Kaist

KAIST-KT AI ＆ SW Research Center to Open​

< President Kwang Hyung Lee (right) and KT CEO Hyeon-Mo Ku signed the agreement to launch the AI and SW Research Center. > KAIST and KT will team up to advance AI technology by co-founding the “AI and SW Research Center.” Last month, President Kwang Hyung Lee and KT CEO Hyeon-Mo Ku signed the agreement to launch the center in Daejeon by the end of the year. The KAIST-KT AI and SW Research Center will focus on exploring original technologies and industry AI that will incorporate KAIST’s excellent R&D capabilities and KT’s future AI-based business portfolio. The center will be located at the KT’s Research Center in Daejeon. The two sides selected 15 futuristic projects for developing original technologies in the fields of sound, vision, health, and humanistic AI. In addition, the center plans to develop an AI model that can perceive and reply to precise and complex information-based situations through human conversation and detection, sound, images, and sensing. To lay the groundwork for next-generation markets, the center will work on five industrial AI projects in the fields of media, bio, and health. Both KAIST and KT aim to lead digital innovation and changes in lifestyles by developing a next-generation AI model to follow GPT-3 (Generative Pre-Training 3) and strengthen the global competitiveness of AI technologies. Furthermore, KT will provide infrastructure including space, equipment, and manpower to KAIST students hoping to form a start-up. A KT accelerator for start-up cultivation and investment will also help KAIST students via a start-up mentoring program. It will also run scholarship and internship programs for students who stand out during joint research projects. President Lee said, “KT is an excellent AI R&D partner dealing with differentiated data from diverse sectors. Through the AI core technology lab, I look forward to seeing innovative technologies that will be meaningful not only for academia, but also for industry.”

KAIST to join Deep Space Exploration Project​

< A meeting to discuss medium- and long-term deep space exploration plans and collaborations among KAIST, KARI, and KASI were held recently at KAIST campus. > KAIST agreed to launch the Deep Space Exploration Research Consortium with two key leading aerospace research institutes, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) during a recent meeting at the KAIST campus. President Kwang Hyung Lee, KARI President Sang-Yool Lee, KASI President Young-Deuk Park, and Vice Minister of Science and ICT Hong-taek Yong attended the meeting to discuss medium- and long-term deep space exploration plans and collaborations. The three entities have cooperated in scientific research for the last 30 years during which Korea has been developing its space exploration expertise. They signed the MoU for Cooperation for R&D and Industrialization on Deep Space Exploration’ last December. The research consortium will share and discuss research plans for space science research and exploration technology, and contribute to planning the nation’s deep space exploration. At the meeting, KAIST reported its plans to return KITSAT-1 to Earth, Korea’s first satellite using local technology, and to explore the radiation belt (the Van Allen belt) around Earth. KAIST launched Korea’s first satellite KITSAT-1 in 1992. Meanwhile, KARI shared their plans to launch a lunar landing module using a Korean Space Launch Vehicle by 2030 and explained the current technologies and research related to a lunar landing and space exploration. Based on the payload technology it has been building on for the last 20 years, KASI emphasized the importance of research for deep space exploration in relation to the formation of the universe and the origin of mankind. Vice Minister of Science and Technology Yong also stressed that “to enhance Korea’s capabilities for space research after launching our space launch vehicle, Nuri, in October, there must be continued efforts and preparation for higher level space research, including space exploration planning. The various experts’ opinions discussed in today’s meeting will be taken into consideration for governmental policies related to the ‘National Space Exploration Roadmap’ to be established in the latter half of this year.”

