"I Wish There Were AI Mudskippers to Remove Glass from the Mudflats"

Announcement of Results for the 'AI Autonomous Exploration Achievement Contest' Hosted by the National Science Museum
Elementary and Middle School Students' Diverse AI Utilization Ideas Highlighted
Five Winners Including AI Mangdung-eo Selected for Top Awards

Mudflat. Stock photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "I wish there was an AI mudskipper that could remove broken glass pieces threatening safety in the mudflats."

The National Science Museum announced the results of the '2021 AI Autonomous Inquiry Achievement Contest,' held to spread interest and an exploratory atmosphere about artificial intelligence mainly among elementary and middle school students.

From March, 100 students (20 elementary, 32 middle, and 48 high school students) participated, and after preliminary screening, 47 of them took part in the achievement contest.

The highest award, the Minister of Science and ICT Award, was given to five students including Go Jun-hee, a 4th grader at Wangbuk Elementary School in Jeollabuk-do, who researched 'Creating an AI robot mudskipper that handles dangerous glass in the mudflats.' Ten students, including Lee Su-a, a 1st-year student at Bundang Daejin High School in Gyeonggi-do, who researched 'Developing an elevator button recognition app for the visually impaired,' were selected as recipients of the National Science Museum Director's Award.

Lee Yong, chief researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information and chair of the evaluation committee, said, "The AI Autonomous Inquiry Achievement Contest is not simply a competition of AI knowledge; it was evaluated considering creativity along with inquiry achievements. The final 15 awardees showed passionate learning of AI technology and sincere inquiry efforts to creatively apply it to various problems in daily life."

Now in its second year following last year, the AI Autonomous Inquiry program allowed participating students to autonomously select one of five inquiry tasks proposed by the National Science Museum and conduct research for about eight months. The museum's AI advisory group provided regular advisory services to support the students' inquiry activities.