Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

  Mechanical Engineering students, Hansol Lim (Ph.D.), Jee Won Lee, Hanbeom Chang (Masters), and Sooyeon Yang (Undergrad), advised by Professor Jongseong Brad Choi, claimed the Grand Prize (대상) as first place winners at the prestigious KSME/KIMM AI/DX Competition. The event was organized by the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials. The 2024 Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers Conference took place at the Jeju International Convention Center from November 6th to 9th. This year’s theme was: “Leading Global Technological Supremacy in Mechanical Engineering – From Breakthrough Core Technologies to K-Defense Technology.” Competing against 19 teams from top-tier universities in Korea, including KAIST and GIST, the SUNY Korea team stood out with their innovative approach and technical excellence, earning the highest honor. KAIST secured second and third places, followed by Ajou University and UST. The MEIC team project, EV-PINN: Physics-Informed Neural Networks for Predicting Electric Vehicle Dynamics, harnesses electric vehicle log data to accurately forecast dynamic parameters such as aerodynamic drag and engine efficiency. Additionally, EV-PINN precisely estimates the vehicle's battery power and energy consumption, showcasing significant advancements in electric vehicle technology. SUNY Korea congratulates Hansol Lim, Jee Won Lee, Hanbeom Chang, and Sooyeon Yang, (as well as advisor Jongseong Brad Choi), for such a wonderful achievement.  

  SUNY Korea's Applied Mathematics and Statistics (AMS) department hosted a Math Competition on November 20th and 23rd, 2024. The event, moderated by Professor Hongshik Ahn, Chair of the AMS department, brought students together for six rounds of intense problem-solving. It was open to all departments, not just AMS students, and followed a golden bell format, where participants who answered questions incorrectly were given another chance to rejoin the main round. Each round came with exciting cash prizes: 400,000 KRW for the first round, 300,000 KRW for the second, 200,000 KRW for the third, 100,000 KRW for the fourth, 50,000 KRW for the fifth, and in the sixth round, five participants who answered correctly were each awarded 10,000 KRW. The event kicked off with lunch and wrapped up after about two hours, ending with a heartfelt speech from the AMS coordinator and ice cream for everyone. On November 23rd, during SUNY Korea’s Experience Day, another math competition took place, this time geared towards prospective students. The hall was buzzing with energy as contestants eagerly tackled math challenges. Winners received special prizes, and the AMS coordinator once again thanked everyone for their enthusiasm and participation. These competitions weren’t just about prizes, but rather they created a space for students and prospective students to explore math, connect with SUNY Korea professors, and experience the excitement of problem-solving. It was a perfect mix of learning, fun, and community-building.       Written by Student Reporter, Onyinyechi Achi (onyinyechi.achi@stonybrook.edu)

After experiencing a stroke, nearly 60 percent of survivors continue to suffer from persistent impaired upper limb function and weakness. This impacts a person’s ability to perform routine daily activities like eating, pouring a drink, putting on clothing and, ultimately, on quality of life. To help improve the lives of these patients, is the first healthcare system on Long Island to implant an FDA-approved technology for ischemic stroke survivors that improves upper limb function for those who have not regained mobility after active rehabilitation therapy, even years later.  Click here to read the original article.

  Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Fashion Design students have once again been able to share their art at the annual Incheon Art Show this November, and this year was nothing short of impactful. This past week, the Fashion Design Department of FIT, SUNY Korea had the opportunity to create, showcase, and sell their designs at the Incheon Art Show 2024, held at Songdo Convensia Hall. This was a significant event for many students, allowing them to develop their skills for creating one-of-a-kind art that is marketed towards a large customer base.  The Incheon Art Show is an exhibition consisting of famous artists from Korea and abroad, with over 6,000 works being showcased this year. As the largest art festival in Incheon, it gathers many art enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds, who are now being introduced to the talent FIT has to offer. Professor Blackman, Department Chair of Fashion Design, gave a rundown of their theme this year, explaining that “everything was AI generated to make sure that students understood the business relationship between AI and their own inspiration and intuition.” This was done artfully by having fashion design students come up with concepts that spoke to them, “and then we had to figure out how to make the concepts marketable through color choice, through composition, and sayings.” There were 47 looks to choose from, spanning from futuristic, vibey graphics, to witty, relatable quotes, reaching many different consumer markets interested in the diverse colors, styles, and symbolism of the tops designed by FIT creatives. Designs were sold on tee shirts, allowing visitors to wear the art that resonated with them (or loved ones) best, adding a personalized touch to enjoying and sharing art. Blackman shared that after the event ends, pre orders will be fulfilled, minimizing the risk of extra inventory and allowing students to see what graphics sold best, and in what colors, providing a learning opportunity to get a better grasp of the market and reflect on their predictions. The art show aligns perfectly with the global presence SUNY Korea fosters in its students, giving students experience creating and marketing their ideas in the midst of technological advances and unique cultural tastes to appeal to the wide variety of people attending the art show. Make sure to attend next year to see FIT’s creations, which are sure to reflect the ever-evolving world around us in a fresh and delightful way.   Written by Student Reporter, Kenessa Washington (kenessa_washington@fitnyc.edu)

