-
Department of Sociology offers major in ‘Community Innovation Capstone Design’ Showing potential for ‘college-community linked education’ Presented blueprints for ‘humanities and sociology college education’ outside of industry-academic cooperation focusing on engineering [February 28, 2019] Regular classes operated by YU (President Sur Gil-soo) are receiving attention as a new type of college education. This is the ‘Community Innovation Capstone Design’ class that the Dep. of Sociology began offering as a major. Students that take this class do not sit in a fixed lecture room, but instead investigates and interacts with nearby communities such as in Daegu or Gyeongsan for one semester to find problems on their own and set up projects to participate in projects such as urban regeneration, town-making, creating local cultures, etc. In the second semester of the 2018 school year, 18 students of the Dep. of Sociology participated in the class under the theme ‘Finding Traces of Modern Historical Culture of Gyeongsan’. They split up into four teams and engaged in the project with local residents of the old downtown area of Gyeongsan (today’s Seosang-dong, Gyeongsan) to reinvestigate Seosang-dong Village and the old streams and sites, finding the capital of Gyeongsan, reinvestigating the cobalt mines, and reinvestigating modern industries. They met with local residents to hold interviews and they examined materials to search for local activation plans and to produce pamphlets to share lesser-known historical facts such as the cobalt mine massacre. Jung Young Wook (23, Department of Sociology, junior) who participated in the second semester class of 2018 said, “It was a new experience outside of the classroom. I was able to think about various things by integrating the theories and critical views that we learned in class in our community. There were many trials and errors while working on the project, but it was a valuable experience that made it possible to improve problem-solving skills.” <Pamphlet of the Gyeongsan cobalt mine massacre produced by students who took the ‘Community Innovation Capstone Design’ class> YU Department of Sociology Professor Jung Yong-gyo who oversaw last year’s ‘Community Innovation Capstone Design’ class explained, “This class showed the possibility of utilizing the specialized human resources of the university and the creativity of the students for energizing the region and the success of urban regeneration projects through integration with economic and social circumstances. This goes beyond the many engineering-oriented industry-academic cooperation projects and acts a new education model of college-community linked education in the humanities and sociology.” He added, “It will not only provide the cornerstone for community development, but also enhance student understanding on the community and contribute in improving capacities as local experts.” The ‘Community Innovation Capstone Design’ course is being carried out with the support of the YU (LINC+) project team and YU published a book containing the results of the classes of the second semester of the 2018 academic year titled ‘Community Capstone Design - Finding Traces of Modern Historical Culture of Gyeongsan’ (Hansol Publication Company, book cover on top left).
-
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry senior Heo Joon-nyeong (principal author) and Doh Jung-yeon (corresponding author) in the Graduate School of Chemistry PhD program Students completed the entire thesis drafting process without assistance from an advisor Research paper published in the latest issue of an international journal in the industrial chemistry sector [February 13, 2019] The joint research of an undergraduate and graduate school student of the YU School of Chemistry and Biochemistry came to fruition. This research achievement was especially more significant because students completed the entire process of drafting a thesis from finding a problem, experimenting and coming up with conclusions without the assistance of an advising professor. School of Chemistry and Biochemistry senior Heo Joon-nyeong (24, bottom on photo) was the principal author and Doh Jeong-yeon (27, top on photo) currently working on her doctorates at the Graduate School of Chemistry was the corresponding author for this study. This paper was pre-released on the online version of the international academic journal in industrial chemistry <Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, impact factor (IF) 4.84> and it is scheduled to be carried in the journal to be released on February 25. The study they presented was on the development of dye waste water treatment photocatalysts that are cheap, yet highly efficient. In this study, they used rice bran as carbon resources to recycle wastes, while lowering catalyst manufacturing costs. The principal author Heo Joon-nyeong said, “It takes less than 60 minutes to completely remove 100ppm of methyl orange by using rice brans. It exhibits better photo-activation than the better-known titania photocatalyst.” He added, “We presented a method to supply cheap photocatalysts that are excellent for organic decomposition in mass quantities.” Ms. Doh Jeong-yeon said, “By designing the catalyst to collect catalysts after reaction to be reused by utilizing the magnetic properties of iron, not only is it economical, but it also collects the magnetic catalysis using a magnet, therefore making it eco-friendly that can prevent secondary environmental pollution resulting from the catalysts after reaction. Moreover, it uses rice bran as carbon resources thus increasing the recycling of wastes, giving it triple effects and making it very useful both academically and industrially.” The research capacities of the YU School of Chemistry and Biochemistry is famous for both undergraduate and graduate schools. Students participate in research with professors and graduate school students from their undergraduate years and has thus achieved outstanding research results such as continuously presenting SCI papers from undergraduate school years. Mr. Heo who will graduate on February 22 said, “I will go on to graduate school and conduct research on developing heat catalysts that have high value for industrial use,” and added, “I would like to contribute in Korea’s renewable energy industry.”
