Student Report: Study Abroad - Polytechnic University of Milan (Mr. Subaru Sawaki)

Mr. Subaru Sawaki (澤木 昴) spent three months in the laboratory of Professor Luca Magagnin at Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano), where he worked on evaluating tribological properties of lubricants applied to electrodeposited zinc phosphate films. He gained hands-on experience with the electrodeposition process at the laboratory.
*Please note this report is presented in the student’s original English without modification.

Visiting Institution
滞在先・機関

Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy) /ミラノ工科大学（イタリア）

Period of Stay
滞在期間

From November 3, 2025 to January 28, 2026

Impressions of the Host Institution and Environment/ Differences from Japan
滞在先の印象・日本との違い

The laboratory members were bilingual in Italian and English, demonstrating high proficiency in both languages. Initially, adapting to the environment proved challenging due to my limited English proficiency. However, the members kindly repeated what they said over and over again when I did not understand it. Such support significantly facilitated my integration into the research environment.

My Experiences During the Program
滞在先での体験談

On one occasion, there was a student’s birthday. On the day, they brought in a cake to celebrate their own birthday, and we all enjoyed it together. Another memorable event was a PhD student’s defense. Every member attended the defense, after which we opened sparkling wine to celebrate the student’s graduation. I found it admirable how the members sincerely celebrate each other’s milestones. I believe these social bonds ultimately foster successful research outcomes and effective collaboration with other groups.

What I Gained from the Experience for My Future Career
滞在して良かったと思う点・今後に活かせると思う点

I was able to spend significant time receiving guidance on my experiments and discussing the results with the members in English. Through this experience, the mental barrier to discussing ideas in English has significantly lowered. Additionally, I realized through the conversations with the members that what is common in Japan is quite uncommon in Italy, and vice versa. As a result, this internship has sparked a much deeper interest in exploring different cultures.

Other Comments or Reflections
その他

I am truly grateful for the kind support of Prof. Luca Magagnin, and all the members of his lab. I would also like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at Waseda University for the financial support that made this internship possible. I look forward to leveraging this invaluable experience in my future research and professional career.