Twenty-three students from the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, the College of Engineering and other Purdue University colleges and departments spent two weeks in Japan visiting medical device companies, universities, research facilities and government agencies.

"The experience of studying in Japan has shown us the power of combining advanced technology with rich cultural traditions," shared Kyle Heaton, an undergraduate student majoring in biomedical engineering and among the 23 students on the trip. "We got the chance to dive into many unique experiences from immersive museums and state of the art facilities to beautiful hikes and local food."

Japan is known for its cutting-edge research in the biomedical engineering field because of its strict regulations on medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

Academically, the students learned about medical devices and how they are developed and regulated. They also learned how research can be translated into clinical care. Additionally, students learned about Japanese culture and society.

"This study abroad trip to Japan was one of those trips where learning was inevitable. It could be culturally by something as simple as a polite greeting with a bow. Or it could be something as broad as exploring a city or a temple,” explained Pablo Torres. “It doesn’t matter what we choose to do; there is always that fun moment where everyone looks for what that specific thing means.”

Torres was another biomedical engineering student on the trip.

“[The study abroad trip to Japan] also allowed us to subtly yet efficiently apply our sometimes-brief knowledge of the US biomedical engineering market through discussions with the students/representatives of the universities and companies we visited,” said Torres. “That was the most engaging part of the trip, mainly because of their willingness to learn and politeness while discussing these topics with us.”

During the trip, the group visited multiple Japanese cities: Sendai, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. At these various locations, the group found time to enjoy the culture and history of Japan. Some highlights include attending a sumo wrestling tournament, visiting temples and shrines, hiking and going to Tokyo Disney.

"This cultural immersion showed us many unique sides of Japan. We got to eat traditional food, hike to ancient temples and navigate one of the most impressive public transportation systems I've ever seen,” Heaton added.

The students were led by Aaron Lottes, associate professor of engineering practice, and Yunjie Tong, associate professor of biomedical engineering.

The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering thanks Keio University, Clinical Research Innovation and Education Center Tohoku University Hospital, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Center for Cybernics Research at Tsukuba University, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), Riken Center, Cook Medical Japan and Nipro iMEP/Infrared RX for their valuable time.

To learn more about the Study Abroad Programs with BME, click here.