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16 ph.d. students from PKNU selected for research support program 2024- receiving research funding for 1-2 years to pursue creative and challenging researchPukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced that 16 of its ph.d. students have been selected for the academic research support program 2024 for the next generation of scholars, recently announced by the Ministry of education and the National research foundation of Korea. The selected ph.d. students from Pukyong National University will receive research grants ranging from KRW 25 million to 50 million each, supporting them to embark on creative and challenging research for 1-2 years starting this September. Research projects include Kim Guk-Hyeon from the department of aquatic life medicine studying 'establishment of complex vaccine formulation and vaccination strategy for effective protection against red sea bream iridovirus disease (RSIVD)' (supervised by professor Kim Kwang-Il), Baek Eun-Jin’s project on 'construction and evaluation of effectiveness of a minigenome system for screening infectious kidney and spleen necrosis virus (ISKNV) antivirals' (supervised by professor Kim Kwang-Il), Jeong Ye-Jin’s 'investigating the death and recovery mechanisms of DGF cells infected with megalocytivirus (ISKNV and RSIV)' (supervised by professor Kim Kwang-Il), and Hong Soon-Joo’s 'development of a ghost bacteria-RNA interference platform and its application for controlling complex infectious diseases in whiteleg shrimp (litopenaeus vannamei)' (advisor Kim Ki-Hong). In the department of food science and engineering, projects include Jeong Geum-Jae’s 'exploration of marine-derived biosurfactants for biofilm control and development research on anti-biofilm coating materials for application in food processing environments' (advisor Kim Young-Mok), Jo Kyung-Jin’s ‘research on the development of chlorella-derived protein materials using microbial fermentation and development of plant-based meat substitutes using the same' (advisor Kim Young-Mok), and Han Ji-Min’s 'research on nanoencapsulation of phenolic compounds derived from Sargassum thunbergii obtained by eco-friendly extraction method and development of multi-functional biopolymer' (advisor Chun Byung-Soo). The department of industry 4.0 convergence bionics engineering will undertake the research including Kim Nam-Gyun's research on 'development of eco-friendly drugs and drug delivery systems for tissue regeneration using phlorotannin derived from marine brown algae' (advisor Jung Won-Kyo), and Han Won's research on 'development of a spring-based power-free all-in-one molecular diagnostic device for on-site detection of viral pathogens' (advisor Shin Joong-Ho). Also, from the division of earth and environmental system sciences, Park Hye-Min's research on 'measurement of radionuclide flux in groundwater using a fluxmeter and analysis of its origins' (advisor Yang Min-June), and Shim Ju-Hyeon's research on 'production of real-time fog forecasts and visibility maps using CCTV images' (advisor Not Young-Min) will be carried out for the project. The following research projects have also been selected including Kim Ha-Ham from the department of marine biology for her research on 'establishment of a feed supply system for sustainable domestic Atlantic salmon farming' (advisor Lee Seung-Hyung), and Baek Se-Na from the division of marine production system management for her research on 'development of a small fish escape device for bottom trawl gear for sustainable fisheries' (advisor Kim Seong-Hun), Lee Sung-Man from the department of chemistry for his research on 'development of organic monomer-based photothermal agents with high photothermal conversion efficiency for photothermal therapy' (advisor Lee Song-Yi), Jang Jae-Hun from the department of intelligent robotics for his research on 'development of autonomous path generation and exploration technology for intelligent swarm robots based on end-to-end learning models' (advisor Lee Kyeong-Chang), and Ha Ye-Jin from the department of architecture and fire protection engineering for her research on 'the numerical model of fire spread through the analysis of pyrolysis and combustion reactions of solid combustibles' (advisor Jeon Joon-Ho). Pukyong National University continues to receive recognition for the excellent research performance of its ph.d. students, with 16 students selected for the research support program this year, up from 5 students last year.
