GIST hosts 21st Korea Crystal Growth Contest

□ The 21st Korea Crystal Growth Contest will be hosted by the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST • Presdient Seung Hyeon Moon) to help young students experience and learn more about science by directly growing their own crystals. The contest will take 10 months to complete and will end next January in 2018.

Crystals: The atoms of a crystal are arrange with precise regularity. 'Crystal growth' refers to the process by which atoms form a 'seed' that then continues to grow into a larger form.

   ※ Crystal growth method video reference site: http://crystalcontest.or.kr/contents/sub2_3.asp

□ The Korea Crystal Growth Contest, which was first held in 1997 at Busan National University, is celebrating its 21st anniversary. The contest allows elementary, middle, and high school students to experience science, and it is being sponsored by GIST, Busan National University, Seoul National University, the Korea Physical Society, and the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

□ Last year, KDP (potassium phosphate monohydrate / KH₂PO₄) crystals were used to increase the competitiveness. This year, ADP (ammonium dihydrogen phosphate) will be used as the seed for the crystal growth. After 10 months, the competitors will be judge on the size and quality of their crystals, their experimental notebook, and photographs taken with an electron microscope.

□ Information sessions for the 21st Korea Crystal Growth Contest will be held at the following times and locations: GIST Oryong Hall on March 25 at 2:00 pm, Seoul National University Cultural Center on April 1 at 1:30 pm, and Busan National University Main Building on April 8 at 1:00 pm.

□ Prizes will be divided into five categories for elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, general students, and the electron microscope photo exhibition. A scholarship of 1 million won will be given to each team that wins the science award from the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. A total of 8.1 million won will be awarded.

□ Winners will also have the opportunity to study overseas in China, Japan, and the United States in science summer camps. A total of 12 million won worth in scholarships will be awarded to the winners.

□ Applications for the 21st Korea Crystal Growth Contest can be submitted on the day of each regional conference or through the Korea Crystal Growth Contest homepage (http://crystalcontest.or.kr). Internet applications can be submitted from March 8 to 24, March 27 to March 31, and April 3 to 7. Additional applications can be received by April 20. (For more information, please call: 055-350-5860).