Scientists Visited Classrooms for 13 Years: 1,000 Lectures, 130,000 Students

"Meeting with Scholars" by the Korean Academy of Science and Technology Began in 2014
Seventy Percent of Last Year’s Lectures Held Outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Leading scholars in the field of science and technology in Korea have now reached the milestone of delivering their 1,000th lecture, visiting middle and high school classrooms nationwide to share the latest scientific advancements and stories from their lives as researchers. Since the first lecture in 2014, over 130,000 students have attended these sessions across a span of 13 years.

The Korean Academy of Science and Technology announced on the 16th that it held the "1,000th Meeting with Scholars of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology" at Bokjeong High School in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the 15th. On the day, Kim Sungcheol, Professor Emeritus at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), delivered a lecture on "Polymers: Core Materials for Cutting-edge Industries," discussing polymer research and its industrial applications.

The 1st Korean Academy of Science and Technology Scholars Meeting was held at the auditorium of Isabel High School in Busan, attended by about 700 first and second-year students. Professor Kim Yooshin of Pusan National University is giving a lecture on the topic "Why Did Modern Science Develop in Europe?" Photo by the Korean Academy of Science and Technology

The "Meeting with Scholars of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology" is a program where academy members visit schools personally to introduce the latest science and technology—as well as their own research experiences—which are not easily found in textbooks. After running pilot programs from 2011 to 2013, the first official lecture took place on April 8, 2014, at Isabel High School in Busan.

At that time, Professor Kim Yushin of Pusan National University gave a talk to approximately 700 first and second-year students on the topic "Why Did Modern Science Develop in Europe?", weaving together stories that bridged science and the humanities. Before the event, Professor Kim even called the school directly to adjust the content to the students’ level. A science teacher at Isabel High School remarked, "It was the first time I witnessed students listen so attentively to a lecture like this." What started 13 years ago in the auditorium of a high school in Busan has since spread nationwide and this year reached its 1,000th classroom.

On July 14, 2025, Seokbok Jang, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and current director of the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), visited his alma mater, Hwangji High School in Taebaek, Gangwon Province. After delivering a lecture titled "From a Mining Town Child to a Scientist," students lined up to get autographs and take photos with the distinguished scientist. Courtesy of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology

As of September this year, the total number of student attendees has exceeded 130,000. Recently, participation by schools outside the greater Seoul area has increased—the academy held 70% of last year’s 80 lectures in regional areas. This year, lectures are being delivered at 116 schools, with the program expanding for the first time to include 19 middle schools.

Chin Ho Jeong, President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, stated, "We have reached the milestone of 1,000 lectures thanks to the academy members who, despite their busy research and teaching schedules, visited students and shared their experiences." He added, "We will continue to share knowledge and experience so that more young people, regardless of region or environment, can meet science and technology professionals and dream about their future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.