An international collaborative program between Seoul National University and Cornell University

What is BK21?
Brain Korea 21(BK21) is a human resource development program recently initiated by Korea's Ministry of Education. The Ministry has targeted what it considers the seven most important fields in science and technology necessary to enhance national competitiveness in the 21st century. These are: information technology; biotechnology; mechanical engineering; chemical engineering; material science; physics; and chemistry. The objective of BK21 is to produce the next generation of world class leaders in these fields by upgrading research infrastructure and graduate-level training in Korea. Biotechnology, which encompasses the fields of agriculture, medical science and environment, is the first target area selected for program implementation. The School of Agricultural Biotechnology at Seoul National University (SNU), the country's leading institute in agricultural biotechnology, has been selected to host BK21.

Role of Seoul National University
The SNU School of Agricultural Biotechnology is providing a range of opportunities to both graduate students and faculty members to achieve the goals of BK21 in agricultural biotechnology. A total of 50 faculty members, 280 M.S. and Ph.D. students, 20 post-doctoral fellows and 10 research associates are involved in research projects in biotechnology in the fields of animals, plants, microbes, food and environment.

Role of Cornell University
Cornell University, as one of the world's leading universities in agricultural biotechnology, has been invited to work closely with the School of Agricultural Biotechnology. To facilitate this cooperation, Cornell University and its College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) signed a Cooperative Agreement with Seoul National University in December 2000. This agreement (Agreement No. 39201) will strengthen academic and scholarly links between the two institutions. Cornell has a long history of international cooperation, and its involvement in BK21 further underscores its prominent role in the development of world agriculture.

Program Overview
Graduate Student Research Program
BK21 will sponsor approximately 10 SNU Ph.D. students each year to do research work at Cornell in Ithaca, New York, in the field of their interest. It is expected that students will stay at Cornell for a period of 3 to 12 months. BK21 supports only students from SNU. Financial support includes: expenses for round trip airfare, stipend (US$1,000/month), initial settlement (US$1,000), and health insurance.

Through their major professor in Seoul, interested students should contact the faculty member at Cornell with whom they would like to carry out a research program. Once he or she receives a positive response, the student is expected to submit a set of application documents. This includes a completed application form, a curriculum vitae, a research plan, the results of the English proficiency tests (TOFEL), a letter of recommendation from their major professor, as well as a letter from the hosting professor at Cornell. These must be forwarded to the International Collaboration Committee of SNU (Attention: Dr. Lee) for approval.

Faculty Exchange Program
SNU to Cornell: A few SNU faculty members may visit Cornell on a short-term basis for the purpose of supervising SNU students at Cornell, developing joint programs, or performing other BK21 related matters. All members of the School of Agricultural Biotechnology are eligible. Round trip airfare and local expenses are provided by BK21.
Cornell to SNU: BK21 will be able to invite six to seven Cornell faculty members each year. Any faculty member who is interested in agricultural biotechnology is eligible. These invitees will be involved in such short-term assignments as seminar presentations, attending thesis advisory committee meetings, or other teaching and joint research related activities. A long-term invitation (six months) will be offered to a Cornell faculty member who is interested in teaching and conducting research at SNU. For long-term visits of six months, BK21 will cover round-trip airfare and local expenses (up to US$5,000/month).

Internet Lecture Series
BK21, in cooperation with Cornell faculty, plans to organize lectures over the Internet for SNU students. The topic will be selected from the SNU curriculum, and the person in charge is expected to conduct two to three weeks of on-site teaching and evaluation. US$5,000 will be offered per course. Expenses for an on-site lecture (round-trip airfare and local expenses) will be covered by BK21.

Joint Colloquium
A joint colloquium will be organized once a year in Seoul or Ithaca to discuss selected topics in agricultural biotechnology.

Contacts
BK21 Liaison Office at Cornell
James E. Haldeman
BK21 Liaison Office
B35 Warren Hall
International Programs
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York, 14853 USA
Tel: 607-255-3035 Fax: 607-255-1005
Cornell University Homepage: http://www.cornell.edu

BK21 Office at SNU
Su-Il Kim, Brain Korea 21

Mooha Lee, Chairman
International Collaboration Committee
School of Agricultural Biotechnology
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Seoul National University
Suweon, 441-744 Korea
Tel: 82-31-290-2415 Fax: 82-31-227-2415
BK21 Homepage: http://plaza.snu.ac.kr/~agbiotek

Interested faculty at Cornell may contact individual professors at SNU for possible cooperation and likewise SNU professors may contact Cornell faculty. Specific information about the research interests of professors at both universities is available at the BK21 and Cornell University Web sites.

Joint Program Committee
The Joint Program Committee is charged with monitoring and evaluating the BK21 SNU - Cornell Initiative, developing new initiatives, formulating the framework for a joint colloquium and lecture series, and for maintaining program direction. Members include key faculty and administrators responsible for carrying out this important initiative. They represent the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Seoul National University.

Cornell University:
James E. Haldeman, Senior Associate Director, International Programs/CALS
Chang Yong Lee, Professor, Food Science and Technology, CALS
Sang Jae Shin, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine
Elizabeth Earle, Professor and Chair, Department of Plant Breeding, CALS

Seoul National University:
Su-Il Kim, Professor and Head, School of Agricultural Biotechnology
Mooha Lee, Professor, Department of Animal Science and Technology, CALS
Yong H. Lee, Professor and Vice-Chairman, International Collaboration Committee
Pan D. Ryu, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine