for a presentation and give a feedback
Workshops
At Manai, we prepare workshops in a large variety of topics in science, in order to:
・equip students with particular research skills that help the research project
・learn useful scientific knowledge
・to widen their perspectives and stimulate curiosity.
Workshops are designed by the Manai Mentors, putting emphasis on practicality. We believe that students learn the most by actively participating in the workshops, which will be provided by Manai.
Workshop Excerpts
Cancer Workshop
This workshop will focus on one of the biggest challenges of our generation and probably more generations to come. We grasped to understand many diseases that are caused by foreign bodies like bacteria, fungi or viruses; but what is still eluding the greatest minds of our time is the disease that grows within ourselves: Cancer. In the US alone $80.2 billion were spent in 2015 to fight it. Furthermore, a major part of all global research initiatives are focused on this topic. As part of this workshop students will get an introduction of the fundamentals to understand cancer including: a look at the prevalence of cancer, what the causes behind this malignancy are, how it is treated and possibly prevented, and what cutting-edge technologies have been developed to fight it.
Creating Graphic Simulation in JavaScript
In the past decades, computer simulations have been increasingly employed in both applied and pure sciences as research tool. Using computers, we can simulate the course of experiments or test theories in a relatively cheap, fast and safe way. In this workshop, we will first learn the basics of coding in JavaScript and how to use the library p5.js to generate graphics. Then, we will apply the recently acquired coding skills to the creation of computer simulations of evolutionary models.
How to Play with Triangles -Introduction to Group Theory-
We all have friendship GROUPS. GROUPS are everywhere around us. GROUPS of birds. GROUPS of workers. GROUPS of lovers. But what is a GROUP? and how do we study its symmetries? In this lecture series you will learn about hidden structures in special sets, starting from the set of integers.
How to Read and Understand A Scientific Paper
Ability to read and understand a scientific literature is a must to stay in a heart of the scientific knowledge advancements. It takes whole life to polish such skill to a perfection and earlier you start more you get out of it. We are going to review main differences among the two types of existing scientific papers, we will examine the structure of a paper and its parts, how to read and to challenge paper’s content. And going beyond the topic of a single paper reading we are also to learn how to read many papers in bulk in a speedy manner, how to get them organized to be referenced when required and to communicate with others important points for a discussion within a scientific community.
Schedule Example During The Assessment Period
- Operating Hours：
- Tuesday – Friday：1pm – 9pm
Saturday, Sunday：10am – 7pm
- Mentoring: You are required to have a weekly mentoring, generally in person. It will be scheduled based on your reservation.
- Generally, students can come to Manai Tokyo Base at anytime during the Operating Hours.
- Students belonging to other junior and senior high schools will participate in the Manai curriculum using periods after school and on Saturdays and Sundays.
Our Mentors
Gaku Nagashima
Concept Director / Mentor
Concept Designer at Manai Institute of Science and Technology
M.S. in Applied Physics from Harvard University
B.S. in Physics from SUNY Stony Brook
At Harvard University as a PhD candidate in applied physics, Gaku worked on the phase transition of water using nanotechnology.
Besides working as Concept Designer at Manai, Gaku practices yoga and plays DJ.
Fred Junghans
Research Mentor / Experiment Designer
B.Sc./M.Sc. in Biochemistry from MLU Halle/Wittenberg
Fred’s main expertise in research is molecular biology and oncology. During university his research focused mainly on RNA-biology and microRNAs in the context of cancer progression. Besides research he has gathered extensive experience in private tutoring of Japanese students in science and English.On the side he is interested in kickboxing, yoga and all sorts of crafts.
Fred’s main expertise in research is molecular biology and oncology. During university his research focused mainly on RNA-biology and microRNAs in the context of cancer progression. Besides research he has gathered extensive experience in private tutoring of Japanese students in science and English.On the side he is interested in kickboxing, yoga and all sorts of crafts.
Cristina Valle
Research Mentor / Experiment Designer
University lecturer; mathematics consultant for an IT company
Ph.D. in Mathematics and Information Science from Tokyo Metropolitan University
M.S. in Mathematics from University of Turin
For my Ph.D. I specialised in Algebraic Geometry, with a focus on plane curve singularities.
In my spare time I enjoy hiking and rock climbing.
Ph.D. in Mathematics and Information Science from Tokyo Metropolitan University
M.S. in Mathematics from University of Turin
For my Ph.D. I specialised in Algebraic Geometry, with a focus on plane curve singularities.
In my spare time I enjoy hiking and rock climbing.
Ildar Gaisin
Research Mentor
JSPS research fellow at the University of Tokyo
PhD at Sorbonne, Paris VI
Masters at University of Cambridge in mathematics
B.S. at University of Cambridge in mathematics
Ildar is currently working in arithmetic geometry. In particular trying to link classical number theoretic properties to the geometry of the Fargues-Fontaine curve.
PhD at Sorbonne, Paris VI
Masters at University of Cambridge in mathematics
B.S. at University of Cambridge in mathematics
Ildar is currently working in arithmetic geometry. In particular trying to link classical number theoretic properties to the geometry of the Fargues-Fontaine curve.