  On October 30, 2024, SUNY Korea's FIT FBM students embarked on an educational field trip to Applerind, located in Wonju, Kangwon-do. Thirty-five FBM (Fashion Business Management) students participated in this enriching experience, accompanied by Professors Robin Baxter, Hyeseon Kim, and Linda Kim. The trip began with a warm welcome from CEO Yunsoo Kim, whose collaboration with SUNY Korea reflects Applerind's commitment to fostering academic-industry partnerships. Students toured the facilities, gaining firsthand insights into the company’s innovative design processes, project management strategies, and production techniques. A presentation by the CEO highlighted Applerind's current and historical projects, followed by a Q&A session that shed light on the challenges and opportunities in the industry. After the visit to Applerind, the group visited Museum SAN, where they explored exhibits showcasing the harmonious interplay between art, nature, and space. This visit sparked creativity and emphasized the importance of cultural perspectives in design. The field trip offered FBM students a comprehensive look at industry practices and trends, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world applications. The experience not only inspired the students’ creative aspirations but also deepened their understanding of how business and design intersect in professional environments.

The New York Climate Exchange, a first-of-its-kind organization working to implement innovative climate solutions in New York City and across the globe, has announced a $10 million gift from Stony Brook University alumnus Glenn Dubin ’78, Hon. ’12 and his wife, Eva Andersson-Dubin, MD. The pledge will be used to support The Exchange’s critical capital projects, faculty research, community programs, student activities, and conferences, among other operational activities. “In its first year of operation, The Exchange has begun to show how our unique partner network can drive forward climate solutions,” said Stephen Hammer, chief executive officer of The Exchange. “We’re grateful to the Dubin Family Foundation for this very generous gift which will help us dramatically expand the scale of impact we can have on pressing climate challenges and opportunities.” Richard L. McCormick, co-chair of The New York Climate Exchange Board of Directors and interim president of Stony Brook University, added: “The Exchange provides a platform for researchers and experts from multiple disciplines, institutions and nations to come together to tackle one of our world’s most pressing challenges. We are incredibly grateful to Glenn and Eva for their partnership and for their investment in the critical work that is taking place in this global hub of education, research, and action.” Click here to read the original article.

  On November 15, 2024, SUNY Korea's CPA Study Group visited PwC Korea in Seoul. Thirty students, including three faculty members, Business Management Department Chair Jeehong Kim, Professor Soo Young Kwon, and Professor Koren Jo, joined this insightful field trip. The program began with an introduction to PwC, highlighting the company's global impact and diverse range of professional services. Following this, students enjoyed a group lunch and networking session with PwC partners, receiving invaluable advice on career planning and insights into the accounting industry. During the Q&A session, the students had the opportunity to engage directly with PwC professionals, deepening their understanding of what it takes to thrive in a dynamic work environment. The event concluded with a tour of the PwC office, offering students a glimpse into the corporate culture and operations at one of the world's leading professional services firms. Established in Spring 2022, the CPA Study Group at SUNY Korea has consistently provided its members with enriching experiences such as seminars, mentorship, and field trips. Events like this reflect the group's commitment to inspiring and equipping CPAs with the knowledge and connections needed to excel in their careers.        

