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POSTECH tops world 100 universities under 50 years old: Times

* Link : http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20120531000840&cpv=0 South Korea’s Pohang University of Science & Technology, also known as POSTECH, has topped the rankings of the world’s top 100 universities under 50 years old. The Times Higher Education, a weekly British magazine based in London, published on Thursday the list that features institutions from 30 countries. POSTECH, which was founded in 1986, headed the list with a total of 71.8 points, followed by Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne with 66.2 points. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology came third with 63 points, and another Korean university, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, took fifth place. The United Kingdom had the most institutions on the list, with 20, followed by Australia with 14, while Korea had two. But the fact that they are both in the top five represents “an exceptional performance,” said Phil Baty, editor of the Times Higher Education rankings. “POSTECH and KAIST are clearly already world leaders, and it is extraordinary that they have reached such heights in a matter of decades, against global competitors who have had centuries to develop,” he said. By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)

THE 100 Under 50 university rankings 2012

POSTECH Ranked 1st in 100 under 50 Young University Rankings 2012 * Link : THE World University Rankings

2012 QS Asian University Rankings

* Link : 2012 QS Asian University Rankings

Lee vows support for basic science research

* Link : http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120517001024 President Lee Myung-bak vowed Thursday to provide policy support to develop the country’s basic science research. “We have so far copied and followed advanced technologies,” Lee said in an international symposium celebrating the opening of the Institute for Basic Science in Daejeon, some 150 kilometers south of Seoul. “In order to make it into the advanced, top-class nations, we have to make a history of creation based on basic science and fundamental technologies,” he added, noting that he will provide all possible support to make the research center a globally recognized “dream institute.” The IBS was established in Daejeon in 2011, as a part of the government’s 5.2 trillion won ($4.5 billion) science belt project, with the aim of developing human resources through basic scientific research. Earlier this month, 10 of Korea’s top scientists, including chemist Kim Ki-moon from POSTECH and biologist Kim V. Narry from Seoul National University, were named to lead the state-run research center. The IBS is planning to appoint 15 more directors within the year and appoint a total of 50 research directors by 2017. By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)

IBS taps 10 scientists as directors

* Link : http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120508001126 Ten of Korea’s top scientists, including chemist Kim Ki-moon from POSTECH and biologist Kim V. Narry from Seoul National University, have been named to lead the state-run research center for basic sciences. The Institute for Basic Science announced the list of its directors after four months of assessment. The IBS was established in Daejeon in 2011, as a part of the government’s 5.2 trillion won science belt project, with the aim of developing human resources through basic scientific research. A total of 101 scholars and researchers applied for the directorial positions at the newly established science institute. The IBS set up an evaluation committee and studied the applicants over the past four months to select the best qualified candidates. The 10 directors, including three overseas Koreans, are world-renowned scientists in various fields of basic science, the IBS said. The 58-year-old Kim of POSTECH is considered one of the world’s finest researchers in chemistry, and has won numerous awards, including the country’s Best Scientists and Engineer Award. In 2010, he drew international attention by isolating a membrane protein using a new technique. SNU professor Kim, 43, has published papers that were published in a number of authoritative scientific journals such as Nature in the last 10 years. Other newly appointed directors include: SNU professor Hyeon Taeg-hwan, Kim Eun-joon of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Noh Tae-won of SNU, Shin Hee-Sup of Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Cheong Sang-wook, director of Rutgers Center for Emergent Materials, Ryoo Ryong of KAIST, Charles Surh of POSTECH and Oh Yong-geun of University of Wisconsin-Madison. The IBS is planning to appoint 15 more directors within this year and to appoint a total of 50 research directors by 2017. By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldm.com)

Pohang Accelerator Laboratory Selected as One of the Heritages of Korean Universities

Pohang Accelerator Laboratory Selected as One of the Heritages of Korean Universities The Kyosu Shinmun, under the slogan “The Heritages of Universities, the Future of Korea,” awarded 13 heritages including Pohang Accelerator Laboratory that present great academic performance, contribute to society and were selected from 49 heritages of 44 universities nationwide. The award ceremony was held at the Seoul Press Center on April 30.

POSTECH opens IT laboratory

* Link : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2012/05/181_110143.html To cultivate global leaders, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) opened an information technology laboratory at its campus in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. The facility is called the POSTECH Future IT Innovation Laboratory (i-Lab). In collaboration with the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the i-Lab aims to produce researchers who will become leaders in the field of global information technology. The central government, provincial and municipal authorities, POSTECH, the Korea campus of the State University of New York, and several companies have pledged to invest 168 billion won in the laboratory by 2020 for education and modern infrastructure. The i-Lab will focus on seven areas such as computing, intelligent robots, smart vehicles, and the integration of information technology and nano-technology. It has already recruited 20 undergraduate and 18 graduate students. bkim@koreatimes.co.kr

POSTECH creates fellowship

* Link : http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120405001028 Pohang University of Science and Technology said Thursday that they have created a presidential fellowship with the Japanese company Hitachi to assist students’ science research. The $1.3 million scholarship will be available to students who will conduct research on medical equipment, the major field of study for school president Kim Yong-min. The school noted that the scholarship was created from money left over from the president’s research fund from Hitachi and a donation from the company. They said it is rare for a donor company to offer to let a professor keep leftover research funds and for a company to willingly agree with Kim to make the fund into a scholarship. The company also expected to facilitate future cooperation with POSTECH, they said. Kim had been the professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington since 1982, and became the POSTECH president last September. He conducted a 12-year research project on medical equipment at the University of Washington. “I hope it will be helpful to students who are passionate about leading creative research, and that it will nurture them into people who are not afraid of failure,” said Kim. POSTECH plans to offer scholarships and cover administrative and other expenses related to conducting research on medical equipment, starting with four students both at the undergraduate and graduate level this year, and more students until 2014. By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldm.com)

POSTECH receives "2012 Role Model in Education" Award

POSTECH receives "2012 Role Model in Education" Award POSTECH has been selected as the recipient of the "2012 Role Model in Education" Award by the Korean Journalist Federation in recognition of its innovative management and initiative in advancing Korean higher education with customized education. The award ceremony was held at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on March 15.

Scientists develop photocatalyst to boost hydrogen production efficiency

* Link : http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2012/03/123_106013.html Korean scientists have developed a photocatalyst that can significantly increase the efficiency of producing hydrogen from sunlight, the government said Thursday. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said a research team led by Lee Jae-sung, a professor of chemical engineering from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), devised a method to make large quantities of hydrogen. Hydrogen is a key natural resource and has the potential to be used in next generation power cells that may effectively replace fossils fuel. The drawback to this clean alternative fuel is that the cost and energy needed to make usable hydrogen offsets any benefits at present. Existing experimental photocatalyst processes use bismuth vanadate for electrodes that absorb natural sunlight. This process releases electrons that react with water to produce hydrogen. The use of bismuth vanadate alone, however, produces low hydrogen conversion rates so POSTECH researchers added tungsten oxide to the production process and vastly raised efficiency. "The heterojunction photocatalyst electrode made by this merging has been tested to boost hydrogen production efficiency by 74 percent," the research team claimed. It did not go into details on the cost of the process compared to current production methods, but stressed it has commercial potential. The science ministry, which supported the research, said efforts are underway to start commercially viable hydrogen production using this technology by around 2020. The latest findings have been published by the prestigious Advanced Materials journal and by Britain's Energy and Environment Science journal. (Yonhap)