-
‘24m masterpiece landscape painting with Indian ink’ created by the top painter, poet and calligrapher in the 1970s Painter Min Gyeong-gap passed away recently leaving this as the only piece worked on by three masters Recently restored and reproduced after 48 years since being exhibited at YU... Samil Spinning Co. Chairman Noh Hee-chan paid for entire cost [January 11, 2019] [<Nakdonggang-Cheollido> (original) put on display at the YU Central Library Reading Room 2] <Nakdonggang-Cheollido>, a masterpiece by Yusan Min Gyeong-gap (1933-2018), a master of traditional Korean painting, will once again see the world. <Nakdonggang-Cheollido> is a massive Indian ink landscape painting with a length of 2,360cm and width of 105cm and is currently possessed by YU. It contains the 510km long Nakdonggang (Riv.) and its surrounding scenery from the source of Nakdonggang to the Nahmhae estuary in a total of nine paintings. YU possessed this piece since 1970 and it recently completed restorations and reproductions. This process took a whole six months. The restored original was put on display at the YU Central Library, while the replicas were hung at the YU Cheonma Art Center (Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk) and the YU Medical Center Respiratory Center (Daemyeong-dong, Daegu). In particular, this painting was a collaboration of the most famous painter, poet and calligrapher at the time. The painting was completed by Min Gyeong-gap, and the ‘Nakdonggang’ poem made by Nosan Lee Eun-sang (1903-1982) was written at the brush of calligrapher Iljung Kim Chung-hyeon (1921-2006). Poet Lee Eun-sang is Korea’s most noted sijo poet who wrote Gagopa, Dongmu Saenggak, and Bomcheonyeo. Calligrapher Kim Chung-hyeon left behind his works in the April 19 Memorial Tower and Declaration of Independence and has been assessed to have played a leading role in spreading calligraphy in Hangul. With the death of Min Gyeong-gap on December 30 of last year, <Nakdonggang-Cheollido> became the only piece that was collaborated on by these three masters of arts. [<Nakdonggang-Cheollido> (replica) on display at the Cheonma Art Center lobby] Art critic Shin Hang-seop said, “It is very rare to see a masterpiece going beyond a single page in Indian ink landscape paintings. The ‘Gangsan-Mujindo’ by the famous Kim Hong-do and Lee In-mun in the late Joseon Dynasty is evaluated as an unparalleled masterpiece spanning across 8.6 meters. Since then, there were no Indian ink landscape paintings that were even comparable to it.” He went on saying, “The <Nakdonggang-Cheollido> was an incident that rewrote the history of Indian ink landscape painting in Korea. It not only had an overwhelming scale, but it is also surprising as it depicts real scenery and not a conceptual world. It also has an unconventional structure that shakes the very roots of concepts of existing landscape paintings as it follows the 390km long Nakdonggang and gives a panoramic view of its surrounding scenery. The <Nakdonggang-Cheollido> contains the ambitious vision and hopes of YU back in the 1970s when it was aiming to build a global campus. This masterpiece was first unveiled during an exhibit held at the YU Daemyeong-dong Campus Library in April 1970. In August 1976, it was moved to the west wing of Reading Room 3 of the Central Library of Gyeongsan Campus, which was a main symbol of YU. In February 2005, upon the completion of the renovation of the Central Library, it was moved to its current location at the northern part of Reading Room 2. [<Nakdonggang-Cheollido displayed at the Central Library Reading Room 3 in 1981] The