Science
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Professor Seong-Ihl Woo Develops New High-Speed Research Method
Professor Seong-Ihl Woo Develops New High-Speed Research Method
Reduce research periods and expenses for thin film materials several ten times
Posted on the online version of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) on January 9
A team led by Seong-Ihl Woo, a professor of KAIST Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and the director of the Center for Ultramicrochemical Process Systems, has developed a high-speed research method that can maximize research performances and posted the relevant contents on the online version of Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), a distinguished scientific journal, on January 9, 2007.
Professor Woo’s team has developed a high-speed research method that can fabricate several tens or several thousands of thin films with different compositions (mixing ratio) at the same time and carry out structural analysis and performance evaluation more than ten times faster and accurately, which leads to the shortening of the research processes of thin film materials. This is an epoch-making method that can reduce research periods and expenses several ten times or more, compared to the previous methods.
The qualities of final products of electronic materials, displays, and semi-conductors depend on the features of thin film materials. Averagely, it takes about two weeks or longer to fabricate a functional thin film and analyze and evaluate its performances. In order to fabricate thin film materials in need successfully, more than several thousand times of tests are required.
The existing thin film-fabricating equipment is expensive one demanding high-degree vacuum, such as chemical vapor deposition, sputtering, physical vapor deposition, laser evaporation, and so on. In order to fabricate thin films of various compositions with this equipment, a several million won-worth target (solid-state raw material) and precursors (volatile organic metal compound) pricing several hundreds won per gram are required. Therefore, huge amount of experiment expense is demanded for fabrication of several ten thousands of thin films with various compositions.
Professor Woo’s team has developed ‘combinatorial droplet chemical deposition’ equipment, which does not demand high-degree vacuum and is automated by computers and robots, by using a new high-speed research measure. The equipment is priced at about 1/5 of the existing equipment and easy for maintenance.
This equipment uses cheap reagents, instead of expensive raw materials. Reagents necessary to form required compositions are dissolved in water or proper solvents, and then applied by high frequencies to make several micrometer-scaled droplets (fine liquid droplet). Theses droplets are moved by nitrogen and dropped onto a substrate, which is to be fabricated into a thin film, and then subsequent thermal treatment is applied to the substrate to fabricate a thin film of required composition. At this moment, several tens or several hundreds of thin films with various compositions can be fabricated at the same time by reducing the size of thin film specimens into millimeter scale with the use of shade mask and adjusting vaporization time with masks, the moving speed of which can be adjusted. The expenses for materials necessary for the fabrication of thin films with this equipment amount to several ten thousands won per 100 grams, which is in the range of 1/100 and 1/10 of the previous methods, and the research period can be shortened into one of several tenth.
“If this new method is applied to the development of elements in the fields of core energy, material and health, which have not been discovered by the existing research methods so far, as well as researches in thin film material field, substantial effects will be brought,” said Professor Woo.
‘Combinatorial droplet chemical vaporization’ equipment is pending a domestic patent application and international patent applications at Japan and Germany. This equipment will be produced by order and provided to general researchers.
2007.02.02 View 15641 -
Professor Jongwon Lee wins Korean Engineering Award
Professor Jongwon Lee wins Korean Engineering Award
Professor Jongwon Lee of the department of Mechanical Engineering won the 7th Korean Engineering Award conferred by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Korean Science and Engineering Foundation.
Professor Lee is a world-famous scholar in the field of ‘dynamics and vibration of rotors’ and his work in 1993, ‘Vibration Analysis of Rotors’, is highly recognized as a creative and practical research on the dynamics of rotors.
The Korean Engineering Award is conferred on domestic scientists who have made world-level research achievements in the engineering field by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Korean Science and Technology Foundation every two years.
2007.01.11 View 12143
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KAIST and Hynix Semiconductor Jointly Foster Manpower
KAIST and Hynix Semiconductor Jointly Foster Manpower
- Joint running of industry-academy programs for excellent semiconductor manpower training
- Regular mutual manpower exchange for on-site education and research
KAIST Department of Raw Material Science and Engineering and Hynix Semiconductor concluded an agreement to manage a ‘joint industry-academy business group’, Wednesday, December 6.
The both bodies reached an agreement to jointly promote the first step of ‘the excellent semiconductor manpower training program’ for 4 years beginning 2007.
