On February 25, Professor Yong-Taek Im from the KAIST Department of Mechanical Engineering wasnominated as the 16th president of Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM). With the inaugural ceremony marking the beginning, Professor Im will serve as the president for three years until February 24, 2017.
KIMM is a research institute established in 1976, under the slogan of “Developing the machinery technology in the Republic of Korea.” The institute currently focuses its research on five main areas: advanced manufacturing systems, extreme mechanical engineering, nano-convergence mechanical systems, environmental and energy systems, and mechanical systems safety.
In the inaugural speech, he said, “With all my knowledge and experiences gained as a mechanical engineer for the past 40 years, I aim to reform KIMM. KIMM will evolve to a globally leading institute that significantly contributes to the creative economy with knowledge, innovation, motivation, and marketability.”
Professor Im shared his plan to establish the sustainable development strategy that can actively respond to the ever-changing research environment. He also plans to shape the interdisciplinary research environment by improving on the technological competency. He emphasized that this can be achieved by strengthening the selective cooperation with leading domestic and foreign research institutes. Furthermore, he stressed the need of building a transparent and rational research environment system that values creativity and innovation, and the need of strengthening the internal and external communication channels so that the members of KIMM can efficiently share new objectives and take social responsibility as researchers by spreading scientific culture.
Professor Im received his bachelor’s degree in mechanics and design and master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Seoul National University, and doctor’s degree in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley. His Computer-Aided Materials Processing Lab at KAIST is devoted to not only computer-aided materials processing but also friction measurement and development of nano-bulk material through severe plastic deformation.  

 

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