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S&T Policy Agenda of Major Presidential Candidates
Science and Technology Policy Agenda of Major Presidential Candidates
The KAIST TIMES recently reviewed science and technology policy suggestions made by five major presidential candidates. Below is a summary of the information assembled based on written interviews conducted by The KAIST TIMES, gatherings on science and technology policies, and press conferences.
Chung Dong-young of the United New Democratic Party
The UNDP’s Chung Dong-young presented a vision to join the world’s top seven aerospace leaders in an effort to transform Korea into a science-technology powerhouse.
In order to achieve this goal, he suggested five policy strategies: support research and development of creative, innovative science and technology, ; expand resources for the innovation of science and technology, ; promote academia and business partnerships, ; strengthen infrastructure to innovate scientific and technological fields, ; boost the morale of scientists and engineers, ; and promote the dissemination of scientific culture.
The most noticeable striking part element of his vision is to make add Korea to join the list of the world’s top seven aerospace powerhouses. Chung included the this vision in his 20 key 20 pledges, underscoring his commitment to the aerospace industry. He said that the aerospace industry can produce simultaneous growth of various high-tech industries.
Chung also vowed that he would extensively foster high-value added assembly industry in conjunction with a scheme to nurture parts and material industries.
As detailed action plans to achieve his vision, he cited development of small and medium-sized aircraft carriers and upgrading air control systems as part of the efforts to make Korea as a stronghold of popular aviation of in Northeast Asia. He also revealed plans to embark on a project to explore the Moon and send an unmanned probe there by 2020.
To implement aerospace development plans systematically, he suggested inaugurating the envisioned Korean Aeronautics and Space Administration, modeled after the NASA of the United States and JAXA of Japan.
Lee Myung-bak of the National Grand Party
Presidential candidate Lee pointed out basic sciences and open-source technologies as crucial prerequisites to achieve economic growth. As five implementation strategies to promote the development of these areas, he called for the fostering of more scientific and technological talents; a drastic increase in investment in science and technology; creation of new fusion industries that will serve as future growth engines; promotion of autonomy and creativity; and popularization of science and technology.
He also pledged to carry out two large-scale projects, the creation of “an international scientific-corporate city belt” and the technological development of new renewable energy.
Among them, drawing the largest attention is the creation of an “international scientific-corporate city belt” connecting several technological complexes located in Chungcheong Provinces. The city belt is envisioned to connect the Daedok Innopolis in Daejeon, the proposed Bio-Health Science Technopolis in Osong, Sceintific Industrial Complex in Ochang, and the new administrative town under construction in Yeongi-Gongju. At a lecture hosted by the Science and Technology Forum and the Korean Engineers Club, Lee said that the project has been motivated by the idea of locating research and corporate complexes in close proximity to bring about maximum efficiency of commercializing research results.
Kwon Young-ghil of the Democratic Labor Party
In a written interview with The KAIST TIMES, Kwon summed up his vision for science and technology as shifting from “science-technology for the rich and privileged” to “science and technology to promote public interest and participation.”
As action plans to realize his vision, he suggested increasing investment into public-interest research and development projects and building the necessary infrastructure as well as boosting relevance between science-technology policies and various welfare sectors including environment, health, and medicare. He also wishes to pay greater attention to improving the treatment of young engineers and scientists.
Moon Kook-hyun of the Creative Korea Party
Moon Kook-hyun’s science and technology policy proposals focus on nurturing more experts in the fields of science and technology. As specific action plans to ease the tendency among high-school graduates to shun the fields engineering and science as their majors, he revealed a plan to appoint a Prime Minister with an engineering or scientific background and positively expand social participation of engineering or science graduates.
He also expressed strong commitment to making Korea a technological power house, focusing on convergence of various high-tech industries including BT and IT. He would also build infrastructure to increase cooperation for technological development among large and mid and small-sized companies, and among Korea and many other countries.
Independent Candidate Lee Hoi-chang
Lee Hoi-chang’s vision for science and technology can be highlighted by his strong commitment to greatly increasing R& D investment in this area. He said that the move is aimed at expanding science and technology capital, which will serve as a fundamental infrastructure for corporate activities.
In particular, he said that he would concentrate on fostering eight core technologies based on individual knowledge and creativity: IT, BT, NT, ST, ET (Environment Technology), CT, MT(Marine Technology), and FT (Fusion Technology).
2007.12.17 View 15381 -
The US Science Magazine Published KAIST News on Nov. 30
An educational innovation of our university arouses world"s interest.
