Hello! I am John Malone, a rising sophomore and the leader of Group B on Plus3: South Korea. I am part of the Frederick Honors College and the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and I am so grateful to continue living and learning here.

I am pursuing a BSE in Engineering Science with a concentration in Nanotechnology. I am also planning to pursue a minor in Physics and a dual degree in Quantum Computing through SCI. I am very interested in exploring the intersection of physics and materials science and in applying nanoscale phenomena to engineering challenges, particularly in quantum computing. I chose the Engineering Science program here at Pitt because of its interdisciplinary reach and its ability to tailor my education to my interests, while also developing my knowledge across a range of STEM fields. Outside of the academic setting, I am also very interested in film, art, music, philosophy, and video games, with my favorite artists at the moment being Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala.

Having lived in the city of Pittsburgh my whole life, I have gotten to know it very well, from its neighborhoods to its rivers, through being a part of, and later the captain of, the Steel City Rowing Club during high school. So, I am very excited to be part of this opportunity to travel to Korea this May, as I have never traveled to Asia; I know it will be an incredible chance to learn from and explore Korean culture, technology, and professionalism.

Academically and professionally, I know this is an opportunity that will change how I see my education and the world around me. Personally, this program really resonated with me, as I have long been interested in smart systems and IoT (Internet of Things) development. I am particularly interested in the implications and benefits that have emerged from the further development of these technologies in Korea, as technologies first popularized in South Korea entered the United States, such as the integration of Lidar and AI into traffic lights. I am excited to have the opportunity to see smart systems advance firsthand, in one of the world’s fastest technologically developing countries. I find it fascinating that we are about to embark to the other side of the world and witness firsthand technology integrated into society that may shape the future of technological integration in the United States.

I am also very interested in learning about and experiencing Korean culture firsthand, from traditional architecture to art, food, and music, and I can’t wait until we are there to experience it all.

I truly look forward to our upcoming departure after finals on May second. I could not wish for a better close to my first academic year, and I cannot wait to share this journey in the upcoming blog posts, but that is all I have until we land.