KAIST The following article was contributed by Suh Nam-pyo, president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology... Ed. I am indeed very honored and privileged to be standing here today as the 13th President of KAIST, grateful to have this opportunity to work with the faculty, trustees, students and staff to make KAIST one of the premier institutions of the 21st century. I promise to do my very best to achieve this goal. I ask all of you here to support the efforts of the faculty, students and administration of KAIST as together we work hard to live up to the expectations and aspirations of the Korean people, who are the proud owner of this illustrious institution. Our long-term vision and the current focus for KAIST is no less than achieving the following ultimate goal: KAIST will become one of the best scientific and technological universities in the world, and as such, the region around KAIST will become a major hub for high technology industries in Korea and the world. I believe there are three major goals for KAIST. The first is to produce the next generation of leaders for society, industry, and academia. The second is to build the knowledge base and create technologies that will shape the future of humankind. The third goal is to provide public service that will change our world for the better. If we achieve these goals, in the years to come, KAIST will be the place where innovative, new ideas and concepts are created that change the way people think and approach challenging issues. KAIST must emphasize research at the two ends of the research spectrum. At one end is fundamental research that generates basic principles, laws, and paradigms. At the other end, we must emphasize technological innovation. We must demonstrate how cutting-edge technologies, when applied effectively, can make a great impact on society. History has demonstrated that the most important advances are often made at the boundaries between different intellectual disciplines. KAIST therefore must foster institutional mechanisms that facilitate collaborations across many disciplines. In addition, KAIST must encourage pioneering work and intellectual risktaking on the part of our faculty and students. KAIST researchers should be leaders, not followers. In the future, new disciplines will emerge . either through the convergence of existing disciplines or through new scientific discoveries or technological innovations. KAIST must be at the forefront of these new disciplines. It is easier - and more exciting - to be the leading institution in new fields, to be the "thought leader" rather than the follower. As they say, the view is better as the head sled dog! In the past, KAIST has made contributions to Korea by generating graduates who have made Korea a net exporter of high-technology goods and manufactured consumer goods. Future graduates of KAIST must have the ability to work in a global economy. They should be trained and exposed to the cultures and customs of other nations so that they can operate globally in technical and managerial fields. An equally important issue is attracting more women students and faculty. They are important intellectual resources, who should be fully engaged in science, technology and management. Finally, KAIST must secure solid financial resources. Simply put, we will need much more money than KAIST has now, and we must also use the funds we have wisely by investing in the ideas, people and resources that will yield the most return. I believe that the budget of KAIST must increase substantially to compete with the best universities in the world; we need to double the KAIST budget during the next four years. This will require the support of everyone here and all the people in Korea. I am confident that the investment in KAIST will contribute to the future growth of the Korean economy and provide a better quality of life for everyone in this country and elsewhere. A significant investment in science, technology, education and research will help guarantee a vibrant economy and prosperous nation in the 21st century and beyond. We in the KAIST community must work harder than anyone else - and do so with vision, passion and a strong belief in what we can achieve. To be the second best is difficult but not impossible to achieve if we learn what others have done and try to do it better. However, to be the very best requires sacrifice, diligence, creativity, imagination, a culture of collaboration, and respect for the intellectual accomplishment of our colleagues and students. All members of the KAIST community also must demonstrate the highest ethical standards. We must honor truth, trust one another, and respect the privacy and integrity of others. Without this basic human decency, KAIST cannot function as a community of scholars and teachers, nor can we effectively prepare our graduates to be future leaders of society. The 21st century already has witnessed complex economic and social challenges. It is becoming increasingly clear that one nation alone cannot address these challenges adequately; they must be addressed by the global community. As it has done in the past, Korea will play an important role in working with other leading countries to solve some of the most critical global problems, including the integration of the global economy, as well as critical issues surrounding energy resources, the environment and healthcare. As a global university in a global world, KAIST will play a pivotal role in supporting Korea's efforts. For example, with an increasing demand for energy by China, India and other developing nations, as well as developed ones, the use of alternative energy sources, nuclear power, and hydrogen-propelled transportation systems will become more of a necessity - and a reality - in the future. KAIST can help prepare for the post-petroleum era by investing in research and development of alternative energy sources. As the President of KAIST, I promise several things to my faculty colleagues and students. I will listen carefully to your opinions and concerns. I will do my best to further your good ideas and innovations. I will support the efforts of every faculty member so that each of you can become even more respected as scholars, engineers, and scientists, nationally and internationally. I will work with the faculty and staff to create the infrastructure necessary to nurture cutting-edge research in important and emerging fields and, as part of this, will seek the help of the trustees and faculty in raising funds for education and research. Working together as a team, I will foster a culture of excellence, a culture of constructive competitiveness, and a culture of creative thinking. Together, we will create the ideal environment for learning, teaching and research. I wish to conclude my remarks with a personal note. I have been extremely fortunate to have had unique opportunities as an engineer, educator and as a person. I have met many excellent people who were extremely helpful and kind to me throughout my life. I would like to thank them all.