—First International Conference on “Symbiotic Life Science and Technology”

From October 7 to 10, the Symbiotic Life-TECH Institute hosted its first international conference on “Symbiotic Life Science and Technology.”  Held in Centennial Hall and Samsung Hall on Yonsei’s Sinchon Campus, the conference welcomed a number of distinguished international scholars and policy experts to discuss ways of restoring the natural and social ecosystems that have been damaged due to industrialization. In particular, many speakers focused on how technology can contribute to establishing a healthier relationship between humans and their surrounding environments. 

On the first day, Yonsei Professor Lee Yeon-sook, director of the institute, gave a keynote address entitled “Overall Innovation: Why Now?” Following Professor Lee, Soyeon Shim, dean of the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, spoke on the field of human ecology in the twenty-first century; presenting case studies from the United States, she argued that the study of human ecology will be at the forefront of resolving practical, real world problems in the coming decades.  Talks and special lectures were also given by Professor Roderick Lawrence from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. José Luis Cordeiro from Singularity College in Silicon Valley, California, Ibon Zugasti, director of Prospektiker, a future strategic research institute in Spain, and Dr. Thomas Frey, executive director of the Da Vinci Institute.

On the conference’s second day, Dr. Hazel Henderson, the prominent futurist writer, producer, and lecturer, spoke on “Ecological Life Practices,” emphasizing sustainable practices that can improve the qualitative dimensions of life. The second keynote lecture was given by Yonsei Professor Lee Young, director of the Korea Institute of Childcare and Education, in which he dealt with strategies for addressing this country’s low birthrate and increasingly aging population. Finally, Yonsei Senior Vice President for Administration and Development Park Jin-bae, addressed the aims and future directions of convergence technology in the university; his talk was entitled “Impact of Convergence Technology on Higher Educational System.”  

The conference was organized to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Yonsei’s College of Human Ecology. During the conference, more than 500 individuals attended talks and lectures, including a large contingent of Yonsei students and faculty members. Human ecology consists of interdisciplinary studies of the relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments. The conference’s focus on symbiotic life science and technology was thus intended to provide a forum for critically engaging the rapid changes in science, technology, and economics impacting human life in this globalized world.  Above all, the esteemed participants were concerned with developing new knowledge foundations that can keep pace with the changing world, such that humankind can equitably, sustainably, and democratically forge more harmonious relationships with its surrounding ecosystems and thereby achieve a higher quality of life.

More information can be found on the Life-TECH Institute’s websites:

www.symbioticlifetech.org/en (English); www.symbioticlifetech.org (Korean).