The winners of the 2021 Fall Color Your Year Project were announced. The contest, open only to freshmen, was created last year as part of the new President’s QAIST strategy. It aims to encourage freshmen to create good habits that can aid them in the rest of their undergraduate years. The first batch of applicants submitted portfolios last December, and the awards ceremony for the winners was held on March 15, in the Creative Learning Building (E11) Terman Hall.

Professor Byungha Shin, Dean of Freshmen, congratulated the winners. The Grand Prize was given to Jaehun Kim, while Excellence Awards were given to Dongyoon Hahm, Yerim Han, CheolMin Park, Seoyoung Yang, and Martina Di Paola.

The Color Your Year Project consists of three categories: Challenge, Question, and Volunteer Work. In the Challenge and Question categories, students set a goal at the beginning of the semester and report how they have accomplished their goals six months later. In the Question category, students also report what answer they have gotten to their original starting question, and what methods they used to attain those answers, such as experiments and interviews. In the Volunteer Work category, applicants volunteer in areas that are related to their dreams or hobbies and record their activities alongside reflections on what they have learnt and felt.

Jaehun Kim, the recipient of the Grand Prize, submitted a portfolio in the Question category with the question: “What if there are species of freshwater clams that have not yet been found?” He started with categorizing clams by anatomical features, then moved on to use DNA base sequences to make a phylogenetic tree. Knowing that Japan, being on islands, has completely different species of freshwater clams, he wondered if Korea would also have different species of clams going southward. He made inquiries to researchers who had investigated similar topics. Jaehun Kim stated that this project allowed him to experience how interaction with others can improve a research question and made him rethink his major.

Dongyoon Hahm from the Challenge category envisioned a future where smart glasses would be used and thought up different services and technologies that would accompany the rise of smart glasses, such as platforms for selling furniture and art exhibitions that use AR technology. He plans to get patents for a few of his ideas and states that the Color Your Year Project allowed him to consistently brainstorm new ideas. He encouraged freshmen to apply this year, hoping that they could learn and gain from their experience. 

Yerim Han from the Question category returned to the portfolio on neuroscience she submitted to KAIST for admissions. She expanded on the portfolio, collecting notes on research topics, book reviews, ideas, and projects. As time went on, Han broadened her realm of interest from just neuroscience to the humanities discipline. For example, she began considering the ethical implications of new advances in neuroscience.

CheolMin Park from the Volunteer Work category decided to do volunteer tutoring that would not only help others but also help himself. He participated in various clubs and activities related to both his prospective major and volunteer work, such as connecting automobile experts to high school students for mentoring.

The 2022 Color Your Year Project is currently ongoing for Spring 2022 and Fall 2021 freshmen. It is possible to apply with any topic, including topics that can demonstrate a unique or creative way of thinking that sets apart freshmen. Students may apply to multiple categories, but they can only apply once in each category.