A space has been created for elementary school students in Gyeongnam to express their dreams and hopes for science through drawings.

The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS, President Lee Jeong-hwan), a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, is hosting the '13th Gyeongnam Elementary School Students' Science Imagination Drawing Contest' to commemorate 'May, Family Month.'

The institute plans to hold the event virtually this year, having been unable to hold it for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any elementary school student in the Gyeongnam region can participate, and applications will be accepted from 9:00 AM on May 2nd to 6:00 PM on May 6th through the Korea Institute of Materials Science's Sangsang Platform website (http://sangsang.kims.re.kr), with the first 400 applicants accepted.

Up to two students can apply per guardian, and students who apply must draw a picture on the theme of 'Carbon Neutrality through Science' and upload a photo of the drawing taken between 09:00 on May 16th and 18:00 on the 20th during the contest period.

Lower grades (grades 1-3) can freely choose crayons, colored pencils, etc. to draw on 8-section drawing paper, and upper grades (grades 4-6) can submit drawings using watercolors on 5-section drawing paper.

The drawing must be drawn by the student himself/herself without the help of a guardian or teacher. If any unfair acts such as copying, forgery, or forgery are discovered, the award may be revoked.

The Korea Institute of Materials Science will award a plaque and a prize worth 300,000 won to one grand prize winner, a plaque and a prize worth 200,000 won to two gold prize winners, and a plaque and a prize worth 100,000 won to four silver prize winners. The eight bronze medalists will receive a prize of 50,000 won, and the 20 finalists will receive a prize of 50,000 won and a set of 'Material and Future', a science learning cartoon and experience kit package produced by the researcher.

Lee Jeong-hwan, the director of the Korea Institute of Materials Science, said, “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the citizens of Gyeongnam Province for their interest and support for the Gyeongnam Elementary School Science Imagination Drawing Contest.” He added, “The Korea Institute of Materials Science values children’s dreams about science, and we will continue to work to gather these dreams and use them properly to implement them in the future society.”

Detailed information on the 13th Gyeongnam Elementary School Science Imagination Drawing Contest can be found on the Korea Institute of Materials Science Imagination Platform website (http://sangsang.kims.re.kr). For inquiries, please contact the External Cooperation Office (T. 055-280-3796).