Co-Creation Core for Soft Materials Aspiring Research & Translation (C³-SMART) held the “Gummy Research” Summer School 2026 on August 4 for high school students.

At the beginning of the event, both the participants and mentors seemed a little nervous. However, as the day progressed, they gradually became more comfortable with each other. In groups, the participants tasted various types of gummies, discussed their ideal gummy, and designed and created their own original gummies by selecting ingredients and adjusting formulations themselves.

During the lunch break while waiting for the gummies to set, participants enjoyed conversations about university life and high school experiences over lunch boxes, deepening their interactions with one another as well as with the mentors.

The completed gummies varied widely—from beautifully set gummies to those that did not solidify as expected, and even a unique gummy named “Potesara” (potato salad). The participants then conducted physical property measurements in the laboratory and presented their results in groups at the end of the program.

Through the familiar subject of gummies, the participants had the opportunity to experience and learn about the properties of gels in a hands-on manner. We hope that this experience will inspire their interest in soft materials research.