Hyunju Lee entered KDI School in Spring 2025 with a goal. She wanted to connect artificial intelligence, data science, and public policy. Her academic background in statistics and artificial intelligence had given her strong technical skills. At KDI School, she hoped to learn how those skills could address real policy challenges. 

Her interests led her to the Sustainable Development Lab at KDI School. The lab was exploring how satellite imagery, geospatial data, and artificial intelligence could support research on sustainable development. For Lee, the opportunity was a natural fit. “I was interested in applying artificial intelligence and data science to real world policy challenges,” she said. “I wanted to explore how new technologies could create data that is useful for policy research.”

Her main research project focused on identifying data centers through satellite imagery and artificial intelligence. Data centers are essential to the modern digital economy. They also require large amounts of electricity, land, and water. However, reliable information about their locations is often limited. This makes it difficult for researchers and policymakers to understand the environmental and economic impact of data centers.

To address this challenge, Lee and the research team collected satellite images from different regions. They then developed artificial intelligence models to identify facilities that were likely to be data centers. The goal was to create a reliable global dataset. Such a dataset could support research on digital infrastructure, energy use, and sustainable development.

The project required technical knowledge and careful research design. Lee worked with geospatial data and processed large sets of satellite images. She helped build machine learning models and evaluate their performance. Data validation was also important. Each result had to be reviewed carefully to improve the accuracy of the dataset. “Participating in the lab improved both my technical and research skills,” Lee said. “I learned how to design an artificial intelligence research process, process satellite imagery, build models, and evaluate their performance. I also learned how to turn technical outputs into meaningful policy insights.”

Lee describes the Sustainable Development Lab as an open and collaborative environment. Students exchange ideas with professors and researchers throughout the research process.

Professors provide guidance on research questions and methods. Researchers share practical knowledge about data and analysis. Students contribute through investigation, model development, review, and discussion. Regular communication helps the team identify problems and improve its approach. Lee found this process valuable because it showed her how interdisciplinary research works in practice.

The lab experience also shaped her academic and professional direction. It strengthened her interest in using artificial intelligence for public policy and international development. She saw how technology could reveal patterns that are difficult to observe through traditional data sources. She also learned that new forms of evidence can support better decisions.

This perspective continues to influence her current work in international development. She now applies data science and artificial intelligence to policy related research. The experience at KDI School gave her a strong foundation for this work. It also gave her confidence in managing projects that combine technology and public policy.

For Lee, one of KDI School’s greatest strengths is its support for practical research. Students do not only study theories in the classroom. They can participate in projects that address important policy issues. They can work with faculty members who have research and policy experience. They can also collaborate with students from different countries and professional backgrounds.

This environment connects academic knowledge with real world application. Students gain analytical skills, but they also learn how to communicate results and consider their policy implications. Lee believes these experiences help students become stronger researchers and thoughtful policy professionals.

She encourages other KDI School students to consider joining a research lab. A lab gives students the chance to apply classroom knowledge to practical challenges. It also helps them build relationships with professors, researchers, and peers who share similar interests. “Working on satellite imagery research was one of the most valuable experiences during my time at KDI School,” Lee said. “It helped me grow as a researcher and as a data scientist.” Lee’s story shows how KDI School enables students to explore new ideas and develop solutions for global challenges. By combining technology, policy, and interdisciplinary collaboration, students can create knowledge with public value. For Lee, looking at the world from space became a way to better understand development on the ground.