3학년 2반 이인태 학생의 글이 3월 12일자 Korea Times에 실렸습니다. 바쁜 학업 가운데에서도 코리아타임즈 신문의 Global Student Reporter로 열심히 활동하는 이인태 학생에게 격려의 박수를 보냅니다. 기사 바로가기 03-12-2008 19:48 How to Regain Popularity of Science? By Lee In-tae Global Student Reporter Last year, as high school third years, my classmates and I studied harder than ever before. The most important goal I had during my final year was to study hard and become a freshman at my favorite university the following year. While discussing what I would like to study at university with my classmates, however, I found myself hesitant about doing a major in the engineering and science department. The status of engineering and science-related majors has lost popularity year after year. Most high students believe that studying at Seoul National University''s engineering department is a shortcut to becoming a top engineer in Korea. But they also believe that studying at medical, dental and Oriental medicine schools guarantees a better life than studying engineering at the state-run university. About three decades ago when my father had just become a freshman, the engineering department enjoyed almost same popularity as medical and other health-related majors. Why has the popularity of engineering majors plunged in such a short time? There are many factors that make university applicants opt for medical school rather than the engineering department. One of the reasons is the noble image that comes with being a doctor, but it is not the only one. Rather, I think the wealthy life'''' most doctors here enjoy has served as a stronger motive for competent students to choose to be a doctor. With the world entering into the era of limitless competition and information, higher levels of basic science and engineering are required for a country to advance, resulting in accumulating more national wealth. Take a look at Bill Gates. The current Internet era would have not existed, if he had just graduated from Harvard University and got an ordinary job. Would the United States have been able to keep its status as the strongest country in the world, if scientists in Europe or Japan had opened the Internet age? I''m not trying to disparage the importance of medical science. However, if all talented students choose medical science, it is hard to say that the future of this country is bright. So, I here have a suggestion. Because it is natural that people gather where they can earn money and status, I would like to recommend symbolic measures. What I''m saying is giving special rights such as the right to use VIP lounges in airports that President Lee Myung-bak promised to give it to entrepreneurs to engineers and scientists who greatly contribute to advance the nation''s technology. Needless to say, more subsidies and fine-tuned support systems for them and scientific institutions are necessary. My point is that all constituents of this society should give a hand to create a social atmosphere that respects scientists who can brighten our future. The atmosphere makes people respect scientists. When this atmosphere takes root, the current students'' frenzy concerning medical school will gradually disappear. leeit007@hanmail.net