KAIST Listed as Top 100 Global Innovator by Clarivate​

< President Lee (right) poses with Clarivate Korea´s Ahn (left) after receiving the Top Global Innovators trophy on May 12. > KAIST was named as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators 2021 by Clarivate. Among the top 100, 42 US corporations, including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook, and 29 Japanese corporations made the list. The list included four Korean corporations Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, LS Electronics, and SK Telecommunications. KAIST, the only university listed as a global innovator, regained its place in the Top 100 Global Innovators this year after last being named in 2013. Industrywide, the electronics and semiconductor sectors took the majority of the top global innovators spots with 21 and 12 corporations respectively. President Kwang Hyung Lee received the trophy from Clarivate Korea Regional Director Seongsik Ahn on May 12 at KAIST’s main campus. President Lee said, “We are glad that our continued innovation efforts are receiving worldwide recognition and will continue to strive for sustainable growth as a university that creates global value and impact.” Every year since 2012, the Top 100 Global Innovators has identified companies and institutions at the pinnacle of the global innovation landscape by measuring the ideation culture that produces patents and puts them at the forefront. Clarivate tracks innovation based on four factors: 1. volume of patents 2. influence 3. Success and 4. globalization using patents, patents indices, and citation index solutions. For measuring the patent volume, the Top 100 candidate must meet a threshold of 100 granted patents received in the past five years and more than 500 in the Derwent World Patents Index over any time period. Clarivate assesses the level of influence of the patented ideas by reviewing the number of external citations their inventions received over the past five years. For measuring success, they look at how successful each candidate has been getting their applications for patent protection approved by patent offices around the world over past five years. Globalization measures the investment levels of each candidate in their patent applications, a metric designed to assess both the importance of invention to the companies as well as the footprint of commercialization. (END)

The Educational ‘Metaverse’ Is Coming​

< KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee > The universities best equipped with digital infrastructure and savvy human resources will emerge as the new leaders − no matter where they are, says Kwang Hyung Lee It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the education sector. Approximately 1.6 billion students from 192 countries, or 91 per cent of the world’s student population, have experienced educational disruptions. As we all know, this disruption led to online education hastily emerging as an important new platform. However, approximately 29 percent of young people worldwide, about 364 million individuals, are not online. In many ways, the digital divide is now wider than ever. We do, however, have an opportunity to ensure that the integration of emerging technologies is further accelerated and that online delivery becomes an integral component of education. This should, in theory, lead to more inclusive and creative pedagogical solutions. The entire world has effectively taken part in an educational experiment, and at KAIST we were able to confirm that blended education worked effectively for our students. It made up for the long-standing pedagogical shortfalls of the one-way delivery of knowledge and made it possible to shift to a learner-centric model, giving us a great opportunity to unlock the creativity and collaborative minds of our students. Education tailored to students’ individual levels will not only help them accumulate knowledge but improve their ability to use it. A recent survey in South Korea found that 96 per cent of Seoul citizens believed that the pandemic widened the existing learning gap, but 74 per cent said that schools should carry out a blended form of education using both remote and in-person classes. The feedback from KAIST students on our online classes gives us a glimpse into the new paths we need to take. From last March, we offered 60 per cent real-time classes via Zoom and 40 per cent through our pre-recorded learning management system. Our students were satisfied with the real-time classes in which they could interact face to face with professors. The blended class format combining real-time and pre-recorded content received very satisfactory evaluations. The problem, however, came with lab classes via Zoom. Students expressed their dissatisfaction with the passive and indirect learning experiences. Developing online tools or technologies that can enable scientific experiments, engineering prototyping and other hands-on activities remains a challenge. However, we can begin to address these issues using complementary technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, image recognition and eye-tracking technologies. The barriers to access to these new experiences are both complex and pervasive, yet there are ways we can pull together to disrupt these barriers at a global level in the hope of fostering inclusive growth. For instance, the virtual campus will become a reality at the Kenya-KAIST campus, which will open by September 2023 in the Konza Technopolis, 60km outside Nairobi. There, we aim to go beyond online education by creating a “metaverse” that provides assistance for running classes and creates an immersive learning experience that runs the gamut of campus activities while utilising the latest digital technologies. Following a feasibility study of the Kenya campus that took place five years ago, we planned to utilise Mooc courses created by KAIST professors. Using online content there will help mitigate the educational gap between the two institutions, plus it will reduce the need for many students and faculty to make the long commute from the capital to the campus. Although students are expected to live on campus, they will probably engage in other activities in Nairobi and want to take classes wherever they are. Since it will take some time to select and recruit an excellent group of faculty members, we feel it will be more effective to use online lecture platforms to deliver standardised and qualified content. It has been posited that the fast adoption of online education will affect international students’ enrolment in universities, which will lead to reductions in revenue. However, we expect that students will choose a university that offers more diverse and interactive metaverse experiences on top of academic and global experiences. The time has come to rebuild the curriculum and infrastructure for the world of the metaverse. We can’t go back to the way things were before. Universities around the world are now on the same starting line. They need to innovate and pioneer new approaches and tools that can enable all sorts of campus activities online. They should carve out their own distinct metaverse that is viable for human interaction and diverse technological experiences that promote students’ creativity and collaborative minds. The universities best equipped with digital infrastructure and savvy human resources will emerge as the new leaders − no matter where they are. Successful education needs the full support of communities and equal access to opportunities. Technological breakthroughs must be used to benefit everyone. To this end, the private and public sectors need to collaborate to bring about inclusive learning opportunities and help shore up global resilience against this and any future pandemics. The hope is that such disruption will bring about new technology and knowledge that we can leverage to reshape the future of education. ⓒ Source: Times Higher Education (THE)

