KAIST to Verify Science and Technology Policies of Major Presidential Candidates

Public Pledge Debate and Talk Show to be Held for 3 Days Starting from the 18th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] KAIST is inviting major presidential candidates and campaign officials to compare and verify science policies.

The Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy at KAIST announced on the 11th that it will hold a 'Science and Technology Innovation Pledge Debate and Talk Show with Young Scientists and Engineers' for three days starting from the 18th, inviting major candidates and campaign officials of the 20th presidential election to compare and verify science policies. KAIST also held a 'Science Policy Dialogue with Presidential Campaigns' ahead of the 19th presidential election in 2017.

KAIST explained the background of the event, saying, "Science and technology is an important field that guarantees the future of the nation, but policy discussions reflecting the voices from the science and technology field have been missing in the 20th presidential election political landscape, so we prepared a debate with the presidential candidates."

Starting at 2 p.m. on the 18th with Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung, People’s Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, and New Wave candidate Kim Dong-yeon will participate directly. From the People Power Party, Policy Chief Won Hee-ryong will attend on behalf of candidate Yoon Seok-youl, and the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung’s side will confirm participants soon.

The main discussion topics include ▲Global challenges such as climate crisis, digital transformation, and pandemic and the role of science and technology ▲Science and technology-centered national governance ▲Fair innovation and technology ethics ▲Revitalization of science and technology in non-capital regions in the era of local extinction ▲Principles for promoting basic and large-scale science ▲Support for young, female, and foreign scientists and engineers. Panels from academia, civic groups, media, and research institutes will participate to examine the candidates’ visions and policies on science and technology.

After the debate, a talk show will be held where various young scientists and engineers, including undergraduate and graduate students in science and engineering, postdoctoral researchers, non-regular researchers, and young entrepreneurs, can freely converse.

Meanwhile, on the morning of the first day, the 18th, KAIST will introduce 'Ten Science Questions for the President' through a preliminary event at 10 a.m. Following this, the Science and Technology Policy Institute will present 'Comparison of Science and Technology Pledges for the 20th Presidential Election,' and the Network of Scientists Dreaming of Change (ESC) will present 'Questions to the 20th Presidential Candidates.' Then, a discussion will be held with Lee Young-wan, president of the Korea Science Journalists Association, and Lee Seok-hoon, president of the Yeonchong Association. The ten science questions were derived through online small group discussions by KAIST faculty and students. They encompass urgent issues in our society’s science and technology under three keywords: ‘urgency,’ ‘inclusion and equality,’ and ‘socio-technical imagination.’

Jeon Chi-hyung, dean of the Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy at KAIST, said, “We conducted this work with the hope that the next president will show a bold and rational philosophy regarding the relationship between science and technology and Korean society,” and “I hope these ten science questions will serve as an opportunity to broaden and deepen science and technology policy discussions through the 20th presidential election.”

This event can be watched live through the KAIST YouTube channel.

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