Meeyoung Cha awarded the Order of Science and Technology Merit by the South Korean Government

Meeyoung (Mia) Cha, Scientific Director at Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP), was recognized for her pioneering work on tackling global societal challenges 

The Korean Ministry of Science and ICT held last month the annual Science and Information and Communication Day. At this event, 164 people were recognized by the Korean Government for their outstanding contributions to science and technology. MPI-SP’s scientific director, Meeyoung (Mia) Cha, has received the Innovation Medal (Order of Science and Technology Merit, second-highest grade) for her work leveraging AI and big data to address social challenges, such as detecting fake news and poverty.

 “I am deeply moved to receive such a high honor.” Says Cha. “ I would like to express my gratitude to KAIST and IBS for their unwavering support for my research in a new and unfamiliar field and to MPI-SP for providing me the opportunity to showcase my research capabilities on the global stage. This moment belongs to my team, colleagues, and mentors as well.” 

Leading the Data Science for Humanity Group, Prof. Cha studies how digital technologies shape human behavior, public discourse, and societal trust in areas such as misinformation, privacy, and algorithmic bias. The Order of Science and Technology Merit is one of the highest distinctions bestowed annually by the Korean Government upon its most impactful scientists and technologists.