Yonsei Chemistry Meets the Nobel Set the Foundation for Realizing the "Yonsei Vision 2020" Chemistry education at Yonsei University first began in 1917 with the establishment of the Department of Applied Chemistry in Yonhi College. In 1946, it developed into the Department of Chemistry and began to provide four years of formal education in Chemistry. Now, in 2006, the Department is celebrating its 60th anniversary. For the past 60 years, it has developed into the most prestigious department, opening up new horizons in 21st century chemistry education. Furthermore, it now possesses the research ability that is equivalent to the top 20 U.S. universities. Moreover, the Department has inaugurated the Nano-bio Molecular Assembly Project Team as a part of the 2nd stage of the BK21 project. To celebrate these tremendous achievements, the Department of Chemistry held the 1st Yonsei Nano-bio International Symposium on October 21st and 23rd. Professor Robert H. Grubbs (2005 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) Gives a Lecture On October 21st, Professor Robert H. Grubbs of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the California Institute of Technology was invited to give a lecture. The 900 seats at the Centennial Hall, where the Nobel lecture was held, were filled with Yonsei students and high school students who dream of becoming future chemists, verifying the public's high level of interest in chemistry. During his welcoming address, President Jung Chang-Young expressed his great pride in the development of chemistry at Yonsei and emphasized its importance. He stressed that chemistry, which is a fundamental science, will be a cornerstone in the development of Korean scientific technology. Professor Grubbs gave a lecture on "The Design and Synthesis of Olefin Metathesis Catalysts," and gave a detailed explanation on the industrial application of molecular catalysts. His lecture received much praise and attention and sent a profound message to students aspiring to become future scientists. The 1st Yonsei Nano-bio Molecular Aggregate International Symposium On October 23rd, in Room 111 of the Science Hall, the Yonsei Nano-bio Molecular Assembly Symposium was held. The numerous domestic and international universities that currently have an exchange agreement with the Department of Chemistry participated. Professor Jeffrey I. Zink (UCLA California NanoSystems Institute), Professor Vinayak P. Dravid (Northwestern University Institute for Nanotechnology), Professor Takashi Kato (Tokyo University), Professor Akira Harada (Osaka University), Professor Nobuo Kimizuka (Kyushu University), Professor Chung Sung-Kee (POSTECH), Professor Choi Jin-Ho (Ewha Womans University), Dr. Lee Dae-Sil (Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology), as well as Professor Kim Dongho and Professor Lee Myong-Soo of Yonsei University's Department of Chemistry participated as speakers. The symposium's guest speakers, consisting of domestic and international specialists in the field of Nano-bio, and the participants, carried out a heated debate. It was a meaningful and successful occasion in that it was the first international event held by the BK21 Nano-bio Molecular Assembly Project Team. "It is Korea's best and one of the most prestigious Departments of Chemistry in the world" Nobel Laureates and Internationally Distinguished Scholars Reconfirm the International Status of Yonsei's Department of Chemistry Following the symposium, the guest speakers had the opportunity to explain the present status of the Department of Chemistry, and it was a chance to reconfirm the Department of Chemistry's international standing. During the discussion session, Professor Robert H. Grubbs evaluated the Department of Chemistry as the best in Korea, and recognized its potential of growing into a world-renowned prestigious department. Moreover, the Department signed an international exchange agreement with Department of Chemistry, University of Tokyo and appointed Professor Zink of UCLA, Professor Harada of Osaka University, and Professor Chung Sung-Kee of POSTECH as advisory committee members. The various efforts of the Department of Chemistry will set the foundation for achieving the goal of "Global 5-5-10", one of the most important goals of "Yonsei Vision 2020."