The world science magazine, the U.S Science reports deeply President Suh Nampyo" KAIST reform, fund, tenure review, tuition, admission and faculty recruit in News Focus, internet version on 30 November. There is full text of the news below.http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/318/5855/1371
News FocusHIGHER EDUCATION:MIT Engineer Shakes Korean Academia to Its CoreDennis Normile
Radical measures from the new president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology are roiling a tradition-bound system
Worldly. To gain stature beyond Korea, KAIST has lured students from Vietnam, China, and Rwanda, among other countries.
CREDIT: D. NORMILE/SCIENCE
DAEJEON, SOUTH KOREA--When the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on 19 November that an entrepreneur had donated $2.5 million to the university with promises of more to follow, it marked the latest in a string of coups for the new president, Suh Nam Pyo. A mechanical engineer on leave from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Suh has raised an unprecedented amount--$12.5 million--in a country where donations to universities are rare. He"s challenging other traditions as well. For example, KAIST"s latest tenure review turned down several candidates, a shocking move by Korean standards.Suh says he is aiming to make KAIST "as good as the best [universities], including MIT." Many faculty members agree that Suh"s "overall philosophy and vision are correct," says KAIST systems biologist Lee Sang Yup. But there are concerns about how Suh will implement that vision at the 36-year-old university.
The KAIST community has reason to be cautious. In 2004, the university hired Nobel physics laureate Robert Laughlin as president--the first foreigner to lead a Korean university--with a mandate to transform KAIST into a world-class institution. Laughlin, on leave from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, proposed privatizing KAIST and charging tuition, focusing on commercialization, and tripling undergraduate enrollment (Science, 25 February 2005, p. 1181; 20 January 2006, p. 321). But when Laughlin"s plans failed to materialize, "the faculty was disappointed," says KAIST molecular biologist Chung Jongkyeong. In 2006, the board of trustees decided to seek a new president.
The board turned to Suh. Born in Gyeongju, South Korea, in 1936, Suh moved to the United States with his family as a teenager and earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As an MIT professor, Suh has won plaudits for his engineering design theories, earned more than 50 patents, and helped start several companies. In the early 1980s, he was assistant director for engineering at the U.S. National Science Foundation, and he headed MIT"s Department of Mechanical Engineering from 1991 until 2001.
Since arriving at KAIST in July 2006, Suh has opened undergraduate education to non-Korean students for the first time by insisting that many courses be taught in English. Suh decided that students who maintain "B" or better grades would continue to pay no tuition, whereas those with a "C" or below must pay about $16,000 per year starting in February. "We want students to take responsibility for their actions," Suh says.
Agent of change. KAIST"s faculty supports Suh Nam Pyo"s reforms, so far.
CREDIT: KAIST
A new admissions process may also have broad impact. Previously, KAIST, like most of Korea"s top universities, selected the top scorers in a written exam. Most high school students spend their free time prepping for these tests in cram schools. But Suh says that scores "are a one-dimensional measure" that fails to identify leaders. So candidates for KAIST"s next incoming class were invited to campus this fall for interviews, to give presentations, and to engage in discussions while being observed by faculty members, who made selections based on scores and personal impressions. "We"re looking for future Einsteins and future Bill Gateses," says Suh.An even more radical step was putting teeth into tenure reviews. Traditionally, faculty members in Korea gain tenure after logging enough years. Suh insisted that KAIST professors up for tenure gather endorsements from experts in their field around the world. In September, 11 of 33 applicants were denied tenure and were given a year to find new jobs.
The tenure review "is the beginning of an educational revolution," says KAIST chemist Ryoo Ryong. But he and others worry about the fate of those denied tenure. Suh understands their predicament but is standing firm. The professors who didn"t make tenure "are very good people, but in terms of the standard we set, they"re not as good as we expect our professors to be." He is asking other universities to consider giving these professors a chance.
At the same time, Suh is looking to inject fresh blood--including foreigners--into the 418-strong faculty with a plan to add 300 professors over the next 4 to 5 years. (To expand the school, Suh is striving to win government approval for a doubling of KAIST"s base governmental support of $108 million.) His first catch is Mary Kathryn Thompson, who completed her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at MIT last year. "It"s an exciting time to be here," says Thompson, who just started studying Korean when she arrived last August.
Although they support Suh"s initiatives, some faculty members chafe at his blunt public comments implying that Korea"s professors take life too easy. "I cannot agree," says Choi Yang-Kyu, an electrical engineer. "Most professors here are working very hard." Biomolecular engineer Kim Hak-Sung adds: "President Suh should have sticks and carrots, not just sticks."