PKNU students won Korea's first victory in 'Google solution challenge'- showcased a 'daily management app for dementia patients' winning USD 12,000 cash prize△ The winning students, Lee Ji-Eun, Park Soo-Jeong, Lee Hong-Joo, Jeon Joo-Eun from the left. A team of students from Pukyong National University has won the prestigious 'Google for developers solution challenge 2024', marking the first-ever victory for a Korean team in this global competition hosted by Google. The team, consisting of Lee Hong-Joo, Park Soo-Jeong, and Jeon Joo-Eun from the department of computer engineering, and Lee Ji-Eun from the department of industrial design, emerged as one of the top three winning teams (TOP3) along with teams from India and Nigeria in the global competition 'Google for developers solution challenge 2024', which featured students from Google developer student clubs at over 2,000 universities in more than 110 countries. The Pukyong National University team first entered the TOP100 in April, followed by the TOP10 in May, and finally secured a spot in the TOP3 in June, clinching the prestigious victory. They were awarded a USD12,000 cash prize. In this competition, where student developers use Google technology to address one of the UN 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), the Pukyong National University team developed an innovative daily management application for dementia patients called 'memory friend Atti' and their groundbreaking technology was highly acclaimed. The application offers services to assist mild dementia patients with memory recall and record-keeping. It features an interactive chatbot that helps users revisit memories and manage their daily tasks and upcoming schedules independently. Users can utilize the app to check daily tasks such as taking medication or going for a walk and manage upcoming appointments like hospital visits or family birthdays. They can also engage in conversations with the chatbot about past photos and memories to help jog their memory. Lee Hong-Joo from Pukyong National University said, "Our goal in developing this app was to enhance communication abilities and provide psychological stability for mild dementia patients. As our society rapidly ages and the risk of dementia increases, we hope this application can help improve the quality of life for mild dementia patients in some way." The winning team of this competition receives various benefits, including the prize money, technical mentoring from Google engineers, and attendance at Google demo day.
PKNU, the only university in Korea selected for 40 billion KRW advanced industry specialization in 2 fields- specializing in secondary batteries with Kumyang co., ltd., and semiconductors with Gyeongsang national university to foster advanced talentPukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) has been selected for both secondary batteries and semiconductors in the 'advanced industry specialized university support project' announced by the Ministry of education and the Korea institute for advancement of technology on July 4. Pukyong National University is the only university in the nation to be selected in both fields for this project, which supports bachelor’s degree talent nurturing as a core basis for advanced industry talent development, being chosen for the 'secondary battery specialized university support project' as an independent type and the 'semiconductor specialized university support project' as a co-growth type support university. As a result of this selection, Pukyong National University will receive intensive financial support totaling 40 billion KRW for up to four years, enabling the establishment of a system for nurturing advanced talent and the expansion of educational infrastructure, including curriculum, faculty, and practice equipment, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in advanced industries.In the independently selected 'secondary battery specialized university support project', Pukyong National University will receive 12 billion KRW over four years to nurture practical, regionally connected secondary battery specialized personnel in the field of 'secondary battery process and material technology' (project leader professor Oh Pil-Gun). To achieve this, the university plans to establish the 'department of energy convergence technology engineering', the nation’s first industry-academic integrated major, in collaboration with Kumyang co., ltd., a leading company in the secondary battery field. This department will nurture industry-friendly personnel through a specialized convergence curriculum in secondary battery processes and materials, and a secondary battery specialized industry-academic innovation laboratory is also being established at the Yongdang campus. Kumyang co., ltd. has committed 800 million KRW in private matching funds as scholarships. Additionally, Pukyong National University, in partnership with Gyeongsang national university, was selected as a co-growth type in the non-metropolitan area for the 'semiconductor specialized university support project', receiving a total of 28 billion KRW in national funds over four years. Pukyong National University will specialize in the field of 'core materials and processes for high-reliability semiconductor packaging' (project leader, professor Lee Ji-Yeol), while Gyeongsang national university will focus on 'semiconductor packaging design and process, and analysis on semiconductor reliability' (project leader, professor Kang Seok-Geun), with plans to nurture specialized personnel in extreme environment semiconductor packaging and testing over the next four years. Pukyong National University had previously formed partnerships with semiconductor companies BtoZ, OXIDE from Korea and Japan last year, and signed an industry-academic cooperation MOU with semiconductor packaging material company Duksan Hi-metal co., ltd. earlier this year. Additionally, the university expanded the department of nanotechnology engineering into the division of nano semiconductor engineering, establishing majors in Nano-tech engineering and next-generation semiconductor engineering, with both majors notably being selected for this project, positioning the university to accelerate the nurturing of convergent talents in advanced fields. President Jang Young-Soo of Pukyong National University said, "We will do our best to fulfill our role as a central institution in nurturing core regional and national talents in the advanced strategic industries of semiconductors and secondary batteries."
