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Kaist expresses appreciation to a Swedish nurse served in the Korean War and donated a scholarship.
Public release date: 19-Dec-2011
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Contact: Lan Yoon
hlyoon@kaist.ac.kr
82-423-502-295
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Kaist expresses appreciation to a Swedish nurse served in the Korean War and donated a scholarship
The largest private donation ever given to KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, will include a scholarship for KAIST students to study there
The largest private donation ever given to KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, will include a scholarship for KAIST students to study there.
"I"ve never forgotten the tragedy of the Korean War that I witnessed as a nurse, even today, more than 60 years later. I"m glad to contribute to a wider cooperation in science and technology between Sweden and Korea," said the donor.
Daejeon, Republic of Korea, December 19, 2011— On Monday, December 19th, 2011 at 4:00 pm (Central European Time), at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) presented a plaque of appreciation to a Swedish couple, Rune and Kerstin Jonasson, whose generous donation will establish a scholarship fund for KAIST students.
In late June of 2011, the Jonassons donated 70 million Krona ($10 million USD) to KTH, the largest lump sum donation ever given to the university by an individual, and the couple requested that a portion of the money be used to promote academic interaction and collaboration with Korean universities. KTH had various student exchange programs with KAIST, and with the financial support from the Jonassons, the two universities have decided to invite KAIST students to study at KTH.
Enjoying a long tradition of excellence in higher education in Asia and Northern Europe, KAIST and KTH have continued to lead the development of science and technology through top-notch educational programs, dynamic research experiences, technological innovation, and highly skilled and motivated manpower. The two global research universities expect that the scholarship program will add another dimension to already expanding exchanges.
Kerstin Jonasson, 88 years old, came to Korea in 1951 when she was 28, and served a six-month tour of duty as a nurse in the Korean War. Recalling her past, Mrs. Jonasson said, "The calamity of the war remains deeply engraved in my mind." Ever since returning from the battlefield, she has been seeking ways to help Korea, and has thus been regularly involved in volunteer activities to strengthen bilateral relations between Korea and Sweden.
Chang-Dong Yoo, Associate Vice President of Special Projects & Institutional Relations at KAIST, thanked the couple while presenting them with the award on behalf of KAIST family including President Nam-Pyo Suh.
"We feel greatly indebted to the Jonassons, most particularly to Kerstin Jonasson, who came to Korea during the toughest time in our modern history and rendered generous humanitarian assistance to Koreans. Not only that, Mrs. Jonasson has continued to play an important role, up to today, as a "Goodwill Ambassador for Korea" in bringing the two countries closer than ever. This scholarship will provide our students with excellent opportunities to study in Sweden, the home of many great scientists, as well as to experience the robust and vibrant Nordic culture."
In response, Kerstin Jonasson said:
"I"m grateful to the Korean people who, over the past 60 years, have consistently expressed their appreciation for my work during the Korean War, and I"m really proud of the fact that they"ve made Korea a great country, reemerging from the destitution of the war as an important power of democracy and economy in the world. My husband and I hope that our donation will further enhance the strong ties forged between Sweden and Korea, and that KTH and KAIST will become the centerpiece of a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries through the advancement of science and technology."
The details of the scholarship have yet to be finalized, but the fund is expected to be approximately 10 to 15 million Krona ($1.4~$2.1 million USD) to be spread out over five years. KAIST aims to begin sending students to KTH in the fall of 2012, and will select 10~12 graduate students for the exchange program. Since 1990, 38 KAIST students have studied at KTH, and 50 KTH students have studied at KAIST.
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2011.12.23 View 9662 -
Honorary Doctorate Presented to President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
KAIST presented to Dr. Svante Lindqvist, President of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Marshal of the Realm to the Swedish Royal Court, an honorary doctorate in science and technology on the 21st of November at Fusion Hall, KI Building.
Dr. Lindqvist, a pioneer in the field of history of science and technology, showed how science and technology have affected the development of human civilization. His work in explaining the relationship between science and history made it easier to the public to understand the importance of science in our society, upon which he was conferred the honorary doctorate.
Director Lindqvist obtained a doctorate from the Uppsala University of Sweden in 1984 with the dissertation, “Introduction of Steam Locomotive in 18th century Sweden.” This single dissertation won him three awards, which has been regarded even today as an introductory reading text to readers in the field of science history.
Dr. Lindqvist established the Department of History of Science and Technology in Sweden Royal Institute of Technology in 1989 and was the department chair for nine years until 1997. He then became the founding director of the Nobel Museum from 1998 to 2009 and developed the museum from a mere display venue of Nobel’s legacy to a multifunctional research oriented institute that supports and holds various outreach activities such as seminars and public lectures.
