Korea and the UK will discuss the role and significance of science and technology for shared prosperity of humanity at the ROK-UK Science Forum with Preeminent Scientists held at the prestigious Royal Society.
Leading scholars from Korea and the UK to acknowledge the necessity for global cooperation and solidarity, while exploring opportunities to expand joint research efforts for the world's best and first researches by putting the two countries' capabilities together.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, hereinafter referred to as "MSIT") announced that the United Kingdom's Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (hereinafter referred to as the "Royal Society") will hold the "Republic of Korea-United Kingdom Science Forum with Preeminent Scientists (hereinafter referred to as the "Forum")" on November 22nd (Wed.).
This Forum aims to bring together leading scientists from both Korea and the UK at the world's most prestigious academy of sciences to express their shared recognition of the significance of basic science and research, and to discuss future avenues of bilateral cooperation in science and technology for shared prosperity of humanity and sustainable growth. Additionally, the Forum attendants will discuss the need for expanding the role of science and international community’s mutual assistance in order to address wicked problems spanning across the globe, such as epidemics, energy and natural resources, and the climate crisis.
Overview of the ROK-UK Science Forum
⦁ Date : November 22nd, 2023 (local time in London)
⦁ Location : Wellcome Trust Lecture Hall, Royal Society
⦁ Attendees : (UK) Adrian Smith, President of Royal Society, Mark Walport, Vice President of Royal Society, Julie Maxton, Executive Director of Royal Society, Roy Anderson, Professor at Imperial College London, Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), (Korea) Lee Sang Yup, Vice President for Research of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Kim V. Narry, Director of the Center for RNA Research at Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Noh Do Young, President of IBS, Kim Myung Shik, Professor at Imperial College London, and more
※ A total of 80 attendees, comprised of government officials from both countries, Korean scientists active in the UK, and top British scientists, including Her Royal Highness Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Lee Jong Ho, Korean Minister for Science and ICT, are expected at the Forum.
The Royal Society, where the Forum is going to take place, is the most authoritative academy of sciences founded in 1660, formally titled the "Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge." One of the oldest learned scientific academy in the world, the Royal Society was established to advance the excellence of science, and, in turn, contribute to well-being of all mankind. Its members have included Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and those scientists who changed the face of world's history. Among Koreans, KAIST Vice President for Research Lee Sang Yup and IBS Director of the Center for RNA Research Kim V. Narry had been selected as Foreign Members of the Society in 2021.
From the UK side, leading scientists including President Adrian Smith, Vice President Mark Walport, Executive Director Julie Maxton from the Royal Society, as well as Imperial College London Professor Roy Anderson and UKRI Chief Executive Ottoline Leyser will attend the Forum. HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh (married to Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, who is the brother of King Charles III) from the Royal Family and Secretary of State Michelle Donelan from the UK Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) will also be present.
From the Korean side, two of the most eminent scientists in Korea and the Foreign Members of the Royal Society, KAIST Vice President for Research Lee Sang Yup and IBS Director of the Center for RNA Research Kim V. Narry, as well as IBS President Noh Do Young will attend the Forum. Along with Korean scientists active in the UK, including Imperial College London Professor Kim Myung Shik, MSIT Minister Lee Jong Ho and other government officials will also join the Forum.
Before the start of the Forum, some of the attendees will view highlights from the Royal Society's archives that marks the history of science, human progress, and long-held tradition of the Royal Society. Such highlights include the 1st edition of Isaac Newton's Principia, which records the Laws of Motion, for example, the universal gravitation and the law of inertia, and the "Philosophical Transactions", the world's first-ever scientific journal.
During the Forum, great scientific minds from both Korea and the UK will discuss the need to expand the role of science and international coordination for common prosperity of humanity. These renowned scholars and participating government officials will also share their insights and ideas on future directions for the science and technology community to take, encompassing the role and responsibilities of scientists, enhancement of equity, diversity, inclusion for research, and solidarity for sustainable growth.
Meanwhile, MSIT plans to establish and jointly fund the new cooperation initiative between the two countries, "ROK-UK International Collaboration Award"* based on this state visit and continuous efforts for exchange and cooperation. The two countries will collaborate to select and grant funds to 10 joint research projects proposed by emerging and aspiring researchers. To this end, each country will raise 2.25 million GBP, amounting to a total of 4.5 million GBP (approximately 7.2 billion KRW) worth of overall funding.
* 10 joint research projects to be selected, with each project granted with a total of 450K GBP (720 million KRW) for 3 years.
MSIT stated that it expects the scientific and technological partnership between Korea and the UK to be strengthened through this Forum and the new cooperation initiative, resulting in more various forms of science and technology cooperation to achieve the world-class research outputs and foster the next generation of researchers.
Moreover, the Korean and the British governments announced plans to continue the discussion and expansion of science and technology cooperation and partnership with tangible outcomes on the occasion of this state visit, for instance, promoting joint research and human resource exchange, while further promoting existing academic exchange activities, such as the research conference held between the Royal Society and the IBS.
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
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