    On November 13, SUNY Korea Career Development Center (CDC) held a seminar on employment strategies at major Korean companies. This seminar offered students invaluable insights on ways to navigate the competitive job market and its trends. The event attracted students from various backgrounds who were eager to learn about the recruitment processes and strategies for securing positions at some of Korea’s largest companies, such as LF , Shinsegae, Celltrion, Hanhwa, CJ and Nexon. The CDC brought in HR professional, Hyewon Lee, to share her professional insights, making the session highly relevant and informative.  Throughout the seminar, Hyewon shared practical tips for excelling in recruitment, from preparing strong resumes to acing interviews and understanding the expectations of Korean employers. Students were able to ask questions and engage in open discussions about topics like mastering application processes and honing essential skills for a competitive edge. The event was not only informative but also inspiring, and students left the room with a clearer understanding of what major companies look for in candidates and how they can effectively prepare for future job opportunities.   Written by Student Reporter, Yeongeun Ahn (yeongeun.ahn@stonybrook.edu)  

On November 19, FIT held A Celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, a full day of panel discussions and performances featuring Indigenous designers and creatives. The special event was timed to Red Shawl Day, a day of remembrance honoring murdered and missing Indigenous people and Alaska Natives, especially women and children. FIT’s Social Justice Center cohosted the conference with 4KINSHIP, a retail brand and shop in New Mexico, founded by FIT alumna Amy Denet Deal, that sells sustainable clothing and accessories designed by Denet Deal and other Indigenous artists. Before founding her business in 2022, Denet Deal designed for major corporate brands, such as Reebok and Puma. She grew up in Indiana and was raised by an adoptive family, but always felt the desire to connect with her Navajo heritage. In 2019, she decided to move to New Mexico to start that journey. Click here to read the original article.

On November 14, 10 faculty members who took sabbaticals in the 2023–24 academic year presented on their projects in the Robert Lagary Board Room. FIT grants sabbaticals to full-time faculty members for work that augments their value to the college. Faculty might use the time away from teaching to write their doctoral dissertation, author a book, collaborate with other institutions, or complete a research project. Click here to read the original article.

  The Mechanical Engineering senior design group, CARmodynamics, won a bronze award at the 14th KSME Student Creative Design Competition (SCDC), organized by the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (KSME). CARmodynamics consists of five Mechanical Engineering students: Jinkyu Lee, Yunjeong Kim, Hojin Song, Sooyeun Yang, and Sehyeon Jeong. They were selected as one of 15 teams, out of a total of 180 entries, to present at the competition. Their presentation addressed the growing problem of potholes and the need for efficient detection methods. The team developed an automated pothole detection system to replace current manual reporting methods, using a YOLO v5 deep learning model, GPS, and machine learning-based vibration analyses to accurately identify and document pothole locations. Testing was conducted with a custom-built electric vehicle, with structural integrity verified through Finite Element Analyses using ANSYS. The results validated each module's performance, demonstrating the system's potential to improve pothole detection and enhance road maintenance efficiency.    

Why Study Engineering? Many factors affect the engineering job market. These include local and global economic activities, industry trends, labor force supply and demand, and a changing need for new skills and education levels.  A report by Mordor Intelligence, cited by Yahoo Finance, highlights the high demand for global engineering services in the near future. The report cites a market size of $1.67 trillion in 2024, projected to grow to $2.04 trillion by 2029. This corresponds to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.20%. While the Asia Pacific region currently leads the market, the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the fastest growth rates. From the labor supply perspective, the high salaries in engineering play a significant role in encouraging college students to choose this field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers had a median annual salary of $91,420 in May 2023, well above the median yearly wage for all professions, which was $48,060. Additionally, employment in engineering is projected to grow at a faster-than-average rate from 2022 to 2032, with an estimated 188,000 new job openings each year.  The challenges of engineering education and the current gender gap, however, impact the supply of engineers. Despite some progress, only 16.5% of engineers globally are women. In Korea and the U.S., around 20% of STEM degrees are awarded to female students. Other factors impacting supply shortages are an aging workforce, a lack of interest in some conventional areas of engineering among younger generations, and the skill gap, a mismatch between the skills that emerging technologies require and the skills that some engineers have.  These issues highlight concerns about a potential shortage of engineers. According to a Boston Globe (BG) report, the U.S. requires around 400,000 new engineers yearly. The report estimates that nearly one in three engineering positions may go unfilled annually until at least 2030. This shortfall could impede progress in vital industries and impact government and industry initiatives to boost economic growth and competitiveness. The engineering talent shortage isn't limited to the U.S. The Japanese Ministry of Economy has forecasted a deficit of over 700,000 engineers by 2030, while the German Economic Institute reported a shortage of 320,000 STEM professionals in Germany as of April 2022, according to the BG report Another report from Engineering UK forecasts a 2.8% increase in engineering jobs in the UK by 2030, resulting in about 173,000 new positions. This growth rate is above the anticipated national average for all occupations, set at 2.3%. The demand for engineers is expected to surpass that of other professions, reflecting the country's significant need for engineering skills.  A recent article from NIKKEI Asia reported that companies like Samsung are increasingly hiring high school graduates as the competition for skilled engineering talent intensifies in South Korea. This comes even though, according to Statista Korea, South Korea graduated nearly 86,000 engineers and computer scientists in 2023. Engineering education quality differs from country to country. Recently, Insider Monkey, a financial data website, published a list of the 15 best countries to study engineering based on its "Insider Monkey Global Education Index." This index ranks countries by the number of universities in the top 1,000 QS World University Rankings and considers factors like government investment in higher education. South Korea, with 31 universities in the top 1,000, is ranked eighth, following Japan, Australia, Italy, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which ranks first. Encouraging students to pursue engineering degrees is a notable challenge. Engineering roles are among the most intellectually rigorous, demanding constant problem-solving and innovation. The field's interdisciplinary nature requires a diverse skill set, as engineers must integrate knowledge from various domains to analyze, design, and optimize systems. While studying engineering can be highly rewarding, its difficulty may deter some talented students from choosing it as a major. To address these challenges, universities and educational institutions should foster supportive environments and develop balanced curricula focused on developing core skills and life-long learning strategies.   Click here to read the article.

