IBS publishes Corona Science, a COVID-19 analysis report

A book that scientifically analyzes and sheds light on ways to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic has been newly released.

The Institute for Basic Science (IBS) announced that it published Corona Science, which is authored by 12 leading scientists in Korea. This book is a compilation of the 19 articles from the “COVID-19 Science Report” series, which were posted on the IBS website from March to September 2020.

IBS ran the “COVID-19 Science Report” to distribute correct scientific knowledge to the public and remain faithful to its social responsibility as a basic science institution amidst the COVID-19 crisis. IBS affiliated researchers, physicians, and social scientists took part as authors and offered their viewpoints on the science of COVID-19 and related social phenomena.

This book drew the attention of the public by sharing objective scientific knowledge in a steadfast manner amidst the spread of groundless fearmongering and fake news concerning COVID-19. Also, it garnered much acclaim as the product of frontline researchers’ efforts to reach out to the public beyond the walls of their labs. Corona Science updated the scientific facts within the original reports, added more expert articles, and was perfected to ensure easy reading by the public.

The book consists of three parts. Part 1 elaborates on the structure, virus’s penetration route, and pneumonia-inducing mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 as well as preventive and treatment strategies. It also contains the contribution of KIM V. Narry, the Director of the IBS Center for RNA Research, about the significance and the background of her research that was conducted jointly with the National Institute of Health. She was the first in the world to analyze the entirety of the RNA transcripts produced by the virus-infected host cells, and her work was published in the April 2020 issue of Cell.

Part 2 deals with the novel virus’s formidable infectivity and defensive system. Scientifically defined facts about COVID-19, such as the virus’s transmission mechanism, the human immune system, hosts, and therapies, are offered. Part 3 illustrates the experiences of healthcare workers fighting against the novel virus, psychological impact, the COVID-19 infodemic, and the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic. It also introduces social changes brought forth by the novel virus and scientists’ cooperation and efforts to respond to such changes.

President NOH Do Young of IBS said, “The most effective weapon in the fight against COVID-19 is a rational thought process based on scientific facts. Stories delivered by some of the nation’s most outstanding scientists will lay the foundation for such rational thinking.”

SHIN Hee-Sup, the Director of the Social Neuroscience Group of the IBS Center for Cognition and Sociality and South Korea’s leading brain scientist, recommended the work while stating, “The clear scientific discussions contained in this book seem like the light that illuminates the darkness of ignorance.” Corona Science was planned by IBS and published by Dongasia Books. It is priced at 15,000 KRW and can be purchased at online and offline bookstores.