KAIST plans to foster creative and excellent semiconductor manpower possessing both of theories and technologies through research topics and lectures that reflect Hynix Semiconductor’s necessities, and will promote regular manpower exchanges with Hynix Semiconductor to enhance trainees’ on-site adaptabilities.
Hynix Semiconductor will actively participate in the researches and support the expenses for research and education and high-cost equipment. Furthermore, Hynix Semiconductors will dispatch its researchers to KAIST as adjunct professors to educate doctorate students, who join the researches, and assist on-site education.
2006.12.11 View 12930
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KAIST hosts Korea-China High-tech Expo
KAIST hosts Korea-China High-tech Expo
- Three days from Tuesday, December 12 at Beijing International Convention Center in China
- 30 Korean companies and 40 Chinese companies will participate and exhibit cutting-edge technologies
KAIST (President Nam-Pyo Suh) will host ‘Korea-China High-Tech EXPO 2006’ with Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) at Beijing International Convention Center in China for three days from Tuesday, December 12.
‘Korea-China High-Tech EXPO’ is an event which has taken place annually since the conclusion of the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) for the enhancement of international joint researches and mutual exchanges between KAIST and Tsinghua University in the year of 2002 and faces the 4th time this year.
The event began for the activation of technical exchanges between top venture enterprises of the both countries and the enhancement of academic exchanges between top technical universities of the both countries and now has grown into a business stage for the enhancement of competitiveness of venture enterprises and the creation of new markets.
In the event, 30 companies, including Golfzon Co,. Ltd. etc., and 4 institutes, including KAIST Human-Friendly Welfare Robot System Engineering Research Center, etc., from Korea and 40 companies from China will participate and exhibit their cutting-edge technologies. The participants have been selected with the focus on technologies requested by China-side, and each participant will be provided with opportunities of detailed consultation with buyers from ten companies of China. During the event, subsidiary events like excellent technology exhibition, Korea-China technical business forum, special introductions of goods by Mosin Biotech, Inc. and Daeduk Lab Inc., etc. will take place.
2006.12.11 View 13957
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Professor Ikho Song Wins Academic Award of Haedong Information & Communication
Professor Ikho Song Wins Academic Award of Haedong Information & Communication
Professor Ikho Song (Division of Electrical Engineering) won an academic award of Haedong Information & Communication at a regular meeting of Korean Institute of Communication Sciences 2006. The award was given to Professor Song in recognition of his presenting excellent papers at many renowned domestic and global academic journals and his substantial contribution to the development of the information & communication field.
Meanwhile, Hyungmoon Kwon, a doctorate student under Professor Song’s supervisory, also won an award of excellent paper at the meeting.
2006.11.27 View 11966
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Retirement of Professor Jung-Woong Ra
Retirement of Professor Jung-Woong Ra
The first professor of KAIST Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department Jung-Woon Ra, who is also the former president of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), retired.
Professor Ra joined KAIST as professor in 1971, the year of KAIST foundation, and established the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has significantly contributed to the development of the department and is recognized for his sincere devotion to the rapid growth of GIST into a specialized research-oriented university as the head of GIST Foundation Committee and the third president of GIST.
For the past 35 years in KAIST, Professor Ra has educated 37 Ph.Ds and 90 masters, and presented 113 papers in domestic and world renowned journals and 93 academic papers.
Particularly, Professor Ra, world-class scholar in the field of electromagnetic wave utilization and application, invented ‘successive electromagnetic wave ground penetrating radar’, with which he discovered the fourth tunnel made by North Korean Military Forces in 1989.
In recognition of his contribution to manpower education and development of science and technology, he won Moran medal of Order of Civil Merit in 1999 and was awarded as a man of merit for electromagnetic wave development in 2005.
Retirement ceremony for Professor Jung was held at Dream Hall in ChungMoonSoul building last Friday, September 29, and Professor Jung was named as Emeritus Professor at the ceremony.
2006.10.10 View 14926
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Imaging technology expert from Hollywood becomes KAIST professor
Imaging technology expert from Hollywood becomes KAIST professor
A U.S. imaging technology expert from Hollywood was appointed as KAIST professor.
KAIST (President Nam-Pyo Suh) announced on September 18 that world-famous imaging technology expert Joonyong Noh, who deals with special effects at Hollywood, was appointed as assistant professor of Graduate School of Culture Technology.
Professor Noh obtained Ph.D in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and has been working at Rhythm & Hues, one of the world top three independent productions. He has developed special effects of 23 pieces of Hollywood films for the past three years and took charge of special effects of movies ‘Garfield’, ‘The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King’, etc. which were released worldwide.