PKNU sets sail for '68-year tradition' offshore sailing training- departure ceremony on the 28th, 127 student crew members embark on a 32-day sailing△ Participants of the offshore training posing for a commemorative photo during the departure ceremony. ⓒPhoto Lee Sung-Jae (PR team)Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) held the 'offshore sailing training departure ceremony of 2024 academic year' on June 28 at the reclaimed pier of Yongho-man bay. On this day, a total of 127 people, including 92 students from the division of marine production system management, the department of fisheries education, a major of electrical engineering, and including 35 crew members, started the 30-day training voyage. Pukyong National University's offshore sailing training began in 1957 when 48 students, including honorary chairman Kim Jae-Cheol of the Dongwon group, ventured to Ji-long port in Taiwan, marking the first voyage from Korea. Now in its 68th year, this training has laid the foundation for the country's offshore industry and economy, and today, it has become a program for cultivating talents in the future advanced marine and fisheries new industry fields. Through this program, Pukyong National University students will learn in the east sea, south sea, west sea of Korea and the Japanese sea, and learn the navigator and engineer programs on the sea in accordance with the STCW International Convention, including courses in fishing, navigation, electronic communication operation, ship engine operation, and automatic control system operation. Additionally, the students plan to visit universities and institutions at ports of call such as Hakodate Port in Japan and Keelung Port in Taiwan to engage in exchanges and build international networks. President Jang Young-Soo encouraged the trainees, saying, "Our Pukyong National University offshore training voyage has greatly contributed to the national economic development by producing numerous talents in the fisheries and marine fields. I hope all the trainees carry this pride in your hearts and do your best to acquire not only knowledge in your major fields but also the qualities of leaders in the fisheries and marine."
Prof. Bae Sang-Hoon elected as the 1st priority candidate for the 8th president of PKNU- will serve a four-year term upon presidential appointment, prof. Wang Je-Pil is the 2nd priority candidateIn the election for the 8th president of Pukyong National University, professor Bae Sang-Hoon (major of geomatics engineering) has been selected as the priority candidate, and professor Wang Je-Pil (metallurgical engineering) as the second candidate. In the final round of the election, conducted online on June 26, professor Bae Sang-Hoon received 60.36% of the votes, securing first place. Professor Wang Je-Pil received 39.64% of the votes. The electorate for this election consisted of 1,749 eligible voters, including 620 professors, 531 staff members, 586 students, and 12 teaching assistants. Professor Bae graduated from the department of civil engineering at Pusan National University (1990) and earned his ph.d. in traffic engineering from Virginia tech (1995). He has been a professor in the major of geomatics engineering at Pukyong National University since 2002, served as dean of the college of environmental and marine sciences and technology, also served as a research fellow at the Korea transport institute and an editorial board member of the Korean society of transportation. Currently, he is the chairman of the Busan mass transit citizen's funds foundation and president of the Busan public transportation future forum. He said, "I will take the lead in consolidating internal capabilities and collaborating with the region to drive the innovation needed for Pukyong National University to advance as a sustainable future university," he added, "I am committed to realizing the vision of Pukyong National University as a competitive institution with world-class research and educational capabilities, driving educational innovation to become a global university beyond the region, fostering interdisciplinary research and industry-academia cooperation, expanding support for research and education, and leading future industries." Following this election, Pukyong National University will recommend professor Bae Sang-Hoon as the priority candidate and professor Wang Je-Pil as the second candidate for the 8th president to the Ministry of education. The final appointment will be made by the president upon the recommendation of the Minister of education.
