Park Han-sol reports on Korea's financial regulators, along with fintech and insurance. She previously wrote about the art world, from biennales and exhibitions to fairs and auctions, with a focus on Seoul and the figures shaping the scene. Before joining The Korea Times, she spent a year at ABC News' Seoul bureau, contributing to coverage of major Asia-Pacific events.
Korean elementary students take top honors at global math, science conference
From left, Rha Hyeon-u, Park Han-sol and Kang Eun-seo — first place winners at this year's Euro Math & Euro Science conference — pose with their instructor, Amanda Moon, at the award ceremony in Cyprus, March 15 (local time). Courtesy of Amanda Moon
By Park Han-sol
Three Korean elementary school students took top honors at this year’s international math and science conference for young scholars, becoming the only winners from Asia in their respective categories.
Kang Eun-seo, Rha Hyeon-u and Park Han-sol competed at Euro Math & Euro Science, an annual event held each March that brings together students aged 8 to 18 to present original research in mathematics and science in English.
This year’s edition, held in Cyprus from March 12 to 16, was expected to draw around 800 participants from across the globe. But an unexpected variable intervened: the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
With Cyprus located relatively close to the region, 300 participants withdrew, leaving roughly 500 students from 20 countries in attendance.
“Despite the reduced turnout and the challenges of getting to the venue, our students were able to deliver meaningful results,” said their instructor, Amanda Moon.
The conference is split into math and science tracks, each divided into four categories: a 15-minute presentation, a three-minute “factor” pitch, poster design and theater.
Across the science track, the three Korean students racked up seven awards, including top prizes in both the presentation and poster design categories.
In the presentation category, Park, a fourth-grader at the Hankuk Institute of Foreign Studies, and Rha, a fifth-grader at Seongnam Jeongja Elementary School, shared first place with their project, “Sensing the Unseen.”
Their work explored how subtle signals and shifts in nature that are imperceptible to the human eye can be detected through sensing technologies, drawing a creative link between invisible natural phenomena and real-world scientific applications.
“I was really nervous, but I’m so happy we won first place at this international competition,” Park said. “It makes me want to work even harder and do even better next time. This is something I’ll never forget.”
“Preparing for it was tough at times, but I learned so much. And there are still so many things I’m curious about,” Rha said.
Meanwhile, Kang, a fourth-grader at Taejang Elementary School, nabbed the top honors in the poster category.
Titled “From a Small Trigger to a Chain Reaction,” her project examined how a single trigger can set off a domino effect. Using a Rube Goldberg machine — a mechanical contraption that performs tasks through a sequence of chain reactions — she visualized energy transfers in physics.
“It was hard because the Rube Goldberg setups kept collapsing. So I was really, really happy to win first place,” Kang said. “Some of the world-renowned professors I met last year remembered my presentation and told me I had improved this year, which made me really proud.”
“As an educator, it was incredibly meaningful to watch the students take the lead, from choosing their own research topics to presenting their findings in English,” Moon said. “I truly believe that English is an essential tool that connects students to the wider world of knowledge.”