We are excited to share the inspiring journey of Seongtaek Hwang(11), one of our students who participated in Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest

Seongtaek decided to join the competition because the topic closely aligned with his academic interests in climate policy and regional security. The critical issue of Kazakhstan’s water supply—where over 45% of freshwater flows from outside its borders and glacial melt in the Tien Shan mountains could halve the region’s water supply by 2050—highlighted how vulnerable nations can be to forces beyond their control. What ultimately motivated him to participate was the realization that water insecurity is not just an isolated environmental issue but a preview of global challenges many regions will face as climate change accelerates. He saw the competition as an opportunity to amplify this story, emphasizing the real communities, farmers, and regional peace at stake.

In preparation, Seongtaek approached the project like a policy analyst, reviewing reports from the World Bank, IPCC, and Eurasian Development Bank, analyzing Kazakhstan’s new Water Code, and cross-checking satellite-based climate data. His goal was to understand both the national crisis and its regional implications in order to develop a coherent, evidence-driven argument.

The biggest challenge was narrowing the scope of the research. Water insecurity in Central Asia is deeply interconnected, involving climate change, transboundary politics, agriculture, and infrastructure. To overcome this, Seongtaek created a framework around three pillars: climate, governance, and regional cooperation, ensuring the analysis remained focused yet comprehensive.

Through the experience, he learned that solutions to climate-related crises cannot be purely national. Even strong domestic reforms like Kazakhstan’s Water Code require regional collaboration to succeed. The competition reinforced the importance of combining domestic innovation with international cooperation for meaningful policy outcomes.

When asked about his “secret weapon” during the competition, Seongtaek highlighted his ability to connect across disciplines, integrating climate data, economic analysis, and diplomacy to create a realistic and well-rounded argument.

Upon hearing the results, Seongtaek’s reaction was simple yet heartfelt: pure happiness.

We are incredibly proud of Seongtaek Hwang’s dedication, analytical skills, and global-minded approach. His achievement serves as an inspiration to the SSI community, showing how curiosity, focus, and a commitment to tackling real-world issues can lead to remarkable accomplishments.