PKNU selected to operate a customized program for 1st graders at Neulbom school in the second semester, 2024- in collaboration with educational enterprises, Busan national university of education, and Silla university, the consortium plans to operate the program in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions△ Operating a customized program for first graders at Neulbom school.Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) has announced that it has been selected as the operating institution for the second semester of 2024 customized program for first graders at Neulbom school. With the nationwide expansion of Neulbom school this year, the Ministry of education, 17 metropolitan and provincial education offices, the Korea foundation for the advancement of science and creativity, and the Korea arts & culture education service invited applications from institutions to support customized programs for first-grade students, including school adaptation support and play-based arts and physical education activities. Pukyong National University has been selected as the operating institution for the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions in this nationwide call, receiving 3.2 million KRW in project funding to run the program in the second semester of 2024. With its selection for this project, Pukyong National University will lead the consortium for the project through the PKNU support center for educational donation (director Lee Sang-Gil) including educational institutions such as Ted education, Eduvision, and others. Additionally, the department of education at Busan national university of education, the department of education at Silla university, Sangsangharu co., ltd., Norit co., ltd., and Doit science co., ltd. will participate as partner institutions. Building on its experience as the operating institution for the first semester customized program for first graders at Neulbom school, Pukyong National University plans to establish Neulbom education hub centers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, targeting 30 schools with over 60 classes, implementing more than 1,800 sessions of Neulbom school educational programs. In particular, the university will support the program content through monitoring and performance analysis of various learning programs in conjunction with its on-campus teaching and learning support center, while also collaborating with the teaching and learning support centers of universities in the southeastern region to involve university students in the Neulbom school educational programs, to expand human resources. Lee Sang-Gil, director of the PKNU support center for educational donation, said, "Through this project, we aim to establish a public-private partnership support system for Neulbom school involving universities, businesses, and institutions, focusing on discovering and disseminating customized programs for first graders."
PKNU research team participates in 'CINDI-3 campaign' for international performance evaluation of atmospheric remote sensing equipment- prof. Lee Han-Lim team developed the atmospheric remote sensing equipment for air quality analysis△ International research teams posing for a group photo.A research team from Pukyong National University participated in the 'CINDI-3 campaign' for the international performance evaluation of atmospheric remote sensing equipment, held in Cabauw, Netherlands, under the auspices of the Royal Netherlands meteorological institute (KNMI). 'CINDI-3', held for the third time following previous events in 2009 and 2016, aims to verify the performance of ground-based remote sensing equipment and the accuracy of environmental satellite data through mutual comparison of equipment operated by various countries. In addition to Pukyong National University and the National institute of environmental research from South Korea, participants include the National aeronautics and space administration (NASA) from the USA, the Max planck institute for chemistry (MPIC) from Germany, the Belgian institute for space aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), the Rutherford appleton laboratory (RAL) from the UK, and the Laboratoire atmosph？res, milieux, observations spatiales (LATMOS) from France, among more than 30 institutions worldwide. Pukyong National University, led by professor Lee's team from the division of earth and environmental system sciences, is participating in this international performance evaluation with the ground-based remote sensing equipment 'AQ profiler', developed jointly with the National institute of environmental research, from May 21 to June 21. The 'AQ profiler' is the first domestically produced equipment based on UV-VIS spectroscopy, capable of measuring the vertical distribution of gases (NO2, O3, O4, HCHO, etc.) and aerosols in the atmosphere. Graduate students Park Gyeong and Lee Kang-Ham from the division of earth and environmental system sciences at Pukyong National University are participating in the campaign alongside researcher Kim Dae-Won from the Environmental research institute at Pusan national university, observing atmospheric nitrogen dioxide, ozone, formaldehyde, and conducting inter-comparison studies between equipment. Pukyong National University and the National institute of environmental research expect that participating in this international performance evaluation will contribute to the performance assessment of measurement equipment and the expansion of the use of measured data.
