[Sponsored Report] Science and tech merge at Osong Bio Expo

A computerized image of the Osong International Bio Industry Exposition from above. Provided by the organizing committee

The Osong International Bio Industry Exposition invites people to come and experience future bio technology firsthand from Sept. 9 to Oct. 12 at the Osong Bio-Health Science Technopolis near Osong Station. The expo’s organizing committee prepared various programs for different age groups.

The Bio Health Experience Center, Beauty Experience Center, Education Experience Center and Human Body Experience Center each arranged interesting and useful equipment for visitors and include programs tailored to adults, students and kids.

For middle-aged people, the Bio Health Experience Center provides information on preventing diseases. The center is equipped with a biosensor that only requires one drop of blood to examine cancer, cardiac disorder or thyroid disease, and a diagnostic apparatus that detects depression or dementia through biosignals. Mobile health management technology will also be presented.

In addition, 2,764 visitors can receive personalized vitamin pills tailored to each of their bodies. The rest area inside the center is also equipped with relaxation gadgets such as a health chair or an eye massager for visitors.

For young people and women of all ages, the Beauty Experience Center will present Korean beauty products combined with biotechnology. Programs for guests include skin diagnosis and consultations using the latest equipment. Guests can also try oral cosmetic samples and test smart beauty applicators.

Also inside the beauty center is a Sistar-themed exhibition, featuring the K-pop group Sistar that will promote this year’s expo. Very realistic hologram images of Sistar’s live concert will continue throughout the exhibition and there is a corner for visitors to test out beauty tips from the celebrities. Hair chalk that dyes hair in five minutes and stickers that create trendy nails without any fuss can turn a person into a K-pop beauty in an instant.

The Education Experience Center will feature sessions on bioscience, including lectures and related experiments that will teach students about the basics of bioscience.

The entrance to the center is decorated with animal graphics that will greet visitors. Various videos and plastic models lead the children to naturally understand the complicated concepts of cells and DNA. Students can also learn by observing creatures such as the fluorescent zebrafish made with genetic modification and other animals used in science research such as dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Chungbuk Provincial College will provide laboratory sessions two times a day for older students. In the session, students can participate in experiments they cannot conduct at school such as extracting DNA or dissections. Also, students can skim through various bio careers.

The expo’s organization committee plans to issue certificates to the students who visit the education center.

Younger children can learn about the human body in the Human Body Experience Center, where they can enjoy exploring rides that resemble human organs.

Tickets are available online through the expo’s official website or online shopping malls including Smartix, Timon, Auction and Gmarket. Discounted rates are available to those who buy tickets early.

The Osong International Bio Industry Exposition’s organizing committee hopes the event will be interesting to visitors.

“We have arranged the exposition with contents closely related to our real-life experiences, avoiding a pedantic exhibition,” said Lee Cha-young, the secretary general of the committee.

By Kim Young-shin [yskim11@joongang.co.kr]