＊＊＊ 2023 ＊＊＊

     The word "electricity" includes various phenomena such as static electricity, electric current, and electromagnetic waves. Its applications are also very diverse, but can be broadly classified into two categories: those used as energy, such as power, lighting, and heat sources, and those used for information and communication, such as computers and cellular phones. Both energy and information and communication are very important in supporting the modern world and society.

     Modern "electricity" technology has been developed by many great scientists and engineers including Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Guglielmo Marconi, Graham Bell, and John von Neumann, and has created the situation today where we can truly say that "the world is powered by electricity.” In recent years, the realization of a carbon-neutral society has become a reality, electricity as an energy source is becoming more and more important for this purpose. Electricity is also becoming more important and indispensable as an information and communication infrastructure to support the rapidly advancing IT and digital societies.

      The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan (IEEJ) provides a forum for researchers and engineers from educational institutions, companies, and other organizations that support these technologies, but it will become more important to gain the understanding and engagement[oy1]  of not only specialists, but also the general public, including students and children. The Social Collaboration Committee is an organization established in February 2020 with the hope that many people in the world will also become familiar with electricity.

     In the Committee on Social Engagement of IEEJ, we have created opportunities for experienced members, young members, and non-members to actively participate individually and collaboratively, and we are promoting activities such as producing video contents, experimental tools, and various books and pamphlets, utilizing the web, and supporting elementary and secondary education. Through these activities, we hope to further deepen the connection between electricity and society.

     I look forward to working with you all.

 Masayuki Namba; Chairperson 2023-2024

 

＊＊＊ 2022 ＊＊＊

Since Thomas Edison started his electric power utility business some 140 years ago so that the lighting by electric incandescent bulbs became available to the general public, things in our daily life have evolved at an unprecedented pace. Nowadays, electricity is as indispensable as water and air, and it is no exaggeration to say, “The world is made of electricity”.

In recent years, "sustainability" has received socially wide recognition and is often cited as one of the most important keywords for the times. In this context, the government, academia and industry are engaged in their respective efforts to achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions, and electricity has consequently become essential to our society and individual life. Meanwhile, I consider it is crucial to gain the understanding and support on the further penetration of electricity from both professionals and ordinary people. It is, thus, important to enhance our activities to draw more attention of the next generation to be interested in electricity because they will lead the world to come very soon.

The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan established the Committee on Social Engagement of IEEJ in February 2020 with an objective to make electricity more familiar to and disseminate basic knowledge of electricity to the general public.

As part of our working activities, we publicize educational booklets and videos, provide electrical experiment teaching materials, and help sponsor field culture and science classes.

We will welcome your proactive participation in those working activities where a wide variety of people are to get together, whether you may be from inside or outside the Institute. We also encourage you to utilize these arenas to share information, exchange ideas and put them into practice, as a connecting point of electricity and the society.

NAKAYA Ryuji; Chairperson 2022-3

 

＊＊＊ 2021 ＊＊＊

Thomas A. Edison started his electric utility service in New York City some 140 years ago, when incandescent light bulbs became available to ordinary people; since then, electricity has been penetrating into the society at the unprecedented pace in line with the innovations of related technologies. Thus, electricity is now a commodity as essential as water and air, and we can go as far as to say, “The world is made of electricity.” We are seeing significant changes through the entire supply chain from generation to consumption: introduction of solar and wind power generation on the supply side, and smart phones and EVs on the demand side.
We established this Committee on Social Engagement of IEEJ in February 2020, which is designed to disseminate knowledge about electricity which is now ubiquitously and conveniently used thanks to great efforts for its penetration and evolvement by many researchers and engineers.
Our Committee activities include publishing educational books, posting educational movies, providing materials to be used for experiments on electricity and helping local schools and communities hold such events as cultural lectures and scientific classes.　 You can freely participate in those activities, whether you are IEEJ Members or not. Let’s work together to utilize these opportunities through sharing information, exchanging idea for implementation, and thereby connect electricity and society more tightly.

OMORI Takahiro; Chairperson 2021-2