Research on tripling the performance of organic photodetectors published in a Nature sister journal- prof. Park Song-Yi from PKNU investigated characteristics of organic semiconductors for high-performance organic photodetectors△ Image related to professor Park Song-Yi's research. Schematic of the organic semiconductor molecular structure, the organic photodetector device structure, and the photoelectric conversion process used in the research (top), simulation results of energy level separation in Cl6-SubPc thin films (bottom left), and photodetection capability results based on Cl6-SubPc thickness (bottom right). New research results have shown that the performance of organic photodetectors, which are emerging as next-generation image sensors, can be improved by more than three times compared to existing technologies, attracting significant attention. Professor Park Song-Yi from the department of physics at Korea Pukyong National University recently published research findings in the international journal
PKNU launches priority research centers program 'G-LAMP project'- secures 25 billion won over 5 years... Aiming to become a global center for water cycle research△ Participants, including faculty and researchers of the LAMP project, posing for a commemorative photo shoot after a workshop earlier this year.Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced that the 'G-LAMP project team' (director professor Kim Young-Seok), aimed at becoming a global hub for basic science research, has officially launched this month. The G-LAMP (global learning & academic research institution for master & phd students, and postdocs) project is a large-scale research program funded by the Ministry of education to strengthen the university's research base and produce world-class research results. The project aims to establish an autonomous research institute management and support system within the university, promote collaborative research centered on themes without barriers between majors and departments, and support collaborative research focused on new researchers such as postdoctoral fellows. Last year, Pukyong National University, along with seven other universities, was selected for the LAMP project. This year, six additional universities have joined, transitioning to the international-focused G-LAMP project. Each university selects one of the ten basic science fields to establish a focused theme research system and conduct global collaborative research. Pukyong National University, with 15 faculty members, including project director professor Kim Young-Seok (major of environment & geoscience), will receive 5 billion won annually for five years, totaling 25 billion won, to undertake creative and innovative research aimed at becoming a global center for water cycle research. The project team will focus on three major themes including atmospheric science, marine science, and geoscience, aiming to establish a sustainable and self-sufficient core R&D research base for marine-atmospheric-geoscience convergence, understanding global water cycles influenced by climate and environmental changes, ensuring the safe and efficient use of local water resources, and predicting and responding to the resulting social impacts. In particular, the project team plans to become a global center for water cycle research by promoting international academic exchanges and cooperation, also aim to broaden the scope of basic science research to include the acquisition and circulation of water resources on future space planets, contributing to the advancement of future science and technology. Project director professor Kim Young-Seok said, "We expect that continuous research and innovation will enable us to grow into a global research hub leading world-class basic science research in the field of geosciences."
PKNU celebrates its centennial with the completion of the Ungbi tower and a time capsule sealing ceremony- a time capsule containing the university's historical books and other items will be sealed for 50 years in front of Ungbi tower on the 11th△ Participants of the time capsule sealing ceremony posing for a commemorative photo. ⓒPhoto Lee Sung-Jae (PR team)Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) held a ribbon cutting ceremony and a time capsule sealing ceremony in front of the newly completed Ungbi tower on the morning of June 11th. In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Pukyong National University made the Ungbi tower with funds raised by the alumni association and members of the university community to support the construction of a memorial tower and the ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on this day. The name of the tower, located at the center of the campus, is inherited from the Ungbi stone tower, which was established in front of Mirae hall in 1987. The design of the tower features a compass-shaped base with a hand encircling the globe, symbolizing the university's motto, "the future is in our hands". At the top of the tower, the globe is installed upside down, symbolizing that Korea is not at the end of the land but at the beginning of the sea, expressing the spirit of expanding our stage from the campus to the vast ocean. Following this, Pukyong National University held a time capsule sealing ceremony to commemorate its centennial of founding, sealing the time capsule in a space created at the base of the Ungbi tower. The time capsule contains various items, including a book detailing the 100-year history of the university since its founding, educational materials for the 2024 academic year, university newspapers published by Busan National University of Technology and the National Fisheries University of Busan before their integration, art catalogues from the historical exhibition room in the university museum, and commemorative items for the 100th anniversary of the university's founding. Pukyong National University plans to open the time capsule in May 2074, marking the 150th anniversary of university founding.
