In a predominantly white, male-dominated profession as the physical sciences, Korea University (KU) graduate Kim Young Kee (’80, Physics) makes history as the first Korean president to lead the American Physical Society (APS). On September 17, APS elected Kim as its next president, a position she will assume in 2024. Not only does this news demonstrate Kim’s competency as a researcher and a leader, but also marks the progress of racial and gender equality in leadership positions within science academia.

About Kim Yeong Kee

After receiving her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics at KU, Kim earned her Ph.D. in physics at Rochester University. Currently, Kim is a Louis Block Distinguished Service Professor of physics at the University of Chicago and serves as the university’s chair for the Department of Physics. Her work in the field of experimental particle physics has paved way for her career as the deputy director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a national laboratory of the United States Department of Energy researching high-energy particle physics. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received a Leadership Award for Women in Science by the Chicago Council of Science and Technology. Likewise, Kim has been spearheading the way for the underrepresented to be recognized globally and to actively contribute to the further development of the physical sciences.

GT: What led you to continue your academic career abroad? How was the academic atmosphere in the United States (U.S.) different from that of Korea?

Kim: I decided to go abroad towards the end of my master’s program at KU. My time in terms of continuing my education in the U.S. is a rather cliched story. Back then, most people just went in and out of the U.S., and I think it was because of the idea that there were better opportunities abroad. You see, I started physics much later than other physics majors – I just happened to come across it and like it. That above many other factors, was the main reason that led me to continue studying within that field and pursue more diverse opportunities abroad.

In Korea, I had to pay tuition and living expenses, so I was forced to find some way of earning money. In the U.S., I didn’t have to worry about it. I went there to study, and they were paying me to do so! I felt gratitude for the environment I was able to continue my studies in. So, I was happy.

GT: What were your hopes in running for APS vice presidency leadership?

Kim: Well, the APS protocols for its presidency prohibit people from actually applying for this position. There is a committee in APS that discusses possible candidates and collects nominations from various APS members. Then they rank these candidates. They end up with their two top choices and contact these candidates to ask whether they are willing to run for this position. Likewise, I got this call as well, and I was very surprised, to say the least. I was not expecting that call.

Considering how this is a job that entails communicating with the government, communicating with the public about physics, and also helping APS members, I felt as if I could provide a novel prospective to the wider scientific community. I thought this was an opportunity, as an Asian and also a woman, for someone like me to bring something different to the table. Also, I thought this was a way for me to pay back. When I was studying in the U.S., I felt that I had a lot of debt to the U.S. system and its community because they made my academic journey so easy. So, I always wanted to pay them back at some point.

GT: What do you think are the most important assets in becoming a successful scientific researcher like yourself?

Kim: Research requires a lot of patience. You may hear about big breakthroughs on the news from time to time. But the reality is that all scientists’ steps, like the ones we make in our own lives, are very small. For most of us, our work is very secluded. We learn about what’s already discovered, and we contribute very small things to the research already done, but we are happy. It’s just about finding happiness in learning something new and different. It doesn’t have to be a big discovery, but just something you didn’t know before that you know now.

The day-to-day of a scientist is not glorious. But one has to analyze where they get their happiness. There are a lot of opportunities to be happy. So, it’s almost like you have to train yourself about how to satisfy yourself. But becoming a successful, long-running scientist for me is enjoying every step of learning and being satisfied with my work.

GT: What do you see for the future of representation for gender and racial minority groups in leadership positions within the scientific field?

Kim: There are many unused talents in the scientific field, and women are one of them. Especially in places like Korea, I think current Korean statistics point towards concerns regarding whether we are utilizing work resources efficiently enough. If Korea believes that the development of science and technology contribute to Korea’s prosperity, they have to think about the demographic pools that haven’t been tapped into.

In general, I feel that reevaluation is important not only for expanding the workforce but also for any dynamic scientific breakthrough to take place. If you have a group of similar people, your progress is minuscule. It’s only when you have a group of people with diverse backgrounds and ideas that progress flourishes. That, for me, is the essence of diversity and also the key to our success. Incorporating a diverse body of scientists and leaders is crucial, not solely because it’s a good thing or because it’s the right thing to do. There is much more to this than it just being the right thing to do