Stony Brook University SUNY Korea

  Each year, the CFDA awards a handful of highly competitive scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students at institutions across the country, based on sketches and accompanying details for a fashion collection. Since 1996, the organization has given out 365 scholarships worth a total of $3.7 million. This year, three of the 13 winners were FIT Fashion Design students in the class of ’24. Benjamin Halunen won a CFDA x Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar award, which came with a $25,000 scholarship. Nkenglack Nchopa was named an Amex Scholar and awarded $25,000. And Cassius Read, named the Versace Scholar, received $30,000. Click here to read the original article.

  On October 15th, FIT students club named ‘DNC (Design for Neighbor and Community)’ was selected for the ‘Global Art Market,’ which is one of the 20th anniversary event of Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, IFEZA. In this event, they select a total of 20 teams to provide booths and an opportunity to sell their products related to the arts. The Global Art Market was held from 1 pm to 8 pm at the Central Park Grass Square behind the National Hangeul Museum. DNC club members created two logos: Miredosi (Future City) Songdo and Songdo Landmark with Hangeul. Miredosi (Future City) Songdo logo was designed with images that come to mind when the members think of Songdo International City. In Songdo, a beautiful sunset ends the day with a wonderful view of the buildings that couldn’t be found in other cities. Therefore, DNC designed the aspect of the sun filled with buildings, and the word future city, which can symbolize Songdo, was expressed by the syllable names in the music. A T-shirt with this Future City Songdo logo was shown in the opening video to commemorate the 20th-anniversary events of IFEZA. In addition, Jin-young Kim, the Director of IFEZA, also introduced this T-shirt to people by wearing it. Miredosi (Future City) Songdo Landmark Hangeul logo was inspired by the National Museum of World Writing Systems, which opened in Songdo this year. These Hangeul letters are designed with landmarks symbolizing Songdo. From the left, ‘ㅅ’ shows Posco Tower Songdo, ‘ㅗ’ shows Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, ‘ㅇ’ shows Incheon Global Campus, ‘ㄷ’ shows Posco and Booyong Songdo Tower, and lastly ‘ㅗ’ shows Incheon Bridge, which connects two IFEZ Smart Cities: Songdo and Yeongjongdo. Songdo Landmark Hangeul logo       Written by Student Reporter, Hyeonha Hwang (hyeonha.hwang@stonybrook.edu)

SUNY Korea’s new brain-inspired computing research lab has been established. Led by Professor Yoonseok Yang from the Computer Science department, the Brain-Inspired Computing Lab (BCL) focuses on developing new computing technologies inspired by the human brain.  Starting from the Fall 2023 semester, the lab has already attracted the attention and interest of several undergraduates and graduate students. Together with Professor Yang, they hope to foster an environment of creativity, experimentation, and new discoveries.  The BCL has joined the Intel Neuromorphic Research Community (INRC), a consortium of academic, government, and industry groups around the world that are working to advance neuromorphic computing. Professor Yang is a leading expert in Neuromorphic Computing. His research has focused on developing new hardware and software platforms that can mimic the way the brain processes information. The BCL's work is expected to make significant contributions to the field of neuromorphic computing and could lead to the development of new and powerful computing technologies. Lab link: https://sites.google.com/view/suny-bcl/home         

  The Fall 2023 Internship Panel, which took place this past Wednesday, ended successfully. Four notable students were able to share their experiences as interns at various companies to their fellow colleagues during this event. The four students were Eunbin Cho (AMS), Minjun Kim (CS), and Christian Choi (TSM) from Stony Brook University, and Jennifer Christiana (FBM) from Fashion Institute of Technology. In the first half of the event, the speakers shared their unique experiences and gave tips. In the second half, students had the opportunity to ask questions, allowing for an interactive discussion. This was a great opportunity to learn about internship programs and meet other students. Eunbin Cho did her internship at SeeAnn Solution, a software and 3D modeling manufacturing company. Minjun Kim, a Computer Science major, finished his internship at d2 Engineering (engineering company), THE COMPANY (software development company), SOOBAK (Fashion, textile, and other specialized industry), and To Be Done (language institute). Christian Choi, a TSM major, did his internship at Pala, a software development company, Jennifer Christiana, Fashion Business Management major, completed her internship at Gingerline Curated (thrift & consignment store), Lee Seung Jin Wedding (designer's brand), Voda (designer's brand), and by Sophie (fashion & beauty company). (From the left: Jennifer Christiana, Eunbin Cho, Christian Choi, and Minjun Kim)   Throughout each semester, the Career Development Center provides numerous sessions that help in the development of future careers. This fall semester, key events include: FIT Alumni Talk on October 25, IGC Career Workshop on November 1, the SBU Alumni Panel on November 11, and Career Talk to You on November 15.