PKNU student selected as a 'Young scientist' by PICES- phd student Nam So-Yeon receives full support for the expenses related to attending the annual conference 2024 in the U.S.Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced that Nam So-Yeon, a phd. student in the department of marine biology under the supervision of professor Hyun Sang-Yoon, has been selected as a 'Young scientist' to attend the annual conference 2024 of the North pacific marine science organization (PICES-2024). Nam So-Yeon was recently selected as a PICES-2024 Young scientist through the selection process held during the Korean society of oceanography's spring conference at the Jeju international convention center. PICES is an intergovernmental organization established for the effective management of the marine environment and academic exchange in the north pacific region, with membership from six countries surrounding the north pacific: South Korea, the United States, Canada, Russia, China, and Japan. Doctoral student Nam So-Yeon will be attending the upcoming PICES annual conference in Honolulu, USA this year, with support for airfare and registration fees. Among the young marine scientists nationwide, she was selected through a competitive process in which she presented a paper in English evaluating how resources change in response to environmental changes affecting marine life using a length-based model, receiving high praise for her presentation. For the Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE), which assesses resources under various scenarios including the current state as well as environment and resource management, she applied the length-based model using mackerel data as an example, and her research was recognized for considering the impact of the 'temperature-size rule (TSR)', which posits that rising temperatures lead to smaller maturation sizes.
Popular YouTube web variety show 'Transfer student' released episode of PKNU- experiences lectures with students majoring marine sports at the water leisure center The popular YouTube web variety show 'the man who transfers every day, Transfer student' released its Pukyong National University episode on June 6. The episode, which premiered at 6 PM, vividly captures scenes from lectures and student life in the Marine Sports major of the Department of Smart Healthcare at Pukyong National University. As of the morning of June 7, less than a day after its release, the episode has garnered over 720,000 views. This web variety show features celebrity Lee Chang-Seop visiting various universities across the country and attending lectures in different departments as a transfer student. It is considered one of the most popular university-themed web variety shows on YouTube. During his visit to Pukyong National University, Lee Chang-Seop met with professor Kim Dae-Hwan, the head of the major of marine sports, to complete the transfer process. He then visited the water leisure center operated by the Institute for sports promotion, where he participated in two lectures, 'First aid and water rescue' and 'sports diving'. Lee Chang-Seop received a positive response by showcasing his swimming skills in the pool and diving pool lectures, participating in practical exercises in lifesaving and skin scuba diving. Following the lectures, Lee Chang-Seop and his new friends visited Gwangalli near the campus, where they enjoyed one of Busan's signature dishes, pork and rice soup (Dwaeji-Gukbap), while discussing their major and lectures.