His recent work is the film ‘Superman Returns’. In this film, Professor Noh skillfully expressed a scene of superman flying into a ship with virtual reality using simulation. Professor Noh also has shown great achievements in the fields of face animation, algorithm-based scenery generation, non-rigid body and fluid dynamics simulation.
“I’ve performed various imaging works with advanced science and technology and arts combined in them at Hollywood. Based on such experiences, I will develop advanced imaging technologies along with KAIST students,” Professor Noh remarked his intention.
2006.09.21 View 13944
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Professor Eunjoon Kim's team finds synapse-forming protein
Professor Eunjoon Kim’s team finds synapse-forming protein
- discover a new protein ‘NGL’ that promotes the formation of neuronal synapses
- can presume the cause of various brain disorders including schizophrenia
- will be published at Nature Neuroscience Vol. 9 in September
A new protein that promotes the formation of synapses in human brains was discovered by a Korean research team.
The team led by Eunjoon Kim, Professor of Department of Biological Sciences and Head of Creative Research Group of Synapse Formation), announced that it had discovered a new fact that NGL protein promotes the formation of neuronal synapses and this fact would be published in Nature Neuroscience Vol. 9 on September 18.
Professor Kim’s team discovered that a membrane protein named ‘NGL’ located at post synapse links with other membrane protein named netrin-G in pre synapse, acting as crosslink, and promotes the formation of a new synapse.
‘NGL’ is the second protein found to crosslink synapse, following neuoroligin. With the discovery of this new protein, the principle of synapse formation and the causes of various brain disorders can be presumed.
In the human brain, about more than 100 billion neuron cells and about 10,000 synapses compose neural circuit. A synapse is the place where innervation occurs between neuron cells. The formation of synapse induces the formation of neural circuit, and neural circuit is deeply related with various brain disorders as well as normal development of brains or brain functions.
“As netrin-G linked with NGL is related with schizonphrenia and neuoroligin and synapse crosslinking protein having a similar function with NGL is deeply related with mental retardation and autism, I think NGL is related with various brain disorders including schizophrenia.”
<Explanation of attached photos>
■ Photo1: Experiment for confirming NGL’s ability to form synapse No. 1
Mix ordinary cell (green) revealing NGL at its surface and neuron cell. Axon grows toward NGL (ordinary cell) located in the middle of ten o’clock direction and meets NGL, where NGL induces the formation of pre synapse (red) in the contacting axon.
Whether pre synapse has been formed can be told by the fluorescent dying (red) of pre synapse protein named Synapsin.
- Figure a-b: formation of synapse by NGL
- Figure c-d: transformed NGL losing synapse forming ability cannot form synapse
■ Photo 2: Experiment for confirming NGL’s ability to form synapse No. 2
When beads coated with NGL are scattered on neuron cell, the beads contact with the axon of the neuron cell (the beads are clearly visible at the phase differentiation image in the middle panel). At this time, NGL induces the formation of pre synapse (red) in the axon. Whether pre synapse has been formed can be told by the fluorescent dying (red) of pre synapse protein named SynPhy (panel a) or VGlut1 (panel b).
2006.09.21 View 14727
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KAIST Cultural Festival - the 2nd rocklassic
KAIST Cultural Festival - the 2nd rocklassic
- Unique music festival by KAIST students mixed with creation, performance, and science
- Result of creative classes - All activities from performance planning to strings manufacturing will be carried out by students themselves
- At the outdoor theater in KAIST, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10
Crossover music festival pursuing balanced mixture of Rock and Classic will be held by KAIST students.
KAIST (President Nam-Pyo Suh) will open ‘KAIST Cultural Festival - the 2nd rocKlassic’ at the outdoor theater, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, September 10.
This performance can be considered as a new attempt that provides opportunities of experiencing the vital topic of industry in the 21st century - fusion of culture and technology. Performance planning, arrangement, and playing are all carried out by students themselves, and musical instruments manufactured by students during classes will be used for the performance. This performance is the result of creative classes such as chamber music, strings manufacturing, performance planning, and business management, which have been newly attempted in KAIST since 2002.
