The 70th National Science Exhibition, the largest and oldest science exploration competition in Korea, has announced its award winners. The Student Division Presidential Award went to the “Quantum Dot Stars” team from Gyeonggi Buk Science High School, consisting of students Han Jun-sang, Kwak Seung-jae, and Cho Ha-rin. Their project involved creating a portable UV-Vis kit using quantum dots based on a Raspberry Pi, which measures the visible wavelength bands of quantum dots and synthesizes quantum dots with various wavelength bands for sample analysis.
The team explained their motivation, stating that heavy analytical equipment is expensive and only usable in specific locations, potentially causing inequality in school education. They believe their portable device could contribute to the popularization of science by allowing sample analysis outside of laboratories.
The Teachers and General Division Presidential Award was earned by the “Sangsangeerum” team, formed by teachers Choi Doo-hyung and Lee Ji-yun. Their project focused on analyzing the environmental characteristics of bivalve shells and developing AI-based experimental equipment. The device explores the correlation between the structural features of bivalves found in local mudflats and their environmental conditions using AI.
“Sangsangeerum” expressed a desire to explore the ecology and habitat conditions of bivalves living in mudflats, noting a lack of current educational resources on the subject. They aimed to develop AI-powered experimental devices for customized student learning.
The Prime Minister’s Award in the Student Division was given to the “Oasis” team, comprised of middle school students Park Jun-ha and Hyun Sung-hoon, for their project examining why panoramic VR content often causes dizziness. In the Teachers and General Division, the Prime Minister’s Award was won by the “Design Thinking Workshop” team, involving teachers Kim Tae-kwan, Lee Bal-keum, and Kim Hyun-suk, for their development and application of a device to teach electrical understanding and foster student initiative.
A total of 299 projects advanced to the finals and received awards ranging from top honors to commendation prizes. The projects will be displayed at the National Science Museum’s Future Technology Hall until November 1, with the awards ceremony scheduled for November 26.
The National Science Museum’s director, Kwon Seok-min, emphasized the significance of the exhibition as a platform for teams of students and teachers to showcase long-term research efforts. The exhibition has been held annually since 1949, except for a brief hiatus during the Korean War, and seeks to encourage in-depth scientific research activities across the country.