A ‘π style’ interdisciplinary approach between humanities and science made its first step in POSTECH.
On May 1, POSTECH launched its Humanities, Imagination and Technology Institute (HiT), which supports interdisciplinary research cooperation connecting Humanities, Sociology, and Scientific Technology. HiT conducts researches on several stressed topics, such as Science and Technology Studies, studies on images, media, and communications, and Cognitive Science.

The Division of Humanities and Social Sciences now covers not only collaborated research across disciplines on various subjects but communications, media, and digital humanities which need scientific characteristics, more than simply educating in the liberal arts.

Prior to the HiT launching, POSTECH introduced an integrated curriculum named HASS, the abbreviation of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, focusing on developing critical thinking, imagination, and ethical judgment, as well as enhancing education in the liberal arts.

Distinguished Professor and head of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jin-Woo Lee, also occupies the position of the institute’s director. He said, “Imagination based on humanities and social sciences without expertise looks inadequate; conversely, expertise without humanistic insights becomes blind.”

The opening forum was held on May 2 in the POSCO International Center as the launching event of the HiT. A series of lectures was opened not only for university members but citizens, including a lecture of Prof. Lee titled ‘Why humanistic technology?’.