[Consideration of Occupational Diversity via Academia through Studying Abroad in the UK]

Studying abroad may prove an attractive opportunity for young Japanese scientists, as it would allow them to broaden their perspectives regarding occupational diversity as a scientist. This is the first observation I made after studying abroad at the University of Oxford for two and a half years as a postdoctoral fellow. Many young scientists in the UK have got occupations not only in academia or in manufacturing industries, but also in various other business fields. Their occupational diversity seems to be considerably wider than that found among young Japanese scientists. The second feature I observed was related to my new lifestyle in the UK, which included the practice of research. It was notably different from my experiences in Japan, and it made me reconsider how to conduct my research in a more efficient manner. During my stay in the UK, I was able to identify the significance of spending time in a different culture by avoiding contact with Japanese culture as much as I could. In this essay, I introduce the details of my process of departing for the UK and my life in Oxford; it is my hope that this information will be useful for young Japanese scientists in contemplating their life plans.