In an era when environmental concerns and rapid innovation have become a priority, the world is focused on sustainable development. One of the key components to addressing this challenge is technology. Technology has become a centerpiece of sustainability, especially in human development. Showcased at the Osaka World Expo 2025 were cutting-edge, sustainable transportation and healthcare technology. This paper analyzes the technology that I observed at the expo and whether it is sustainable for human development.
- Research conducted for the online coursework curriculum resource (Center for Sustainable Development; Columbia University)
According to legend, as Luigi Galvani (1737–1798) watched his wife cook the evening meal, she used a knife to prepare a frog for a soup. When the metal touched the dead frog, the leg jumped. Though this story is most likely a myth, Galvani saw a dead frog's leg move, and the impossible reanimation fascinated the Italian physician and scientist. He spent years studying what he called "animal electricity" by experimenting on frogs, birds, and even human cadavers. His work blurred the boundary between physics and biology and led to the theory of bioelectricity (Bellis, 2019). More importantly, his experiments led directly to Alessandro Volta's invention of the battery. Without Galvani's controversial findings, Alessandro Volta might never have been pushed to prove him wrong, and without Volta's battery, our modern world, powered by electricity, would not exist.
In Seoul, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban residents were accustomed to wearing masks in public due to the long-standing issue of fine dust pollution. The majority of Korean citizens believe the bad air quality is caused by industrial pollution from China. However, my research reveals that this is not entirely true. The current environmental situation is the result of complex societal and natural processes that have been ongoing for many decades. In this paper, I will discuss some of the steps that the Korean government has taken towards solving the dust pollution problem. I demonstrate in this paper that the causes of pollution are diverse, most coming from other neighboring countries and some coming from South Korea itself. I show that the dust pollution crisis cannot be separated from the state of urban development in Seoul, which is the result of many decades of rapid expansion and growth.
Researcher and Co-Author
Student Intern at IoT as Service Lab, Kennesaw State University
The EmoGame project measures the emotional impact of video games on adolescents and provides valuable insights for health monitoring. By employing EEG signal extraction techniques, we investigate the emotional dynamics and discern whether these gaming experiences elicit positive or negative emotional states in teens. The applied methodology involved equipping 15 participants with a non-invasive EEG device, which facilitated real-time monitoring of their brainwave activity during gameplay sessions of the popular titles Fortnite and Minecraft. The extracted EEG signals were then analyzed using advanced signal processing techniques and machine learning algorithms to identify and quantify emotional responses. The findings of this study shed light on the emotional impact of video games on teenagers. Analysis revealed distinct patterns of emotional responses, with both positive and negative emotional states elicited during gameplay. This suggests that these games have differing effects on emotional well-being. The contributions of this study extend beyond the realm of video gaming. By incorporating health monitoring, we demonstrate the potential of EEG-based emotional analysis as a tool for assessing the mental well-being of young gamers. The integration of wearable devices and advanced signal processing techniques opens up new avenues for enhancing health monitoring practices in the gaming domain. Moreover, these findings can inform game developers, parents, and healthcare professionals about the emotional impact of specific game titles on teenagers. By contributing to the field of health monitoring, this study paves the way for developing targeted interventions to promote positive emotional well-being in young gamers and foster responsible game design practices.