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Professor Kyu-Young Whang receives the PAKDD Distinguished Contributions Award
Professor Kyu-Young Whag
Dr. Kyu-Young Whang, Distinguished Professor from the Department of Computer Science, KAIST, has received the 2014 Distinguished Contributions Award from the Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD). PAKDD is the leading academic international conference on data mining held in Asia/Pacific. This year’s international conference was held from 13th to 15th May at Tainan, Taiwan.
As a life member of the PAKDD Steering Committee, Professor Whang worked for the development of the data mining field in the Asia-Pacific region, and his contribution to the international database and data-mining field has been widely recognized.
The PAKDD Distinguished Contributions Award has been awarded to a total of six people until now, including Professor Whang, and he is the first Korean to receive this award.
Professor Whang has also a history of receiving the Outstanding Contributions Award in 2011 from the Database Systems for Advanced Applications (DASFAA), the prestigious database academic conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The database and data mining field in the region was barren 20 years ago, but through the efforts and contributions of many researchers, including Professor Whang, it has now leapt to the level of being the equal of North American and European researchers.
In fact, three academic organizations in the current international database field are led by professors in the Asia-Pacific region. The IEEE ICDE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Technical Committee on Data Engineering) is led by Professor Whang; the VLDB (Very Large Data Base) Endowment by Professor Beng Chin Ooi from National University of Singapore (NUS); and the ACM SIGMOD (Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Management of Data) by Professor Don Kossmann from ETH Zurich.
2014.05.26 View 8085 -
KAIST-Coursera Course: Introduction to Acoustics Engineering
Professor Yang-Hann Kim of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST has been offering an online course entitled “Introduction to Acoustics” on Corsera, the world’s largest MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) provider, from May 12th.
KAIST offered three Coursera classes during a spring semester in 2014, and Professor Kim’s course was the first one provided by the university to global learners.
Professor Kim has immersed himself in research and education on acoustics engineering for the past 30 years. His Coursera class has received positive responses from students, and some important data follows below:
For the past ten days, over 6,000 students from all around the world have enrolled the class. The student population consists of 33% in North America (United States and Canada), 32% in Europe, 23% in Asia, 8% in South America, and 2% in Africa. Arranged in order of countries, 25% of access originated from the United States, 8% from India, and 3% or 4% each from Brazil, Britain, Spain, Canada, Germany, Mexico, China, Russia, and France, and 2% from Korea.
The other two KAIST-Coursera classes are “Supply Chain Management: A Learning Perspective” and “Introduction to Light, Color, and Life.” For more information, please visit https://www.coursera.org/kaist.
2014.05.25 View 8972 -
Professor Jae-Kyu Lee Elected to Head the Association for Information Systems
Jae Kyu Lee, HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.) Chair Professor, College of Business at KAIST, was elected to lead the world major academic society, Association for Information Systems (AIS), from July 2015 to June 2016. Professor Lee will be the first Korean to serve the organization as president. From July 2014 to June 2015, he will serve as president-elect.
Currently, Professor Lee is the Director of EEWS (Energy, Environment, Water, and Sustainability) Research Center at KAIST, focusing on research and development in finding solutions to critical issues facing humanity. He also played a pivotal role in the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding between HHI and KAIST in June 2013 to establish HHI-KAIST EEWS Research Center within the KAIST campus.
The AIS is the premier professional association for individuals and organizations who lead the research, teaching, practice, and study of information systems worldwide.
A news article on his appointment:
Asian Scientist, May 16, 2014
Korean Engineer To Lead The Association For Information Systems
http://www.asianscientist.com/academia/korean-engineer-lead-association-information-systems-2014/
2014.05.19 View 10048 -
Dr. Sung-Gu Kim of KARI receives the 10th KAIST Jung-Hun Cho Academic Award
KAIST President Steve Kang awarded the 10th "KAIST Jung-Hun Cho Academic Award" to Dr. Sung-Gu Kim of Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) along with Byeong-Sup Park, a graduate student of KAIST Aerospace Engineering, Hee-Won Chae of Korea University, and Jin-Hyung Noh of Kongju National University High School on May 13, 2014.
Dr. Sung-Gu Kim was recognized for his development of a 30-ton class reproduction cooling burner and the securing of essential factor technology for liquid-fuel rocket engines on the Naro project.