Carrots don"t come cheap. "I"m spending most of my time trying to raise money," Suh says. Part of that effort is wooing private donors. "Giving to universities is not prevalent in Asia, but it is something I"m trying to nurture in Korea," he says. That"s a precedent all of Korea"s universities might want to embrace.
2007.11.30 View 14913 -
KAIST Business School Opens Homepage !!!!
KAIST Business School, founded in September, 2006 to efficiently manage the Graduate School of Management, founded in 1996, the Graduate School of Finance and the Graduate School of Information & Media Management, both founded in March 2006, now opens its homepage to provide more information on the school.
Click here to go to the homepage
2007.07.02 View 13270
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KAIST Graduate School of Information Media Management Opens Blog for Web2.0 Lectures
KAIST Graduate School of Information Media Management Opens Blog for Web2.0 Lectures
- http://webtwo.kaist.ac.kr
The Graduate School of Media Information Management of KAIST (President Nam Pyo Suh) has opened a blog to share the contents of and hear various opinions on Web2.0 Lecture programs, established this semester.
Web2.0 Lecture refers to a program to deliver and educate a variety of ongoing projects and market responses, along with scholarly and theoretical accesses in a real-time basis. The lectures will be made by invited experts in the fields of web and mobile, which are yet to be established academically, but have created huge markets. Lectures on recent hot issues, such as the relevant technologies, trends, cultures, policies, and markets of Web2.0, will be firstly made.
The blog provides highlight moving pictures of the lectures and comments by professors and assistants, and is expected to deliver high quality contents to faculty and students interested in Web2.0. In addition, professors and assistants will share opinions online with lecture takers.
Professors in charge: Prof. Sunghee Kim, Prof. Dongwan Cha, Prof. Choonghee Ryu, Prof. Jaesun HanAssistants in charge: Jinwoo Park, Daejin Chung, Kyungeun Sung.
Contents:1. Trens & Internet: Market and Technology① Web2.0 overview (Sangoo Cho, Managing Director of KTH)② Collective Intelligence (PRAK, President of Mar.gar.in)③ UCC (Jangho Kim, Manger, KBSi)④ Blog (Jeongseok Noh, President of T&C)⑤ Copyright and CCL (Jongsoo Yoon, Judge of CCK)⑥ Long-tail (Hyogon Chang, President of Innomove)⑦ Search 2.0 (Byungkook Chun, President of Searching Engine Mast)
2. Web2.0 and Beyond① Web2.0 & Convergence (Kyungjeon Lee, Professor of Kyunghee University)② Web2.0 & business (Sooman Park, President of Double Track)③ Social Computing (Sangki Han, President of Opinity AP)④ Web2.0 & Media (Yongseok Hwang, Professor of Kunkook University)⑤ Attention Economy (Taweoo Ki, Taewoo’s log)⑥ Mobile Web2.0 (Jonghong Chun, Senior researcher of ETRI)
2007.05.14 View 12374 -
KAIST to Publish Newsletter - 'KAISTAR'
KAIST to Publish Newsletter - ‘KAISTAR’
First edition on May 7To be issued every two weeks
KAIST (President Nam Pyo Suh) will be publishing the first edition of a newsletter targeting high school students on May 7. The newsletter is named ‘KAISTAR’, combination of ‘KAIST’ and ‘STAR’, meaning any KAIST students can be a world-class star in scientific circles. The newsletter will be issued every two weeks, beginning May 7.
KAISTAR is designed to convey a variety of happenings in KAIST to prospective students, thereby letting them know the excellences of KAIST and consequently attracting further talented students to the school. The newsletter will cover introduction of departments and student clubs, stories about graduates, and various events. KAIST is expecting the newsletter will play key roles in advertising the school to high school students. “The publication of KAISTAR is a brand-new challenge that informs the authentic aspects of KAIST to attract talented young boys and girls. I’m sure the authentic aspects of KAIST conveyed by KAISTAR will make prospective students and their parents ensure the excellences of KAIST,” said President Suh, giving his congratulatory remark to the publication. Free subscriptions are available and the newsletter can be seen on the official web site of the Admissions Team, http://admission.kaist.ac.kr.
2007.05.08 View 12463
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3rd Ubiquitous Fashionable Computer Contest
KAIST will be receiving until May 31, Thursday, applications for ‘the 3rd Ubiquitous Fashionable Computer (UFC)’ Contest, which will take place under the title of ‘Enjoy U-life with UFC’.
