University of Sciences
University of Sciences is a university located inside the region of the National [Academy of Science of North Korea|National Academy of Science] in Pyongyang, North Korea. The university was previously called as "Institute of Natural Science".
UOS is geographically located in Pyongsong, South Pyong'an Province, North Korea. However, North Korean government appointed the area of science district to belong to Pyongyang for giving some privileges of Pyongyang citizens to scientists of NAS and students of UOS. As Kim Il Sung, a former leader of North Korea, emphasized the significance of education for gifted and talented students, UOS originally started as a branch of Kim Il Sung University on January 17, 1967. It was separated from Kim Il Sung University in 1985. In North Korea, this university is known as "Sujae Daehark ". In South Korean mass media, this university is called "KAIST of North Korea".
Top students of natural sciences or engineering in North Korea study at this university supported totally by North Korean government. Eighty percent of them is graduated from No.1 Middle Schools, which are science high schools for gifted and talented students in North Korea, and the rest twenty percent are medal winners in the National Science Olympiads or national science quiz contests. Unlike other universities in North Korea, students entering UNS have age limit. Equal or younger than 17 people are eligible to take entrance exam for UOS.
It is known that many alums of this university are involved in projects for developing missiles and launching artificial earth satellites.
Departments
There are six departments in UOS. Each department has five or six majors.Physics
- Theoretical Physics
- Thermal Physics
- Solid State Physics
- Optics
Mathematics
- Control Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics
- Information Mathematics
Chemistry
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Laboratory of Applied Chemistry
Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Chemical Biology
- General Genetics
- Molecular Genetics
- Cell Genetics
- Statistical Genetics
- Biological Information
Mechanical Engineering
- Plasma and Hydrodynamics
- Mechanical Dynamics
- Solid Mechanics
Notable alumni
Academics
- Kim Ha : Professor of Physics, University of Natural Science,
- Joseph Han: A North Korean defector and a physicist. He earned a PhD degree in nuclear physics from Texas A&M University in 2016. He is the first North Korean defector to receive a doctorate from a university in the United States.
- Jang Hyekyung : Professor of Mathematics, University of Natural Science
- Kim Ho : Professor of Mathematics, University of Natural Science. He received his Doctoral degree in his twenties.
- Kim Kwang-hyun : A scientist at Laser Institute of State Academy of Sciences of North Korea. He became a junior associate in the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in 2015.
- Kim Seo-in : A former head of department in Math Institute of the National Academy of Science of North Korea, the youngest PhD recipient of North Korea.
Business
- Lee Choong-kook : A North Korean defector. Director of Dandelion Oriental Medicine Clinic
- Lee Yun-keol : A North Korean defector and Chairman of NK Strategic Information Service Center
Politics, Government and Public Service
- Kim Seung-du : Chairman of National Education Commission, North Korea
- Lee Kwang-ho : Minister of Science Education Department, North Korea