In the age of AI, we want to produce a large number of next-generation Nobel laureates from Japan! We want Japan to produce a large number of the next generation of Nobel Prize winners in the age of AI! YouTuber with over 1 million subscribers Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo's Future Vision Research Center Genki Ichioka, "Science Artist" with multiple faces Starts "New Lab Establishment Project ～Crowdfunding starts from Friday, July 26, 2012. Challenging alchemy to turn mercury into gold

Genki Ichioka, science artist and operator of educational YouTube "GENKI LABO" (https://www.youtube.com/@GENKILABO), will start a crowdfunding campaign to establish a new science experiment lab. Genki Ichioka (Chuo-ku, Tokyo / Representative of GENKI LABO Co., Ltd.) will start crowdfunding to establish a new science experiment lab. In order to convey the appeal of science and technology to more children, we seriously hope to increase the number of children who aspire to science by producing strong video content that is as good as animation and live video games, and to revive Japan, whose GDP has sunk to the bottom of the G7, with the power of science.

Main visual

■Background and Significance of the Project

Genki Ichioka, a science artist and educational YouTuber, will start crowdfunding to establish a new science experiment lab to enhance his YouTube channel "GENKI LABO". Genki Ichioka currently posts daily experimental videos on YouTube, provides scientific commentary on TV programs, and serves as a science supervisor for manga and anime. Ichioka's goal is to "convey the appeal of science and technology to as many children as possible, to nurture future researchers and engineers, and to create an opportunity for Japan to become 'energetic' again.

The funds raised through this project will be used to establish a new "GENKI LABO" lab and improve its facilities, thereby upgrading the content of experiments in terms of quality, quantity, and scale.

Specifically, the new lab will provide an environment where children can freely conduct experiments that will spark their interest in science, such as DNA experiments that examine the genes of "mammoth hair" and "mystery meat from Cup Noodles," which were popular in past videos. In addition, when the amount of support reaches 20 million yen, a "real alchemy challenge," in which mercury is converted into gold through a radiation capture reaction of reactor neutrons, is also planned.

Our goal is to produce innovative research-oriented human resources who will not only passively view videos, but also conduct experiments spontaneously by children in laboratories equipped with excellent equipment, and in the future launch groundbreaking ventures and research themes on their own.

In the future, we also intend to hold large-scale events to promote Japanese science and technology to the world. For example, we will promote the promotion of Japanese science from a global perspective by introducing wonderful technologies such as Japan-originated perovskite solar cells that reduce the burden on resources and excel in energy efficiency.

A view of the lab

■Social Background: Japan's GDP (per capita / 2022), the lowest in the G7

The nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2022, announced by the Cabinet Office on December 25, 2023, was $34,064 in dollar terms. This was a significant decrease from the previous year's $40,344, partly due to the weak yen, and ranked 21st among the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It was also overtaken by Italy, whose finances are unstable, and ranked last among the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations. In order to break out of this situation, industrial promotion with science at its core is considered essential.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun Online https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/economy/20231225-OYT1T50236/

Japan's GDP (per capita / 2022), the lowest in G7

■Message from Genki Shioka to parents with children up to junior high school age

Not long ago, there were calls for STEAM education that incorporates science and art into education, and now AI is a hot topic. Parents of this generation have also voiced to the Lab that they do not know what approach to take with their children in the midst of changes that are orders of magnitude different from those of their own children's time.

Although the future is unpredictable, one thing I would like to say is that "In the era of AI, human beings will be required to do things that AI cannot do.

Rather than "AI will take away our jobs," we should "make use of AI to do new things. To achieve this, it is necessary to acquire the ability to apply things, rather than simply memorize them.

That is exactly what I want to achieve with this project. For example, "How should I decide on a theme for my free research during the summer vacation?" Tell me what experiments you recommend that can be enjoyed at home," it doesn't matter what is familiar to children at first. We believe that the issues and questions that are close to the children's hearts and minds will lead to the epoch-making results that we, their parents' generation, are facing in the future, such as "how to stop the depreciation of the yen" and "how to solve the decline in national power. Together with us, let's leave a brighter Japan to our children.

If you agree with us in any way, please support this project.

Crowdfunding Details

<Crowdfunding URL

Before the release of the film: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/764890/preview?token=29m3m273

After the public release / From Friday, July 26th: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/764890

<Goals

STEP1 (4,000,000 yen): Completion of the lab background set

We will create a full-scale lab that will make children yearn to become scientists.

STEP1 (4,000,000 yen): Complete the background set of the lab.

STEP2 (10 million yen): Completion of children's experiment classroom

This project will create a place where "children can freely enjoy experiments" and "a place to nurture the eggs of scientists and researchers.

STEP2 (10 million yen): Completion of children's experimental classroom

STEP3 (20 million yen): Challenge to alchemy (radiation capture reaction of reactor neutrons)

We are thinking of turning mercury into gold, and although there are reports of several atoms of gold being formed in the course of other experiments overseas, no scientist in the world has achieved a quantity that is visible to the naked eye. The current price of gold is about 12,000 yen per gram, and it costs tens of millions of yen to produce one gram of gold through alchemy, so no one will try. However, since GENKI LABO's main goal is to get children interested in science, we are willing to try without regard to profitability.

We plan to work with Professor Naoyuki Takagi of the Department of Nuclear Safety Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tokyo City University, who is familiar with nuclear transmutation technology.

STEP3 (20 million yen): Challenge to alchemy (radiation capture reaction of reactor neutrons)

<Schedule

August 1: Crowdfunding starts

September 31: Crowdfunding ends

Move to the new lab after October (by the end of this year)

<Crowdfunding Returns (partial)

Thank you email (3,000 yen)

Online lab tour (5,000 yen)

Element gacha (10 types at random / 5,000 yen)

Career counseling (limited to 20 students / 5,000 yen)

Free research supervision (limited to 20 people / 5,000 yen)

White coat (15,000 yen)

Experiments at Subchan (limited to 30 people / 30,000 yen)

Giant iron sword (limited to 1 person / 1,000,000 yen)

Elemental gacha (10 random types / 5,000 yen)

Career counseling (limited to 20 people / 5,000 yen)

Free research supervision (limited to 20 students / 5,000 yen)

White coat (15,000 yen)

Experiment in Subchan (limited to 30 students / 30,000 yen)

Giant Iron Sword (Limited to 1 person / 10,000,000 yen)

■Organization Profile: GENKI LABO Inc.

Genki Ichioka, the president of GENKI LABO Inc., is a science artist and educational YouTuber who runs a YouTube channel "GENKI LABO" with over 1 million subscribers. He is also a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo's Future Vision Research Center, and aims to brighten the future of Japan through science and technology.

Location : UFC 5F Ginza Wall Building, 6-13-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Home Page: https://sciencegenki.com/

Inquiries: https://tinyurl.com/2amd64cy

Genki Ichioka