{"691666":{"#nid":"691666","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Cybersecurity Imperative in Smart Factories ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs manufacturing systems become more connected, the cyberthreat grows with them. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/saman-zonouz\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/a\u003E has spent years documenting how vulnerable smart manufacturing environments are. He\u2019s an associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, where he co-leads the Cyber-Physical Security Lab with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/provost.gatech.edu\/about-the-provost\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERaheem Beyah\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Disrupting the manufacturing sector doesn\u0027t just shut down individual shops. It can directly impact national security and public safety,\u0022 Zonouz said. Because manufacturing is one of 16 federally designated critical infrastructure sectors, it is deeply intertwined with energy, water, and defense, meaning disruptions can cascade far beyond the factory floor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe threats Zonouz documents go beyond ransomware. His research has demonstrated how adversaries can insert logic bombs into design files, compromising Computer Numerical Control machines or 3D printers.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We\u0027ve shown how logic bombs can be inserted remotely into design files so that everything looks normal when the part is printed, but once it\u0027s in operation, the attacker can decide when it fails,\u0022 Zonouz said, citing drone propellers, aircraft wings, and power grid transformer components as examples where invisible sabotage could have catastrophic consequences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInternet-wide scans conducted by his team found that many shop-floor controllers are directly exposed to the internet, with no meaningful barrier between an adversary and the machines running a production line. Imported equipment compounds the risk, because controllers and firmware from unknown developers may carry unintentional vulnerabilities or deliberately planted backdoors. \u0022In manufacturing, many controllers and machines can still be accessed easily from outside,\u0022 Zonouz said, echoing the kind of supply chain exposure seen in high-profile attacks on widely used software platforms.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis prescription is straightforward but still largely unimplemented across the sector: Build security into the system design rather than adding it afterward. \u0022The number one principle is to think about cybersecurity and risk when you design the system, not as an afterthought once everything is already built,\u0022 Zonouz said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis team has explored this through the $65 million \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia AIM initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, a collaboration with Aaron Stebner, Steven Ferguson, and Animesh Chhotaray, led by Ph.D. student Twisha Chattopadhyay. Using AI for automated anomaly detection allows complex production lines to be monitored continuously without requiring constant human oversight.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0027s standing at the intersection of manufacturing and cybersecurity is, by most measures, singular. \u0022Georgia Tech is the only top university with a dedicated School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, with about 30 professors focused solely on cybersecurity, and you rarely see this level of collaboration between cybersecurity and manufacturing faculty anywhere else,\u0022 Zonouz said. That collaboration is already producing joint publications and a patent application for AI-driven attack detection systems developed through Georgia AIM.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot every attacker wants a quick payoff. Zonouz also tracks advanced persistent threats, where a nation-state actor quietly compromises a controller and does nothing for months, waiting for the right geopolitical moment to act. \u0022They get into the house and just sit there, because by sitting still nobody can detect them,\u0022 Zonouz said. That patience turns an idle, exposed controller into tomorrow\u0027s leverage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Manufacturers do not need to solve every problem at once,\u0022 Zonouz said. Finance and energy already operate under mandatory cybersecurity frameworks, while manufacturing\u0027s own standard, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, is still being phased in. \u0022The security of these systems right now is so weak that basic, easy-to-deploy solutions would stop the majority of attacks that are succeeding simply because the door is wide open,\u0022 he said. The hardest attacks will always be the patient, targeted ones, and closing the obvious gaps first is what buys manufacturers time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs manufacturing becomes more connected, Saman Zonouz\u2019s research shows why cybersecurity must be built into industrial systems from the start, before hidden vulnerabilities become threats to production, public safety, and national security.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As manufacturing becomes more connected, Saman Zonouz\u2019s research shows why cybersecurity must be built into industrial systems from the start, before hidden vulnerabilities become threats to production, public safety, and national security."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-08-13 19:23:46","changed_gmt":"2026-08-20 20:29:09","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680949":{"id":"680949","type":"image","title":"saman.jpg","body":null,"created":"1787257710","gmt_created":"2026-08-20 20:28:30","changed":"1787257710","gmt_changed":"2026-08-20 20:28:30","alt":"Saman Zonouz","file":{"fid":"265285","name":"saman.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/20\/saman.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/20\/saman.