For Mason Korea students Dayeon Shin and Taeyeong Kim, what started as a moment of curiosity in class turned into something much bigger—a chance to present their research on a global stage.
It began with a classroom discussion on urban flooding, which inspired a research project on “sponge cities”—urban areas designed to absorb and reuse rainwater—and their potential in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
Shin, a junior majoring in global affairs, applied for and received funding through George Mason University’s Spring 2025 Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. She teamed up with Kim, a sophomore, and together, under the mentorship of Dr. Dakota McCarty, they brought the project to life.
Their research was accepted for presentation at the 2025 Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) annual congress in Istanbul, one of the largest and most competitive conferences in the field. Out of the thousands of participants and more than 1,000 presentations, they were one of the very few, if only, undergraduate participants and likely the only undergraduate presenters.
Their presentation, “Exploring the Feasibility of Sponge City Solutions for Flood Resilience in Gangnam, Seoul,” was well received by a room full of academics and planning professionals from around the world.
“Presenting my research and engaging in discussions with professionals from various countries was an incredible experience,” said Shin. “Attending different sessions allowed me to think about my specific interests and motivated me to keep going—it felt like the first real step in my academic journey.”
But the experience wasn’t just about showcasing a project—it was about stepping confidently into the world of research and seeing themselves not just as students, but as emerging scholars.
“I’ve always wanted to make a difference through academic research, and this experience helped me find my ‘why,’” said Kim. “I learned so much about urban planning and really valued the chance to connect with researchers from all over the world.”
For McCarty, the journey was just as rewarding to witness. “It all started with a great question after class,” he said. “That moment of curiosity turned into a research journey that brought Dayeon and Taeyeong to one of the top planning conferences in the world.”
After the conference, the students, along with McCarty, took time to explore the historic city of Istanbul, reflecting on the experience and celebrating how far they’d come.
August 10, 2025