SNU Energy Initiative Successfully Concludes the “2026 SNUEI Winter School”
Interdisciplinary Education and Hands-On Training Across Six Energy Fields Strengthen Collaboration Among Next-Generation Researchers


▲ Graduate students specializing in the six core energy fields gather for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the “2026 SNUEI Winter School,” hosted by the Seoul National University Energy Initiative (SNUEI).

The Seoul National University Energy Initiative (SNU Energy Initiative, SNUEI) announced that it successfully held the “2026 SNUEI Winter School” over a five-day period from January 5 to January 9 at on-campus research institutes and laboratory facilities at the Gwanak Campus.

The winter school was designed as a program offering interdisciplinary education and hands-on training that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries by organizing the energy field into six core divisions: production, transmission, consumption, storage, circulation, and law and policy. Rather than focusing solely on theoretical lectures, the program emphasized direct exposure to experimental and analytical techniques actively used in real research environments.

A total of 32 graduate students specializing in energy-related fields participated in the event, representing various colleges at Seoul National University, including the College of Engineering, College of Natural Sciences, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Participants were assigned to eight teams, each composed of students from different academic backgrounds, and engaged in highly interdisciplinary discussions, networking activities, and team-based projects, gaining experience in analyzing energy challenges from multiple perspectives.

The program consisted of lectures and hands-on sessions covering the entire energy life cycle, including nanomembrane-based ion transport experiments, fundamentals and manufacturing processes of secondary batteries, solid-material synthesis and characterization, photosynthetic energy balance analysis, fundamentals of nuclear fusion and fission with simulator-based training, and hands-on experiments with power conversion devices. On the final day, a closing session was held featuring team presentations, followed by the selection and awards for outstanding teams.


▲ A hands-on session at the “2026 SNUEI Winter School.” Students participate in a DC/DC power conversion device experiment under the guidance of Prof. Jong-Won Shin of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, directly experiencing key principles of power transmission systems.

According to a post-event survey, all respondents evaluated the 2026 SNUEI Winter School as a satisfactory educational program. In addition, 90 percent of respondents reported that the foundational energy lectures and hands-on sessions were helpful to their own academic majors and research interests. In particular, team-based activities and networking programs received unanimous positive feedback for their contributions to learning and academic exchange.

Participating students commented that “the process of preparing the final presentation with students from different disciplines was the most memorable,” “the hands-on sessions and laboratory tours provided a tangible sense of real-world energy research,” and “the program offered an opportunity to broaden perspectives by viewing energy research from a comprehensive, big-picture standpoint.”

Prof. Sung Jae Kim, Director of SNUEI, stated, “This winter school is meaningful not only as a short-term educational program, but also as a starting point for building a sustained collaborative network among next-generation energy researchers. We plan to further advance and refine the program structure so that interdisciplinary energy research can lead to tangible outcomes, while expanding the program beyond Seoul National University to include other universities and private-sector partners.”

Meanwhile, the SNUEI research group, established in 2025 within the SNU Leading Research Promotion Center, continues its efforts to integrate fragmented energy research fields, build global networks through cross-disciplinary communication, provide highly interdisciplinary energy education, and contribute to the advancement of national energy policy.


▲ Students from different academic backgrounds collaborate on team-based activities, prepare presentations, and participate together in experiments and hands-on sessions during the “2026 SNUEI Winter School,” strengthening their capacity for interdisciplinary energy research.

[Contact Information]
Professor Sung Jae Kim, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University / +82-2-880-1665 / gates@snu.ac.kr