In tandem with the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology and Daejeon Civic Society Research Center, the Research Institute for Social Technology and Innovations at KAIST conducted a study on social challenges facing the local community and identified 27 research issues that could be solved with the help of science and technology.
The results of the study were released on March 10, 2016.
The research team prepared a report in an effort to encourage universities, research centers, and local citizens to cooperate in investigating social issues and finding their solutions.
The 27 issues were first chosen by pre-surveys and in-depth interviews with local citizens, and then discussed through public and expert workshops. Among the issues were environment, agriculture, energy, culture, public safety, family, and social integration. The team presented industrial complexes, agricultural facilities, and factories in rural areas were the most urgent issues of social concern within a city and province.
Hong-Gyu Lee, Director of the Research Institute for Social Technology and Innovations, said,
“The most serious problem that should be tackled in Daejon City is the chronic stench and garbage odor coming from industrial complexes, while environmental damages arisen from the development of new agricultural technology and factories are the major challenge in rural areas of Chungnam Province. This report is meaningful because citizens, universities, and research institutions worked together to find important issues related to the development of local community and explored solutions to solve those issues with the advancement of science and technology.”