S-OIL Confers “Dissertation of the Year Awards”

● S-OIL offers 145 million won in fellowships to five young scientists in the categories of mathematics, biology, and Earth science.
● The S-OIL Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation runs programs such as a  science prodigy academy to support academic research and to foster those with outstanding talent.

The S-OIL Science Prodigy and Culture Foundation (SSPCF, President Oh Myung), a non-profit foundation established by S-OIL (CEO Nasser Al-Mahasher), held a ceremony for the “4th Dissertation of the Year Awards” at the Korea Press Center in Seoul on Nov. 24 and gave 145 million won in fellowships to five young award winners in the categories of mathematics, biology, and Earth science.

The S-OIL Dissertation of the Year Awards was established in 2011 in order to foster academic research in the five basic sciences ? physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, and Earth science. The SSPCF selects the best researchers on the recommendation of the Korea Academy of Science and Technology and the Korean University Presidents Association and it offers them study fellowships.

Yoo Min-ha from Seoul National University (mathematics) and Won Hye-jung from KAIST (biology) were awarded the grand prize worth 50 million won each in fellowships. In addition, encouragement prizes went to Park Jin-hyung (KAIST; mathematics), Cho Hyun-woo (POSTECH; biology), and Kim Young-suk (Pukyong National University; Earth science) along with a certificate of commendation and a fellowship of 15 million won each.  

“These young scientists who gained worldwide recognition for publishing excellent dissertations in basic science fields with academic passion and perseverance are the force that will propel the nation forward,” said an official of the foundation. “The SSPCF will continue to make active efforts to expand support for those scientists so that they can dedicate themselves fully to research under financial stability.” 

In addition to the Dissertation of the Year Awards, the SSPCF runs various programs to support research in the science fields and to cultivate talented scientists, e.g. through the S-OIL Frontier Scientist Fellowship, the support of a science prodigy academy, and the transfer of technology to scientists of developing countries.