あの人の英語の、ホントのところ

太田 みず穂 Mizuho Ota

Originally from Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, Mizuho Ota now lives in San Diego, California. She began attending Nagoya International School from preschool and graduated from the high school division in 2009. That same year, she moved to the United States to study at Amherst College in Massachusetts, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 2013. She then entered the PhD program in Biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego, where she continues her studies today.

Her doctoral research focuses on the ecology of cyanobacteria, photosynthetic bacteria. She investigates what traits enable cyanobacteria to escape predators such as amoebas living in the same environment, and which genes are responsible for those traits. Her post-graduate career path is still undecided, but she is exploring opportunities where she can make full use of her skills in English, science, and critical thinking. One of her personal goals is to overcome her lack of confidence in Japanese.

井内 詩麻 Shima Iuchi

Shima Iuchi, originally from Kyoto and now residing in New York State, is a contemporary artist and art educator. She holds a master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts and works with a wide range of age groups—from young children to seniors—teaching ways to engage with art, fostering empathy, and promoting enjoyment in artistic experiences.

After graduating from the Art Produce Department at Seian University of Art and Design, she initially worked at a trading company. Seeking broader perspectives and further artistic education, she moved to Canada in 1997. Following a language study program in British Columbia, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Thompson Rivers University’s School of Visual Arts. After graduation, she worked for two years as a university research assistant while continuing her artistic practice, presenting her largest installation across North America. She has held solo exhibitions and participated in shows across North America, Asia, and Europe, receiving multiple awards for her work.

She later worked as a technical assistant at the Banff Centre in Alberta and then joined the faculty at the University of Lethbridge and Thompson Rivers University, formally beginning her career as an art educator.

She is currently married and a mother of two, continuing her art education and creative practice alongside parenting.