  On November 6, 2024, SUNY Korea hosted a Distinguished Seminar by Mr. Horyun Jung, Director of General Motors Technical Center Korea Operations, where he led an informative discourse on virtual technology and its influence on product development and future prospects. The seminar took place in Academic Building C105, with students and faculty interested in the changing face of technology in business and engineering attending. Mr. Jung received his MBA from Seoul National University and BS in Product Design from Handong Global University. He has accumulated work experience for more than 20 years in General Motors while climbing the career ladder in engineering and design development. That foundational experience helped bring into focus the core of the seminar: how technological commercialization—namely, the use of virtual tools—is now shaking up industries. He provided examples from the automobile industry on how virtual technology improves efficiency and accelerates innovation in product development. The examples given during the seminar on crucial technologies, especially in the auto sector, where digital tools fast-track operations from design to production, were highly enlightening. Mr. Jung explained that virtual tools give the potential to make changes in real time, at a lower cost, and hence improve development. This helped the attendees understand the growing importance of such tools in the global quest for efficiency in product innovation. He also identified the skills and competencies required by the professionals of the future, given anticipated changes in technology and business practices, sharing with the students many gems on how to prepare for careers that would require adaptability, technical savvy, and awareness of virtual technologies. Overall, the seminar was a great opportunity for SUNY Korea students to gain insight into industry trends from a leading source in the field, allowing the attendees to see how technological advancement shapes the future of product development, and leaving them better prepared to meet the challenges in a rapidly changing job market.   Written by Student Reporter, Moldir Salim (moldir.salim@stonybrook.edu)  

  The 3rd Incheon Global Citizenship Education Festival was held on October 29th and 30th at the Songdo Convensia. The slogan for this year was "Read, Walk, Write-Based Education for Global Citizenship, Focusing on Peace and Coexistence in Incheon." This year’s event featured 80 booths run by various schools, organizations, and companies. SUNY Korea was represented by two student clubs: the International Student Association and Thé Former. The International Student Association played a guessing game and handed out refreshments, while Thé Former held a perfume making workshop. The clubs shared information about SUNY Korea and what it's like to be a student. Many interested high school students and parents stopped by to hear more about our unique program. The Global Citizenship Education Festival is held every year to give a global citizen experience to the people of Incheon. The majority of the attendees are elementary, middle, and high school students, along with people from influential organizations such as UNESCO. This festival is important because it allows people to broaden their horizons about the world and lets students start networking with people in different fields.    Written by Student Reporter, Alicia Garringer (alicia.garringer@stonybrook.edu)  

  Stony Brook University Interim President Richard McCormick was interviewed by Jonny Wincott of Stony Brook Athletics in a video that aired on SNY during halftime of the October 26, 2024 broadcast of the Stony Brook football Homecoming game against William and Mary. McCormick talked about his first few months as interim president, pointing to the “team spirit” that he has witnessed on campus from students, faculty and staff, and the “forward motion” the university has generated in advancing academic excellence and investing in important research. Click here to read the original article.