Ministry of Science and ICT says 301 projects advance to national exhibition

South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT said on Aug. 5 that 301 projects selected from regional rounds of the 72nd National Science Exhibition will advance to the national competition.

Regional contests received 3,479 entries, 643, or 22.7 percent, more than a year earlier, while local judging chose 301 finalists, including 73 elementary-school, 46 middle-school and 163 high-school projects. The entries ranged from research reinterpreting principles in tradition and nature to studies combining advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and sensors.

Held nationwide since 1949 and now in its 72nd edition, the exhibition encourages science research among students and the public while seeking to foster science and technology talent.

The national round opens applications on Aug. 12, followed by document reviews from Aug. 26 to Sept. 4 and interviews on Sept. 15. That process will select about 300 award-winning projects, including two President's Awards and two Prime Minister's Awards among the national exhibition entries.

Results will be posted on the National Science Museum website on Oct. 2, before an awards ceremony on Nov. 3 at its Science Hall.

Projects in the national round will be displayed from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10 at a special exhibition hall on the third floor of the museum's Future Technology Hall and open to all.