Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) (President Yang Oh-bong) doctoral student Se-eun Park (supervisor Professor Oh Ju-won) of the Department of Environmental Energy Convergence has been selected as a participant in the 16th IEAGHG International CCS Summer School, an international training program for 45 early-career researchers at the master’s and doctoral levels in the fields of science, society, and economics, the university announced on the 19th.

The IEAGHG International CCS Summer School is an international education program operated by IEAGHG (The IEA's Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme), which was established in 1991 with support from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The program delivers specialized knowledge related to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), a leading measure for reducing greenhouse gases. Based on this knowledge, participants and world-class experts will discuss research topics and build professional networks.

As a result of her selection, Se-eun Park will participate in the training program to be held in Darwin, Australia, from June 23 to 29, together with early-career researchers from around the world. Selected students will receive accommodation, meals, and the training program free of charge.

During the selection process, the committee recognized Park's diverse research experience and sufficient English communication skills. Her experience includes six months at the University of Calgary (Canada) conducting onshore carbon dioxide leakage monitoring research; three months at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) and three months at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) conducting site characterization research for onshore geothermal power sites; and collaborative research on offshore carbon dioxide geological storage site characterization and monitoring for three months at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and four months at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute.

Park has achieved notable accomplishments, including selection as a POSCO International industry–university scholarship recipient, receiving the President's Award of the Korean Society for Resource Engineering, and winning two Student Outstanding Paper Presentation Awards from the Korean Society of Geophysics and Physical Exploration. She is developing as an outstanding early-career researcher in the field of resource engineering.

Currently, JBNU's Department of Civil/Environmental/Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering (Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering) and the Department of Environmental Energy Convergence are conducting the Ministry-collaboration Type Greenhouse Gas Reduction Innovative Talent Development Project with support from the K-CCUS Initiative. Park's selection for the IEAGHG international training program represents the fruition of her education and research activities over the past two years.

Park commented, 'I was able to build the global research capability I have today by participating in the department's active personnel development programs and international collaborative research. I am grateful to the faculty of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Engineering and the Department of Environmental Energy Convergence, and especially to Professor Oh Ju-won, who has provided generous support and encouragement since my third year of undergraduate study. I will continue to grow as a scientist researching national resource security and carbon neutrality, accumulate diverse research capabilities, and contribute to society.'

Meanwhile, the program has been held in various countries across Europe, Australia, Asia, and North America over the past 16 years, and has produced 708 alumni representing 60 countries, who have entered diverse sectors of the CCS industry and academia.