Life Science and Technology News

Apa itu bakteri usus? What are gut microbes? — Children’s Science Workshop 2026 held in Indonesian

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October 19, 2026

Science Tokyo students in the Yamada Lab of the School of Life Science and Technology hosted “Apa itu bakteri usus? What are gut microbes? 2026,” a Children’s Science Workshop aimed at young Indonesian speakers living in Japan, on August 7.

While Science Tokyo has hosted this annual science outreach program for elementary school students since 2016, this year marked a meaningful milestone — the first-ever workshop conducted mainly in Indonesian, spearheaded by the Institute's international students.

Approximately 40 participants, ranging from preschoolers to adults, gathered at Ookayama Campus for the workshop. After a brief, engaging introduction on how gut microbes work, they dived deeper into the marvels of the gut microbiome through “Bacteroigo,” a gut microbiome-themed board game developed by former students at Science Tokyo’s predecessor university.

With their curiosity transcending language barriers, the children explored the wonders and mechanisms of the gut microbiome while communicating in Indonesian, English, and Japanese. The interactive session also proved highly rewarding for the international students, inspiring them to organize similar science workshops for children back in Indonesia.

Participants playing board game with guidance from Science Tokyo students

Exploring gut microbes while having fun

Post-event group photo with participants and Science Tokyo students

Science Tokyo will continue to hold the “What are gut microbes?” series on a regular basis, providing the public with ongoing opportunities to enjoy science in their daily lives.