Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Institute for Gifted Education in Science and Engineering, supported by the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education to foster outstanding local talent in science and engineering, is recruiting applicants for the 11th cohort of the 'Odysseus Program'.

The program supports outstanding local youths to gain hands-on research experience in university science and engineering laboratories. It is a collaborative project between JBNU and the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education to cultivate the next generation of talented leaders. Launched in 2012, the program has provided many local youths with customized education that has helped them grow into outstanding talents.

This year, the JBNU Institute for Gifted Education in Science and Engineering will recruit 12 teams across 11 fields, including Polymer and Nano Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural and Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Software Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering.

Eligible applicants are first-year high school students in the Jeonbuk region. Final selection will be made following a first-round document review and a second-round interview with supervising professors. The application period is July 8–18, and applicants should download the form attached to the notice on the JBNU Youth Creative Technology Talent Center blog (https://blog.naver.com/tstarjbnu) and apply via official school letter through their school teachers.

Selected students will participate in laboratory research activities and receive entrepreneurship education for a total of 11 months from September through July of next year.

At the final stage of the project, after research activities conclude, participants will be given the opportunity to join a Vision Trip to design their future vision. Through visits to leading university laboratories and institutions and meetings with local university researchers, the trip aims to foster entrepreneurship.

Students who complete all program requirements will have their training hours recognized by the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education. JBNU will award a certificate of completion in the name of the President, and outstanding students will be selected for awards.