COVID-Update： KAIST on High Alert amid Spring Resurgence​

COVID-19 Task Force responds 24-7 and ISSS provides returning international students with a comfort package during 14-day mandatory quarantine In response to the upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the proximate college districts in Daejeon, KAIST announced the enforcement of stricter health and safety regulations. Korean health authorities expected another surge of COVID-19 cases this spring as Korea’s daily new COVID-19 cases have rebounded to the high 600s and over 700 in April, which is the most in over three months. New guidelines issued on April 5 banned faculty, staff, and students from engaging in off-campus activities and utilizing external public facilities. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, bars, cafes, clubs, gyms, karaoke rooms, PC rooms, restaurants, and other crowded indoor spaces. All class and research activities, work meetings, and school events were moved exclusively online, and working from home and flexible working hours were highly encouraged in order to minimize face-to-face interactions on campus. In particular, having meals outside of KAIST cafeterias in groups of two or more was prohibited, while food delivery and take-outs were allowed. Executive Vice President and Provost Seung Seob Lee said in a letter to the KAIST community on April 5 that “the school considers the risk of the current situation to be very high, likely the highest since the outbreak of COVID-19.” Provost Lee then called for more team efforts to contain the current phase of the pandemic and asked everyone to do their part. The school installed new temperature scanners equipped with hand sanitizer dispensers in front of the dormitory entrances to further control the spread of the disease on campus, following confirmed COVID-19 cases among dormitory residents. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues with no clear end in sight, the Task Force for the Prevention of COVID-19 and the International Scholar and Student Services (ISSS) Team at KAIST are working around the clock to reduce the risk of infection spread not only within the campus, but also coming from outside the campus. Under strict health and safety guidelines, KAIST has allowed international students to come back to campus. Currently about 600 international students, mostly graduate students reside on campus. All returning students should complete the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine required by the Korean government at their own expense. The KAIST COVID-19 Task Force is in charge of enacting on-campus health and safety guidelines, responding to reports and inquiries from the KAIST community 24-7, and controlling outsider access, among other responsibilities. The ISSS Team requires returning international students to fill out an entry authorization form and receive approval from the KAIST COVID-19 Task Force prior to returning to campus from their home countries. Once students arrive at their designated quarantine facility, the KAIST ISSS Team sends care packages, which includes some toiletries, instant food, a multipot, a thermometer, and other daily necessities. During the quarantine period, returning students are also advised to follow the directions given by government officials and to coordinate with the ISSS Team. The team also provides useful Korean phrases for international students to help them with communication. The self-quarantine period ends at 12 p.m. 14 days after arrival. Within two days of finishing the 14 days of self-isolation, these students are required to undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 at the nearest health center. After confirmed negative, they are allowed to move into on-campus accommodations. KAIST will maintain the current method of remote education and distancing methods until further notice. (END)

KAIST Teams Up with Yozma Group to Nurture Startups​

< Founder and Chairman Yigal Erlich (left), President Kwang Hyung Lee, and Head of Asia Pacific Won-Jae Lee (right) > KAIST has joined hands with Israeli venture capital investor Yozma Group to help campus-based startups grow and build success. The two signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint technology value creation initiatives at the signing ceremony that was held at KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon on April 8. Under the MOU, Yozma Group will make investments and implement acceleration programs for startups established by KAIST professors, graduates, and students, as well as those invested in by the university. Yozma Group already launched a ＄70 million fund to help grow companies in Korea and Israel. Yozma Group will use the fund as well as its global acceleration know-how and network of over 400 R&D centers across Israel to help promising KAIST startups enter overseas markets. Moreover, Yozma Group also plans to discover and support KAIST startups that need technology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel’s leading multidisciplinary basic research institution in natural and exact sciences. KAIST is also in talks to locate Yozma Group’s branch office on the university’s campus to ensure seamless collaborations. KAIST President Kwang Hyung Lee explained to Yozma Group’s Founder and Chairman Yigal Erlich and Head of Asia Pacific Won-Jae Lee at the MOU signing ceremony that “startup and technology commercialization are the crucial areas where KAIST will make innovations.” “Cooperation with Yozma Group will help KAIST startups transform their ideas and technologies into real businesses and build a global presence,” he added. Yozma Group started as Yozma Fund, created in conjunction with the Israeli government in 1993 to support the globalization of Israeli startups and to foster the growth of Israel’s venture capital industry. The Fund, which was privatized in 1998, has supported 97 Israeli tech ventures joining the Nasdaq, leading Israel to become a global innovation hub that has the third-most companies listed on the Nasdaq. (END)