In the performance subtitled as ‘Einstein’s Violin’, KAIST-graduated bandoneonist Sangji Ko will play the bandoneon (musical instrument which is composed of rectangular side faces and wrinkled box, and played by pushing buttons) as a special guest, and total 40 players including members of KAIST student music club ‘Adlib’, ‘KAIST orchestra’, and ‘MUSIKA’, which is making active performances outside KAIST, will attend to make the concert the biggest music project of KAIST.
General director Jeongjin Kim (Professor of KAIST Graduate School of Culture and Technology) said, “In order to enjoy the concert with neighborhood, the outdoor theater capable of 3,000 people will be fully opened, and there is no charge for it. I am sure the passion and talent toward music emitting from KAIST students will startle the audience.”
■ Program
<1st stage>
- The song of life - Adlib, KAIST orchestra
- Flying - Adlib, KAIST orchestra
- From between calm and passion - Chulho Kim, KAIST orchestra
- Propose - Yeoseotjul
- As my wish - Yeoseotjul, Adlib
- I lay my love on you - Yeoseotjul
- Rachmaninov/ Rhapsody on Theme of Paganini Op. 43: Var. 18 Piano - Chulho Kim, KAIST orchestra
- Chaser - Adlib
- Walk this way - Adlib
- Girl’s period - Adlib
- Sweep away - Adlib, KAIST orchestra
<2nd stage>
- Beethoven Virus - Adlib, KAIST orchestra
- Simple symphony - KAIST orchestra
- Cinema paradiso - KAIST orchestra
- Piano trio by Mendelssohn - Daehyun Wie (Piano), Wontae Song (Violin), Hongje Chang (Cello)
- Tango Pugata - Sangji Ko (Bandoneonist), etc.
- Vuelvo al sur - Youngsan Lee, etc.
- La Cumparsita - Sangji Ko, etc.
- Libertango - Sangji Ko, etc.
- Dramatic Funk - Wontae Song, Adlib
- Cavalleria rusticana intermezzo - Sangji Ko, KAIST orchestra
- Hurricane 2000 - Adlib, KAIST orchestra, Yeoseotjul
2006.09.11 View 14744
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Professor Tae-Gwan Park awarded Minister Prize
Professor Tae-Gwan Park awarded Minister Prize
Professor Tae-Gwan Park (Department of Biological Sciences) was awarded the Minister Prize in the science innovation sector at the NANO KOREA 2006, which was opened on August 30.
This prize is given to researchers who have shown excellent research results in the field of Nanotechnology, and Professor Park was awarded the Minister Prize in recognition of his innovative achievements in the fields of Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery, Gene Therapy, which are fusion technologies of NT and BT that utilize nanobiomaterials.
2006.09.06 View 14015
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CJIS donates development fund of two hundreds million won to KAIST
CJIS donates development fund of two hundreds million won to KAIST
CJ Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. (CJIS/ CEO Hong-Chang Kim) donated a development fund of two hundreds million won to KAIST (President Nam-Pyo Suh) on Monday, August 30 to contribute to the development of KAIST and its fostering of science genius.
At the donation ceremony held at the main conference room in KAIST main administration building, CJIS CEO Hong-Chang Kim said, “I am very pleased to contribute to the development of KAIST, which is developing into a world-class research university.” In response to this, KAIST president Nam-Pyo Suh said, “I am very grateful for CJIS’s support. I will do my best to make KAIST one of the world-class research universities to be the hub of the world as well as Korea in the field of the cutting-edge science and technology.”
2006.09.06 View 13073
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Professor Ryong Ryoo, selected as a scientist wished to resemble and to be 2006
Professor Ryong Ryoo, selected as a scientist wished to resemble and to be 2006
Professor Ryong Ryoo (Department of Chemistry) was selected as a scientist wished to resemble and to be 2006.
Professor Ryoo developed in 2000 world’s first nanoporous carbon material in which numberless several nanometer-sized holes were drilled. The development of this nanoporous material was introduced by international scientific journal NATURE in 2000 and 2001 and expected to contribute to the progress of mankind through the development of high efficiency fuel cell or ultra-light computer. Professor Ryoo also developed a new technology that can considerably improve the catalyst activation and stability of ‘Zeolite’, a main catalyst in the petrochemical industry, which was introduced by NATURE materials. The above achievements qualified Professor Ryoo for the selection.
‘Scientists wished to resemble and to be 2006’ were selected among scientists showing vigorous activities in the science and technology circle on the basis of their recent achievements, etc. by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korea Science Foundation, and total 10 scientists qualified to be the model of children and the youth were announced on August 24.
2006.09.06 View 14229