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8442,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/20\/saman.jpg?itok=WHEx5C7P"}}},"media_ids":["680949"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJennifer Martin\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Research Communications Services\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWriter: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691791":{"#nid":"691791","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Discover New Mechanism Behind Soft-Material Adhesion","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAnyone who has peeled off a bandage knows that speed matters. Conventional wisdom, and decades of adhesion research, suggest that pulling faster makes adhesive forces stronger. But researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered that soft materials can behave in a far more surprising way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of becoming steadily stickier as they are pulled apart, soft hydrogels first become less adhesive and then more adhesive as the pulling speed increases, revealing a previously unknown \u0022sweet spot\u0022 where detachment is easier. The discovery challenges a long-held assumption in adhesion mechanics and reveals a new physical mechanism that governs how soft materials attach and detach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We expected the adhesion to increase continuously with pulling speed, as predicted by classical theories,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/hu-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYuhang Hu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0022Instead, we found the exact opposite over a broad range of speeds. That told us there had to be a completely different physical process at work.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-researchers-discover-new-mechanism-behind-soft-material-adhesion?utm_source=newsletter\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_content=Discovering%20a%20New%20Mechanism%20Behind%20Soft-Material%20Adhesion\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20Aug.%2019%2C%202026\u0022\u003ERead the full story.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAnyone who has peeled off a bandage knows that speed matters. Conventional wisdom, and decades of adhesion research, suggest that pulling faster makes adhesive forces stronger. But researchers at Georgia Tech have discovered that soft materials can behave in a far more surprising way.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The discovery challenges a long-held assumption in adhesion mechanics and reveals a new physical mechanism that governs how soft materials attach and detach."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-08-19 14:08:10","changed_gmt":"2026-08-19 14:12:35","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680912":{"id":"680912","type":"image","title":"_0000_YuhangLabforweb.jpg","body":null,"created":"1787148495","gmt_created":"2026-08-19 14:08:15","changed":"1787148495","gmt_changed":"2026-08-19 14:08:15","alt":"Associate Professor Yuhang Hu and three male students from her lab gather around and look at a soft adhesive hydrogel they are studying.","file":{"fid":"265245","name":"_0000_YuhangLabforweb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/19\/_0000_YuhangLabforweb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/19\/_0000_YuhangLabforweb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":125818,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/19\/_0000_YuhangLabforweb.jpg?itok=iOuqfOd0"}}},"media_ids":["680912"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETracie Troha | Communications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691226":{"#nid":"691226","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Helps Advance Genesis Mission, a National Effort to Transform Scientific Discovery Through AI","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech will play a key role in the newly announced \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/undersecretaryforscience\/genesis-mission\/genesis-mission\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGenesis Mission\u003C\/a\u003E, a national initiative harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to propel scientific discovery and address challenges in health, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and national security. The White House announced the first Genesis Mission projects on July 22 as part of a more than $5 billion investment in AI-enabled science and technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech was chosen for multiple Genesis Mission awards. Faculty will lead two projects and collaborate on others with research partners across the country.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cArtificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how we conduct research and drive discovery,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, Georgia Tech\u2019s executive vice president for Research. \u201cThese awards recognize Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in AI, advanced computing, engineering, and the sciences. By bringing together expertise from across our colleges and research units, we can help accelerate breakthroughs in areas that are crucial to the nation\u2019s future \u2014 from energy and manufacturing to health and critical infrastructure.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eef48fed33303f787f2d03a09ca3172ed\u0022\u003EAmeet Pinto, associate professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and faculty director for interdisciplinary research and collaboration for the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, will lead \u201cAI-Enabled Single Cell Phenotyping to Advance Biomanufacturing.\u201d The project aims to advance AI-enabled approaches for understanding biological systems and strengthening next-generation biomanufacturing capabilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e394fd872589e430e8a7f12ca5d6a40d2\u0022\u003EFan Zhang, assistant professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, will lead the project, \u201cAI Driven Workflow with Cyber Assured Digital Twin for Autonomous Operations in SMRs and Microreactors.\u201d Her team will focus on developing AI-enabled digital twin technologies to support the safe, autonomous operation of advanced nuclear energy systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe additional Georgia Tech-supported awards span multiple disciplines and involve researchers from the Colleges of Engineering, Computing, and Sciences; the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems; the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines; the Institute for Data Engineering and Science; and the Strategic Energy Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e7a92afba6dacd2d56dd5615804d907cf\u0022\u003EMarilyn Brown (Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will build AI foundation models that predict and test water-for-energy conditions in the Tennessee Valley Authority region.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5ee3d514f06472b2bd8eed39853bf64e\u0022\u003EPeng Chen (School of Computational Science and Engineering) will collaborate on two projects designed to improve predictions of both water availability and flood risks. He will partner with ORNL and the Argonne National Laboratory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e1bb31f256d17759aa5ead75ec2e02245\u0022\u003EAsif Khan (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) will partner with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to accelerate the discovery of new materials for a type of computer memory called Electro-Chemical RAM (ECRAM) to help create more energy-efficient AI systems.