■The Korean Academy of Science and Technology (KAST) published "Hearing the voices of KAST No. 115" on the 28th under the title "Paradigm shift in science diplomacy: What is Korea's strategy?" This edition of Hearing the voices of KAST analyzes how, worldwide, the perspective on science diplomacy is gradually shifting toward a more pragmatic approach, and includes responses to international affairs and technological change and the strategic direction of Korea's science diplomacy. In particular, KAST proposed expanding science and technology base overseas missions, strengthening cooperation between the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and supporting a research system in the humanities and social sciences for science and technology.
■The Korea AeroSpace Administration said on the 28th it will conduct "Safe Korea Drill," the first it has hosted since its launch, at the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in Daejeon. The drill is designed to check and practice response procedures by assuming the fall of natural space objects such as asteroids or meteoroids, and will link tabletop exercises with field drills. The drill assumes a complex-damage scenario caused by the fall and explosion of a meteoroid with a diameter of about 10 meters, and will be carried out together with relevant departments including central ministries such as the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Ministry of National Defense, as well as South Chungcheong Province, Daejeon City, the National Fire Agency, the Korean National Police Agency, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, KASI, and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources.
■The Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said they plan to push two research and development projects under the "Emergency response research for public safety" program: seawater desalination for drought response and a deployable artificial intelligence (AI) system to prevent small-vessel collisions. The call to select research institutions for the new projects runs from the 28th to Nov. 26, and the selected projects will receive around 900 million won in research and development funding over two years, jointly supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and MOIS. Details on selection procedures and evaluation methods can be found on the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) website (www.nrf.re.kr).
■Pohang University of Science and Technology POSTECH held a joint workshop with IMEC, the world's top semiconductor research institute, and its affiliated university KU Leuven for two days from the 20th in Leuven, Belgium. The workshop was organized to strengthen global semiconductor research cooperation and explore directions for joint research in next-generation semiconductors, new devices, and design. Sessions covered semiconductor sensors, circuit design, and next-generation semiconductor devices, sharing the latest research results. The three institutions plan to use the workshop as a springboard to continue follow-up discussions on identifying joint research projects, exchanging research personnel, and consulting on new projects.
■The College of Engineering at Seoul National University selected six professors as recipients of the 2025 Sinyang Engineering Academic Award and held an award ceremony at Building 38 of the college on the 22nd. The Sinyang Engineering Academic Award is an academic prize established with funds donated by the late Jeong Seok-gyu, chairman of the Sinyang Cultural Foundation, an alumnus of SNU's College of Engineering and founder of Taesung Rubber and Chemical. This year's recipients are six in total: in education, Architecture Professor An Chang-beom and Nuclear Engineering Professor Choi Seong-yeol; in scholarship, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Moon Ju-hyeok, Materials Science and Engineering Professor Kim Jin-young, and Chemical and Biological Engineering Professor Park Jeong-won; and in industry-academia cooperation, Energy Resources Engineering Associate Professor Kang Jeong-sin.