OREANDA-NEWS. July 11, 2013. The POSCO TJ Park Foundation hosted the `1st Annual TJ Park Science Symposium` at the POSCO Center.

The `TJ Park Science Fellowship` of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, according to the principle that science talent must be fostered for a country like Korea which lacks resources to become an advanced country, is a basic scientist fostering project started in 2009 to foster and support young and able talent who research basic sciences in Korea into world class scientists. 30 rising professors, post-doctorates and doctorate candidates of the four basic science fields—mathematics, physics chemistry, life sciences—in Korea rather than abroad, supporting up to a maximum of 75 million KRW in research funds throughout 2~3 years.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation in honor of the 5th anniversary of the TJ Park Science Fellowship, hosted the `TJ Park Science Symposium` integrating all four academic fields of mathematics, physics chemistry, and life sciences which used to be carried out separately, offering a place of broad exchange consisting of research results presentations and advanced discussions between fellows, with the aim to become a science network base.

At the event, POSCO TJ Park Foundation Chairman Chung Joonyang and 12 selection evaluation professors including Physics Committee Leader and Institute of Basic Science head Oh Sejeong, Life Science Committee Leader and Seoul National University Professor Noh Jeonghye, Mathematics Committee Leader and Yonsei University Professor Min Gyeongchan, Chemistry Committee Leader and POSTECH Professor Kim Byeonghyeon as well as 80 fellows from the 1~4th fellowships, and POSCO personnel attended.

At the presentations and discussions held separately for each academic sector led by each academic committee leader, fellows shared up to date research results and opinions on topics including `graphene,` `organic electronics,` `nano-structured catalysts.` which are related to POSCO.

After discussions, Seoul National University Professor Bae Cheolhyeon lectured on humanities, and former TJ Park Foundation Science Prize winner and Seoul National University Professor Lim Jisun and KAIST Professor Lee Sangyeob hosted an invitational lecture receiving heated responses from attendees.

Chairman Chung Joonyang requested that, ``I hope the TJ Park Science Symposium which is in its first year will become a place for creative intelligence as it ages. I ask that the TJ Park Science Fellows expand the base of basic science research to lead a Science Korea, and furthermore become Nobel prizes for science.``

Oh Sejeong, head of the Institute of Basic Science, highly evaluated POSCO`s keen insight on offering a program to support scientists by letting them focus purely on research ahead of other companies, and requested that fellows go beyond research and development that `pursuit` advanced technologies, and lead `advanced` research and development to lead an advanced Korea.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 5th TJ Park Science Fellowship. Applications submitted until July 10th online will be reviewed through 4 rounds of evaluation for final selection of fellows in early October.