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e2732e959fa01c6df4ef27eaccb18fd78\u0022\u003EFan Zhang\u2019s second Genesis Mission project is a collaboration with ORNL to develop AI tools for the lifecycle of fusion plants, including robotics and maintenance.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e940b6bc9dff007fbe6f6c84bebf1d591\u0022\u003ESamer Naif (School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) will collaborate with the University of Southern California on the project \u0022AI-enabled Geobiological Critical Minerals Characterization and Recovery in Geothermal Systems.\u0022\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eba933b0a9119da9f1ce9b17ace8d422d\u0022\u003EShimeng Yu (School of Electrical and Computer Engineering) will partner with Duke University on the project, \u0022Neuromorphic Circuit Primitives for Robotic Embodied Physical AI.\u0022\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s role in the Genesis Mission highlights the Institute\u2019s strong interdisciplinary research approach, which brings together experts across many fields to solve complex problems and rapidly advance innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENote: Selection for award negotiations does not constitute a final funding award. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, awards remain subject to successful negotiations and the availability of funding.\u003C\/em\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/-\/media\/funding\/pdf\/Awards-Lists\/2026\/GM-RFA-Awards-List.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/science.osti.gov\/-\/media\/funding\/pdf\/Awards-Lists\/2026\/GM-RFA-Awards-List.pdf\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Institute researchers will lead two projects and contribute to several others as part of the Department of Energy\u2019s $5 billion initiative. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers will lead two projects and contribute to several others as part of the Department of Energy\u2019s $5 billion initiative.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Institute researchers will lead two projects and contribute to several others as part of the Department of Energy\u2019s $5 billion initiative. "}],"uid":"27561","created_gmt":"2026-07-24 13:57:45","changed_gmt":"2026-08-19 13:42:41","author":"Angela Ayers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680665":{"id":"680665","type":"image","title":"GT_Lab_GradStudent_LowEnergyChemSeperation.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech graduate student examines a hollow fiber membrane, used for low-energy chemical separation. New DOE Genesis Mission awards have bolstered innovative interdisciplinary work across the Institute, with Georgia Tech leading two projects and contributing to five more. (Photo: Rob Felt)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784901576","gmt_created":"2026-07-24 13:59:36","changed":"1784903464","gmt_changed":"2026-07-24 14:31:04","alt":"Georgia Tech grad student holding a hollow fiber membrane that can be used for low-energy chemical separation.","file":{"fid":"264956","name":"GT_Lab_GradStudent_LowEnergyChemSeperation.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/24\/GT_Lab_GradStudent_LowEnergyChemSeperation.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/24\/GT_Lab_GradStudent_LowEnergyChemSeperation.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":241001,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/24\/GT_Lab_GradStudent_LowEnergyChemSeperation.jpg?itok=Dxo9rLze"}}},"media_ids":["680665"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAngela Ayers\u003Cbr\u003EAVP of Research Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691762":{"#nid":"691762","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EPIcenter Summer Research Program Helps Doctoral Students Advance Energy Research ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFour Georgia Tech doctoral students spent the summer working on their dissertation research through the Energy Policy and Innovation Center\u0027s (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) Summer Research Program. The competitive program provides a full summer-semester stipend, along with mentorship and professional development opportunities, to support emerging energy scholars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022One of the goals of the program is to give students the time and support needed to make meaningful progress on their dissertation research while helping them understand the broader policy, economic, and societal implications of their work,\u0022 said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe stipends enable participants to focus exclusively on clearly defined research goals. The program also supports peer discussions, communication training, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to strengthen both their research and professional development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u0027s cohort explored topics ranging from electricity markets and air pollution to critical mineral supply chains and grid modernization, highlighting the breadth of energy-related research taking place across Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExploring Complex Energy Challenges\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/anamazmishvili\/\u0022\u003EAna Mazmishvili\u003C\/a\u003E, who studies environmental and energy economics, used the summer to examine how climate policies affect communities across state lines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My research measures who is actually exposed to pollution from power plants when some states adopt climate regulations to cut emissions while neighboring regions do not,\u0022 Mazmishvili said. \u0022Because air doesn\u0027t stop at state borders, the key question is what happens once the pollution is emitted, and who ends up breathing it.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer work focuses on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program in the Northeast, and investigates whether the benefits and burdens of emissions reductions are distributed equitably between regulated and neighboring states.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMazmishvili said the program provided valuable time to focus on her job-market paper, a central component of her dissertation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The regular meetings with the program director and other fellows create useful accountability checkpoints and let me hear perspectives from people in very different fields,\u0022 she said. \u0022We\u0027re also learning how to make academic research understandable to a general audience, a skill I expect to use well past this summer.