Women in Physics

First Woman President of Government Subsidized Research Institute of Korea

Kwang Hwa Chung*
* President, Korea Research Institute of

Standards and Science (KRISS), Yusong-gu, Daejon 305-340, Korea E-mail: khchung@kriss.re.kr

Kwang Hwa Chung

I returned to Korea right after I finished my PhD in Physics in 1977, from University of Pittsburgh, USA. Though I studied theoretical particle physics, when I returned to Korea, there was little job for a theoretical high energy physicist, especially for a woman physicist. On the other hand, Korean government established many government subsidized research institutes and tried to recruit many scientists and engineers to meet the technical needs for its economic development. I decided to give up my career as a theoretical particle physicist but to contribute to the countrys effort for economic development. Even that was not easy, for most research institutes did not want to hire women either. But fortunately the then President Kim of Korea Research Institute of Standards (KSRI), whose wife was a professor of a university and free of prejudice against professional women, accepted me. In 1978, I joined Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), and started a career as a metrologist. Since then, I have been working for KRISS, and became the president of KRISS in 2005.

so, without accurate and unified measurement standards, the country will become disordered and scientific exchanges will be difficult. Thus, it is necessary for every nation to establish some kind of standards institute to have unified measurement units within the country. As world trade became frequent, the harmonization of measurement standards between countries became important, and that is why in 1875, 17 countries gathered in France and signed Meter Convention, and many countries established NMIs shortly after. As of 2007, the members grew to be 114 countries.

Almost all countries have NMIs, for example, NMIJ in Japan, NIM in China, NIST in USA, PTB in Germany, and etc. Since international coherence and confidence is critical in measurement standards, communications and comparisons between NMIs are very frequent. In old days, physical measurements standards were the main area to be established. But as new technologies are being emerged, the NMIs should cover much wider range of fields, ranging from physical quantities, materials and chemical properties, nano-technology, KRISS is a National Metrology Institute environment and life science, practically all (NMI) of Korea. The NMIs role is to main- fields of science and technology. tain and disseminate the measurement standards of the nation. Measurement standards National Measurement Standards are is like a language for economic transactions derived from basic principle of nature, and science and engineering activities, and should achieve very higher precision, 18

hundred times for 1 % accuracy, million times for 1 ppm accuracy, and so on. The technology these days require very high accuracy, for example, for the communication with mobile phone, we need the ac-14 curacy of 10 . Thus, establishing national measurement standards inevitably requires very deep basic researches. For example, the second is currently defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels in the ground state of the cesium 133 atom. This definition refers to a caesium atom at rest at a temperature of 0 K. The ground state is defined at zero magnetic field. Just to realize the accurate seconds, more than 10 nobel prize winner in physics were produced including 3 winners in 2005 for their contributions to laser based precision spectroscopy, including the optical frequency comb technology. As a NMI of Korea, the major research fields of KRISS are: National Measurement Standards Metrology for Quality of Life Measurement Technology Dissemination of Measurement Standards KRISS implements International System of Units (the SI system consisting of 7 units m, kg, s, K, A, cd, and mol) and develop measurement systems for derived

AAPPS Bulletin August 2007, Vol. 17, No. 4

First Woman President of Government Subsidized Research Insitute of Korea

Fig. 1: magnetocardiogram system using SQUID sensors.

Fig. 2: Rats liver cell.

SI units to provide government, industry, and academia with a secure technical foundation for international trade, commerce, and R&D. Some of the research highlights are: Development of cesium fountain atomic clock Nano scale force measurement standards Standardization of thermo physical property measurement KRISS currently put much effort in developing the standards for measurements of environment, safety, food, and health. Some of the major research highlights in this field are as follow. Measurement techniques on greenhouse gases Dosimetry and radioactivity standards

Fig. 3: manufacturing precision large diameter non-spherical optical mirror.

Development of magneto cardiogram KRISS provides technical assistance system using SQUID sensors [Fig. 1] and advice to industries, universities, and Development of single-cell biological other research and development institutes mapping technology [Fig. 2] to enhance their international competitiveness. Each year it serves over 3,500 private KRISS supports industry through vari- and public sector businesses Korea, by ous research projects in new technologies providing technical support, testing and such as nano-technology, bio-technology, calibration services, measurement training, and nano-bio interdisciplinary technology and consultation services. and their industrial applications. Some of the research highlights are: When I joined KRISS, my first task was Testing and evaluation methods for large to establish the national mass standards in wind turbine blades Korea. After that I briefly worked at pres Development of large (>1 m) diameter sure standards laboratory, I took up vacuum precision non-spherical optical mirror for standards in 1983. Achieving high accuracy satellite [Fig. 3] vacuum standards required very long and Measurement standards for an ultra thin concentrated efforts for more than 15 film semiconductors (<1 nm) [Fig. 4] years, but eventually I was able to achieve one of the worlds best vacuum standards laboratories. Along the way, I came to realize that Korean big semiconductor manufacturers import over 60 M$ worth of vacuum equipments each year, but they do not want to buy Korean vacuum products because they have the lack of reliability of vacuum products made in Korea. Thus, I created the vacuum technology center in 1996, where performance tests and diagnosis for all the vacuum components and systems can be done, and reliable technical data in the following area can be given to Korean products. Vacuum pumps Fig. 4: Standards Reference for ultra thin film Vacuum measurement instruments semiconductors. Vacuum components 19

AAPPS Bulletin August 2007, Vol. 17, No. 4

Women in Physics

Fig. 5: Outgassing test for vacuum materials.

Symposium on BT, IT, ET, NT in 2003 (2003 BIEN) and invited ICWES13. I worked closely with Ministry of Science and Technology to draw up many policies to upgrade the situation of women scientists and engineers. I also was a creating member of the Korean Vacuum Society (KVS), and is serving as a president of KVS since 2005. I also served Korean Physical Society as Women Committee chair. I took part in the Korean Governments Science and Technology policy making as a member of National Science and Technology Committee, which is highest policy decision making committee, chaired by president of Korea. Currently I am a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Science and Technology. I feel that I was very lucky. I liked physics, very rare for the girls in my youth, and have understanding parents allowing me to go to USA all by myself to continue my study. I came back to my homeland when its economy was just starting to grow, and was offered a job I enjoyed. I was one of only two women scientists in all the government subsidized research institutes for over 10 years, and that rarity gave me the opportunities to serve for other women scientists and engineers as the president of KWSE, and later for the government. For my scientific career, I was always able to get funds needed to set up the vacuum standards and vacuum center, and achieved the worlds best vacuum laboratory, and became the president of the Korean Vacuum Society. And most of all now I am serving KRISS, where I spend all my research life, as president.

Fig. 6: Plasma diagnostics by laser spectroscopy.

Vacuum materials [Fig. 5] Vacuum process diagnostic system [Fig. 6] The Vacuum Technology Center is the biggest and probably the only vacuum laboratory in the world that can give the total solution to the vacuum components and system. We do many joint researches with semiconductor companies as well as many small and medium sized vacuum component manufacturers. Also, many postdocs and students for masters and PhD degrees from many countries work with us. Besides the professional work, I have always been very actively involved in various social activities and issues. As a woman, experience many discrimination, I wanted to help women scientists and engineers in Korea. So, I initiated the creation of the Association of Korean Woman Scientists and Engineers (KWSE), and served as vice-president for 8 years and president 4 years 2000-2004. During my presidency, I organized the International Womens

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AAPPS Bulletin August 2007, Vol. 17, No. 4