Repeat College of Engineering Publishes Brochure Commemorati..

The KAIST College of Engineering published a brochure commemorating the 50th anniversary of KAIST, along with individual brochures for each of the 13 departments, spotlighting the research areas and innovative research accomplishments of each department. Led by the Dean and Public Relations Committee of the College of Engineering, the brochures introduce the KAIST College of Engineering departments that have achieved the vision of “FOR CREATIVE INNOVATION” based on innovation and challenge. The brochures simultaneously shed light on the the college and each department while establishing a format and content that will remain relevant for years to come, making the brochures quality publications to hold on to as a keepsake. The KAIST 50th Anniversary brochures provided increased accessibility for visitors of various backgrounds (international and domestic university personnel, research institutions, students, etc.) interested in specific departments as well as data regarding the entire college. In particular, the publication is significant in that all 13 departments are brought together in unity as one college of engineering, all the while bringing out the unique characteristics of each department using photography, scenery, and point colors. In addition, various events are being organized throughout the year commemorating the 50th anniversary. Early this year, a special edition of KAIST Breakthroughs, a webzine focusing on the research achievements of the College of Engineering, was published, delving into the research accomplishments of female faculty in the college, and in March of last year, a bulletin board of the previous deans and vice deans of the College of Engineering was installed. Also, social media accounts of the college were newly opened. Through a range of such events and preparation, the college plans to share its accomplishments from the past 50 years, as well as our future vision.

KAIST ME DEPARTMENT HEAD SEARCH

KAIST ME DEPARTMENT HEAD SEARCH KAIST invites nominations and applications for the position of Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, commending July 1, 2021. KAIST was established by the government in 1971 as the nation’s first graduate school specializing in science and engineering education and research. 2020 QS World University Rankings placed KAIST as the 39th overall and the 22nd in mechanical engineering. KAIST presents more than 11,000 students, including 500 international students and 1,000 faculties and staff. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST has been playing a pivotal role in high-level education and research in Korea. The graduates, now numbering more than 7,200, have become the leaders in industries, research institutions, universities, and government organizations. Currently, our Department has 88 faculty members, including 36 emeritus professors, 281 undergraduate students, and 564 graduate students. Further details can be found on our department website at http://me.kaist.ac.kr/eng . Our Department is searching for a scholarly leader who has an innovative vision to support our commitment to research, teaching, and services. The new Head shall ensure that the Department of Mechanical Engineering continues to excel at both undergraduate and graduate education and reach global research excellence. The new Head shall also provide the vision in concert with the strategic planning of the Department, which aligns with the goals and plans of the institute. The candidate is expected to be a collegial communicator who possesses strong leadership, strategic and flexible mindsets, and entrepreneurial spirit. In addition, our ideal candidate would be expected to exercise Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) supports and initiatives within the Department. Fluency in the Korean language would be considered beneficial. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than April 25th, 2021, to ensure full consideration. Application materials should include, as separate documents, a detailed and current curriculum vitae and a preliminary vision for our Department (less than 3 pages). Professor Jeong-Guon Ih Chair, Search Committee for the ME Department Head Email: J.G.Ih＠kaist.ac.kr, Phone: 82-42-350-3035,