existence of this masterpiece was not well known until now. There were even some within YU that did not know about this. However, in November 2017, YU President Sur Gil-soo noticed the artistic value and meaning of the <Nakdonggang-Cheollido> and so it was restored and preserved under his lead. YU President Sur Gil-soo said, “I believe that this work created through the collaboration of the greatest artists of the time will be a cultural asset for not only our university, but our entire country. We restored and are preserving the original and we also made replicas and placed them in areas where many people visit so that many members of our school as well as visitors can enjoy and appreciate the piece.” Because it is an epic masterpiece stretching 24 meters long, it was difficult not only in the restoration work, but also finding the right spot to put it on display. It cost quite a lot too. YU alumni from the Department of Chemical Engineering class of ‘63 and current chairperson of Samil Spinning Co. Noh Hee-chan (right on photo), who has always been interested in the development of the university, happily stepped up. Once Chairman Noh announced that he would pay the entire 100 million won needed for restoration and reproduction, the restoration project began sailing smoothly. Students majoring in art preservation and restoration (School of Fine Arts) of YU also contributed to the restoration work. In March of 2018, the <Nakdonggang Cheollido> restoration/reproduction project steering committee was organized, and the first course of action was meeting with the painter, Min Gyeong-gap in order to listen to stories behind the production of the work before conducting restoration work. Mr. Min, in his last interview in March of last year before his death, said, “The idea for this painting was made by the second YU president and former Minister of Culture and Education Lee Seon-geun. I went on a helicopter to look around Nakdonggang. Together with photographer Sung Nak-in, who was a professor at Hongik University, we traveled taking photos and making sketches for two weeks. It was such a big project that it took six months to complete. After completing the work, all I did for an entire week was sleep.” On behalf of the late Mr. Min, his oldest song Min Ji-hong attended the unveiling ceremony in commemoration of the restoration on the 10th. Min Ji-hong said, “My father received an invitation for the unveiling ceremony before passing away last December. Despite being very ill, he said that he would attend the ceremony even if he had to do so on a wheelchair, and he showed a lot of affection for <Nakdonggang Cheollido>. I would like to thank YU on behalf of my father for letting more people see my father’s work. YU recently held an unveiling ceremony to commemorate the restoration of <Nakdonggang Cheollido> in the lobby of the Central Library at 3 p.m. on the 10th. In attendance were Chairman Noh Hee-chan who sponsored this restoration project, Yeungnam School Foundation Chairwoman Han Jae-sook and Executive Director Kim Jin-sam, YU President Sur Gil-soo, former YU President Lee Hyo-soo, YU General Alumni Association Chairman Jung Tae-il, Korea Kolmar Chairman Yoon Dong-han, Daegu Foundation for Culture President Park Young-seok, eldest son of the late Min Gyeong-gap – Min Ji-hong, art critic Shin Hang-seop, Restoration and Reproduction Project Steering Committee Chairman Park Jong-moo, Museum Curator Jung In-sung, and YU School of Fine Arts Lim Nam-soo and College of Liberal Arts Professor Jung Doo-hee (major in art preservation and restoration) who worked on the actual restoration.
-
Joined by over 70 students from the College of Mechanical and IT Engineering and PRIME project teams... School of Mechanical Engineering ‘botnaldu’ team victorious Produced and operated ‘balancing robot’ that integrated mechanical, electronic, electric, SW and wireless communication technologies ‘Integrated knowledge and technologies from various majors to improve problem-solving capacities’ [February 1, 2019] YU (President Sur Gil-soo) held the 2nd YU RoboCup, which is a robot football tournament. This contest was hosted by the YU College of Mechanical and IT Engineering and the PRIME Project Team and it was held at the YU Automobile Hall lobby at 1 p.m. on January 31 with the PRIME Robot Project Team as the sponsor. Approximately 70 students in schools (departments) working with the PRIME project participated. Following the debut year last, the second ‘YU RoboCup’ held this year is a robot football contest using self-made balancing robots. Students participate in the contest by producing their own balancing robot by integrating mechanical, electronic, electric, SW, and wireless communication technologies. Teams were made up of two students for one robot and they control their self-built robots using smartphone applications, RC controllers, etc. in a tournament held in a designated stage. YU President Sur Gil-soo said, “The importance of robot engineering has been rising in Korea and this is shown with AI robot football tournaments being held. Students will be able to enhance their understanding on technological convergence and improve their problem-solving skills by building and operating their own balancing robot by combining what they learn from their major and IT technologies.” He added, “We will pursue various integration and convergence education programs to help YU students become creative convergence talents that will lead the fourth industrial revolution.” The ‘botnaldu’ team (photo on right) comprised of School of Mechanical Engineering Cho Yong-woon (sophomore) and Lee Tae-hoon (sophomore, ‘Mechanical Systems’ major) won the tournament. ‘EESOFT’ team comprised of Department of Electronic Engineering Kim Ga-yeon (junior) and Lee Seung-jae (sophomore) came in second place. Meanwhile, as part of the Ministry of Education’s ‘PRogram for Industrial needs – Matched Education (PRIME) project’, YU established the College of Mechanical and IT Engineering in 2017. YU split the electric, electronic, computer, information communication and mechanical engineering majors within its former College of Engineering to establish the College of Mechanical and IT Engineering, while newly establishing the Department of Robotics and Intelligent Machine Engineering and the Department of Automotive Engineering. YU is focusing on developing its mechanical, electrical, electronic and computer sectors, which YU is traditionally known to be especially strong in, together with smart robots and future automobiles, which are future new growth engine fields.
-
YU start-up club ‘Partz Studio’ proposes new occupation to win ‘gold medal’ at the Job Creation Awards Finding new value by recycling old clothes with many memories Produced prototypes showing its potential as a new occupation [January 30, 2019] <YU Start-up Club Partz Studio> (front row left to right, Seo Gi-tae, Yoo Gwang-jin, Jung Gyeong-min, back row left to right, Kang Ryang-gwan, Park Sung-min) The unique idea of YU students is drawing attention as it gave birth to a new profession. It is a new job called ‘Fashion Reminder’ and it was proposed by Part Studio, a start-up club comprised of Yoo Gwang-jin (25, senior) and Kang Ryang-gwan of the YU Department of Psychology (23, junior), and Park Sung-min (23, junior), Seo Gi-tae (22, sophomore), and Jung Gyeong-min (21, freshman) of the Department of Clothing and Fashion. They explain that Fashion Reminder is a profession of creating new value by recycling clothes filled with memories. Some examples are recycling middle or high school uniforms to make diary book covers or using college varsity jackets to make briefcases or laptop pouches so that professionals can recycle their items and remember their memories from school, or also recycling maternity dresses into children’s clothes so that mothers can share memories with their children. It goes beyond simply recycling clothes no longer worn, but adding the value of memories to fashion design. Fashion Reminder won the gold medal at the ‘2018 National Youth Employment Academy Project Job Creation Awards’ opened last month. Yoo Gwang-jin explained, “We made samples such as taking a maternity address that was worn by a mother when she was pregnant to make a new children’s clothes, and we also put together a brochure. I think ‘Fashion Reminder’ received good evaluations as it went beyond being simply ideas, but also visibly showed possibilities as a new profession.” Their idea was the result of the ‘Youth Employment Academy (Job Creation Course) YU_Golden Lane Project’ operated by the YU LINC+ Project Team’s Start-up Education Center. This project fosters young start-up entrepreneurs by providing support for start-up items and employment/startups. While engaging in job creation activities, Partz Studio also launched their own fashion design brand ‘Partz Studio’ to design and sell their clothes. The YU LINC+ Project Team Start-up Education Center is planning to pursue the ‘2019 Youth Employment Academy (Job Creation Course) Youth Employment Academy’ from April.
-
All students pass written and practice test Only university in region to record 100% passing rate for second straight year last year (82nd) 100% passing rate in 78th and 80th national qualification exam [January 25, 2019] YU (President Sur Gil-soo) achieved its ‘100% passing rate’ goal with all of the YU applicants for the 2019 83rd National Doctors Qualification Exam passing the exam. It recorded ‘100% passing rate’ for the second straight year. It is the only university in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions to achieve 100% passing rate for the second straight year. All of the YU test-takers for the 78th and 80th national qualification exam passed as well setting another record and reconfirming the excellence of the YU Medical School. All 73 graduates of the National Doctors Qualification Exam held on the 10th and 11th passed the exam. This year, 3,115 out of 3,307 test-takers passed, showing a passing rate of 94.2%. YU College of Medicine Dean Kim Jong-yeon said, “This was the result of high levels of education that lead global universities and by making efforts to provide high quality faculty that was ranked fourth in the world by a prominent international academic journal, as well as an atmosphere for pursuing academic knowledge.” He added, “Based on a spirit of patriotism, which is the mission of the YU College of Medicine, we will take the lead in fostering wholistic human resources that will contribute to the improvement of health for humanity and in medical development.” The YU College of Medicine was the first in the region to receive a ‘6 year accreditation’ in the ‘medical education accreditation’ by the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation (hereinafter called KIMEE) in 2014. KIMEE accredits 40 domestic medical education institutes by evaluating nine fields including education, students, professions, college operation system, and continued improvements to give four or six year accreditation.
-
Department of English and English Literature Lee Jae-un Selected for UNV... To be Dispatched to Sri Lanka for Six Months from February Broadened horizons by going overseas as an exchange student and Korean college student representative to the UN Planning to enroll at a foreign graduate school to enhance expertise in international development [January 25, 2019] Lee Jae-eun (23), a senior at the YU Department of English and English Literature, was selected for the UNV (United Nations Volunteers) of the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). Miss Lee will work at a local international organization in Sri Lanka for six months from February to August. The international organization will fund all her expenses during her stay. Lee was selected as the only person from Korea to be dispatched as a UNV to the UNDP PBF team. Lee was finally selected after a video interview with a local UNDP employee in Sri Lanka. UNV is an international organization under the UNDP established with the resolution of the UN General Assembly in December 1970. With the goal to contribute to global sustainable development and maintaining peace, it dispatches volunteers to local offices of the international organization to engage in development support and humanitarian relief projects. Miss Lee will participate in international cooperation projects being carried out by the UN for better quality of life and will be in charge of PR using social media platforms to share the importance of volunteering. Lee has been gaining experience from long ago with the goal of stepping into the international stage. She went to Northumbria University in England for one year from September 2016 as an exchange student and last summer, she was selected as the World Federation of United Nations Associations ‘UN Korean College Student Representatives’ and went to the New York Headquarters of the UN to interact with current employees for a week. Miss Lee said, “My horizons were broadened through my experience as an exchange student for a year and at the UN New York Headquarters. In particular, by making presentations on SDGs (sustainable development goals) at the UN New York Headquarters and sharing opinions with UN experts, I saw the lives of people dedicated to living to contribute to the global community, and I also wanted to participate in the works of the UN.” Miss Lee, who is part of the 14th YU International Ambassadors, said, “My experience as an international ambassador for 1 year allowed me to help exchange students and participate in various official international events, and this helped me upgrade my global capacities. Participating in various internationalization programs pursued by the university helped me gain experience to join an international organization.” Lee said, “I believe that by working at the UN for six months I will have the priceless experience of being able to work on site to think about the fundamental issues of human rights issues, necessary policies, and the direction and solutions that should be sought after from a pan-global perspective.” She also added, “I am planning to enroll at a foreign graduate school after graduating in August of 2019. I plan to study psychology or international development at graduate school to enhance my expertise.”
-
After graduating from the College of Pharmacy and working as a pharmacist for one year, passed second in his class after joining the Judicial Research & Training Institute after 2 years His thirst for dialog and debates propelled him to prepare to become a judicial officer Experience as a pharmacist to help him gain expertise in law firms for medicine and medical instrument sectors [January 23, 2019] At the 48th Judicial Research & Training Institute’s graduate ceremony held on the 14th, Lee Jae-ha (30), who graduated from YU, received the Minister of Justice Award by graduating second in his class. He will begin working as an attorney at Korea’s top law firm, Kim & Chang. Mr. Lee, who graduated from the YU College of Pharmacy in February of 2011, was formerly a pharmacist. He worked as a pharmacist in Gimhae, Gyeongnam for about one year from February 2013. In March 2014, he quit his job and began studying and he completed the law school credits on his own. Finally, in 2016, he passed the 58th bar exam coming in second place. Mr. Lee, who could have lived a comfortable life as a pharmacist, decided to go take the bar exam because of his thirst for dialog and debates. He said, “I had a thirst for dialog and debate and I regretted not living harder back in school. I decided that I had to challenge something before I lost my passion.” He added, “It was tough preparing for the bar exam, but while studying law, I learned about cases that wisely resolved various problems in society and established a standard for judging what is right and what is right. I started to find joy in that I was becoming a better person every day.” We had to wonder his secret to studying as he now had acquired not just one, but two professional licenses that are difficult to obtain. He said, “I think efficiency is the most important thing in studying. You have to make the frame focusing on the most important parts and repeatedly review them, and once you feel that you have your frame, you should study the details. Preparations for the test are very important as well. I practiced the entire process of the test and I made algorithms on how to behave for each stage of the test. I also uploaded a video on my study tips related to the Judicial Research & Training Institute on YouTube last year, so it may be helpful for people preparing for record-type legal tests.” He also said that he too had fears about not passing. This is because the bar exam was scheduled to be abolished in 2017 and there were not many opportunities to take the test. Lee explained, “I am sure that people preparing for tests or employment even at this moment have concerns about failing. Some may fail, but you should think that the process itself will upgrade you.” He went on, “However, you should not be afraid of accurately identifying your aptitudes and interests to supplement and revise your directions.” We also wanted to know about his plans for the future as a pharmacist-slash-attorney. Mr. Lee said, “I believe that my experience as a pharmacist, though short, will help me work on areas such as intellectual property rights and regulations at the law firm. I am especially interested in TMT (technology, media and telecom) fields related to pharmaceuticals, medical instruments and the fourth industrial revolution. I hope to work in specialized fields at the law firm, find my area of interest and gain expertise.”
-
Improving global capacities through overseas volunteer services, overseas internships, and backpacking during winter break Over 430 students to be sent abroad for on-site learning linked with majors, exploring overseas companies, etc. Full support from the university to enhance global experience opportunities [January 14, 2019] <36th Overseas Volunteer Corps Launching Ceremony> YU students will enhance their global capacities to kick off 2019. Students will be sent around the world through the overseas dispatch programs supported by YU during winter break. Over 430 students will go abroad during the winter break. The ‘Overseas Volunteer Corps’ is one of the most famous overseas dispatch programs of YU. Over 2,630 students participated in this program over 35 sessions in since 2001. This winter break, the 36th Overseas Volunteer Corps made up of 58 volunteers will go to Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia to engage in volunteer activities. They held a launching ceremony at the YU College of Education auditorium at 3 p.m. on the 10th and will go to one of the three countries in January for two weeks. These volunteers will go to local elementary schools to help with education in arts, physical education and culture, while also volunteering in environmental improvement activities. In particular, the volunteers will teach students Korean language and traditional Korean games in order to spread Korean culture. The most popular program among students from the overseas dispatch programs supported by YU is ‘Window To the World’. ‘Window To the World’ is popular as a backpacking program where students make teams and set their themes and go abroad. The selected students are given round-trip airfares by the university. This began in 2002 and over 2,640 students traveled to different parts of the world. This winter break, 139 students made teams of twos and threes to go backpacking to different parts of the world including Europe, Australia and China. In particular, focus education on foreign languages including English and Chinese will be provided to students going abroad for Window To the World from this year in order to maximize short-term overseas training effects. <YU Volunteer Corps on site> ‘OPP’ (Outbound Pilot Program) is another overseas dispatch program proudly funded by YU. This is a prior short-term language education program for students who are interested in studying abroad or participating as an exchange student at an overseas sister school. 1,730 people participate in the OPP since it was first offered in 2009. This winter break, 88 students will be sent to the Philippines for four weeks through the OPP. In addition, over 150 students will go to the United States, England, Australia, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan and Mongolia through overseas internships, exploring overseas companies, technical exchange with foreign universities, short-term language programs, and overseas start-up network programs. Thus, a total of over 430 YU students will go to different parts of the world this winter break. YU President Sur Gil-soo said, “I hope that students use this winter break as an opportunity to upgrade their global mindsets. YU will continue to expand support so that more students can participate in the global experience opportunities.”