The KAIST Jung-Hun Cho Academic Award was established to commemorate Jung-Hun Cho who was killed while researching in the rocket laboratory on May 13, 2003. From 2005, young scientists from the Aerospace Engineering field have been recognized every year. One student each from KAIST, Korea University, and Kongju National University High School, where the honorary doctorate Dr. Cho attended, has been chosen as a scholarship recipient.
The KAIST Jung-Hun Cho Academic Award was established with USD 460,000 in funds donated from Cho's family.
2014.05.17 View 8816 -
KAIST leaps to 2nd place in 2014 QS Asian University Rankings
The highest record ever made by a Korean university since the rankings were published in 2009
KAIST jumped four places to rank #2 from #6 last year, following the National University of Singapore
In the "2014 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings: Asia," KAIST advanced four places compared to 2013 and was ranked 2nd best university in Asia.
QS, an English institution for global university evaluation, and Chosun Newspaper, a leading daily newspaper in Korea, announced the results of the QS Asia University Rankings on April 12th. The result was a record high for a Korean University since the start of annual rankings in 2009.
KAIST has consistently ranked within the top ten, ranking 7th in 2009 and 2012, and 6th in 2013. The sudden jump from the 6th to the 2nd place was attributed to the increase in the number of published papers per professor and the number of citations per paper. In particular, KAIST received high marks for research contributions, which shows that the young faculty members hired since 2006 is now becoming very productive.
For details regarding the 2014 QS University Rankings: Asia, please visit
http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/asian-university-rankings/top-10-universities-asia-2014.
President Steve Kang of KAIST commented, “We are reaping the rewards of recruiting some of the most promising young professors. KAIST will continue its development towards becoming one of the top ten universities in the world.”
The QS Asia University Rankings have evaluated higher education institutions of Asia for the past six years. It evaluates 491 universities across 17 nations. Criterion for evaluation includes academic evaluation (30%), number of published papers per staff (15%), citation frequency (15%), number of students per staff (20%), alumni reputation, and internationalization (10%).
Please also refer to the Korean-American Science and Technology News (KASTN), dated June 4, 2014, for further information on the rankings.
Another Rankings, Pages 4-5
Chosun Ilbo, May 12, 2014
“Chosun-QS Rankings”
KAIST Soars to 2nd Place in Asian Rakings
http://www.phy.duke.edu/~myhan/b_14-12.pdf
2014.05.14 View 12910 -
SPIE (The International Society for Optics and Photonics): Scattering Super-lens
The International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), dedicated to advancing an interdisciplinary approach to the science and application of light, published online a short paper authored by a KAIST research team, Dr. Jung-Hoon Park and Professor YongKeun Park of Physics, introducing a new optical technology to observe sub-wavelength light by exploiting multiple light scattering in complex media.
For the article, please go to the link below:
SPIE: Nanotechnology
May 7th, 2014
"Scattering superlens" by Jung-Hoon Park and YongKeun Park
http://spie.org/x108298.xml
2014.05.14 View 6738 -
Professor Jae-Kyu Lee Elected to Head the Association for Information Systems
Jae Kyu Lee, HHI (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.) Chair Professor, College of Business at KAIST, has been elected to lead the world major academic society, Association for Information Systems (AIS), from July 2015 to June 2016. Professor Lee will be the first Korean to serve the organization as president. From July 2014 to June 2015, he will serve as president-elect.
Currently, Professor Lee is the Director of EEWS (Energy, Environment, Water, and Sustainability) Research Center at KAIST, focusing on research and development in finding solutions to critical issues facing humanity. He also played a pivotal role in the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding between HHI and KAIST in June 2013 to establish HHI-KAIST EEWS Research Center within the KAIST campus.
The AIS is the premier professional association for individuals and organizations who lead the research, teaching, practice, and study of information systems worldwide.
2014.05.14 View 9168 -
KAIST ranked third in the top 100 universities under 50 years old
The Times Higher Education (THE) released on April 30, 2014 its annual ranking of 100 top universities whose history is under 50 years.
KAIST placed 3rd, holding the same spot from last year.
The (THE) 100 Under 50 ranking used 13 indicators across five factors to measure the performance of institutions: research, citations, teaching, international outlook, and industry income. The indicators included research volume and income, reputation, learning environment, staff-to-student ratio, scholarly papers produced, and the percentage of international staff as part of the institution’s faculty.
