Weekly Saturday Evening Lectures at the National Gwacheon Science Museum Starting July 19
Lectures on key issues in space science?including Mars exploration, asteroid research, extragalactic studies, and the development of Korean launch vehicles and satellites?will be held at the Space Academy.
The National Gwacheon Science Museum announced on July 11 that it will host the "Space Academy Lecture Series" every Saturday at 7 p.m. from July 19 to August 9, 2025, in celebration of the summer vacation.
The lectures are special science sessions for adults and youth, featuring world-renowned scholars in the field of astronomy and space, delivering both intellectual depth and vivid insights from the research frontlines. This meaningful program has been organized in collaboration with related institutions to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean Astronomical Society and the 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation.
The first lecture, scheduled for July 19, will feature Insu Jun, Director of the Space Radiation Center at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He will introduce the Mars exploration robot "Curiosity," in which he participated, as well as the "Psyche" mission?the first exploration of a metallic asteroid in the solar system.
The second lecture, a special event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean Astronomical Society, will take place on July 26. It will feature Hongbae Ahn, Professor Emeritus at Pusan National University and the first astronomy Ph.D. from Seoul National University, alongside Jihae Shin, Senior Researcher at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, as co-speakers. Professor Ahn, a pioneer in extragalactic observation with over 40 years of research, will share stories from his experience observing the Andromeda Galaxy at Sobaeksan Observatory and his involvement in the Pluto demotion debate, among other astronomical anecdotes. Dr. Shin, a next-generation researcher specializing in galaxy formation and the large-scale structure of the universe based on space simulations, will offer insights into the future of Korean astronomy.
The third lecture, scheduled for August 9, will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation by highlighting the history of Korea’s independence and challenges in space technology. Jeonghwan Ko, Director of the Korean Launch Vehicle Development Program at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, who oversaw the first through third Nuri rocket launches, will discuss the independence of domestic launch vehicle technology, the development of next-generation launch vehicles, and the transfer of industrial technology in the New Space era.
This Space Academy lecture series is a special summer science event for scientists, youth, and the general public. Anyone aged 10 and older can participate. Reservations can be made through the Gwacheon Science Museum website starting at 10 a.m. on July 12. The participation fee is 10,000 won per person, with discounts available for students.
Han Hyeongju, Director of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, stated, "This lecture series is a unique opportunity to meet scientists from leading space institutions such as NASA, KARI, KASI, and KAIST, and to experience the forefront of space science firsthand." He added, "We hope it will inspire dreams and scientific imagination in youth, and provide adults with deeper knowledge." Further details are available on the Gwacheon Science Museum website.
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