Taeyeong Kim

I am an undergraduate student at George Mason University with academic interests in global affairs, environmental policy and science, and environmental economics. I am especially passionate about youth climate action and advancing undergraduate research. My work bridges community engagement and academic inquiry, focusing on environmental challenges, nature-based solutions, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I recently co-authored a study on the feasibility of implementing the Sponge City concept in Gangnam, Seoul. This summer, I will lead an independent research project titled Nonlethal and Nature-Based Strategies for Managing Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) as part of the George Mason Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP). Beyond campus, I’ve collaborated with local NGOs, the U.S. Embassy, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through youth-led international programs. These experiences have strengthened my cross-cultural communication and field leadership skills. At the Young Trilateral Leaders Summit, I investigated U.S.-ROK-Japan cooperation in the hydrogen energy sector in the Indo-Pacific. I am currently working with the FAO Korea Partnership and FAO Lao PDR on a project examining public awareness and climate resilience strategies to mitigate agri-food insecurity in Laos. My long-term goal is to become a global environmental policymaker, shaping inclusive, evidence-based solutions at the intersection of climate change, sustainable development, and human security.