The Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) recently joined hands with the Expo '90 Foundation under the vision of addressing the various challenges humans face through wise and innovative use of the ocean. The Organizing Committee held a signing ceremony for the BIE-Cosmos Prize jointly with the BIE and Expo ’90 Foundation on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 in the conference room of the Organizing Committee. The BIE-Cosmos Prize was founded in 2008 to encourage greater public participation in and further development of World Expositions. The prize was first awarded at the Expo Zaragoza 2008, and Yeosu Expo will mark its third year. A total of 10 not-for-profit projects focused on subjects directly related to the theme of Yeosu Expo, “The Living Ocean and Coast,” will be selected as nominees for the prize. Chairman Kang Dong-Suk of the Organizing Committee said at the signing ceremony, “The BIE-Cosmos Prize has played an important role in identifying and addressing global issues,” adding, “The Organizing Committee will offer as much support as possible, providing the Expo Hall to exhibit nominees’ projects for the prize and promoting the projects home and abroad.” Applications for the prize will be accepted until Feb. 28, 2012 on the BIE website (www.bie-paris.org) or via e-mail (bie@bie-paris.org). For more details, please visit the official website of Yeosu Expo (eng.expo2012.kr).