Center for Science and Culture in Incheon – Mobile Science Classroom × Citizen Scientist Drone Soccer Camp

- Where Science Lectures Meet Drone Soccer! A Hands-on Future Mobility Technology Camp Held in Incheon

- Organized by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Center for Science and Culture in Incheon, the Camp Heats Up with “Mobility + Drone Soccer”

The Center for Science and Culture in Incheon (Director: Prof. Han Ki-soon, Department of Creative Talent Development, Incheon National University) successfully hosted the “Mobile Science Classroom × Citizen Scientist Drone Soccer Camp” on Monday, July 14, in collaboration with the National Research Foundation of Korea.

A total of 148 first-year students from Gwangseong High School participated in the event, where they attended a professional science lecture and learned to operate drones through a drone soccer game, providing a vivid and engaging experience with science and technology.

The camp was conducted in two parts. In the first session, Prof. Oh Kwang-seok from the Department of ICT Robotics and Mechanical Engineering at Hankyong National University delivered a lecture titled “A Look into the Future of Human-Friendly Autonomous Mobility Technologies.” He explained concepts in engineering, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI), providing students with a deep and interactive science culture communication experience.

The second session featured a drone soccer activity led by Park So-young, the head coach of the Incheon drone soccer team and a member of the national team. Students were divided into 8 teams—Red Team and Blue Team (four teams each)—to learn basic drone controls and engage in actual matches. Through hands-on drone piloting, including direction control and speed adjustment, students enhanced their scientific thinking, creativity, and sense of teamwork.

The camp was filled with enthusiastic participation and support, transforming the event into a dynamic educational space where students could experience the charm of science through real-world technology rather than theory alone. By seamlessly linking lectures and drone activities under the theme of “mobility,” the program effectively heightened students’ immersion and interest.

Prof. Han Ki-soon, Director of the Center for Science and Culture in Incheon, remarked,

“Through this camp that combined expert science lectures with hands-on drone soccer experiences, we hope students discovered the joy of science and were inspired to grow into future leaders in the culture of science and technology.”

Since 2021, the Center for Science and Culture in Incheon has been operated by the Incheon University Institute for Science Gifted Education (www.inuisge.kr). The center continues to provide diverse programs aimed at expanding science culture in the local community and addressing educational disparities. In 2023 alone, it collaborated with 90 local organizations, serving approximately 170,000 citizens and solidifying its role as Incheon’s hub for science outreach.

Programs of the center are funded by the Science and Technology Promotion Fund and Lottery Fund, supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity, contributing to national science and technology development and enhancing welfare for underprivileged groups.