A Self-Made Couple in Their 90s Donates to KAIST​

< Chairman Chang, 92, and his wife Ha-Ok Ahn, 90, gave away their two properties valued at 20 billion to KAIST. > A self-made elderly couple in their 90s made a 20 billion KRW donation to KAIST on March 13. Chairman of Samsung Brush Sung-Hwan Chang and his wife Ha-Ok Ahn gave away their two properties valued at 20 billion in Nonhyon-dong in Seoul to KAIST during a ceremony on March 13 in Seoul. Chairman Chang, 92, made a huge fortune starting his business manufacturing cosmetic brushes. Building two factories in China, he expanded his business to export to high-end cosmetic companies. Chairman Chang, a native of North Korea, is a refugee who fled his hometown with his sister at age 18 during the Korean War. He said remembering his mother who was left behind in North Korea was the most painful thing. “We always wanted to help out people in need when we would earn enough money. We were inspired by our friends at our retirement community who made a donation to KAIST several years ago. We believe this is the right time to make this decision,” said Chairman Chang. The couple lives in same retirement community, a famous place for many successful businessmen and wealthy retired figures, located in Yongin, Kyonggi-do with Chairmen Beang-Ho Kim, Chun-Shik Cho, and Chang-Keun Son. With their gift, KAIST established Kim Beang-Ho & Kim Sam-Youl ITC Building as well as the Cho Chun-Shik Graduate School of Green Transportation. The four senior couples’ donations amount to 76.1 billion KRW. “It would be the most meaningful way if we could invest in KAIST for the country’s future,” said Chairman Chang. “I talked a lot with Chairman Kim on how KAIST utilizes its donations and have developed a strong belief in the future of KAIST.” Chairman and Mrs. Chang already toured the campus several times at the invitation of President Kwang-Hyung Lee and President Lee himself presented the vision of KAIST to the couple. The couple also attended President Lee’s inauguration ceremony on March 8. President Lee thanked the couple for their donation, saying “I take my hat off to Chairman Chang and his wife for their generous donation that was amassed over their lifetime. They lived very fiscally responsible lives. We will efficiently utilize this fund for educating future global talents." (END)

Upbeat Message for a New Future at President Lee’s Inaugurat..

< President Lee delivers his inaugural address during the inauguration ceremony on March 8. > KAIST’s 17th President Kwang Hyung Lee reaffirmed his commitment to building a new future preparing for the post-AI era during his inauguration on March 8. The Board of Trustees selected the former provost and executive vice president as the new president, succeeding 16th President Sung-Chul Shin whose four-year term expired last month. In his inaugural address, President Lee proposed a new culture strategy, ‘QAIST’ designed to foster more creative talents and ensure innovative research infrastructure. He said that the best way to stand out as a leading global university is to carve out our own distinctness. The ceremony was live streamed via YouTube due to the social distancing guidelines, with a very limited number of distinguished guests attending. Among them were President Lee’s former student Jung-Ju Kim who started Nexon, now the world’s most popular online game company, and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Moon-Soul Chung who President Lee worked with when he made the endowment for establishing the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering in 2001 and the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy in 2013. In his induction speech, Chairman Woo Sik Kim of the Board of Trustees said that President Lee is a proven leader who has deep insight and passion and he will help KAIST make a new leap forward. “I believe that Professor Lee will be the right leader at this critical moment for the university, ushering in a new future for KAIST as it turns 50 this year.” President Lee explained that for the next 50 years, KAIST should double down to identify the challenges humanity faces, then define and resolve them with unyielding innovations in education, research, technology commercialization, and internationalization. < The 16th President Sung-Chul Shin (left) hands over the KAIST flag to his successor President Lee. > “We definitely should pull together to produce sustainable global value that will serve the prosperity and happiness of all humanity, not only our nation. We will become one of the top 10 universities in the world when we realize all these goals. We can live up to the people’s expectations by producing creative global talent, staying ahead of new research topics, and producing corporations that will lead the nation’s industries.” “To this end, I will continue to strive to help us achieve our mission of becoming a ‘Global Value Creative Leading University’ as described in KAIST Vision 2031. I will do my utmost to bring about the ‘KAIST New Culture Strategy, QAIST’ for a post-AI era.” He added that he would like to inspire students and faculty to have more humanistic approaches in their education and learning. The ‘Q’ in “QAIST” refers to questioning. President Lee believes that the learning starts with questions and being curious about something. “We will innovate the educational system to have them question everything.” Then, he said that he will focus on ‘A’dvanced research to prepare for the post AI-era. “We should be the first mover who can define and solve new problems. It’s more important to be the ‘first’ one than the ‘best’ one.” He also said he will create a new culture that failing would not be stigmatized, offering more chances after failing. ‘I’nternationalization is another vision the new president will continue to pursue. He plans to embrace greater diversity on the campus to achieve goals of 15％ international faculty, 25％ female faculty, and 15％ international students by reshaping the recruiting policy. He will continue to expand KAIST campuses overseas. ‘S’tartup and technology commercialization will be the crucial areas where the president will make innovations. “I will fully support any startups at KAIST. I encourage every lab to start a startup,” he stressed. President Lee said he plans to increase KAIST’s annual revenue from technology commercialization fees to 100 billion KRW in 10 years, a step to secure financial independence. He plans to privatize the Institute of Technology Value Creation, which is responsible for technology commercialization at KAIST to enhance its competitiveness. ‘T’rust building is the prerequisite value for creating transparent and reliable management in finance and HR. President Lee said he would like to make a new organizational culture that will be more ethical, responsible, and autonomous with a high standard of integrity. His predecessor, President Sung-Chul Shin lauded his successor in his congratulatory speech saying, “He is a president prepared for this job.” “I have known him for more than 30 years. He is a man of action. With unparalleled ideas and prompt execution, he carried out all his duties efficiently for the Committee of Vision 2031 that he chaired, and played a central role in establishing the full vision of KAIST. First and foremost, he is a man of great passion, with a firm vision but a warm heart.” < Nexon founder Jung-Ju Kim, former student of President Lee, makes an emotional tribute to his professor during the ceremony. > Nexon founder and Chairman Jung-Ju Kim also made an emotional tribute to his former professor. Holding back tears, he said, “I was not a good student. I was struggling in my graduate courses so I had to drop out of my PhD course. But Professor Lee and his wife never gave up on me. They were so kind to me and were always encouraging despite my disappointing days. I am now ready to do something good for KAIST, for Professor Lee, and for the future of our society. I believe that President Lee will guide us down the new path for KAIST.” IDIS Holdings CEO Young-Dal Kim also attended the ceremony to congratulate his former professor on his inauguration. (END)

