Education Planned for Approximately 5,700 Middle School Students Across 46 Schools in Pohang and Gwangyang
Students of Poeun Middle School in Pohang are participating in the Sangsangisang Science Biodiversity Education Program by the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation. Photo by POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation
The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation is operating the ‘Sangsangisang Science’ science classroom program, which supports science education and career experience for middle school students, at 46 middle schools in the Pohang and Gwangyang areas until December this year.
Furthermore, through a business agreement with the Ministry of Education, the ‘Sangsangisang Science’ science classroom will accept applications from middle schools in other regions that wish to participate, expanding to 40 schools and approximately 4,000 students.
‘Sangsangisang Science’ is an experiential education program designed for first-year middle school students to understand iron, an eco-friendly material, and to easily and enjoyably acquire scientific technology and knowledge about iron. It is a signature project for nurturing future generations.
The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation provides various career exploration opportunities for middle school students to nurture their dreams of becoming scientists. Starting this year, the program also includes education on the concept of biodiversity, its threats, and conservation measures.
The ‘Sangsangisang Science’ science classroom consists of a total of five days of educational programs: Day 1 covers climate crisis and biodiversity; Days 2 to 4 focus on iron as a metal and eco-friendly materials; and the final Day 5 concludes with an AR tour of the hydrogen reduction steelworks and future job creation activities. The ‘Sangsang’ teachers are selected from outstanding talents among local youth preparing for employment and women who have experienced career breaks but have a strong interest in science.
The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation and the Ministry of Education plan to hold a contest based on the program content for schools participating in ‘Sangsangisang Science’ this year, including creative science ideas, keyword video production, and carbon neutrality practice essays. Selected outstanding schools and students will be supported with tours of the Pohang Steelworks and Gwangyang Steelworks during the winter vacation.
Principal Jeong Gyeong-il of Yeongil Middle School in Pohang, which conducted the first ‘Sangsangisang Science’ this year, said, “Having run ‘Sangsangisang Science’ for three consecutive years, it is recognized as a very beneficial program by school teachers. Especially from this year, the classes have become more substantial as they are conducted diversely under the common theme of ‘Environment, Sustainability, and Me,’ covering not only environmental and material science education but also career and biodiversity.”
Also, Kim Byung-jun, a first-year student at Poeun Middle School in Pohang who participated in the program during the same period, shared, “I enjoyed learning about the process of how iron is made through games, and I was glad to newly learn about hydrogen energy, which I didn’t know much about before.”
Since its inception in 2019, ‘Sangsangisang Science’ has supported a total of 108 schools and about 14,000 students through 2023. The POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation received the Minister of Education Award last November at the Korea Education Donation Awards in recognition of its contribution to providing quality educational programs to middle school students in the Pohang and Gwangyang regions.
Established in 2013 to promote sustainable growth in local communities, the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation is operated with donations of 1% of salaries from POSCO Group and partner company employees. To date, it has become the leading employee participation foundation in Korea with 38,516 participants, carrying out various projects to support the self-reliance of vulnerable groups and the nurturing of future generations.
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