From the visit of Dr. Lindqvist to KAIST, students had a wonderful opportunity to engage with an internationally renowned scholar and, once more, to remind the university"s vision and mission, whereby they make contributions to the development of science, and ultimately, to the advancement of humanity.
2011.12.13 View 10795 -
Interview with the president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Dr. Tony Chan, who is also a member of KAIST’s President Advisory Council (PAC), had an interview with the Korea Times, November 16, 2011 and shared his thoughts on some fundamental essentials that make a good science and technology university. He visited KAIST Campus on November 10th and had a meeting with students as part of the university’s mentor program between PAC members and the students. For the interview, please visit the link below: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2011/11/181_98928.html
2011.11.18 View 11335 -
2011 International Presidential Forum on Global Research Universities
KAIST’s 4th International Presidential Forum Held in Seoul on November 8, 2011
The largest annual congregation of university presidents in Asia invited leaders from academia, government, and industry for talks on issues related to higher education in the Age of Globalization.
Borderless and Creative Education: the ability to cross borders a crucial key to dominate the information era
Seoul, Republic of Korea, November 8, 2011—The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) hosted the “2011 International Presidential Forum on Global Research Universities (IPFGRU)” on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Seoul.
With more than 120 participants from 44 institutions in 27 countries present, the full-day forum provided participants with an opportunity to discuss challenges and responsibilities facing higher education in a time of globalization that has resulted from an ever-growing demand for technological innovation.
In his plenary speech, Dr. Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor of UC Berkeley, stressed that “Higher educational intuitions must be prepared to drive innovation and enhance competitiveness by educating a highly trained workforce that will have the critical skills necessary to solve problems and lead in today’s interdependent world.”
“Finding solutions to the world’s most challenging problems will depend on the ability to cross borders: national borders, border between different fields of discipline and research, and borders between academe, government, and industry,” said Chancellor Birgeneau to address the importance of “borderless and creative education,” the theme of the forum.
Other major keynote speakers were Jörg Steinbach, President of Technische Universität Berlin, Lars Pallesen, President of Technical University of Denmark, Paul F. Greenfield, President of University of Queensland, Marcelo Fernandes de Aquino, President of the University of the Sinos Valley (UNISINOS), and Eden Woon, Vice President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Dr. Nam-Pyo Suh, President of KAIST, gave talks on the university’s new education plan, “The I-Four Education,” at the afternoon session. The four Is are information technology (IT), independent learning, integrated knowledge acquisitions, and an international learning environment.
“In this format, there are no formal lectures,” President Suh explained. “A group of students learn together by using the materials available on the internet, doing homework and conducting experiments together. Pre-recorded lectures are delivered in English by I-Four professors, some of them regular KAIST professors and some professors in other countries who participate in the I-Four Program as consulting professors.”
He added, “The overall purpose of the I-Four Education Program is to encourage students to learn independently, gain exposure to the best lectures by the most eminent professors in the world, accelerate the development of a global frame of reference in the students by dealing with information available throughout the world, and provide an integrated learning environment by using diverse examples from many disciplines to achieve understanding of basic principles.”
The 2011 IPFGRU, the fourth forum since its inception in 2008, rose to prominence in the past years as an international network for leaders of research universities from around the world to share information and exchange views about contemporary issues in higher education.
At this year’s forum, entitled “Borderless and Creative Education,” speakers took a deeper look into the transitions and transformations many research universities are undergoing today, delving into the following topics: the development of e-learning and cyber campuses; increased student mobility and international collaborations; multi-disciplinary and convergence approaches in research and education; and methodology of nurturing future global leaders.
Participants also discussed experiences and accomplishments earned from their own endeavors to accommodate such changes and presented ways to strengthen internationalization and improve the academic and research competitiveness of universities.
The 2011 International Presidential Forum on Global Research Universities (IPFGRU) was organized by KAIST and sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, POSCO, Hyundai Motor Company, Samsung Heavy Industries, S-Oil, and Elsevier Korea.
2011.11.09 View 13989 -
Declaration of 2011 International Presidential Forum on Research Universities
The 4th International Presidential Forum on Research Universities was held in Seoul on November 8, 2011. The forum attracted a wide range of participants from around the world, presidents and leaders from 44 higher education institutions in 27 nations. Participants had a full-day of in-depth discussion on the theme of “borderless and creative education.”
At the end of the forum, 29 keynote speakers, representing 120 attendees of the meeting, released a declaration that sums up the main points of consensus on the principles and commitments to be supported by research universities for the development of higher education in the 21st century. For the declaration, please open the attached file.
