On January 10, Yonsei University College of Science signed an MOU with UCLA College of Letters and Sciences, Division of Physical Sciences (Dean Joseph Rudick), agreeing to formalize cooperation between Yonsei's Earth System Sciences Research Center of the Natural Science Research Institute (Director Jeon Hae-young) and Joint Institute for Regional Earth System Science & Engineering (JIFRESSE, Director Kuo Nan Liou). JIRESSE was jointly established by UCLA and NASA JPL. It uses NASA satellite images to study climatic and environmental changes. The MOU was proposed based on the results of joint research conducted by the two universities since 2009. Productive and active cooperation between UCLA and Yonsei University is expected in regard to research and training through faculty and student exchange and visiting research programs.