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndustrial and systems engineering doctoral student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/faezeh-fahimy-8ba9a81b9\/\u0022\u003EFaeze Fahimi Aghda\u003C\/a\u003E spent the summer developing an optimization model for the U.S. gallium supply chain, a critical component of many advanced technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer research uses mathematical modeling to examine where and when domestic gallium processing facilities should be established under the threat of supply disruptions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Working on my research through EPIcenter has taught me to look at my problem from a policy point of view rather than focusing only on the math,\u0022 Fahimi Aghda said. \u0022The feedback within the meetings helped me improve my model.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ryan-anthony-17239b13b\/\u0022\u003ERyan Anthony\u003C\/a\u003E, in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, explored how one of the largest oil shocks in U.S. history affected electricity customers and whether utility ownership influenced the impact on consumers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022So far, my research suggests that it mattered a lot,\u201d Anthony said. \u201cMunicipal utilities held rates down and absorbed many of the costs, while private, investor-owned utilities passed more costs through to their customers.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnthony said the program provided critical support for the archival research required for the project.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My project depends on data that only exists in old government reports, and that kind of archival work is difficult to fund,\u0022 he said. \u0022EPIcenter gave me the time and space to do it properly.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnecting Research to Real-World Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Samin Alipour, the summer provided an opportunity to explore how electric grids can adapt to growing numbers of distributed energy resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Most electric distribution systems were built like one-way roads, carrying power from a substation to homes and businesses,\u0022 Alipour said. \u0022Rooftop solar, batteries, and electric vehicles are turning those roads into two-way systems.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer research examines how these emerging technologies can be coordinated to increase grid flexibility and clean energy adoption while maintaining safety and reliability and ensuring that costs and benefits are distributed fairly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith support from EPIcenter, Alipour focused on the economic and policy dimensions of those challenges. \u0022I did not want my research to remain only a technical model,\u0022 she said. \u0022The program has helped me connect the technical results of my dissertation to economic value, reliability, equity and compensation policy.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne study developed during the summer was accepted for presentation at a specialized power systems conference, an achievement Alipour credits in part to the opportunity to focus on the broader implications of her work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding the Next Generation of Energy Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond advancing individual research projects, the Summer Research Program encourages students to engage with colleagues from different disciplines and develop skills for communicating complex ideas to broader audiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThrough regular cohort meetings, participants build a community of accountability, discuss research challenges, explore interdisciplinary energy topics, and develop communication skills,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/gilbert-x-gonzalez\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, program support coordinator for EPIcenter. \u201cStudents also write a research-focused blog post for EPIcenter and present their work at the program\u0027s fall workshop, which allows them to share their research with the broader Georgia Tech energy community.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs EPIcenter continues to support interdisciplinary energy scholarship at Georgia Tech, the Summer Research Program equips future leaders with the tools to address complex energy challenges through technological innovation, informed policy, and economic analysis.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFour Georgia Tech doctoral students spent the summer working on their dissertation research through the Energy Policy and Innovation Center\u0027s (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) Summer Research Program. The competitive program provides a full summer-semester stipend, along with mentorship and professional development opportunities, to support emerging energy scholars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022One of the goals of the program is to give students the time and support needed to make meaningful progress on their dissertation research while helping them understand the broader policy, economic, and societal implications of their work,\u0022 said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe stipends enable participants to focus exclusively on clearly defined research goals. The program also supports peer discussions, communication training, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities designed to strengthen both their research and professional development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u0027s cohort explored topics ranging from electricity markets and air pollution to critical mineral supply chains and grid modernization, highlighting the breadth of energy-related research taking place across Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Four Georgia Tech doctoral students spent the summer working on their dissertation research through the Energy Policy and Innovation Center\u0027s (EPIcenter) Summer Research Program. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-08-18 17:15:39","changed_gmt":"2026-08-18 17:21:43","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680906":{"id":"680906","type":"image","title":"Students-PhotoCollage.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFrom Top Left (Clockwise): \u003C\/em\u003EAna Mazmishvili, Ryan Anthony, Samin Alipour, Faeze Fahimi Aghda\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1787073357","gmt_created":"2026-08-18 17:15:57","changed":"1787073357","gmt_changed":"2026-08-18 17:15:57","alt":"From Top Left (clockwise): Ana Mazmishvili, Ryan Anthony, Samin Alipour, Faeze Fahimi Aghda","file":{"fid":"265239","name":"Students-PhotoCollage.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/18\/Students-PhotoCollage.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/18\/Students-PhotoCollage.