Photo:

Haeng Soon Park

Oh, yes! I am ready. I joined the chatting yesterday was fine.

Favourite Thing: I am a representative of International Society of Science and Culture, Co. I like to encourage young people to have scientific mind and to enjoy science with five senses. I also like to stimulate their imagination without limit. I want them to know how fun the kitchen science is. I often remind children that his/her mother is the most wonderful scientist they may come to meet in their life time!

My CV

School:

Han Nam University, Korea (1965-1969)

University:

University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, Biochemistry Dept(1976-1982)

Work History:

Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea, Professor

Employer:

Medical School, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal

Current Job:

visiting professor, international volunteer

Me and my work

I teach biochemistry in a medical school in Nepal. I am very much interested in stimulating young people for scientific mind.

I retired last year from a University in Korea and came to Nepal as a visiting professor to teach Biochemistry which I was teaching for 28 years in Korea.

My research in Korea was about a kidney enzyme(renal dipeptidase) which was breaking down antibiotics(specially beta-lactam). When scientists and pharmaceutical companies to make new antibiotics, they have to test my kidney enzyme first to know whether the new drug is stable, not attacked by the enzyme.

In Nepal, I also am a tutor of a PBL(Problem Based Learning) group of 9 students.  I found PBL is very interesting and effective way of learning because it is about  disease cases of different kind, every week. I know my PBL students pretty well as I interviewed them individually and invited them to my home to eat together.

 

 

My Typical Day

Every other day, I have 2-hour PBL class. It takes 7 hours a week.

The PBL(Problem Based Learning) class starts with a trigger, the brief description of case of patient. The students write down the key informations of the patient, ask questions, make hypotheses followed by learning issues they should study by looking up the books, internet sources, etc.   They come back with their findings about the case and hot discussions followed.

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I give the 2nd trigger with more information of the patient, then same thing repeated. On the 3rd session, they come to an identification of the disease. They know almost everything of the case through their digging.  We close the case with reflection time sharing what they feel, evaluation of oneself, praising others including the tutor, etc. As the tutor, I guide the students but also learn  with them. It is very rewarding and fun time.

What I'd do with the money

I want to invite Nepali children for the Science Camp in Korea.

I visited Yanbien, China, every year for last 5 years to have <Science Festival> with the 5th graders. This year, I invited 10 children from Yanbien to Korea and had science camp with Korean children.

If I win the prize, I like to use the money to invite Nepali children to Korea to have a science camp with Korean children.  I will teach them PREZI(the zooming power point) and let them present their Dreams In The Future in PREZI. I am sure it will be a very special time for the children of both countries, Nepal and Korea.

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My Interview

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

global mind, challenging heart for new things, full of energy to refuse retirement

Who is your favourite singer or band?

Sumi Jo

What is the most fun thing you've done?

Dancing with the scientists in Uzbeckistan at the reception party of the conference

If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

to read the minds of others, not to do any stupid things to regret for rest of my life, to have a real romance

What did you want to be after you left school?

I wanted to be a professor, and I became one. I continue to be a professor, now in Nepal!

Were you ever in trouble in at school?

I had difficulty with English when I went USA to study, but not in trouble as it means.

What's the best thing you've done as a scientist?

I identified that the enzyme I purified cause breakdown of the new antibiotic(thienamycin) which was developed by Merk Sharp and Dohme, USA.

Tell us a joke.

What is better than a cup of coffee? Two cups of coffee!(if you are a coffee-lover)

Sports followed

table tennis

Favourite team

My profile link:
https://diseasea12.imascientist.org.au/profile/haengsoonpark/

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