The Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) is
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
's highest academy of science and serves as an integrated
think-tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental org ...
for the country's science and technology. It contributes to national development by promoting science and technology through active participation of its member scientists and engineers who have demonstrated professional excellence domestically and internationally in their respective fields.
KAST will contribute to the globalization of science and technology by playing the role of the principal contact point for international cooperation and information exchanges, through bilateral and/or multilateral academic exchange programs with foreign academies, public semi-scientific lectures and "Science Hall of Fame" program, cooperation with international scientific and technological organizations, and friendly relations and exchanges with overseas scholars.
KAST was founded in 1994 to play a strong role in helping South Korea climb the technology ladder. KAST has also served to encourage cooperation between scientists in South and North Korea in the science and technology sector. The non-profit institute has also strengthened global cooperation by operating the secretariat for the 17-member Association of Academies of Science in Asia (AASA) since 2000.
International standing
KAST is an internationally recognized academy of science. KAST has 34 Nobel Laureates amongst its foreign members including
Steven Chu
Steven ChuRobert B. Laughlin, head of the
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is a national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first public, research ...
KAST and DuPont Korea cooperate in awarding the DuPont Science Award. The award recognizes South Korean scientists' contribution to scientific studies and advancement in the country and serves to encourage further excellence. Since 1997, KAST also presents the annual Young Scientist Award to four individuals in research fields. Many of the winners are employed at
SKY
The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space.
In the field of astronomy, ...
,
KAIST
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is a national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first public, research ...
, or
POSTECH
Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) is a private research university in Pohang, South Korea.
History
POSTECH was established in 1986 in Pohang, Korea by POSCO, a steel company.
POSTECH hosted POSCO's Research Institute of ...
at the time of the award and later frequently work for
KAIST
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is a national research university located in Daedeok Innopolis, Daejeon, South Korea. KAIST was established by the Korean government in 1971 as the nation's first public, research ...
or the
Institute for Basic Science
The Institute for Basic Science (IBS; ) is a Korean government-funded research institute that conducts basic science research and relevant pure basic research. IBS was established in November 2011 by the Lee Myung-bak administration as a res ...
.
Leadership
Chung Kun-mo Chung may refer to:
Surnames
* Chung (surname)
* Jeong (surname), Korean surname
* Zhong (surname), or Chung, Chinese surname
* Cheung, or Chung, Cantonese surname
Geography
* Chung, Iran, a village in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Iran
* C ...
, former a department head at the
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. It was established in 1957 ...
(IAEA), took the helm of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) in February 2004 at the state-sponsored institutes headquarters in
Bundang
Bundang is a planned community in the Bundang-gu district of Seongnam, South Korea. It was developed to encourage affordable housing and urban decentralization. The community has a sports complex, a park and a youth center.
Origin
Bundang wa ...
, Gyeonggi-do. Under his leadership Korea strives to open the door to third generation technology by taking the initiative in the global high-tech fields, and promoting cutting-edge technologies.