About the DESE

What is the DESE

The Division of Environmental Science & Engineering at POSTECH was launched in 1995 when it was designated by the Ministry of Education as the nation’s only national graduate program in environmental studies. Since then, it has pioneered Korea’s first interdisciplinary graduate program in the environmental field.

Kitaek Lee, Head of DESE

Division of Environmental Science & Engineering
Head Professor Kitaek Lee

In the early years, professors from nearly every department—including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, and Life Science—participated to establish an interdisciplinary education and research program in environmental studies. The first graduate students were admitted in 1996. Since the appointment of our first full-time faculty member in 1997, the division has steadily expanded and currently (as of March 2023) has 12 full-time professors. The original interdisciplinary cooperative graduate program was reorganized into an independent graduate school, the “Division of Environmental Science & Engineering,” in June 2016.

The division’s research spans beyond traditional media-based fields (water, air, soil, waste) and emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration across diverse scientific areas. Our goal is to integrate fundamental science with applied technologies to solve mission-oriented environmental challenges. Recognizing that it is inefficient for a single unit to address every area of environmental research with limited resources, we recently adopted a strategy of “selection and concentration.” Based on this vision, we are further strengthening interdisciplinary research efforts within POSTECH.

Accordingly, we have identified two major strategic research areas: “Global Environment & Climate Change” and “Green Technologies for Energy & Materials.” All long-term development plans of the division are aligned with these focal areas.

Going beyond POSTECH’s “Vision 2030 Plan” (entering the global top 20 by 2030), the Division of Environmental Science & Engineering aims to establish itself as a top-10 environmental research group in the world.

To achieve this goal, we must:

  • 01

    Secure top-tier faculty members and outstanding students;

  • 02

    Attract large-scale national research programs to strengthen research facilities and funding;

  • 03

    Maintain strong domestic and international collaborative research networks.

The division consistently ranks first or second in POSTECH’s internal evaluations—based on SCI publications, citation metrics, and research funding. Our BK team has also ranked first in the field of convergence science for seven consecutive years. In a 2008 evaluation conducted by Deloitte, our division was assessed as the closest among POSTECH departments to reaching the global top-20 level. Thus, entering the global top-10 by 2030 is an ambitious yet achievable goal.

Alongside research excellence, the division has produced remarkable educational outcomes. Since the early 2000s, our master’s and Ph.D. graduates have advanced into leading positions worldwide. As of March 2023, among 166 Ph.D. and 306 M.S. graduates, more than 40 serve as professors at domestic and international universities. Most of our alumni are employed at major government research institutes (KIST, ETRI, KRISS) and large corporations such as Samsung, LG, and POSCO. Some have also taken leadership roles in government agencies such as the Ministry of Environment and the Korean Intellectual Property Office. Recent graduates have pursued postdoctoral research at top global institutions such as Caltech, Princeton, and Yale. With the division’s growing internationalization, we now receive students from leading universities in China (Peking University, Nanjing University, Hanoi University) as well as from major U.S. universities (UC, USC, UT).

Despite its relatively short history, the division has made remarkable progress and has become a model for interdisciplinary environmental research in Korea. To take the next leap forward and advance into the world’s top-10 environmental programs, continued effort and commitment are essential. We remain dedicated to our strategy of selection and concentration, the small-group excellence tradition of POSTECH, and our mission to contribute to society through leading-edge research and education.

Head of the Division of Environmental Science & Engineering
Kitaek Lee