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1664395,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/18\/Students-PhotoCollage.png?itok=F9-gHuBL"}}},"media_ids":["680906"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691717":{"#nid":"691717","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Essie Knows Best","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech industrial design students traveled to an Atlanta nursing home expecting to redesign gardening tools for older adults. Instead, they discovered that the residents themselves were their most important teachers. Working alongside horticultural therapy participants at A.G. Rhodes, the students observed how aging changes the way people interact with everyday objects and learned that good design begins with listening, not assumptions. Together, they developed practical solutions that restored small but meaningful moments of independence, proving that the people living with a problem are indispensable partners in solving it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/feature\/essie-knows-best\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The lesson only nursing home residents can teach Georgia Tech design students."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech industrial design students traveled to an Atlanta nursing home expecting to redesign gardening tools for older adults. Instead, they discovered that the residents themselves were their most important teachers. Working alongside horticultural therapy participants at A.G. Rhodes, the students observed how aging changes the way people interact with everyday objects and learned that good design begins with listening, not assumptions. Together, they developed practical solutions that restored small but meaningful moments of independence, proving that the people living with a problem are indispensable partners in solving it.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Designing with people, rather than for them, can restore independence while teaching future designers lessons no classroom alone can provide."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-08-17 13:40:52","changed_gmt":"2026-08-17 16:37:22","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680891":{"id":"680891","type":"image","title":"essie-final-thumb.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE: Georgia Tech industrial design student Olivia Chan (left) works alongside A.G. Rhodes resident Essie Bailey-Demic during a horticultural therapy session. By observing and designing with residents rather than for them, students developed tools that help restore independence.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786981054","gmt_created":"2026-08-17 15:37:34","changed":"1786981054","gmt_changed":"2026-08-17 15:37:34","alt":"Two people work with potted plants in a greenhouse filled with hanging and tabletop greenery during a gardening activity.","file":{"fid":"265223","name":"essie-final-thumb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/17\/essie-final-thumb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/17\/essie-final-thumb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":518282,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/17\/essie-final-thumb.jpg?itok=pFwAUrAx"}}},"media_ids":["680891"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691668":{"#nid":"691668","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Engineered at Tech: Pinpointing River Pollution","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKatherine Graham is an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering who studies the fate and transport of pathogens and their indicators in water, including E. coli. Her research focuses on what happens when pathogens get into water, where they go, and how it affects public policy decisions related to health. This includes looking at bacteria and conditions in Atlanta\u2019s Chattahoochee River.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin Georgia Tech undergraduate Harrison Burnside on this latest episode of Engineered at Tech as he tours Katherine Graham\u0027s lab and discovers how to track pathogens in the Chattahoochee River. The goal is to help local agencies pinpoint sources of pollution in rivers and reservoirs to protect public health.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/engineered-tech-pinpointing-river-pollution\u0022\u003EWatch the video on the COE News page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKatherine Graham is an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering who studies the fate and transport of pathogens and their indicators in water, including E. coli. Her research focuses on what happens when pathogens get into water, where they go, and how it affects public policy decisions related to health. This includes looking at bacteria and conditions in Atlanta\u2019s Chattahoochee River.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin Georgia Tech undergraduate Harrison Burnside on this latest episode of Engineered at Tech as he tours Katherine Graham\u0027s lab and discovers how to track pathogens in the Chattahoochee River. The goal is to help local agencies pinpoint sources of pollution in rivers and reservoirs to protect public health.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Environmental engineer Katherine Graham is developing new methods to pinpoint pathogens in water to help local agencies make rivers and reservoirs cleaner. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-08-13 20:32:24","changed_gmt":"2026-08-17 15:51:03","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680868":{"id":"680868","type":"image","title":"Engineered-at-Tech-Pinpointing-River-Pollution.jpg","body":null,"created":"1786653263","gmt_created":"2026-08-13 20:34:23","changed":"1786653263","gmt_changed":"2026-08-13 20:34:23","alt":"YouTube Thumbnail of Engineered at Tech Episode with GT Researcher Katerine Graham and Undergrad student Harrison Burnside","file":{"fid":"265197","name":"Engineered-at-Tech-Pinpointing-River-Pollution.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/13\/Engineered-at-Tech-Pinpointing-River-Pollution.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/13\/Engineered-at-Tech-Pinpointing-River-Pollution.