PKNU team selected for 'National R&D real challenge 2024'- graduate student team led by Kim Tae-Yong to research AI-based vulnerability of saltwater intrusion in the lower Nakdong river basin△ The team of Kim Tae-Yong, doctoral candidate.A team led by Kim Tae-Yong, a doctoral candidate in the division of environmental and marine sciences and technology at Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo), has been selected for the National R&D real challenge 2024 by the Korea institute of human resources development in science and technology (KIRD). The National R&D real challenge provides graduate students with the opportunity to form research teams and draft mock research proposals for actual national R&D projects. It supports creative and innovative interdisciplinary research and development that proposes solutions to social issues through science and technology. Among the 12 teams selected nationwide this year, the team led by doctoral candidate Kim Tae-Yong along with doctoral candidates Park Hye-Min, Heo Jun-Yong, and Ha Tae-Jeong from Pukyong National University will receive KRW 21 million in research funding over five months to conduct research on 'developing a customized AI-based model to evaluate the vulnerability of saltwater intrusion in the lower Nakdong river basin following the opening of the Nakdong river estuary barrage'. Affiliated with the environmental hydrology laboratory at Pukyong National University (supervised by prof. Yang Min-Jun), the team plans to develop and present technologies to address social issues by leveraging their specialized knowledge and the practical expertise of the faculty startup company, Wible (water innovation accessible). Specifically, the team will investigate the hydrological and environmental factors affecting saltwater intrusion to systematize the database construction methods for developing an AI model, while also developing a new saltwater intrusion vulnerability assessment model and conducting research on its practical applicability in the lower Nakdong river basin.
"I successfully obtained the degree I wanted by combining three majors and also landed a job"- PKNU 'student-designed major' recognized as an outstanding case△ Jeon Ji-Hyeon, an alum. ⓒPhoto Lee Sung-Jae (PR team)Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) has decided to expand the 'student-designed major' program after the first case of a student who designed their own major, completed the coursework, and successfully gained employment.Jeon Ji-Hyeon, an alum (class of 2020) of major in marine biology at Pukyong National University, recently secured a position as a research inspector at the National institute of fisheries science.She is the first case of a student who utilized Pukyong National University's 'student-designed major' program, which was officially launched in 2022, to create her own major, earn a degree, and successfully secure employment. The 'student-designed major' differs from the traditional double major approach, in which students select and complete existing majors. Instead, it allows students to create new, unique majors by combining courses from two or more existing disciplines. As of the first semester of this year, a total of 39 student-designed majors are being offered and managed. Jeon Ji-Hyeon graduated this past February, received a degree in marine biology and earned a double major degree in 'marine fisheries convergence science', a major she personally designed by integrating courses from three fields: marine, fisheries, and environmental studies. She said, "I initially enrolled in the marine science major because my dream was to become a researcher in the marine field, but I realized I needed specialized knowledge in fisheries, so I transferred to the marine biology major. As I continued my studies, I realized I needed expertise in environmental science as well, then I heard about the 'student-designed major' program, thinking it as the perfect opportunity to create a major tailored to my needs and interests, allowing me to earn a degree in exactly what I wanted." She is currently working at the newly established division of climate and environmental research at the National institute of fisheries science, despite being a newcomer, she is making significant contributions. She has been recognized as a tailored talent for her expertise in a field that requires integrated knowledge in marine, fisheries, and environmental sciences, and she is conducting research to respond to climate and environmental changes, which have become a global concern. Jeon Ji-Hyeon said, "I thought about going to graduate school as extensive specialized knowledge is required to become a researcher, but I believe I achieved my dream early by building all the necessary competencies through the student-designed major. It was challenging to complete all the required credits by the time I graduated, but I'm happy to have become an irreplaceable person in a field where only I can excel." Pukyong National University is planning to expand its programs by introducing a student-designed major as a primary major to enhance students' self-directed learning capabilities and ensure their right to choose their majors.
