What do drawing, making, and taking care of small pets have to do with a child’s becoming a dynamic engineering academic? To find out – fast forward to today and meet Dr. Seong-Woo Kim, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Practice, Seoul National University (SNU).
As a youngster Seong-Woo found his main source of fun was to imagine, create, try things, and try to understand even small ecosystems – often making what was needed with his own hands. These youthful hands-on experiences were not only enjoyable, but over time led him to interest and pursuit of engineering. As contrast, however, initial university experiences in engineering seemed heavily theoretical and less satisfying than hoped. That is until by chance Seong-Woo found his place of engagement and meaning by joining a student programming and robotics club. He was among fellow students who similarly channeled their creative urge in designing, building and programming. Previously not known for diligently attending lectures, Seong-Woo came to realize that he had always loved engineering more than anything else. In his current role teaching at SNU and through the myriad initiatives, programs and projects he leads and supports Dr. Kim commits 24/7 time and every effort to bringing to others that same joy of hands-on designing and making, extending the theoretical, encouraging collaboration, and integrating creativity into an education in engineering.
Seong-Woo is faculty advisor to the SNU Idea Factory – a student makerspace for hands-on innovation actually proposed by students. The SNU Creativity Education Faculty Group brings together professors from across disciplines to integrate creativity into engineering education. The Global Capstone programs and international workshops allow students to collaborate on real-world projects with peers from different cultural and academic backgrounds. Seong-Woo finds that using teaching and learning as common ground and the language of STEM as a common language promotes interacting with fellow academics, students, colleagues, and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the broader IFEES community. As if all this doesn’t keep Seong-Woo moving forward at an always fast pace, he also serves at the faculty advisor, general manager and coach of the SNU Solar Car Racing Team – giving students opportunities for hands-on designing and building a car from scratch and then competing in a collaborative international racing program.
Seong-Woo admits that his engineering education journey is rarely simple and easy. No one assigns him his many tasks; he finds the problems he is most drawn to and takes the initiative to pursue solving them. He has learned that the dimensions of connecting diverse projects and people that result in positive experiences for young people are what pleases him the most and keeps him motivated. Dr. Kim finds joy in his work and shares that joy with his students, peers and colleagues. He refers to his membership in IFEES as akin to being a part of the “UN of engineering education”, and his service on the IFEES Executive Committee as broadening and elevating his own perspective.
As for childhood hands-on drawing and making? Those early experiences have grown into an academic career revolving around designing, deconstructing and rebuilding, inventing and innovating. And about that childhood caring for small animals? In a time when young Seong-Woo could not simply order supplies online as one might do today, he often had to make what was needed himself. Today Dr. Seong-Woo Kim shares his passion for engineering education and his joy in all that can bring by inspiring his students, colleagues and fellow members of the IFEES global community.