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":190657,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/13\/Engineered-at-Tech-Pinpointing-River-Pollution.jpg?itok=yUH1CNRW"}}},"media_ids":["680868"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/07\/engineered-tech-pinpointing-river-pollution","title":"Full Story on the COE News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECandler Hobbs, College of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691698":{"#nid":"691698","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society Names Simon Sponberg Associate Director for Interdisciplinary Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS) has appointed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/simon-sponberg\u0022\u003ESimon Sponberg\u003C\/a\u003E as associate director for Interdisciplinary Research, where he will help foster collaborations, support emerging research initiatives, and advance interdisciplinary neuroscience research across campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2025, INNS serves as a hub for neuroscience and neurotechnology research, connecting researchers across disciplines to advance discovery, innovation, and societal impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA core part of INNS\u0027s mission is helping people find one another, connect around shared interests, and build something bigger than they could accomplish alone,\u201d says Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/christopher-rozell\u0022\u003EChristopher Rozell\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cSimon has spent his career bringing together people, perspectives, and disciplines to tackle complex challenges. I can\u0027t think of a better person to help lead our interdisciplinary research efforts and support the next generation of collaborative neuroscience research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA longtime leader in Georgia Tech\u0027s neuroscience community, Sponberg helped shape the institute\u0027s early foundations through the Neuro Next Initiative, which evolved into INNS. As associate director, he will help guide research strategy, foster new collaborations, and support interdisciplinary work across the neuroscience ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNeuro-related research touches so many fields that we inevitably have a problem of finding all the potential right people and opportunities to tap into,\u201d he said. \u201cA core responsibility of this role is helping catalyze the ideas of new teams of talented researchers, educators, and trainees from inception to realization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESponberg is the Glen Robinson Professor in Complex Systems with appointments in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, where he directs the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sponberg.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAgile Systems Lab\u003C\/a\u003E. His work also connects him to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E (IBB) and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/robotics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines\u003C\/a\u003E (IRIM), underscoring the cross-disciplinary approach that defines both his research and leadership.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince joining Georgia Tech in 2014, he has built a highly collaborative research program spanning neuroscience, biology, physics, engineering, and robotics while helping foster interdisciplinary connections across campus. He currently leads a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2022\/04\/18\/mathematics-physics-use-moths-and-origami-structures-innovative-defense-research\u0022\u003EMultidisciplinary University Research Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E (MURI) that brings together neuroscientists and engineers from five universities to understand how brains achieve fast, flexible perception and decision-making in complex sensory environments. He also co-leads the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-partners-15m-nsf-grant-explore-muscle-dynamics\u0022\u003EIntegrative Movement Sciences Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, an NSF Biological Integration Institute focused on understanding movement and muscle function across scales.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including a Young Investigator Award from the International Society for Neuroethology, a Klingenstein-Simons Fellowship in the Neurosciences, and the Leddy Family Dean\u2019s Faculty Excellence Award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs associate director, Sponberg will focus on helping researchers identify new opportunities for connection and collaboration. In addition to overseeing seed funding programs, he hopes to create pathways for researchers to build teams, access support resources, pursue ambitious interdisciplinary research ideas, and team with Georgia Tech\u2019s undergraduate and graduate neuroscience degree programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI look forward to being a resource for our community when people are looking for help in building teams or finding opportunities to support their ideas,\u201d he said. \u201cBring your best ideas and please reach out if you want to talk about ideas in the interdisciplinary neuro space that you want to see realized.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech researcher and longtime neuroscience community leader will help catalyze new collaborations and research opportunities across the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Georgia Tech researcher and longtime neuroscience community leader will help catalyze new collaborations and research opportunities across the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS)."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-08-14 20:32:01","changed_gmt":"2026-08-14 20:50:42","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680883":{"id":"680883","type":"image","title":"Simon-Headshot.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to his new leadership role at INNS, Simon Sponberg leads a multidisciplinary research program spanning neuroscience, biology, physics, engineering, and robotics.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786739533","gmt_created":"2026-08-14 20:32:13","changed":"1786739533","gmt_changed":"2026-08-14 20:32:13","alt":"Simon Sponberg smiling in front of a whiteboard.","file":{"fid":"265215","name":"Simon-Headshot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/Simon-Headshot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/Simon-Headshot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2798844,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/14\/Simon-Headshot.jpg?itok=7P3QbQBX"}}},"media_ids":["680883"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/lab-life-inside-institute-neuroscience-neurotechnology-and-society","title":"From Lab to Life: Inside the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society"},{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2022\/04\/18\/mathematics-physics-use-moths-and-origami-structures-innovative-defense-research","title":"Mathematics, Physics Use Moths and Origami Structures for Innovative Defense Research"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-partners-15m-nsf-grant-explore-muscle-dynamics","title":"Georgia Tech Partners on $15M NSF Grant to Explore Muscle Dynamics"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Manager\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691679":{"#nid":"691679","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Why the Data Behind a Part Now Matters as Much as the Part Itself ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECounterfeit and out-of-spec components are entering U.S. defense supply chains through thousands of small and midsized suppliers that make up the lower tiers of the industrial base. Researchers at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) say the fix isn\u0027t just better parts, but better proof: verified digital records, secured against tampering, that travel with each component from raw material to installation.