VOL.74/2024.09

 

[Korean Scholars ⑤]

Brain Engineer Jeong Jae-Seung Seeks Innovative Disciplinary Convergence

The rise of an ingenious scientist, who contributed to promoting a science-friendly environment through constant interaction with the public

 

2022.05.02

 

A world increasingly driven by Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) has arrived much earlier than expected. A.I., something usually depicted in science fiction movies and novels, has begun to take shape in many parts of our lives. In step with the trend, more researchers are studying the human brain and approaches to mutual prosperity with A.I. Amid such shift is a man facilitating the transition. He is Jeong Jae-Seung, a brain engineer, who has been explaining scientific concepts in a plain, but intriguing way to the public through many TV shows and books, helping people overcome their fear of science and build a wealth of knowledge. The ingenious engineer applies his large store of knowledge to various academic fields to make people more curious about science while making science look easy. His outside-the-box approach is pioneering a new world of science.

 

 

Playing a central role in bringing people closer to science

 

Science has become indispensable to modern society, impacting nearly every aspect of life. However, people still find science overwhelming when trying to understand it as an academic discipline. Mr. Jeong, provides a clear solution to the dilemma. He is a professor in the Bio and Brain Engineering Department at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and a renowned scientist beloved by Koreans. As artificial intelligence technology has become more prevalent, people have increasingly focused on the human brain. Professor Jeong, noting the growing interest, has been sharing exciting and informative science knowledge with a broad audience by using the brain to converge different academic fields, such as humanities, anthropology, and psychology.
It was not long ago that he gained popularity as a brain engineer. However, he was already established as a promising scholar in academia many years ago. In fact, he was selected as a "Young Global Leader" at the World Economic Forum in 2009. He published a paper on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), one of the treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), in the academic journal Nature. In addition, the professor has also been publishing popular science books that are easily digestible. Furthermore, he is giving engaging lectures to remove barriers to learning science and sharing his insights on the brain through many media outlets.
Mr. Jeong, also known as an avid reader, has been spending much of his time writing books while engaging in various activities as a professor. His works include Science Concert (ACROSS), Twelve Walks : Adventures of Thought into the Forest of Intelligence Leading to a World Not on a Map (ACROSS), Physicists See Science in Movies (ACROSS), and Brain Engineers See Mankind in Movies (ACROSS). His publications reflect how he applies science in observing everyday life through the prism of humanities and links science to various segments of society. In addition, he co-authored with specialists from different fields : Cross (Woongjin Jisik House) with Jin Jung-Kwon, a critic, and Do Not Hesitate to Apologize (ACROSS) with Kim Ho, Cialdini Method Certified Trainer (CMCT) and workshop facilitator.

 

 

It is his profound knowledge of not only science but art and humanities that contributed to such extensive works. In other words, he is an iconic intellectual of our time, with scientific competence, ingenuity, and an ability to make connections between different academic disciplines. He triggers people's curiosity about science by providing solutions to approachable and fascinating scientific questions. Thanks to this approach, his books are consistently among the best-selling popular science books. The growing popularity of science literature means people get increasingly used to scientific thinking and research, leading to a more progressive community. What Mr. Jeong has been doing is innovating and integrating Korean society in the most intelligent way.

 

Science algorithms explained by a brain engineer

 

Mr. Jeong also remains committed to faithfully fulfilling his responsibilities as a brain engineer, his profession. He describes himself as a physicist studying the question, "How does the human brain make decisions?" That is to say; he is a physicist researching the brain and associated fields, including decision making neuroscience, brain engineering, and brain-inspired A.I. His book Twelve Walks shows his comprehensive research on the human brain.

 

 

Twelve Walks is a lecture-style book in which he gives a fascinating presentation on the field of brain engineering from the perspective of a scholar. The author also touches upon A.I., one of the most hotly debated topics these days, saying that our fears of the technology are mostly groundless, although there are indeed some challenges to be tackled. Science is an ever-evolving field, which sets it apart from other genres that people have loved and read over generations. Nonetheless, Twelve Walks has been well-received for its timely, insightful, and interesting content, joining the ranks of the top steady sellers. In the book, he tells us how the brain works when we make decisions and how to overcome indecisiveness. Further, he explores the universe of the brain and the future of human intelligence in an A.I.-driven world. In short, the book revolves around explaining challenges and issues that humanity faces in relation to the human brain.
He applies humanities even when telling in-depth science stories while elaborating on unfamiliar scientific terms from a philosophical point of view. For instance, he quotes Aristotle to walk the readers through how the brains of creative people are formed, making scientific observations more comprehensible in his own colors. He is trying to bring ordinary readers closer to science, as they might find the academic domain overwhelming in addition to having ungrounded fears of A.I. Mr. Jeong once said his motto is "use his head for intriguing thoughts." The readers, too, would be able to find a way to use their heads for intriguing thoughts while reading the book, which is what Mr. Jeong has long been pursuing.

 

 

Brain Engineering is a neuroscientific study that analyzes how the human brain works when making crucial decisions. He argues that science must be accepted as an integral part of our everyday lives. I wonder what path he would pave towards humanity, human civilization, and the future, with his insight into science, coupled with his immense interest in pure art, including film, art, and literature. How would his fascinating story on science unfold? I hope his unconventional approach to science arrives at a conclusion that is as ground-breaking as many other scientific developments and encourages you to join his journey to explore science.

 

 

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Written by Kim Young-Ihm