"Stop University Lab Accidents Now"... 'Yeonaein' Steps In

Ministry of Science and ICT Recruits 55 Research Safety Supporters
10-Month University Research Safety Promotion and Feedback Activities

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The Ministry of Science and ICT is recruiting the '2021 Research Safety Supporters' (tentatively named Yeonaein) from the 2nd to the 19th.

'Yeonaein' refers to people who love (애·愛) research safety, and 55 science and engineering university students will be selected to carry out various activities such as promoting laboratory safety and collecting field opinions at each university for 10 months from this month through December.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Science and ICT has been selecting such supporters annually as part of establishing an autonomous laboratory safety culture. They evaluate that by enabling these supporters to take a proactive role in laboratory safety management activities and publicity to prevent accidents, they have contributed to spreading a participatory safety culture.

Selected students will perform various missions and experiences online and offline to spread safety culture, including sharing laboratory safety issues, producing and disseminating promotional content, participating in laboratory safety cultural events, and inspecting laboratories.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to give preference to those who can produce their own content such as webtoons, posters, videos, and infographics (submission of sample works required), famous YouTubers or SNS influencers (with more than 500 followers on personal SNS), those who have applied for or participated in laboratory-related support projects (including competitions), and university students with participation records in environmental improvement support projects, excellent laboratory certification systems, or pre-hazard risk analysis report competitions.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will provide various supports related to supporter activities, including awarding appointment letters and certificates of completion, recognizing activities as substitutes for mandatory safety education, and providing activity allowances. Professional training will be supported to enhance activity capabilities, and outstanding participants will receive awards and other benefits.

Kang Sang-wook, Director of the Future Talent Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, “We will do our best to create a foundation where student researchers can focus on research in a safe environment,” and added, “We will support the Research Safety Supporters in various ways so that they can participate in accident prevention activities and policies regarding laboratory safety based on their experiences in research sites.”

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