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA landmark 2012 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.armed-services.senate.gov\/press-releases\/senate-armed-services-committee-releases-report-on-counterfeit-electronic-parts\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESenate Armed Services Committee investigation\u003C\/a\u003E documented 1,800 cases involving more than 1 million suspect counterfeit electronic parts in the defense supply chain, traced to more than 650 companies relying on their own unvetted networks of distributors and brokers. In one case, parts changed hands five times before reaching a Raytheon subcontractor.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Pentagon has separately estimated that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.trentonsystems.com\/en-us\/resource-hub\/blog\/10-shocking-facts-counterfeit-electronics\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eup to 15%\u003C\/a\u003E of the spare and replacement electronic parts it buys are counterfeit. Without verification built into the supply chain, officials warn, a single bad part, or a single exposed manufacturing controller, can compromise a weapons system or halt a production line. That risk hasn\u0027t eased: a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/gao-25-107283\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E2025 Government Accountability Office report\u003C\/a\u003E found that Department of Defense now depends on more than 200,000 suppliers, and a deeper look at the MQ-9 Reaper drone\u0027s supply chain found Chinese components at the lower tiers despite U.S.- and Europe-based top-tier suppliers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EManufacturers are adopting a QR-coded digital record, sometimes called a digital passport, that documents a part\u0027s full production history and can be scanned at any point in the supply chain. According to GTMI Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/expert\/tom-kurfess\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETom Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, a member of the National Academy of Engineering who previously oversaw federal manufacturing R\u0026amp;D policy at the White House, the core requirement of this digital infrastructure is straightforward: apart must prove it is what it claims to be.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I am not a counterfeit part; I was made according to specifications, and you can insert me into that jet engine with high confidence that I\u0027m going to perform as specified,\u0022 Kurfess said, describing what the scan of a digital passport for a replacement jet engine turbine blade needs to confirm before it goes into an F-35.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow the Tracking Works\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile a fighter jet represents the apex of tracking stakes, Kurfess notes that the underlying infrastructure is already proven on much more ordinary assembly lines. He points to a plumbing fixture plant near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where every unit carries a QR code that pulls up the humidity conditions during manufacturing, the processing steps, and who worked on the part. Defense components use the same method, where an untraced failure carries far higher stakes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technology itself is cost-effective. Shops have swapped standard calipers for Bluetooth-enabled versions that cost only a few dollars more, Kurfess said. Paired with a smartphone or tablet and a cloud account, those calipers automatically and securely feed measurements into a spreadsheet rather than a handwritten log, building a documentation record for every part in a batch.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Before shipping it off, you essentially signal that you are ready. You click the print button, and a QR code prints out to go right on the shipping bin,\u0022 Kurfess said. \u0022Whoever receives that bin, whether a commercial OEM or a defense prime, scans the code and can pull up the part\u2019s full record.\u201d The same approach covers more complex components. Electric motors built for the automotive industry now upload test-stand performance data to the cloud before shipping; once installed, a vehicle\u0027s control system scans the motor\u0027s passport and calibrates accordingly, Kurfess said. On automotive assembly lines, cameras and scanners verify that every part in a kit is present before workers seal and code it, catching shortages before they halt the production line.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor defense suppliers, Kurfess said the documentation lets prime contractors, and the Department of Defense confirm that a part meets specifications and traces it through its full production history. \u0022We know it\u0027s a good blade, and you can insert it into the F-35,\u0022 he said. \u0022We can track all of it.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Cybersecurity Risk\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat documentation only works if the underlying systems stay secure. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/saman-zonouz\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EElectrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, said manufacturing is one of 16 sectors the Department of Homeland Security, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) classifies as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/topics\/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience\/critical-infrastructure-sectors\/critical-manufacturing-sector\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ecritical infrastructure\u003C\/a\u003E, dependent on energy and water to operate while other sectors depend on it in turn.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis research shows adversaries can insert what his team calls \u0022logic bombs\u0022 into design files: code that leaves a manufactured part looking normal until it fails on command, whether that part is a drone propeller or a power grid transformer. He also pointed to supply chain attacks, where imported machine tools arrive with vulnerable or deliberately compromised software already installed, the same pattern behind the SolarWinds breach that hit critical infrastructure nationwide.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScanning the internet, Zonouz\u0027s team found manufacturing controllers exposed and reachable by outside actors. Manufacturing hasn\u0027t developed cybersecurity measures at the pace of sectors such as finance or energy, he said, in part because engineers built legacy equipment for reliability, not to resist a deliberate attack.