■The Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) published the 'Science and Technology Policy Brief' Vol. 50, which examines the operational cases of special zones in major countries and diagnoses the problems of the quantitatively expanded domestic special zone system to propose structural improvements to restore its effectiveness and functionality. Researcher Choi Hae-ok noted, "Recently, the special zone system has lost its original role and function as an innovation hub due to excessive quantitative expansion," adding, "In particular, issues such as overlapping designations between special zones, confusion of similar concepts, and lack of coordination between government ministries and local governments hinder policy effectiveness and lead to inefficient distribution of administrative and financial resources."
■The National Science Museum announced on the 29th that it will hold the '2025 Maker Sports Day event design, production, and operation competition.' This competition aims to incorporate science and technology in designing, producing, and executing sports day events. From the 1st to 10th, proposals for event designs will be accepted, and teams that pass the first round of evaluations will receive production support funds of up to 1.5 million won and expert mentoring. The Minister of Science and ICT Award (Grand Prize), the Director of the National Science Museum Award (Excellence Prize), and a prize worth 100,000 won will be awarded. Detailed information can be found on the National Science Museum's official website (www.science.go.kr).
■The Gwacheon National Science Museum announced that it has prepared a variety of programs for children and families to experience science and nature from the 29th to August 17th. The experiences include 'Surviving from the Future, Insects' to stimulate imagination about insects, scientific exhibition-related experiences, robot block coding mimicking Mars exploration vehicles, astronomical observations, and creative experiences. Each program has different participation targets and methods, and detailed information can be found on the Gwacheon National Science Museum's official website (http://www.sciencecenter.go.kr).
■The National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) announced that a research team led by Professor Lee Yong-seok of Soonchunhyang University published an e-book titled 'Ecological Encyclopedia of Native Insects in Korea I – Butterfly Volume' (https://m.site.naver.com/1LM1y), which systematically investigates and documents species-specific ecological behaviors and habitat characteristics of 225 species of butterflies native to Korea over an extended period. The e-book contains various behavioral data, such as mating and oviposition of butterflies, as well as information on habitats and seasonal occurrences. More than 3,800 high-resolution ecological photographs obtained through field collection and observation are also included in the encyclopedia.