KSEA Midwest Regional Conference (MRC) 2025

Overview

The 6th Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) Midwest Regional Conference (MRC) 2025 successfully provided a platform for the Korean American science and engineering community in the Midwest to connect, share research, and foster collaboration. Known for its innovation and academic excellence, the Midwest region’s tradition was represented through this event, drawing renowned researchers, engineers, and students from both Korean and non-Korean communities.

Conference Highlights

• Participation: Over 160 participants attended, surpassing previous years’ numbers.
  • Composition: 13.7% academic faculty, 4.3% industry professionals, 14.3% postdoctoral researchers, 32.3% graduate students, 35.4% undergraduate students.
  • Regional Representation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (35%), Indiana (33%), Chicagoland/University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) (14%), Minnesota (6%), Wisconsin (4%), other states (8%).
• Sessions:
  • Academic Exchange Session: Featured poster and flash talk sessions for undergraduate, graduate students, and postdoctoral associates.
    • 32 posters presented, with three best-poster awardees selected.
  • Three Main Sessions:
    • Engineering: 8 presenters focused on advancing human well-being through technology.
    • Natural Science: 8 presenters highlighted pioneering research at the innovation frontier.
    • Social Science: Newly introduced with 4 presenters exploring interdisciplinary approaches to health and technology.
• Special Lecture: Dr. Catherine Blake from UIUC delivered a talk on “Actionable Artificial Intelligence,” addressing AI’s role in integrating expert reasoning with evidence quality and direction.

Organizing and Support

The MRC 2025 was organized by local KSEA chapters from Chicagoland, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa City, Ohio, Wisconsin, and UIUC. Significant contributions from student volunteers, organizers, prominent speakers, and sponsors, including KSEA Headquarters, KUSCO, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago, led to a successful event. The conference website MRC 2025 offers further details.

Organizing Committee

• Chicagoland CP Seungwon Chung (Chair)
• Purdue University Soonhyung Kwon (PD)
• Indiana CP Kyubyung Kang (GD1)
• Minnesota CP Sunghoon Gee (GD2)
• Wisconsin CP Hyecheol Jang (WD)
• Michigan CP Sangwoo Lee(FD)
• KSA Jaemin Yang(UIUC), Yewon Lee (UIUC-YG) 

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The KSEA MRC 2025 provided a platform for the Korean American science and engineering community in the Midwest to connect and share their research. The Midwest is recognized as a hub of innovation and academic excellence, where Korean-American professionals and students have long shared their passion for science, technology, and engineering. Building on this tradition, the 6th Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) Midwest Regional Conference (MRC) 2025 brought together renowned researchers, engineers, and students from across the Midwest and beyond. The MRC also showcased significant and impactful work undertaken by Korean American scientists and engineers in the region, with participation from non-Korean attendees who shared and observed the community’s activities.

This conference, emphasizing natural sciences, social sciences, technology, and engineering, was designed to provide an enriched platform for exchanging research, professional achievements, and recent technological trends, while fostering meaningful collaborations among attendees. Organized by local KSEA chapters from Chicagoland, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa City, Ohio, Wisconsin, and UIUC, the event ensured abundant opportunities for networking and professional growth, drawing most participants from these regions.

The conference was successfully held with over 160 registered participants, surpassing the previous year’s attendance. Attendee composition was well-balanced, with 13.7% academic faculty members, 4.3% industry scientists and engineers, 14.3% post-doctoral researchers, 32.3% graduate students, and 35.4% undergraduate students. Approximately 35% of participants were from UIUC, 33% from the Indiana chapter, 14% from Chicagoland and UIC, 6% from Minnesota, 4% from Wisconsin, and 8% from other states.

This year, the conference also featured a dedicated academic exchange session, including poster and flash talk sessions for undergraduate and graduate students, along with postdoctoral associates interested in presenting their research and work. This session aimed to expand networking among Korean American scientists and engineers. The poster session presented 32 posters, with three best-poster awards selected by conference attendees.

Following the academic exchange event, the conference divided into three sessions: Engineering, Natural Science, and Social Science. The engineering session featured eight presenters from various disciplines, discussing topics related to advancing human well-being through science and technology. The science session included eight presenters from diverse subjects, covering pioneering research shaping our future at the innovation frontier. The social science session was newly introduced this year, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to health, technology, and science, with four presenters.

A notable highlight was Dr. Catherine Blake’s special talk. Dr. Blake, a professor in the School of Information Sciences and a Health Innovation Professor at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine at UIUC, delivered a lecture on “Actionable Artificial Intelligence.” Her talk highlighted how AI can better reflect expert reasoning by integrating the quality and direction of evidence.

For more details, please refer to the MRC 2025 website.

The 2025 MRC was a huge success, thanks to the hard work of many student volunteers, organizers, prominent speakers, as well as sponsorship and support from various groups, including KSEA Headquarters, KUSCO, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago. The organizers plan to gather attendee feedback via online surveys to improve future MRC events by incorporating learnings from this year’s conference.