When you look at Fashion Design BFA alumna Hee Jin Hwang’s exquisite designs, you are also seeing the impact and influence of her sculptor father. Titled The Sculptor’s Daughter, Hwang’s capsule collection for the 2023 Supima Design Competition featured structural looks, a lot of texture, and a great deal of surface manipulation and volume. Each of the eight finalists in the Supima show created a look in twill, velveteen, jersey, denim, and shirting, using Supima cottons. The runway competition took place in early September, and the finalists were mentored by noted designer and FIT alumnus Bibhu Mohapatra. “My dad was a sculptor, and I consider every one of my pieces as sculpture,” Hwang said. “I wanted to bring volume and structural effect into the garments, which is why I did a lot of surface manipulation and surface treatment. The texture I’m channeling in fashion is his inspiration and his taste. In order to do that, I did a lot of hand smocking. He molded ceramic;I molded fabric.” Hwang, who grew up in South Korea, won a $25,000 CFDA scholarship in 2022 and was a finalist in the 2023 Macy’s x FIT Capsule: The Every Body Collection. Click here to read the original article.  

  Computer Science major Sooa Kim won 1st place in the 2023 Jeju Digital Social Innovation Hackathon Competition. The Hackathon competition, hosted by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, was held on September 21st – 22nd. The theme of this year’s competition was proposing ideas for products or services that solve societal issues using digital technology. Sooa Kim came in first by proposing a customized power monitoring platform. “In Jeju, which has declared carbon neutrality since 2012 and is actively working to expand new and renewable energy sources, citizens can use the time-of-use electricity rate system that takes into consideration the characteristics of new and renewable energy. The time-of-use rate system is a shifting of electricity rates based on the season and time of day, and the ultimate goal is to match the supply curve of renewable energy and the demand curve for electricity. Accordingly, we proposed “Jirit” (찌릿, the sound of an electric shock), a customized power monitoring platform that encourages citizen participation by providing real-time monitoring of power usage and user-centered data analysis that induces demand response using incentives. Through this, we can expect economic benefits for electricity users and a carbon reduction effect through the time-based rate system. It was a meaningful time to address the shortcomings of the existing power analysis platform with technology optimized for Jeju Island's unique power system. I had the opportunity to receive feedback from professional mentors regarding the issues that needed improvement when the platform is put into use, and this led me to consider a more user-centered approach.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on University Education A recent study claimed that ChatGPT, the popular AI chatbot, completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) undergraduate curriculum in mathematics, computer science, and electrical engineering with 100-percent accuracy. While the study is a preprint, meaning that it hadn’t yet passed through peer review it has 15 authors, including several MIT professors.  Recent progresses in AI technology have raised several important questions for university educators. Will AI reduce students’ creativity? With access to vast amounts of information, students can use AI to solve their homework and assignments, rather than using their own creativity and knowledge to solve such problems. Does AI technology impact all fields of education equally? Will AI technology take away the control of education from universities and give control to major technology companies? Can AI effectively be used to improve higher education? While the answers to these and many other questions are still being debated, several conclusions can already be made.  AI technology will greatly impact higher education and we must accept that the traditional models of higher education must change dramatically. Technology will continue to advance and unless students and faculty adapt, they will be eliminated from the modern education system.  A major potential impact of AI is to change the education system from a teaching-centered to a learning-centered system. In this system students will have a much more active role in a class. The faculty will not play the only active role in a class, but the main participation will come from students. The impact is not limited to the role of the faculty. An AI based education system can move towards individualized education. It is understood that the learning ability of students can be very different. AI allows faculty to recognize these differences and provide individualized models of learning to different students and actively monitor their progress.  While AI technology can be used in all fields, the level of its application can be different. For example, in areas such as chemistry and biology and mechanical engineering where visual modeling is important AI can have a lot of applications. In contrast in fields such as theoretical mathematics, the application may be less.  The application of AI tools such as ChatGPT in some of the areas of arts or humanities such as language and literature can be significant. In general, the impact in theoretical fields may be more limited.  A properly designed AI based education actually may help advance students’ creativity. For example, in the current educational system students are asked to memorize a lot of information. Using AI, the system instead can focus more on analysis and research of complex problems. Obviously, the types of questions must change from simple questions to those requiring research and analysis. Questions which can be answered through an Internet search are not typically complex problems faced in industry and society anyway.   Students today are very technology savvy, mastering any new technology very quickly. Continuous training for faculty to keep up with students in this regard is essential. Today we are educating students for jobs that do not yet exist. The same conditions apply to AI based education. Many faculty were educated when such technologies did not exist. This gap between what faculty learned and what they need to apply today must be addressed with sustained continuing education. Utilizing teams of faculty with different expertise is a way of addressing this issue. Addressing a complex problem such as this requires educational authorities to develop a road map, utilizing faculty administrators and experts who believe in the need for change to bring this new technology into the educational system.  Click here to read the article.

Stony Brook University’s admissions application rate and enrollment experienced new highs in the 2023-2024 academic year, along with its largest-ever incoming first-year class. The increases in application and enrollment rates were announced by Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Retention Dawn Medley. The increases come as the university continues to build momentum, including being named a New York State flagship university as well as the anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange, and receiving a $500 million endowment from the Simons Foundation. Click here to read the original article.