Phil Baty, editor of the Times ranking, compared younger and older universities as follows:
“Young universities are free to be more agile, lean, and risk-taking, giving them an advantage in a rapidly changing global marketplace. They are also free to offer innovative teaching and focus their research in niche, high-impact areas.”
KAIST and Pohang University of Science and Technology (ranked first) are the only Korean universities that made the ranking list.
For the full list, please go to:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014/one-hundred-under-fifty
This information was provided by the Times Higher Education 100 Under 50.
2014.05.03 View 10665 -
Binding Regulatory Mechanism of Protein Biomolecules Revealed
Professor Hak-Sung Kim
A research team led by Professor Hak-Sung Kim of Biological Sciences, KAIST, and Dr. Mun-Hyeong Seo, KAIST, has revealed a regulatory mechanism that controls the binding affinity of protein’s biomolecules, which is crucial for the protein to recognize molecules and carry out functions within the body.
The research results were published in the April 24th online edition of Nature Communications.
The protein, represented by enzyme, antibody, or hormones, specifically recognizes a variety of biomolecules in all organisms and implements signaling or immune response to precisely adjust and maintain important biological processes. The protein binding affinity of biomolecules plays a crucial role in determining the duration of the bond between two molecules, and hence to determine and control the in-vivo function of proteins.
The researchers have noted that, during the process of proteins’ recognizing biomolecules, the protein binding affinity of biomolecules is closely linked not only to the size of non-covalent interaction between two molecules, but also to the unique kinetic properties of proteins.
To identify the basic mechanism that determines the protein binding affinity of biomolecules, Professor Kim and his research team have made mutation in the allosteric site of protein to create a variety of mutant proteins with the same chemical binding surface, but with the binding affinity vastly differing from 10 to 100 times. The allosteric site of the protein refers to a region which does not directly bind with biomolecules, but crucially influences the biomolecule recognition site.
Using real-time analysis at the single-molecule level of unique kinetic properties of the produced mutant proteins, the researchers were able to identify that the protein binding affinity of biomolecules is directly associated with the protein’s specific kinetic characteristics, its structure opening rate.
Also, by proving that unique characteristics of the protein can be changed at the allosteric site, instead of protein’s direct binding site with biomolecules, the researchers have demonstrated a new methodology of regulating the in-vivo function of proteins.
The researchers expect that these results will contribute greatly to a deeper understanding of protein’s nature that governs various life phenomena and help evaluate the proof of interpreting protein binding affinity of biomolecules from the perspective of protein kinetics.
Professor Kim said, “Until now, the protein binding affinity of biomolecules was determined by a direct interaction between two molecules. Our research has identified an important fact that the structure opening rate of proteins also plays a crucial role in determining their binding affinity.”
[Picture]
A correlation graph of opening rate (kopening) and binding affinity (kd) between protein’s stable, open state and its unstable, partially closed state.
2014.05.02 View 9364 -
Hidden Mechanism for the Suppression of Colon Cancer Identified
Published in Cell Reports : cells at the risk of causing colorectal cancer due to genetic mutation are discharged outside the colon tissue
Korean researchers have successfully identified the cancer inhibitory mechanism of the colon tissue. The discovery of the inherent defense mechanism of the colon tissues is expected to provide understanding of the cause of colorectal cancer.
The research was led by Kwang-Hyun Cho, a professor of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST (corresponding author) and participated by Dr. Jehun Song (the first author), as well as Dr. Owen Sansom, David Huels, and Rachel Ridgway from the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research in the UK and Dr. Walter Kolch from Conway Institute in Ireland.
The research was funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and the National Research Foundation of Korea, and its results were published in the 28th March online edition of Cell Reports under the title of “The APC network regulates the removal of mutated cells from colonic crypts.”
The organism can repair damaged tissues by itself, but genetic mutations, which may cause cancer, can occur in the process of cell division s for the repair. The rapid cell division s and toxic substances from the digestive process cause a problem especially in colon crypt that has a high probability for genetic mutation.
The research team was able to find out that the colon tissues prevent cancer by rapidly discharging carcinogenic cells with genetic mutations from the colon crypt durin ga frequent tissue repair process.
