Series of Visits to National Science Museums After Inauguration... Long Stay at National Gwacheon Science Museum Showing Interest
Emphasizing Hands-On Experiences Over Just Viewing
"Director Must Verify Advanced Operations at San Francisco and Chicago Science Museums"
Minister of Science and ICT Yusang-im (left) visited the Gwacheon National Science Museum on the 1st and was experiencing the exhibition hall together with student visitors, introduced by Director Han Hyeong-ju. Photo by Baek Jong-min
"Activating science museums is essential for students to develop greater interest in science and engineering fields."
Yoo Sang-im, Minister of Science and ICT, recently visited the National Gwacheon Science Museum to emphasize the importance of science museums.
The minister's remarks are not directly related to the recently announced measures to revitalize science and engineering fields, such as support for graduate students' research living expenses, expansion of female leadership positions in government-funded research institutes, and the increase of science high schools and gifted schools. However, they are considered highly significant as an important starting point to foster interest in science.
On the 1st, Minister Yoo arrived at the National Gwacheon Science Museum 30 minutes earlier than scheduled and personally inspected the operational status and exhibition halls for about two hours. During the approximately one-hour briefing, she requested detailed reports on specific matters and actively conveyed her opinions on the museum's operation. She also asked Han Hyung-joo, director of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, to visit science museums in Chicago and San Francisco, USA, which she had visited, to observe their operational methods firsthand.
Minister Yoo Sang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT (center) is experiencing the "Making Kimchi" exhibit at the Gwacheon National Science Museum on the 1st. Photo by Baek Jong-min
While touring, Minister Yoo warmly greeted the students and closely examined whether they could touch and experience the exhibits directly. She stated, "If students do not get to touch the exhibits themselves, they cannot develop interest." Her diagnosis is that hands-on science museums spread interest in science and ultimately lead to revitalization of science and engineering fields. Minister Yoo experienced an exhibit where she made kimchi on a screen and said, "Kimchi should be developed as a global technology."
As a scientist herself, Minister Yoo carefully observed the corner displaying Korea's leading scientists and their achievements. She suggested, "It would be great to create a separate studio where the achievements of Korea's representative scientists can be examined in detail." She also emphasized, "We must remember the administrators who have made significant contributions to scientific development."
Minister Yusang-im of the Ministry of Science and ICT is observing the exhibition items about physicist Dr. Lee Whi-so at the "Hall of Fame" exhibition room in the National Gwacheon Science Museum on the 1st. Photo by Baek Jong-min
Last month, Minister Yoo also visited and toured the National Science Museum in Daejeon. It is rare for a minister to visit science museums consecutively. After touring the Gwacheon Science Museum, she showed a satisfied expression but remarked, "I don't know why the Daejeon (National Science Museum) is like that," indicating the need for changes to attract public attention.
Minister Yoo emphasized, "Our science museums, as forward bases for spreading scientific culture, should become facilities visited by many people where they can develop interest in and explore science, like the world's leading science museums. Based on on-site inspections, we will establish development plans."
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