Chris Johnson, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Chemistry, was announced as the winner of the 2023 Stony Brook Foundation Discovery Prize on September 18. The $200,000 Discovery Prize is awarded to an early-career Stony Brook faculty member in the STEM disciplines whose pioneering project embraces risk and innovation and embodies the potential of discovery-driven research. It is intended to advance and support the career of a rising star on the Stony Brook faculty, whose ideas and research may be so revolutionary that traditional funding agencies may be unlikely to provide support. At the Discovery Prize finals in the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre, Johnson presented his research proposal, “A New Platform to Track the Chemistry of Climatically Relevant but Currently Underaddressed Ultrafine Aerosol Particles.” Click here to read the original article.

Stony Brook ranked #1 among public universities in New York, #26 among public universities in the U.S. and #58 nationally in 2024 Best Colleges Stony Brook University has achieved its highest-ever rankings — and the highest rank ever for a SUNY institution — in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 America’s Best Colleges publication. Stony Brook, New York’s flagship university, is ranked #58 among national universities, a 19-position jump from #77 a year ago, which had been the university’s previous best ranking. SBU is also #1 among public universities in New York for the second year in a row and #26 among public universities nationwide, a five-spot increase from 2023. Stony Brook is tied with the University of Connecticut in the national rankings, and maintained its status as the top public university in New York. It also was ranked #12 among national universities for social mobility, tied for second among all AAU institutions.  Click here to read more

On September 6, at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, The Museum at FIT (MFIT) held its annual Couture Council Luncheon, honoring sustainability trailblazer Gabriela Hearst. Hearst, creative director of her namesake brand and French luxury fashion house Chloé, received the 2023 Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award. “Just when I thought I couldn’t feel any more special or get more emotional,” Hearst said, “I get this honor from one of the most renowned fashion institutions in the world.” FIT President Joyce F. Brown and MFIT Director Valerie Steele both gave a warm welcome to guests. Jamie Nordstrom, chief stores officer of Nordstrom, shared remarks expressing pride in Nordstrom’s support of FIT and its up-and-coming, creative talent. Click here to read the original article.

Intelligent.com, a site that helps prospective students choose colleges, has ranked two FIT majors at the top of its list of the Best Interior Design Programs of 2023. FIT’s Interior Design program, which offers an AAS and BFA, was ranked first among the top 40 undergraduate programs, with a score of 99.13 out of 100. The list included many state universities and private colleges with renowned interior design programs. “Interior Design at FIT is exceptional because we are CIDA accredited, have a robust curriculum, and are committed to diversity,” says Carmita Sanchez-Fong, chair of the department. “We work closely with several nonprofit and mentorship organizations, including IIDA, ACE, Urban Assembly, and New York Cares.” Click here to read the original article.

Preeti Arya, Textile Development and Marketing, has developed a bio-based, biodegradable textile using a combination of lab-grown materials including SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) made from kombucha. In addition to its earth-friendly properties, the new composite is also edible. Her son had challenged her to create the textile. He knew about her interest in sustainability and asked, “Why don’t you make something completely biodegradable?” She applied for and received a Faculty Development Grant and a Sustainability Grant to fund the research. Arya experimented with various combinations of materials. It took a few attempts to get the mix right. Vartest Laboratories, an independent New York City textile-testing lab, found that the material was strong enough for numerous applications, including as a bag, wallet, or glasses case. Click here to read the original article.

  This week on Wednesday, the Mechanical Engineering Department welcomed 44 undergraduate and 9 graduate students to the “ME Open Lab Day”. Both the undergraduate and graduate students had the opportunity to get an overview of the various research areas in the Mechanical Engineering Department, prepared by the great professors of the ME Department. During this event, students were able to learn about the MEIC Lab, System Integration Lab, Water Technology Lab, Bio Sensor Fabrication Lab, along with others. Moreover, students were able to connect with all of the department professors, explore their interests, and find out about their study options.   Please check out the video of the ME Open Lab Day from the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeRz_2Bk-4E

  SUNY Korea and Jones International Christian School (JICS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 to establish a collaborative relationship to promote academic achievement and college readiness for students of JICS.  The MoU was signed by Arthur H. Lee, President of SUNY Korea, and Mindy Lee, Principal of JICS, in agreeance of collaboration with organizing educational programs for students and parents, developing various community engagement programs, and student exchange.  President Arthur H. Lee stated, “It is an honor to formalize and enhance our partnership with Jones International Christian School, and I am delighted to meet you here at SUNY Korea. This MoU is a great opportunity as we can play our role in the global setting of this international city, Songdo. I envision that the students of JICS will be able to come to SUNY Korea after they graduate high school and we will be able to do our best to inherit what you have done, and have them go out and change the world to make an impact in the global setting. I hope this relationship will be a long lasting one and I am excited to be able to work with you.” Following President Lee’s message, Mindy Lee, Principal of JICS, added, in her welcoming speech, “We are very much looking forward to this partnership. We share the commonalities to raise global leaders. Our hope is to train students and get them ready for institutions like SUNY Korea. SUNY Korea has a strong presence not only in Songdo, but in Korea overall. Once again, thank you for creating this opportunity.”