KAIST Celebrates 50-Year Anniversary with 2,712 New Graduate..

< YouTube Livestreaming of 2021 Commencement Ceremony > KAIST is proud to announce the graduation of 2,712 students, including 668 PhDs and 1,331 master’s degree recipients. The pandemic could not stop the university from recognizing each graduate's remarkable and original achievements. A pandemic-proof blended commencement ceremony was held on Friday, February 19, and livestreamed to the graduates and their loved ones. KAIST decided to take extra precautions to protect graduates and other attendees’ health and well-being. For the virtual ceremony, only 83 out of the 2,712 graduates were invited to attend the ceremony in person. Graduates were divided into four groups to attend at four different places in Daejeon and Seoul campuses and watch the ceremony via Zoom. No family members or friends of the graduates were allowed to participate at the campus, but happily cheered the graduates via YouTube. This year’s valedictorian, Hyun-Young Park from the School of Electrical Engineering, received the Award of the Minister of Science and Technology. Salutorian Yeh-Lin Cho from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering received the Award of the KAIST Board of Trustees, while the recipient of the KAIST Presidential Award was Min-Jae Kim from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering. The Award of the KAIST Development Foundation Chairman and the KAIST Alumni Association Presidential Award were conferred to Kyung-Tae Kim from the Department of Physics and Min-Woo Jung from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, respectively. President Sung-Chul Shin, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Woo Sik Kim, and a very limited number of faculty members and administrative staff officiated the commencement ceremony from the KAIST Auditorium. President Shin in his commencement speech applauded the graduates’ hard work and dedication. He also delivered a very special congratulatory message to the bachelor’s degree awardees. “This year’s commencement is especially meaningful for me. I was appointed as the 16th president of KAIST on February 23, 2017, and met you for the first time on February 28 at the matriculation ceremony. We promised each other—as freshmen and as the first alumnus president—to do our best for the next four years,” President Shin recalled. He added, “I have done my best to keep my promise, and now my term will end on February 22. Of course, the past four years were even more precious because you were all a part of it.” In conclusion, President Shin said, “I am proud of you for keeping your end of the promise. Thank you for becoming who you are today. I have high hopes for the bright future that you will be shaping for KAIST and our society.” The livestream ceremony is archived for viewing on KAIST's Official YouTube Channel. (END)