Pavel Prosselkov
Research Mentor
Lecturer at Saitama Medical University
PhD in Veterinary Medicine at the University of TokyoCand.Sci. in Biochemistry
MS in Biology and Biology Teaching
Interested in brain, behavior, and evolution
At Tokyo University as a PhD candidate in Veterinary Medicine,
Pavel worked on the evolution of IQ-affecting genes.
Besides working as Lecturer at Saitama Medical, Pavel practices Volleyball, ping-pong and badminton.
PhD in Veterinary Medicine at the University of TokyoCand.Sci. in Biochemistry
MS in Biology and Biology Teaching
Interested in brain, behavior, and evolution
At Tokyo University as a PhD candidate in Veterinary Medicine,
Pavel worked on the evolution of IQ-affecting genes.
Besides working as Lecturer at Saitama Medical, Pavel practices Volleyball, ping-pong and badminton.
Daniel Kambey
Research Mentor
Medical Doctor from Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia
At the University of Tokyo as a Research Student in International Cooperation for Medical Education under the Graduate School of Medicine,Daniel worked on implementing interprofessional education and collaborative practice in healthcare in the Asia-Pacific region.
Besides working as a Mentor at Manai, Daniel also runs a foodie account on Instagram and do career and life consultation.
At the University of Tokyo as a Research Student in International Cooperation for Medical Education under the Graduate School of Medicine,Daniel worked on implementing interprofessional education and collaborative practice in healthcare in the Asia-Pacific region.
Besides working as a Mentor at Manai, Daniel also runs a foodie account on Instagram and do career and life consultation.
Alexander Tang
Research Mentor
Lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia
Ph.D in Neuroscience from University of Western Australia
Ph.D in Neuroscience from University of Western Australia
Stephen Lee
Research Mentor
Ph.D Candidate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University
Sarah Kostinski
Research Mentor
Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Tel Aviv University
Ph.D in Physics from Harvard University
Ph.D in Physics from Harvard University
Da Guo
Research Mentor
Postdoctoral Scholar at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Tübingen
Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Tübingen
Josephine Ng
Research Mentor
Postdoctoral Scholar at Tufts University
Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Innsbruck Medical University
Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Innsbruck Medical University
Process until enrollment
Step1
Accepting Application until February 2020
Applications will only be accepted online. Please apply through the specified application form. Unless there are excessive amount of applications, everyone will take part in the assessment process. For detailed matters of participation in the student assessment process, we will inform the applicant separately.
Step2
The Assessment Period Begins after orientation
After orientation, the Assessment Period will begin, and students will proceed in their research along with Manai’s program until the end of the Assessment Period. During this period, students are not only evaluated based on achievements and end-products, but also are evaluated and selected for their passion for science.
Step3
Enrolled students confirmed at the end of February
All the Assessment Period will finish and students who will officially be enroll to Manai will be decided. “Senpai” will be confirmed to support the student as soon as he/she enters Manai. Regarding the admission procedure details, we will inform the students who have passed individually.
Step4
Enrollment in April 2020
Entering Manai as a first batch student, students will start their research of about three years from April, under the support of a Mentor and Senpai.
Application requirements
- You should currently be enrolled in the 3rd year of junior high school or first year of high school. Current junior high/high school students can also join the Assessment Period using their afterschool periods and weekends.
(Please consult individually for students other than the ages listed.) - Able to commute to Manai Base in Ichigaya, Tokyo
- Can communicate in English
- Passion to express themselves through science
Frequently Asked Questions
Target age
- Until how old are you eligible to apply?
- Those who are currently enrolled in junior high school and in the third year, or enrolled in a curriculum equivalent to that, or graduated from those schools, or graduated applicants who have advanced to the post-secondary school, or who are older can apply at any age. (Please consult individually for students transferring schools.)
Language
- Will all the lectures be in English?
- The common language is English. The condition is to be able to attend workshops and communicate with Mentors in English.
- How much English skill is required?
- We do not establish a certain criteria by external examination. It is also necessary to have a level of English ability to participate in English workshops and to read scientific papers/reports in English. At the end of the Assessment Period, students will present the research results in English.
Tuition
- How much is the tuition?
- Manai has the “Senpai” System, so there is no concept of tuition. All costs related to students’ research will be covered by the “Senpai” System. After making an official admission decision, we will ask for donations for operating costs, but it is not required. Also, since the donation request is after formal enrollment, the lack of contribution and/or the amount will not affect the selection.
- Are there any tuition other than research expenses?
- Students who will partake in the curriculum of partner schools to acquire high school graduation qualifications, will be required to pay the tuition fees set by each school. (Please contact us for details)
The Assessment Period
- Are there no entrance exams?
- Although there is no general examination, there will be the Assessment Period. During the Assessment Period, students enrolled to other junior and senior high schools will participate in the Manai’s Program using afterschool periods and Saturdays and Sundays. Students who do not belong to other schools will also participate in Manai’s Program during weekdays. Formal students will be selected from the state of the research process and research results during the Assessment Period.
- What are the selection criteria?