2011.11.09 View 8186
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New York Times, "First, Catch Your Faculty-A Recipe for Excellence"
The World Bank has recently published a new book entitled “The Road to Academic Excellence: The Making of World Class Research Universities.” The report (book) examined the recent experience of 11 universities in 9 countries (for Korea, it sampled Pohang University of Science and Technology, established in 1986) that have undergone transformations in order to become world-class universities. The book has received a wide coverage from the media all around the world since its publication in late September, among others, the latest article by New York Times (NYT), dated October 16, 2011. The gist of the book, i.e., what elements are required should a research university to become “truly prestigious” in the global scene, is well introduced by the NYT article, and here’s the link:
New York Times, “First, Catch Your Faculty-A Recipe for Excellence”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/world/americas/17iht-educLede17.html
2011.10.17 View 11688
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Fusion performing arts, called space musical, 'NARO' performed at KAIST
In commemoration of the 6th anniversary of the establishment of the Graduate School of Cultural Technology, KAIST organized an English musical show on space at the Auditorium on the 29th and 30th of September. The name of the musical was NARO.
The musical was funded by the ‘NaDa Center’ operated by KAIST’s Graduate School of Cultural Technology. The musical was created with participation from adolescents, which told a tale about a genius boy Naro’s journey in space.
The musical was composed of two parts, and the basic storyline was about Naro who conducts research based on space, and his friends went on a time travel to the constellation Scorpios; more specifically, it was a Korean traditional children’s story about a brother and sister who became the sun and the moon. Naro and his friends prevent the plot of Tyran, a villan, who plans on destroying the space and Earth by inducing a red giant star, Antares.
In preparation for the musical, NaDa Center selected 14 students ranging from elementary to high school students during March of 2011. The selected students met every Saturday and Sunday from March to September for practice; a gargantuan commitment.
The theme of the musical is space, the future, and hope, and it does not utilize any stage settings. Instead, it attempts the incorporation of high technology into the stage by using interactive video, laser art, and specially built props. In addition, the entire process from script to performance and advertisement was utilized as an education model to suggest a good fusion between science and technology and cultural arts.
The musical ‘NARO’ is a collective effort. Professor Won Kwan Yeon who pioneered the field of Cultural Technology directed the musical, Professor Koo Bon Chul was in charge of the script and music composition, acting was charged to Lee Min Ho, choreography was charged to Han Eun Kyung, astrological reference was charged to Park Seok Jae among other students in the Graduate School of Cultural Technology. Members of the KAIST Acting Club ‘Lee Bak Teo’, Jeong Soo Han, Son Sharon and graduate of Chung Nam National University with vocal music major Yang Su Ji also made appearances. The Space Musical ‘NARO’ was funded by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Korea Aerospace Research Institute, and LG School of Multi Culture.
2011.10.10 View 11202 -
KAIST rated 1st consistently for four years running, according to the Korean universities ranking compiled by Joongang Daily
KAIST scored 293 points out of a possible 350 points in the 2011 Joongag Daily survey on the assessment of Korean universities and solidified its position as the nation’s best university by being ranked “number one” for four consecutive years.
POSTECH, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, and SungKyunKwan University followed.
The Joongang Daily Korean Universities Assessment began in 1994, which covers all four-year universities. KAIST has been rated 1st in Korea a total of nine times, and it is KAIST’s second time being rated 1st four years in a row. KAIST was assessed especially highly in quality of education, finances, and professor research categories.
Joongang Daily assessed a total of 100 universities (compared to 93 of last year). The maximum number of points is 350 points comprising of quality of education (110 points), globalization (60 points), professor research (110 points), and public reputation/interaction with public (70 points).
2011.10.10 View 9373
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Professor Son Hoon received "Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award."
Professor Son Hoon (42) of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering received the “Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award” at an international workshop on structural health monitoring held in Stanford University.
The award is given by the editor and advisors of prestigious international magazine, “Journal of Structural Health Monitoring,” to a researcher with the best research record in a year. Professor Son has published 42 SCI level dissertations, registered 17 patents both domestically and internationally, and presented over 100 papers in international journals, for which he was recognized with the award. Professor Son is the first Korean who receives this award.
One of the most significant achievements by Professor Son was “reference-free damage diagnosis” that he had developed in 2007. The diagnosis allows for the detection of wear and tear of a structure without having to use the foundation signal from the initial stages of the structure. The diagnosis contributed greatly in increasing the reliability of the signal information received from smart sensors attached to the structure by eliminating the environmental impact like temperature.
Professor Son is currently working on green energy structural health monitoring system development related projects. His current work deals with airplanes, bridges, nuclear facilities, high speed railways, wind turbines, and etc. in cooperation with Boeing, United States Air Force Research Institute, Korea Research Foundation, Ministry of Defense Research Institute, Korea Expressway Corporation, POSCO, and etc.
In addition, Professor Son successfully adopted a local monitoring method using smart piezoelectric sensors on a bridge in New Jersey as part of the Long Term Bridge Performance Program initiated by the National Highway Bureau. The success was even introduced in New Jersey’s public TV and newspaper agencies.
