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How can researchers explore a place they have never visited? At the IGC Sebasi Special Lecture, this question connected Professor Jongseong Brad Choi’s research experiences with a broader message about curiosity, learning and his personal growth.

Held on October 15, 2026, at the Incheon Global Campus Auditorium under the theme “Learn Bold, Lead Global: Leaping into a Wider World,” the event featured five speakers. Among them was Jongseong Brad Choi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at SUNY Korea.

Professor Choi described how meeting a senior student who studied artificial intelligence and computing to solve problems helped shape his academic interests. That encounter encouraged him to pursue further study, eventually leading to his research team’s participation in a NASA research project involving exploration beneath the moon’s surface.

Studying an environment that researchers cannot easily visit presents an immediate challenge: how can they understand what to expect? Professor Choi explained how exploring lava caves on Earth can help researchers investigate conditions relevant to lunar underground exploration. These caves offer opportunities to test approaches while also raising new questions about unfamiliar environments.

His discussion extended beyond space exploration. AI and robotic systems can help investigate places that remain difficult or dangerous for people to enter, including industrial sites. He introduced physical AI in this lecture, discussing how AI can interact with the physical world and contribute to making real world products. He emphasized the significance of these developments for Korean industry.

Another challenge that he discussed was the gap between simulation and reality. A system that works in a simulated environment may perform differently in the real world, where conditions are less predictable. Addressing this gap is an essential part of applying research beyond a controlled setting.

During the Q&A session, when attendees asked about maintaining humility, Professor Choi reflected on the role of failure. He explained that setbacks can reveal a person’s limitations and create opportunities to learn, while becoming overconfident can lead to making mistakes.

For students considering their future paths, his experiences offered a meaningful perspective. An academic direction can begin with an encounter that sparks curiosity, and progress can involve questions that do not yet have clear answers. His lecture encouraged people to explore unfamiliar possibilities while remaining willing to learn from exploration and failure.

Written by Student Reporter, Yeonseo (Judy) Jo 
yeonseo_jo@fitnyc.edu