Kids Get to Experience What It Is Like to Be an Engineer

NSK Ltd. (NSK; Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Toshihiro Uchiyama) presents science classes entitled, “Looking Into the World of Friction,” at the Science Museum (Chiyoda, Tokyo) on Monday, March 20, 2017.

This year was the 10th year for NSK to present science classes at the Science Museum to allow schoolchildren to experience firsthand what it is like to be an engineer. The goal of this forum is to increase interest in science by having children experience the wonders of science. NSK held two classes in 2017, with 38 children who are members of the Science Club* in participation.

In order to have the children work like engineers to solve a difficult task, the following question was posed: “How many kids does it take to move the Great Buddha of Kamakura?” The statue in question weighs 120 tons. While the children calculate the strength of force necessary to move such a large object, they learned about mechanisms that cause friction and the difference between sliding friction and rolling friction. NSK staff members at each table worked with the children to verify the relationship between an object's weight and the force required to move it. In addition, the children got the chance to verify their findings in an experiment that involved the children pulling a board carrying the adult.

Some of the comments overheard from the children that participated were, “This experiment to move an adult was really interesting,” and “It was fun calculating how much force is needed to move the Great Buddha statue.”



NSK's Approach to CSR

NSK products, such as bearings, help smooth the operation of a variety of machines, including automobiles, household appliances, trains, steelmaking equipment, wind power generators, elevators, airplanes, and satellites. These properties support the safety, reliability and energy efficiency of machines that incorporate NSK's products.

The aim and underlying principle of NSK products and business is to help promote a safer, smoother society, along with global environmental protection, with the aim of eventually achieving a sustainable society. Each NSK executive and employee is fully aware of these roles and, as such, is committed to maintaining the perspective of its customers and other stakeholders as they work in good faith to develop NSK business and contribute to society in order to achieve greater corporate value and sustainable growth.

NSK's Social Contribution Activities

NSK focuses on several important themes in its social contribution activities, including promotion of science and technology, development of the next generation, and mutual harmony and benefit with communities. In order to achieve these goals, NSK provides aid to research institutions, offers scholarships, welcomes interns, provides lectures on bearing technology, supports afforestation, and donates filtration equipment to elementary schools outside Japan so that children can have safe drinking water.

NSK is committed to contributing to the development of the next generation by hosting hands-on programs that get children excited about science. In doing so, NSK believes that it can provide opportunities for both learning and experience for children, who will become the leaders in the development of sustainable society.

* Science Club: A membership club hosted by the Science Museum aimed at fostering interest in science and providing opportunities to experience the joy of creating something. The club offers many classes including, arts and crafts, experiments, computers, and nature observation. It also holds a variety of fun activities such as field trips to various facilities.