The contest has begun in 2005 by KAIST and the Korean Society for Next-Generation Computing to raise people’s concern over next-generation computing and to prepare for the upcoming ubiquitous era.
‘UFC’ refers to a wearable computer small and light enough to be worn on human bodies or clothes so that users can use computers with no restriction while moving. This terminology was created by Korea.
The contest includes designated items division and free items division, and not only university students but also general public can participate in the free items division. Teams qualified for the final contest in the designated items division will be offered wearable computer platform and 1.5 million won of production cost. The final contest will take place at the UFC fashion show stage ‘Next-Generation Computing Exhibition’ at KOEX in November.
Hee-Joon You, Co-president of the Contest Committee and a professor of Electrical Engineering, stressed on the future life made joyful by IT technologies by saying, “Considering the title of the contest, we’ve selected ‘games enjoyed with UFCs’ as a mission of the designated items division to combine games, rising software, and wearing computers, hardware.”
UFC is a brand-new field that fuses IT technologies and fashion, seeking the improvement of computer technologies and fashion creation. UFC, a further advanced wearable computer than existing ones, is an important advanced field that leads computer industries in the ubiquitous era.
2007.04.23 View 14070 -
KNS" International Journal Registered as SCIE
KNS" International Journal Registered as SCIE
International journal ‘Nuclear Engineering and Technology’, published by the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS, President Si-Hwan Kim) under the supervision of Poong Hyun Seong, a professor of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering of KAIST, has been made a member of Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) administrated by Thomson Scientific.
Thomson Scientific has notified such decision on April 14 and revealed the actual thesis title index will officially be notified within this year.
2007.04.19 View 12514 -
Information on Notification of Student Numbers and Input of Personnel Information for Successful Candidates of the 2nd round of Undergraduate Student Collection
Information on Notification of Student Numbers and Input of Personnel Information for Successful Candidates of the 2nd round of Undergraduate Student Collection 2007
Successful candidates are asked to input their own personnel information by February 4 (Sun), 2007.
(Information can be input on holidays)
▶▶▶ Click here to see student numbers
▶▶▶ Click here to input personnel information
2007.01.26 View 10644
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List of successful candidates of the documentary examination for the second round of student collection for undergraduate courses 2007
List of successful candidates of the documentary examination for the second round of student collection for undergraduate courses 2007
List of successful candidates
※ Matters to be attended to
- Interviewees are asked to be with basic interview data (attached file), admission ticket for examination, and writing instruments.
- Please, admit basic interview data to interviewers directly at interview.
- Please, use the data attached to this information as basic interview data.
- Interviewees are asked to come to Classroom No. 304 of Creative Learning Building (E11).
2007.01.15 View 10169
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Information on the notification of student numbers and input of personnel information for the freshmen of the former united course of master and doctor 2007
Information on the notification of student numbers and input of personnel information for the freshmen of the former united course of master and doctor 2007
Information on the notification of student numbers and input of personnel information for the freshmen of the former united course of master and doctor 2007
Freshmen are asked to input their own personnel information by Friday, January 7, 2007.
▶▶▶ Click here to see student numbers
▶▶▶ Click here to input personnel information
2006.12.26 View 10372
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Second Round of Student Collection for Undergraduate Courses 2007
Second Round of Student Collection for Undergraduate Courses 2007
Second Round of Student Collection for Undergraduate Courses 2007
※ The number of students to be admitted: about 60 students
※ How to apply: On-line application (click here)
※ Application period: December 15 (Fri) , 17:00, December 18 (Mon), 2006
※ Others: KAIST is a university founded on a special act for special purposes, and has no relation with regular student collections by other universities, therefore, applicants may apply for other colleges at the same time.
※ Inquiries: KAIST Admission Center (042-869-2141~3)
2006.12.18 View 10475
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Sungil Chung listed in Who's Who following last year
Sungil Chung listed in Who’s Who following last year
Sungil Chung, senior researcher of KAIST Satellite Technology Research Center (STRC), is listed in the international biographical dictionary Marquis Who"s Who’s Who’s Who in the America Edition 2007 following last year. He is also listed in the first edition of Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders.
Ph.D. Chung majored in Electrohydrodynamics (EHD) at Texas A&M University and worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for a research in the field of aerospace vehicle-related thermal control. He has worked at KAIST STRC as senior researcher from September this year.
He has won an Innovation and Creativity Prize Paper Award from the U.S. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2004.
2006.11.16 View 15087