KU’s research innovations towards a sustainable future

Nature published an article focusing on KU’s research achievements.

Korea University’s research innovations and visions were introduced in the Nature Index 2020 Korea Supplement, a renowned international scientific journal, published on May 28.

It is the first time that Nature published a special article on Korea University’s research activities. Korea University has been ranked the top private university in Asia for the fourth consecutive year, on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world rankings list. And state-of-the-art research facilities and a track record of innovative research from world-renowned experts (seven of whom are 2019 Global Highly Cited Researchers) have placed Korea University in the top global 100 universities assessed by QS.

The article focuses on Korea University’s contributions to tackle various challenges in society, such as climate change, environmental destruction, and chronic diseases, in order to move towards a sustainable future.

The university’s contributions featured in the article include the following: research on environmental remediation, reducing climate change, and waste management strategies led by Professor Ok Yong-sik in the Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering; developing the next generation of solar cells led by Noh Jun-hong, a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering; research on cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmia, led by Kim Young-hoon, a professor in the College of Medicine; and research on multidimensional spectroscopy by Cho Min-haeng, a professor in the Department of Chemistry.

Nature Index featured South Korea in a cover story back in 1993, but this issue is the journal’s first ever special issue on the country. Nature highlighted South Korea’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, innovative research activities, systematic reforms, and heavy investment in talent—efforts that have helped it secure a first-mover advantage.

▶ The link to the Nature article: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-020-00128-6