Professor Son was given tenure at a record age of 39 in 2008 and received numerous awards given out by the Ministry of Education and Science and international organizations like the ‘Edward M Curtis’ Professor Award from Purdue University.
2011.10.10 View 11355 -
KAIST's efforts begin to become the first Korean university establishing a "strategic technology management system."
KAIST completed the signing of business agreement with the Korea Strategic Trade Institute to establish a strategic technology management system on the 22nd of September.
The agreement between KAIST and Korea Strategic Trade Institute (under the Ministry of Knowledge Economy) encompasses 1) the establishment of processes for strategic technology management on campus, 2) development and accommodation of management system on par with major countries, and 3) protection and management through continued education and promotion.
Strategic technology management is necessary to prevent the illegal distribution of technologies developed in Korea to those countries and organizations of concern. The need for the management system arose due to the fact that technology transfer has become venerable to illegal export of strategic technologies.
The agreement between the two parties offer protection to KAIST when exporting strategic technologies as it necessitates the permission of the government prior to the technology transfer.
2011.09.27 View 8697 -
Professor Kim Seung Woo and Professor Ko Kyu Young Receive the 7th Gyeong Am Scholar Awards.
Professors Kim Seung Woo and Ko Kyu Young of KAIST were named the winners for the 7th Gyeong Am Scholar Awards.
The award winners are: Professor Ko Kyu Young of KAIST in the Biological Sciences category, Professor Kim Seung Woo of KAIST in the Engineering category, Professor Kim Young Shik of Seoul National University and Professor Kil Hui Seoung of Sogang University in the Humanities category, and Professor Hong Byoung Hee of Seoul National University in the Natural Sciences category.
In the Liberal Arts category leader of Universal Ballet Company Moon Hoon Sook was chosen, and the Special Achievement Award was given to Historian Dr. Park Myoung Sun. Professor Ko discovered that it is Angionpoietin-1 that induces the growth of new blood vessels and thus made a significant contribution to the field of blood vessel formation, immune mechanism, and causes of cancer spread.
Professor Kim developed a mini extreme ultra violet laser light source using the resonance principles of plasmon and made a great contribution in the acquiring of core technologies and its industrial commercialization in the field of super precise optical instruments.
Gyeong Am Education and Culture Foundation was founded by the Chairman of Tae Yang Group, Song Geum Jo who had donated his entire fortune amounting to 100billion Korean Won to society by creating a public foundation aimed at encouraging advancements in learning, training of experts, and cultural developments for the betterment of Korea.
The Gyeong Am Scholar Awards was established in 2005 and recognizes those scholars and artists who are making significant contributions in the frontlines of society.
The awards ceremony is to be held at Busan on the 4th of November, three thirty in the afternoon and the winner of each category is to receive 100mil Korean Won in prize money with a commemorative plaque.
2011.09.26 View 11307 -
KOLON-KAIST Lifestyle Innovation Center Opening Ceremony
KAIST and KOLON opened the “Lifestyle Innovation Center” on the 6th of September this year. The ceremony was held at KAIST where the MOU for developing new industries was also signed.
The opening ceremony was attended by Chairman of KOLON Lee Eung Yeul and CEO’s of other various affiliate companies like Kim Nam Soo, Bae Young Ho, Park Dong Moon, and etc. and also President of KAIST Seo Nam Pyo along with professors who will participate like Professor Lee Young Hoon, Professor Joo Dae Joon, Professor Bae Kyung Wook, and Vice President of KAIST Jo Dong Ho.
The KOLON-KAIST Lifestyle Innovation Center (referred to as KOLON LSI Center) was developed under instructions from Chairman of KOLON Lee Eung Yeul wishing for the active cooperation and transfers of technologies with KAIST and, as a result, creating a domestic technology transfer network. The two institutes will be working together in finding highly promising fields of industry (with high risk but also high return) through research and development, technological advices, competitive exhibitions, and workshops.
Chairman of KOLON Lee Eung Yeul stated that “it is imperative to increase the success rate of new business and shorten the time frame of starting a new business by encouraging the business community to launch startups more and for the executive community including policy makers to support such endeavors” and that “the KOLON LSI Center will create a positive synergy to that end.”
President Seo Nam Pyo commented that, “KOLON-KAIST LSI Center is different even at the conceptual level” and that “I am confident that it will be a great success as it is the first of specialized joint labs in Korea that encourages professors and researchers of companies to conduct joint research programs.”
LSI Center was founded and will be administered by the Collective Contribution from KOLON, KOLON Industry, and KOLON GloTech, investing 7.5billion Korean Won over the course of 5 years.
2011.09.19 View 11015