Science Tokyo participates in AirTrunk’s “Women in STEM” session

Science Tokyo joined the “Women in STEM” lunch session held at AirTrunk’s Tokyo office on March 30, 2026. The session was organized by the company in conjunction with International Women’s Day as part of its broader efforts to support STEM education and talent development in the communities where it operates.

The session centered on a keynote talk by Dr. Kaoru Kuwata, Vice President for DE&I, which served as a starting point for cross-sector dialogue among industry, academia, and students on the challenges and opportunities surrounding the development of women in STEM and the support needed for women to learn, grow, and build their future careers.

In addition to AirTrunk’s Japan team, executives from its Sydney headquarters also attended the session, reflecting the company’s strong commitment to supporting women in STEM and advancing STEM education.

AirTrunk is an Asia-Pacific & Middle East hyperscale data center specialist with operations across Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Through its social impact initiatives, the company is committed to supporting the communities connected to its operations, with a focus on areas such as STEM education, equal digital access, and opportunities for the next generation. In particular, AirTrunk has shown a strong commitment to encouraging greater participation by young people and women in STEM fields.

Against this backdrop, the company expressed strong support for Science Tokyo’s efforts to develop women in STEM and promote science education for the next generation, and has provided ongoing support since FY 2024. The company currently supports initiatives centered on scholarships for female students and science education outreach, and this session was made possible through that continuing social impact partnership.

The session provided an opportunity to share perspectives on the current situation, challenges, and future possibilities surrounding women in STEM in Japan.

In her presentation, Vice President Kuwata addressed structural issues such as Japan’s gender gap and the low representation of women in science and engineering. She explained that while Science Tokyo and its predecessor institutions had implemented a range of initiatives — including outreach to female junior high and high school students and improvements to the campus environment — the growth in the proportion of female students has slowed in recent years. She then introduced the background and outcomes of Science Tokyo’s 2022 positive action initiative, including the introduction of a women’s quota in admissions, and emphasized that advancing women in STEM requires not only institutional measures, but also sustained efforts to build understanding and improve the environment across society more broadly.

Following the keynote talk, Science Tokyo students — including recipients of the AirTrunk Scholarship — introduced themselves and took part in a lively Q&A session. The discussion covered learning and career pathways in STEM fields, as well as the kinds of environments and support systems needed to promote women’s participation and success.

Even after the formal session concluded, conversations continued naturally between female AirTrunk employees and Science Tokyo students on future career paths and professional development. The event became a valuable opportunity for students to experience meaningful points of connection between university learning and society.

Reflecting on the session, Vice President Kuwata commented:

“This was a highly meaningful opportunity for companies, universities, and students to come together and discuss how to advance women in STEM in Japan. I believe it was also an important step toward building broader momentum.”

Opportunities like this play an important role in considering how to support the development of women in STEM and STEM education for the next generation — not only within universities, but also in partnership with companies and society at large.

Science Tokyo will continue working with external partners, including AirTrunk, to support the development of women in STEM and to advance STEM education for future generations.

*Titles of Science Tokyo-affiliated individuals are listed as of March 30, 2026.