Expectations of the Experts
for the Republic of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology

The Republic of Korea Ocean Research & Development Institute (President Kang Jung-keuk) organized a workshop for members of the six marine-related societies(*), at its headquarters office in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, on Jan. 27 under the title "Expectations for the Republic of Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)."

※ Six marine-related societies: the Society of Naval Architects of Korea, the Korean Society of Oceanography, the Korean Society of Ocean Engineering, the Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers, the Korean Society for Marine Environmental Engineering and the Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science

The workshop was aimed at collecting the opinions of marine experts and reflecting them in the operational and research directions of KIOST, which is to be inaugurated on July 1, 2012. Scholars who represented the six societies presented papers detailing specific action plans to help the institute play the role of a "platform for industry-university-research cooperation in the marine-related areas."

The organizer said it will continue to gather opinions until the institute opens in July. A similar workshop will be held in early March, with representatives of advanced foreign marine-related organizations attending, and it is expected to contribute to laying the foundation for KIOST to become a global marine research organization.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Marine Affairs formed a taskforce led by Vice Minister Joo Sung-ho, in order to prepare for the inauguration of KIOST, after the KIOST Act was put into force on Dec. 31, 2011.