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The Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies (KOFST), which marks its 60th anniversary this September, has announced its ambition to lead a human-centered era of artificial intelligence (AI) transformation. The 4th World Korean Scientists and Engineers Convention, opening on the 7th, will also be held under the theme "The Global AI Era, a New Paradigm of Science and Technology Cooperation."
At a press conference held on the 2nd at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, KOFST President Kwon Oh-nam (a professor at Seoul National University) said, "KOFST is an organization encompassing more than 600 science and technology-related bodies," adding, "We will lead a human-centered AI transformation in a direction that embraces diverse participants, including women, men, and those from the capital region and other areas."
Reflecting this intent, KOFST selected "A New Future Opened Together Through Science and Technology" as its 60th anniversary slogan. The emblem embodies the will to bring together the diverse voices of KOFST's 604 member organizations and scientists and engineers, resonating toward science, technology, and the future.
President Kwon also expressed determination to raise the profile of the World Korean Scientists and Engineers Convention in commemoration of the 60th anniversary. "I hope this convention will open a virtuous cycle of talent, in which the knowledge and experience of overseas scholars flow into the country and the challenges taken on by our young researchers flow out to the world, serving as an occasion to make a real contribution to the advancement of Korea's science and technology," she said. "To emphasize this, we have featured Cha Mee-young, director of the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Germany, as the keynote speaker."
The convention is an event that invites Korean scientists and engineers from around the world to build networks with domestic scientists and engineers and share research achievements. KOFST said this year's participants exceeded 1,000, the highest number ever recorded.
President Kwon said, "Starting this year, we intend to institutionalize the discussions of the convention so that they lead to science and technology policy," adding, "We have also arranged public lectures for the first time to convey physical AI in an accessible way."
