Physics
On seeing an apple fall from a tree, Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of universal gravitation. Johannes Kepler observed the stars and discovered his laws of planetary motion. Like these men, we study the field of physics in order to understand nature and to clarify the laws that lie hidden within diverse natural phenomena occurring around us. Each and every natural phenomenon, from a small elementary particle to the enormous universe, is an object of physics research and also forms the foundations of other natural sciences.
Students of the Department of Physics learn physics formulae through experimentation, lectures and exercises, and learn problem solving through a process of observation of natural phenomena and issues, formulation of analyses and models based on acquired knowledge, verification of hypotheses and models, and analysis of other phenomena and issues using those hypotheses and models. The Department of Physics aims to foster talented individuals, not just with a knowledge of physics but also with the ability to apply that knowledge to their unique ideas and fertile imagination. The skill of problem solving is not just limited to the discipline of physics but is something that can be used to solve a range of issues in the real world.
Messages from Current and Graduate Students
Teppei Kinami
Japan Meteorological Agency
(Graduated March 2004, Master's Degree March 2006, Doctoral Degree March 2009)
I started studying at Shinshu University in 2000, when many of you prospective students were probably still in elementary school. I never expected I would be here for that long, but Shinshu University is just so welcoming that nine years passed very quickly. Shinshu University is a really great environment for two reasons.
The first reason is the living environment it offers. Matsumoto is an easy-to-live and refreshing place all year round; being surrounded by the mountains of the massive Northern Alps is a great experience. Winter of course is very cold, but maybe that was the reason I did not see a single mosquito or cockroach during my nine years there. Nagano is the perfect place for students living away from home for the first time.
The second reason is the study environment it offers. I think it is quite common for students to be a little bewildered by life and study when they first enter university. For that reason, the Department of Physics organizes regular support through one-on-one instruction between seniors and juniors, and incorporates independent seminars for each year into the program. As long as you want to learn, I am sure you will have a rewarding student life here. Of course, the department also provides many opportunities for cutting-edge research lead by top-class teachers. I have focused only of the good points of the university, but I will finish by mentioning one problem with Matsumoto. Summers can be very hot during the daytime.
Eri Matsubayashi
When studying physics at university, we investigate incredible phenomena like time going slower and distance becoming shorter the faster you move. The Department of Physics at Shinshu University is a perfect environment for people who are fascinated by and want to study these laws of nature.
To start with, the teachers are really devoted to education and take care in answering any question we might have. The students at this university are also keenly interested in study. The university has a large hall called the Refresh Lounge for instance, where you can always find someone from some year at university engaged in independent study. I also regularly use the hall whenever I have free time between lessons, and am able to learn a lot from my seniors there. There are also groups we call independent seminars, where we help each other with physical science we have not studied yet or that we want to study. In these groups, we are able to understand topics that might be too difficult to understand by ourselves, and by investigating various topics to teach to others we are naturally gaining a deeper knowledge of the subject.
Shinshu University is also surrounded by mountains, so it is a fantastic place for skiing and mountain climbing. Come and share our university life, complete with serious study and serious enjoyment of nature.
