Kim Bitnaeri, Seoul National University Distinguished Professor's 'Sigh'
Professor Heo Junyi: "We Must Create an Environment Conducive to Focus"
Leading Scholars at Science and Engineering Revitalization TF Emphasize the Need to Restore R&D Budget
"Adults need to create an environment where (researchers) can naturally focus on a stable essence that does not interfere with their intrinsic motivations." (Heo Junyi, Senior Professor at the Institute for Basic Science)
"Trust is hard to build but very easy to collapse. I am worried that the (R&D budget cuts) will leave internal scars on our scientific community." (Kim Bitnaeri, Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University and Director of the IBS Research Group, the first Korean member of the Royal Society)
"We need to support unnecessary and unconventional research." (Choi Jaekyung, President of the Institute for Basic Science)
World-renowned scholars such as Heo Junyi, the first Korean recipient of the Fields Medal and Senior Professor at the Institute for Basic Science, and Kim Bitnaeri, the first Korean member of the Royal Society and Director of the IBS Research Group (Distinguished Professor at Seoul National University), also expressed that they are affected by the R&D budget cuts and emphasized the need for the government’s active efforts to improve the situation.
Kim Bitnaeri, head of the IBS research group, is speaking at the Science and Engineering Activation TF meeting held on the 18th. Photo by Baek Jongmin
On the 18th, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the "2nd Task Force (TF) Meeting on Revitalizing Science and Engineering Fields" at the Heo Junyi Mathematical Problems Research Institute in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. High-ranking officials including Park Sangwook, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, and Lee Changyoon, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT, as well as student researchers attended. The TF is jointly operated by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Education to address the avoidance of science and engineering fields.
Although the event was held to devise measures to attract talent to science and engineering fields, there was an overwhelming demand to first resolve the confusion caused by the R&D budget cuts on the ground.
The scholars shared their reasons for choosing science and engineering, valuable experiences during their research, and candidly expressed the difficulties they have faced due to the reduction in R&D funding.
Director Kim said, "It is important to increase trust in policies and systems so that researchers can believe they can continue their work stably." He added, "I feel very uncomfortable and heavy-hearted thinking about whether we can hold on without letting researchers go, or having to write rejection emails even though I want to offer internship opportunities." He diagnosed the current situation by saying, "By October, the materials budget will be exhausted, and I worry about which experiments we should stop first."
Director Kim said, "I still like my job and feel grateful for the opportunity to serve with this kind of enjoyment," but also admitted, "While part of my mind says this, another part feels uncomfortable and heavy-hearted."
Director Kim emphasized, "This is the concern of most principal investigators in the country. This is an emergency situation that requires countermeasures. I earnestly ask the government to make efforts to minimize the damage."
He continued, "Full support for scholarship programs, infrastructure development to attract outstanding international students, and maintenance of the specialized research personnel system are necessary." He particularly stressed the urgency of providing scholarships including housing costs, and the need for one-stop administrative support services and labor cost support to attract foreign students. He also explained that the 'bottom-up' research approach, where students lead the research, often yields better results than the 'top-down' approach.
Professor Heo Jun-yi is speaking at the Science and Engineering Revitalization Task Force meeting held on the 18th. Photo by Baek Jong-min
Professor Heo also said, "Researchers or scholars do not choose their paths to enjoy tremendous wealth and glory," but added, "I hope that science and engineering will not become a career that people cannot choose for practical reasons or only choose for practical reasons."
Heo introduced that he finds joy as a researcher when interacting with smart people who have grown up in different cultures and ways, and said, "For excellent students to grow as researchers, stable and continuous support is necessary so they can immerse themselves in research."
He also said, "I hope adults create an environment that does not interfere with the intrinsic motivation of research, where natural worries about reality and distractions from choosing (science and engineering) in the future arise."
Choi Jaekyung, President of the Institute for Basic Science, also mentioned that although the budget cut was small, the Institute for Basic Science also experienced R&D budget reductions, and said, "We need to support unnecessary research." While finding efficiency in R&D is important, he advised that the government should recognize that unexpected research results can change the world.
Students also actively voiced their opinions. Kim Seongwon, who dropped out of the Department of Dentistry and is currently enrolled in the Department of Chemistry at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), suggested strengthening high school career education and creating a stable research environment. Jo Bokyung, a student in the Department of Systems Engineering at Yonsei University, said, "It would be good to provide opportunities to experience various research fields and strengthen support for stable research activities."
Lee Changyoon, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT and TF team leader, said, "The suggestions made today will be included in the measures the TF is preparing," and added, "We will continue to strengthen support so that young people can pursue their dreams as scientists and engineers."
Meanwhile, Park Sangwook, Chief of Science and Technology at the Presidential Office, who sat next to Director Kim at the event, listened attentively to the remarks of the scholars and student researchers without making separate comments.
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