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| High school students participate in a laboratory experiment during the Bayer Youth Academy at the Bayer Crop Science Development Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. / Courtesy of Bayer |
By Jun Ji-hye
Researchers of Bayer Korea are giving life science and modern agriculture education to local students through laboratory experiments and field activities to help them better understand the importance of healthy food.
Kim Sung-min, a site and field trial operation manager of the Bayer Crop Science Development Center in Pyeongtaek, said the Bayer Youth Academy on life science education programs was started in 2010 as part of the firm's corporate social responsibility activities.
Bayer is a Germen-based global company specializing in the life science fields of health care and agriculture.
Pyeongtaek, in Gyeonggi Province, is 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
"We invite 10 students from Jinwi High School, located near the development center, every year, and teach them the importance of agriculture, agricultural technology, plant diseases and pest control through laboratory experiments and field activities," Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times. "The program runs from three to five days."
Students who decided to take subjects related to natural sciences at the school are invited, he said, noting that they take a deep interest in laboratory experiments and field activities to which they can apply the knowledge they learn at the school.
"Students also enjoy taking part in question and answer sessions and discussions after laboratory experiments," he said.
Kim also said the program offers an opportunity to students to think about what they will study at universities.
"After participating in the program, some students have actually decided to study natural sciences or engineering at universities," he said. "I feel rewarded for helping them change their perception toward agricultural production and crop protection."
He said researchers at the development center hope that students will have more interest in agriculture and life science amid growing demand for outstanding individuals in these areas.
Bayer Crop Science has also held rice transplantation activities at the development center since 2004.
Annually about 50 children of Bayer employees and from international schools are invited to the event, which has the aim of educating them on the importance of healthy food and global food security through actual field experience.
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