Nighttime video content featuring the Ungbi tower catches the eye- a white whale and the four seasons, the symbols of the university captured to express the prestige and identity of the centennial of its foundingA newly created Ungbi tower at the rotary within the Daeyeon campus of Pukyong National University is attracting attention with its nighttime video content. Pukyong National University recently began screening 'Glorious Pukyong', a content piece that expresses the prestige and identity of the university's 100th anniversary through illuminating video projections on the Ungbi tower facade. The Ungbi tower was established following the collective opinion from the alumni association, which suggested having a symbolic monument to commemorate the 100th anniversary. It was funded through the monument construction support development fund, raised by alumni and university members. The name of the tower is inherited from the Ungbi stone tower, established in front of the Mirae building in 1987. The tower symbolizes the university's high status and progressive spirit reaching out to the world. Designed with a hand encircling the globe atop a compass-shaped base, it embodies the school motto, 'the Future is in our hands'. At the top of the tower, the globe is installed upside down to signify that Korea is not the end of the land but the beginning of the sea, encouraging the expansion of our stage from this campus to the vast ocean. The nighttime video content 'Glorious Pukyong', screened through the Ungbi tower, also embodies this symbolism. It expresses the historical significance of the university's centennial with our university slogans and commemorative phrases, and it depicts the spirit of exploring infinite freedom and true truth through the image of the university symbolic animal, the Baekyong (white whale), swimming. Additionally, the video captures the splendid four seasons of the campus by vividly and fantastically portraying the seasonal trees, including cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, in a variety of colors. These videos are screened daily at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM, and 10:00 PM for ten minutes each.
Salmon steaks and sausages made with microalgae set to be introduced soon- PKNU selected for KRW 6.2 billion project for 'alternative seaweed and marine cultured meat technology development' by Ministry of oceans and fisheries Salmon steaks and sausages made with 'ocean plant-based meat' derived from marine microalgae, a type of plant-based plankton, are expected to be newly introduced to the market soon. Pukyong National University (President Jang Young-Soo) announced that the research team led by professor Kim Young-Mok (food engineering) has been selected for the 'microalgae-based meat substitutes technology development project' organized by the Ministry of oceans and fisheries. As a result of this selection, the research team will receive a total of 6.25 billion won over the next five years until 2028 to carry out the project 'commercialization technology development of substitutes made with microalgae-based meat'. Seafood meat substitutes refer to food made using plant-based proteins derived from seaweed and microalgae to mimic the texture and taste of meat. With the rising importance of ‘bluefood-tech’, a convergent technology related to high nutritional and environmental value seafood, due to climate change, population growth, and the trend towards sustainable consumption, the aim is to develop technologies that will lead the future global seafood market. Alternative ocean plant-based meat is also gaining attention as an alternative that can overcome the limitations of land animal-derived alternative protein materials developed so far, such as safety, allergenicity, and nutritional imbalance. The goal of the Pukyong National University research team for this project is to develop commercialization technologies such as materials and products of alternative ocean plant-based meat using microalgae to gain an early foothold in the future food industry market and enhance competitiveness in the food industry. In line with this, Pukyong National University, as the lead institution, will collaborate with academic and research institutions such as the Korea food research institute, Sungshin women’s university, Chonbuk national university, and Korea maritime institute, as well as industry partners such as Dongwon F&B, Dynesoze additives & ingredients and Samjin food. The research team will work on △extracting proteins derived from chlorella and spirulina using microbial fermentation △developing eco-friendly binders based on seafood and using them to develop microalgae tissue proteins △developing sensory materials that can replicate the texture and flavor of meat through sensory evaluation systems △setting indicators for sensory implementation and developing sensory materials using the sensory evaluation system. In particular, they plan to develop and commercialize prototypes of alternative ocean plant-based meat (minced alternative ocean plant-based meat patties, alternative ocean plant-based meat sausages, HMR soy sauce shrimp with alternative shrimp meat, grilled alternative meat, plant-based alternative fish meat and imitation fish products, and alternative salmon steaks) and secure strategies for entering domestic and international alternative meat markets through consumer satisfaction surveys. Professor Kim Young-Mok, the project leader, is part of the research center for marine-integrated biomedical technology (director. prof. Jung Won-Kyo) and the institute for food research (director. prof. Yang Ji-Young), university-affiliated key research centers, and has been conducting research on developing protein materials derived from seafood using microbial fermentation, particularly led research in the high-value-added seafood development field based on bluefood-tech. Professor Kim said, "Through this project, which is the first step to dominate the future seafood industry market, I believe that if we secure the core technology for developing alternative seaweed meat using chlorella and spirulina and achieve successful commercialization, alternative ocean plant-based meat could become a new growth engine in the fisheries sector."