- We will select based on the state of the research activities during the Assessment Period and the presentations of the research results. It is a comprehensive judgment in view of the research outcome itself, the ability to take advantage of the differences from other people, the ability to involve others, the ability to advance even in adversity and during research activities.
- I have never done research. Can you learn from the research method during the Assessment Period?
- Applicants who are new to research can also apply. Also, during the Assessment process you will learn a lot about the specific field, not just research methods. In the Assessment Period, the completeness of the research is part of the selection criteria, and emphasis is also placed on attitudes and approaches when conducting research. By doing this, we will confirm the fundamental basics on whether students can conduct research in Manai later.
- Can you choose your own research contents?
- Yes. The students will choose after consulting with the Mentor about their interests, approaches to the issues that need solutions as well as group discussions.
- Can I participate in the Assessment Period while attending other schools?
- Yes. Students belonging to other junior and senior high schools can participate in the Manai’s Program using after school periods and Saturdays and Sundays.
- What happens if I do not get selected?
- Since you will not be officially enrolled in Manai, you cannot continue taking the subsequent Manai’s Program.
Mentoring
- What kind of person will be my Mentor? Is it possible to change if I do not get along with my Mentor?
- Mentor will be matched based on the academic field etc. of the interest of the student. In addition, we may find and match external Mentors. Generally, you cannot switch, but we will consider a special consultation if any special circumstances occur.
- What can I ask my Mentor?
- Mentors will give every advice in advancing research. From verification/consideration of research, selection of related workshops, etc. will be widely supported. Mentors may also assist you in investigating external partners and creating relationships.
- Can you also ask about college or finding employment?
- Mentors will consult about the course to be followed and the introduction to the laboratory according to interests and research content. You can consult broadly including worries and troubles with your Mentor.
Curriculum
- Are there classes like a usual school?
- There are no classes where the teacher gathers students in one place in the same place and teaches students in a one-way form. We will set up a wide range of workshops related to each research that will become the main axis and contents that the students are interested in. A system is also in the works so that students can set up their own workshops.
- Are there liberal arts subjects?
- In the partner school curriculum, you can also take liberal arts subjects. Manai’s workshops will also provide science related fields.
- Are there extra-curricular activities?
- Yes. We will prepare a lot of extracurricular activities including field trips/visits and practical training. Moreover, we plan to gradually incorporate the extracurricular activities that were planned by students.
- Where will the research take place?
- Generally, it will be conducted at the Manai Tokyo Base in Ichigaya, Tokyo, but depending on the research contents, we may conduct intensive research at partner research institutes and suburban camps.
The “Senpai” System
- Is there a chance that I will not receive support from my “Senpai”?
- Generally, there will not be a situation where support is unavailable, but if they decide that student activities are not very appropriate, it may be out of the subject of the “Senpai” System.
- Can I meet my “Senpai”?
- Yes. The “Senpai” will have contact with students according to their own method of communication. As an answer to everyday problems and doubts with e-mails and chat tools, or physically together with research and learning, or doing internships in actual laboratories and companies, various other opportunities for interaction are to be planned.
- What can I ask my Senpai?
- The role of “Senpai” is to provide exchange and support for students, financial support for learning, and provision of networks. As a senior in life, you can consult about your career etc. as well.
After graduation
- When will I graduate?
- Generally, it is a three-year Program. If you are enrolled transferring from another school dulling the academic year, please individually consult the graduation time. However, there is no graduation in the Manai’s community, all Mentors and Staff are always available to consult with you about your career.
- Are graduation qualifications granted?
- You can get a high school qualification by taking a curriculum at a partner school. Graduation qualifications are not limited to partner schools and can be selected according to your career.
- Is it possible to get support for acquisition of high school graduation degree certification exam (former university entrance qualification examination)?
- We will not take exam preparation measures in Manai, but respond to requests and consultations such as related information provision and schedule adjustments at any time. Staff will provide support so that time efficiency can be maximized to prioritize that students’ research.
Commuting to school
- Can I enroll from outside Kanto area and overseas?
- We are currently mainly targeting those who reside within the school range. In the future, we plan to have dorms that we can accept local and overseas students.
- Can I attend another partner facility?
- Partner research institutes will not be visited on a regular basis but will be used for experimental purposes and intensive research efforts. Therefore, as a basic school destination, it will be Manai Tokyo Base in Ichigaya, Tokyo.
Application Form
“Talent is something the society breeds and using those talents for the society is how to give back”
is the shared understanding who will act as a “Senpai” and support the students.
Each student who pass the assessment period and enroll to Manai will be assigned their own “Senpai.”
“Senpai,” as experienced member of the society, will help lead the students in their activities.
Specific roles of “Senpai” are:
- Building relationship with the student
- Financial support for the student’s learning
- Providing access to their network
“Senpai” will be able to give back to the society through the talented Manai student - expanding their communities and field through the student.
We believe that for the students during their impressionable times being able to receive support and walk through this time together, will be extremely memorable and impactful.
Manai Tokyo Base @ Ichigaya
〒162-0843
Kindaikagakusya Building 8F, 2-7-15, Ichigayatamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan