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Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator Holds Smart Manufacturing Forum

The Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator will be hosting a two-day Smart Manufacturing Forum for small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) beginning on June 21. The forum aims to provide attendees, who are representatives from SMEs in Korea, with an opportunity to learn about the latest manufacturing technologies. Eligible attendees for this forum include founders and CEOs of Korean SMEs that meet the requirements set by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, as well as project managers, data analysts, engineers, graduate and undergraduate students. On June 21, experts from companies selected as lighthouse factories at the World Economic Forum will share their success stories of smart manufacturing. Talks on successful manufacturing innovation will also be delivered by leaders from Apple, prominent scholars, and women leaders from the manufacturing sector. Additionally, Smart Manufacturing Network will be available for SMEs, students, and industrial experts to engage in free discussions and exchange ideas. On June 22, the Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator will host various sessions including demonstrations where attendees can gain firsthand experience, a workshop, and a panel discussion. Those interested in attending can apply for free entry through the website of the Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator (accelerator.postech.ac.kr). The Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator is Apple’s first R&D center in the world dedicated to manufacturing R&D. Equipped with state-of-the art smart processing equipment, it provides SMEs with free educational and training programs as well as one-on-one consulting.

[Photo Essay] Campus Blooms Again After Four Years

1. ‘Old is Made New’ Log Cabin 2.0 Opens On May 10, the POSTECH Log Cabin – closed during COVID-19 and went under renovations – reopened under the new name of “Log Cabin 2.0." POSTECH Log Cabin has been around for almost 35 years after opening its doors in October 1989 as "Korea's first campus bar." <통집의 과거와 현재> The walls of Log Cabin are covered with messages scribbled by diners who have passed through the bar over the years, rousing a feeling of nostalgia for many Postechians. When Postechians heard about the renovation, many wondered if these marking would be removed, but the majority of them has been preserved, while the interior has been refined. The Log Cabin remodeling project was made even more special by the donations from more than 250 professors, alumni, students, and staff. Since Log Cabin 2.0 was made possible by the contributions of those who love the place, it will be a wonderful spot for Postechians who cherish their memories, as well as for those who want to make new ones. ▷ Go to the Log Cabin Remodeling Fund 2. 2023 Sunrise Festival ‘RISE’ The 2023 Sunrise Festival was held for two days from May 11. <Cheeringleading Performance by CHEERO (photo by The POSTECH Times)> <Festival Booths (photo by Student Affairs Team)> The theme of the festival was "RISE," which means to bloom again, resuming the festival after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19 and to provide an event that everyone could enjoy. <Food trucks (photo by The POSTECH Times)> <Jigok 78 Stairs were decorated according to the concept of the festival.> During the festival, departments, clubs, and student organizations operated food and bar stands, and student dance groups and musicians delivered stunning performances that they had spent hours perfecting. There were also other fun events such as e-Sports (League of Legends) competition and bubble suit games. <e-Sports Competition @Colosseum (photo by The POSTECH Times)> <Bubble Suit Games (photo by Student Affairs Team) > From the performances of guest singers Hyorin, Cheeze, and Nerd Connection to the fireworks that capped off the festival, Postechians were able to enjoy a romantic May in their own way.

Professor Hyoung Seop Kim Honored with Hyeoksin Medal of Order of Science and Technology Merit

Professor Hyoung Seop Kim from the Graduate Institute of Ferrous and Energy Materials Technology and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at POSTECH was awarded the prestigious Hyeoksin Medal of Order of Science and Technology Merit at the 2023 Science and ICT Day Ceremony. Professor Kim has made notable advancements in the field of materials science by creating groundbreaking high-entropy alloys. These alloys exhibit exceptional mechanical and chemical properties, specifically tailored for application under extremely low temperature conditions. Their unique composition enables stable usage and circumvents the constraints typically encountered in manufacturing processes. Professor Kim’s pioneering work has garnered recognition for its significant impact on industrial development, as it has contributed to the establishment of new growth engines. Professor Kim completed his Bachelor’s Master’s and PhD degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Seoul National University. He taught at the Institute for Advanced Engineering and Chungnam National University before joining the POSTECH faculty in 2008. He has also served as the former president of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity and the Korean Powder Metallurgy and Materials Institute. He is currently serving as Vice President for Academia at the Korean Institute of Metals and Materials, a Korean academic society in the field of metals and materials. Under his leadership, the Center for Heterogenic Metal Additive Manufacturing Material and Parts at the Graduate Institute of Ferrous and Energy Materials Technology at POSTECH opened in August 2022. This center serves as a platform for research on value-added parts necessary for the metal and materials industry. The 2023 Science and ICT Day ceremony was held to celebrate the 56th Science Day and the 68th Information and Communication Day, recognizing the pride and honor of those working in the fields of science, information, and communication, and presenting visions for science and digitalization in Korea

Professor Gil-Ho Lee Receives the Prime Minister’s Award

Professor Gil-Ho Lee from the Department of Physics at POSTECH was recently commended with the Prime Minister’s Award at the 2023 Science and ICT Day Ceremony on May 2, 2023. Professor Lee was honored with the award for his world-leading research on hybrid quantum devices and for nurturing future experts of quantum technologies in Korea and advancing basic and applied research. Having earned his bachelor’s, master's, and PhD degrees from POSTECH, Professor Lee joined its faculty in 2017 and has been teaching the next generation of scientists at POSTECH. The Prime Minister’s Award is presented to those who have contributed to the advancement of science and technology at the national level and raising the prestige of scientists and engineers in Korea. Also at the ceremony, POSTECH professor Hyoung Seop Kim (Graduate Institute of Ferrous & Energy Materials Technology, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering) was honored with the Hyeoksin Medal of the Order of Science and Technology Merit.

Sujin Choi Selected for AI Training Program at Carnegie Mellon University

Ms. Sujin Choi, currently a graduate student in the MS/PhD integrated program in the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at POSTECH, has been selected as a participant for the AI training program at Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. Ms. Choi is currently researching process optimization and prediction methods in anaerobic digestion systems in waste management by applying AI. It is quite unusual for a student not specializing in AI to be selected for the program. The CMU AI intensive training program is part of the capacity building program funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea, which provides Korean master’s and doctoral students in the specializing in information and communication technology with customized training at top-tier universities overseas. The program consists of theoretical training in AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and team projects that apply theories to practice. The training period is up to six months, from September this year to February next year, and the 30 finalists will receive scholarship for educational expenses, accommodation, and airfare. "It is relatively difficult to accumulate data in the field of waste management compared to other fields,” explained Ms. Choi. "I was motivated to apply to the CMU program to find a solution for the lack of data and expand the scope of application of AI.” “In the era of Industry 4.0, nurturing outstanding talent in the environmental sciences is critically connected to securing national competitiveness," remarked Professor Seokhwan Hwang in the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering at POSTECH. “We are striving to raise experts in the convergent fields of environmental sciences to proactively respond to the rapid changes in environmental technologies and to create the most comfortable and sustainable environment pursued by industry and society."

Enrollment Open for Apple Developer Academy @ POSTECH

Apple Developer Academy @ POSTECH, the only one of its kind in Korea, is now accepting applicants for its third cohort. Individuals who are at least 19 years old with any academic background can apply. The application process is taking place in two batches, one in the first half of 2023 and the other in the second half, with 100 students selected through the same screening process. Reapplication is welcome. The first batch recruitment will take place from April 28 (Fri) to June 12 (Fri) 2023, while the second is scheduled to start in early August. The 200 successful applicants will receive free training in coding expertise, design, app marketing, and business operations from March to December 2024. In December of last year, the academy produced 190 graduates from the first cohort, while the second cohort is currently completing the program and improving their professional skills. According to Hyerin Kim, a student in the second cohort, “The Apple Developer Academy brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds to plan and develop products, and the ability to implement ideas through app development is particularly appealing.” She also expressed her ambition to “constantly challenge herself and grow while at the Academy.” Kim was previously selected as a next-generation creative entrepreneur at POSTECH's Creative Entrepreneur Omphalos, served as a mentor at that center in 2021, and was selected as a mentee at the Apple Developer Academy in 2023. The Apple Developer Academy @ POSTECH holds weekly online briefings (information session) for those who are unfamiliar with the academy or app development. Additionally, various events, including outreach briefings and participatory workshops, are planned. Further details about the application for the third cohort can be found on the academy's website (developeracademy.postech.ac.kr). Since 2013, the Apple Developer Academy has established itself in over 17 regions worldwide, including Brazil, Indonesia, and Italy. The academy aims to provide education to aspiring entrepreneurs, developers, and designers, assisting them in obtaining jobs in the iOS app ecosystem. The Apple Developer Academy @ POSTECH launched more than 70 apps during its inaugural year and currently offers a second-year program for graduates interested in pursuing entrepreneurship out of the 190 alumni.

Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator Hosts SME Week

Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator, the first of its kind in the world to be established at POSTECH, wrapped up its first SME WEEK from April 4 to 7 with great response from participating SMEs. SME Week is a training program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement smart factories, providing them with best practices in manufacturing facility innovation and training programs on how to use them. Held for the first time this year, more than 100 SME representatives and staff from across the country participated in the event. Divided into three sessions, Smart Data, Smart Process, and Smart Quality, the main courses filled up early, affirming the high level of interest from SMEs in smart factory as well as the Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator. In particular, Lean Manufacturing course, which teaches optimization methodology to promote process efficiency, and Green Manufacturing course, which introduced green energy and future trends in product manufacturing, attracted the most attention. In addition, the practical courses, such as hands-on training using photo boxes and machine learning in the Smart Data track, a tour of a clean room in the Smart Process track, and a demonstration and tour of defect analysis equipment in the Smart Quality track, attracted even greater interest from participants. “By participating in the program, I learned a lot about useful equipment that can help us on site, and I look forward to collaborating with Apple in the future," remarked Junkoo Kang, the team leader of Micro Contact Solution Co., Ltd., who participated in SME Week. Hyunhwa Lee, the CEO of A-Lab, commented, "We learned how AI can be used in manufacturing, and it was an opportunity to think outside the box about the limitations of manufacturing.” After SME Week, regular training programs will be held at the Apple Manufacturing R&D Accelerator from April 18 to 20, May 9 to 11, and May 23 to 25. Interested SMEs can apply through https://accelerator.postech.ac.kr/.

Professor Jisoon Ihm Wins the Samsung Ho-Am Prize

Professor Jisoon Ihm, a distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Physics at POSTECH, has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Samsung Ho-Am Prize. Dr. Ihm is a leading Korean theoretical physicist who has pioneered the field of computational materials physics by developing an innovative momentum-space formalism that accurately calculates the total energy of solids. This method enables the study of the structure and properties of solid materials without experiments. His research has been applied to supercomputers and has become a crucial element in the design and synthesis of new materials, and is anticipated to significantly contribute to the development of new nanomaterials for energy storage and carbon dioxide removal. Recently, he has successfully synthesized a porous organic-inorganic hybrid compound that can effectively capture carbon dioxide and various harmful gases, and participated in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition launched by Elon Musk. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Ihm worked at MIT, AT&T Bell Labs, and Seoul National University before being invited to join POSTECH as a distinguished visiting professor in 2016. The Samsung Ho-Am Prize was established in 1990 by Kun-Hee Lee, the late Chairman of Samsung, with a vision to continues the noble spirit of public service espoused by Byung-chull Lee, the founder of Samsung. The Prize is presented each year to individuals who have contributed to academics, the arts, and social development, or who have furthered the welfare of humanity through distinguished accomplishments in their respective professional fields. From POSTECH, Professor Kimoon Kim from the Department of Chemistry was the first recipient of the prize in 2006, and Professor Ihm is the fifth recipient, following Professor Yong-Geun Oh of the Department of Mathematics last year.

Ambassador of Guatemala Gives Talk on Mayan Civilization at POSTECH

On April 14th, Dr. Sara Solís, Ambassador of Guatemala to the Republic of Korea, visited POSTECH to give a special lecture at the POSCO International Center. The lecture was titled, 'The Mayan Civilization and its Scientific Contributions' and was attended by about 100 people, including undergraduate and graduate students and members of faculty and staff. Ambassador Sarah Solis, who has given numerous talks on the Mayan civilization at universities and international organizations abroad, highlighted the scientific contributions of the Mayan Civilization to modern society. The lecture provided a unique opportunity for POSTECH members to learn about one of the most ancient civilizations and Guatemala. Before the start of the event, Guatemalan coffee was served to all attendees to provide a taste of Guatemala, which is also known as "coffee country."

Youngno Youn Awarded the IEEE AP-S C.J. Reddy Educational Grant

Mr. Youngno Youn, a Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Electrical Engineering at POSTECH (advisor: Professor Wonbin Hong), has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society C.J. Reddy Educational Grant. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing electrical, electronic, and computer engineering for the benefit of humanity. This grant by the Antennas and Propagation Society's Microwave Theory and Techniques Technical Committee, is awarded annually to no more than five students with exceptional research achievement and the potential to make significant contributions to the electrical and electronic engineering field. In 2021, Youn proposed a groundbreaking design methodology that optimizes a millimeter-wave 39 GHz integrated lens with hemispherical beam coverage. He integrated this methodology into a base station antenna and earned Second Prize Best Student Paper at the IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation and USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (IEEE AP-S/URSI). He also won gold prize in the communication and network division at this year's Samsung Humantech Paper Award for his work on the paper titled, "Meta-devices Embedded Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface: Design, 3D Evaluation, and OTA Trials."