-
Graduate school students of the Organic Materials Synthesis Lab recognized internationally for research achievements Selected as VIP paper, cover paper, and also the Korean Society of Organic Synthesis paper award High application potentials using synthetic new materials for developing sun cream, fluorescent sensors, pharmaceutical products, etc. [December 27, 2018] <YU School of Chemical Engineering Organic Materials Synthesis Lab researchers> (from top left: Thombal Raju Sitaram, Khanal Hari Datta, Mishra Kanchan from bottom left: Shrestha Rajeev, Professor Lee Yong-rok, Maezono Shizuka Mei) Graduate school students of the YU School of Chemical Engineering Organic Materials Synthesis Lab (Advisor Lee Yong-rok) made news by publishing eight papers over the past six months one after the other in prominent international journals (impact factor=5 or higher, within top 10%). Some were selected as VIP papers and cover papers for the corresponding journals, while another won the excellent poster award for the Korean Society of Organic Synthesis, thus being recognized research experience. Adviser Lee Yong-rok (59) is a prominent figure in the organic synthesis sector. Great minds from India, Nepal, Philippines, China and Pakistan are currently studying at Professor Lee’s research lab. The graduate school students who received guidance by Professor Lee are developing new organic reactions and are engaged in research for developing pharmaceutical products and electronic materials by synthesizing new materials through the developed reactions. Starting with Thombal Raju Sitaram (28, PhD course) from India publishing his research results on ‘New Type of Physiological Active Substance Pyrazole Derivative Synthesis’ in the US chemical journal, ‘Organic Letters’ (Impact factor= 6.492, top 3.51%) in July, Tej Narayan Poudel (37, PhD earned in February 2016) published a paper titled ‘OLED development carbazole derivative synthesis’ and Shrestha Rajeev (29, currently in combined master’s and PhD course) published the research results of ‘Fluorescent Sensor Development New Xanthone Derivative Synthesis’ in Organic Letters. Recently, Maezono Shizuka Mei (27) from the Philippines currently in the combined master’s and PhD program published the research results on the ‘Development of a New Synthesis Method for Aromatic Pyridine Rings with Various Function Groups’ and Gamma-Pyrone Synthesis of Various Types Using Indium Catalysts’ in the British chemical journal ‘Organic Chemistry Frontiers’ (IF= 5.455, top 7.02%). In particular, the new material gamma-pyrone researched by Miss Maezono exhibited stronger sun cream effects compared to materials used in the past and therefore, it was recognized for the research excellence, thus being selected as the cover paper of the journal (photo of cover on the right). Two papers were also published in the SCI academic journal ‘Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis’(IF= 5.123, top 2.82%) published by the world-acclaimed publisher Wiley. The research on ‘Alpha-halogenation Reaction Using Diazo Compounds’ performed by Khanal Hari Datta (38, PhD earned in August 2017) and the research results on ‘4-Pyrone Synthesis Using Diazo Compounds’ conducted by Park Ga-eul (24, earned master’s in February 2018) were published. The paper by Dr. Khanal Hari Datta was selected as the VIP (Very Important Paper) and cover paper (photo of cover on left) in the respective journal. Also, the research results of ‘Process for Manufacturing Various Types of Amine through Development of New Metal Catalysts’ performed by Mishra Kanchan (38, PhD earned in February 2018) was published in the online version of ChemSusChem, IF= 7.411, top 6.06%). Their advisor, Professor Lee Yong-rok said, “The new materials published through research exhibited high strength against UV blocking, fluorescents, anti-oxidizing, and anti-bacteria, and so it has utilization value for sun cream, fluorescent sensors, and pharmaceutical products.” Meanwhile, this research was conducted as part of the Ministry of Education’s BK21 Plus project, College Hub Research Center Support Project, the National Research Foundation’s Platform Technology Development Project and Middle-grade Researcher Support Project.