This defense mechanism, which inhibits abnormal cell division s by reducing the time mutated cells reside in the crypt, is inherent in the colon.
Extensive mathematical simulation results show that the mutated cells with enhanced Wnt signaling acquire increased adhesion in comparison to the normal cells, which therefore move rapidly toward the upper part of the crypt and are discharged more easily.
If beta-catenine, the key factor in Wnt signal transduction pathway, is not degraded due to genetic mutation, the accumulated beta-catenine activates cell proliferation and increases cell adhesion. The special environment of crypt tissue and the tendency of the cells with similar adhesion to aggregate will therefore discharge the mutated cell, hence maintaining the tissue homeostasis.
In vivo experiment with a mouse model confirms the simulation results that, in the case of abnormal crypt, the cells with high proliferation in fact move slower.
Professor Cho said, “This research has identified that multicellular organism is exquisitely designed to maintain the tissue homeostasis despite abnormal cell mutation. This also proves the systems biology research, which is a convergence of information technology and bio-technology , can discover hidden mechanisms behind complex biological phenomena.”
Crypt: Epithelium, consisting of approximately 2,000 cells, forms a colon surface in the shape of a cave.
Wnt Signaling: A signal transduction pathway involved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells that are particularly important for the embryonic development and management of adult tissue homeostasis.
2014.04.17 View 11245 -
Strawberries Delivered by A Miniature Drone at KAIST Spring Festival
The "HAPPY KAIST 2014 Spring Festival" held at KAIST from 4th April
The Cherry Blossoms Festival under the theme of "Cherry Blossoms: Light and Fantasy" held on 4th April
The Strawberry Party with strawberries exclusively delivered by a miniature drone on 11th April
KAIST is holding a spring festival from April 4th through 11th.
As a part of the "HAPPY KAIST 2014" event, cherry blossoms festival and strawberry party will be held at KAIST campus starting on April 4th.
This event has been organized with the purpose of creating a new culture and tradition for members of KAIST to unite. Faculty members, staff, and students have all contributed to making the festival a success.
The cherry blossoms festival, held under the theme of "Cherry Blossoms: Light and Fantasy," takes place at the road in front of the KAIST north dormitory, which provides a spectacular view of cherry blossom trees. It begins on the night of April 4th and continues until the 8th of April.
Around the cherry blossom tree road displays an art exhibition by the Design Rangers, a student club of graduate and doctorate students from the Department of Industrial Design at KAIST. The exhibition includes the "Fantasy Cherry Blossoms" and "Let’s Walk Together."
Following on the 11th will be the "Strawberry Party" to take place throughout the campus. The strawberry party began in 1995 in order to help the local strawberry farmers. Now, it has become KAIST’s own unique tradition attended by faculty, student clubs, and laboratory members.
This year, the fruit party becomes a unique event in that there will be a demonstration of strawberry delivery by an unmanned vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (a miniature drone).
When a customer orders strawberries via a smart phone application, the user's current location is sent to the central system of an unmanned vehicle. Either the unmanned vehicle (UV) transports strawberries or for places
inaccessible
by the UV such as on a lawn, the drone delivers the fruit to the customer
.
This demonstration has been organized by Professor Hyunchul Shim from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at KAIST. Professor Shim said, “If the unmanned logistics system, such as the one being demonstrated at the Strawberry Party, is commercialized, both cost and time
in the logistics industry
can be significantly reduced.”
The HAPPY KAIST 2014,
organized
by the College of Engineering, is an annual event, consisting of a total of five programs, with the purpose to make the campus happier and
healthier.
2014.04.07 View 9240 -
Professor Sang-Yup Lee Named the Winner of the Ho-Am Prize in 2014
The Ho-Am Prize, awarded by Samsung Group’s Ho-Am Foundation, was announced on April 2, 2014 in Seoul. Professor Sang-Yup Lee of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at KAIST was among the five recipients.
The prize is presented to Koreans who have made great contributions to the development of Korea in the field of science, engineering, medicine, arts, and philanthropy.
Professor Lee received the award in recognition of his pioneering research on systems metabolic engineering.
For the story written by Korea Joongang Daily, please go to the link below:
Ho-Am Foundation Names Annual Prize Winners
Korea Joongang Daily
April 3, 2014
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2987332
2014.04.03 View 9117