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI cuts both ways, according to Zonouz. It powers new attack-detection systems, including the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia AI in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM)\u003C\/a\u003E technology corridor, a $65 million initiative that includes a pilot project at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E to enable shops to monitor for anomalies without constant human oversight. But AI systems also introduce new, often unknown vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZonouz encourages manufacturers to build cybersecurity into systems from the start, borrow lessons from more mature sectors already operating under frameworks such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nerc.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENorth American Electric Reliability Corporation\u003C\/a\u003E Critical Infrastructure Protection for the power grid, and prepare for manufacturing standards, including the Department of Defense\u0027s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework, to tighten over time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuch of GTMI\u0027s work runs through the small and midsized manufacturers that supply nuts, bolts, and castings to prime contractors such as Lockheed Martin and General Motors, companies that typically lack the in-house IT resources of a major OEM. Kurfess said GTMI configures the same cloud tools that automate measurement tracking to meet Department of Defense documentation and cybersecurity requirements, working directly with smaller suppliers to build that capability instead of leaving them to develop it alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETracking Choke Points Before They Become Failures\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe same connectivity that verifies individual parts also shows manufacturers where a supply chain is vulnerable before a disruption hits. Kurfess cites \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.library.hbs.edu\/working-knowledge\/japan-disaster-shakes-up-supply-chain-strategies\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ethe 2011 Fukushima disaster\u003C\/a\u003E, which knocked out a single Japanese plant supplying a chip used in the machine tool industry worldwide, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s41072-025-00220-4\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECovid-era shipping container shortage\u003C\/a\u003E that forced companies to truck castings across the country when no containers were available at U.S. ports for shipping via rail. Mapping a supply chain in both directions, he said, reveals where a single supplier, region, or disruptive event such as inclement weather or a power outage could stop production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKurfess compares GTMI\u0027s approach to \u0022being the Google Maps for manufacturing,\u0022 using real-time connectivity to flag bottlenecks and reroute them in the best possible manner. That logic also drives GTMI\u0027s push for distributed manufacturing: spreading production of a component, such as electric vehicle motors, across many smaller regional plants instead of one large facility so a local disruption can\u0027t affect the whole chain. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fis.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGTMI\u0027s Factory Information Systems Center\u003C\/a\u003E builds the secure supply chain architectures and machine-to-cloud connectivity behind that work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/chris-gaffney\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChris Gaffney\u003C\/a\u003E, managing director of Georgia Tech\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESupply Chain and Logistics Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, reached a similar conclusion in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2026\/06\/23\/logistics-transition-what-know-what-watch-and-how-keep-moving\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJune 2026 research brief\u003C\/a\u003E, calling cyberattacks on physical supply chains \u0022a defining executive risk\u0022 and trusted operational data possibly \u0022the most valuable\u0022 asset a supply chain organization holds.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerifying Quality Without Shipping Parts Across the Country\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI is applying AI directly to quality verification at its \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF)\u003C\/a\u003E, where manufacturers can build and verify a part under one roof instead of shipping it elsewhere for testing. \u0022Right now, in manufacturing, a piece of equipment, a turbine rotor blade, for example, is created in one place, then sent somewhere else for testing,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/aaron-stebner\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor who leads AMPF\u0027s work under the Georgia AIM initiative. \u0022Often it goes across the country to check its interior structure, then is shipped to a second location to test its chemical composition.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMPF\u0027s connected machines \u0022talk\u0022 to each other using AI and a knowledge management system, verifying a part\u2019s material composition and durability as it\u0027s made rather than after the fact, so manufacturers can confirm they\u0027re building what they intend to build without shipping delays. \u0022No other facility in the nation is built to do this autonomously,\u0022 Stebner said. \u0022Georgia Tech will be the first.\u0022 GTMI is also opening AMPF to remote materials research through a new AI-driven cloud lab (see sidebar).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGTMI\u0027s Role\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKurfess and Zonouz both credited close collaboration between manufacturing and cybersecurity researchers at Georgia Tech, including a dedicated School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, as the basis for GTMI\u0027s work in this area. That collaboration drives research into cyber-secure manufacturing platforms designed with security built in from the outset, and AMPF gives those systems a place to run on production-scale equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKurfess said the next test is scale: whether digital passports, secure cloud tracking, and AI-verified quality checks can move from a handful of pilot programs and flagship facilities to the thousands of small shops that make up the defense industrial base. The technology, from Bluetooth calipers to readily available and cost-effective cloud accounts, is already cheap enough that cost isn\u0027t the barrier. What remains is installing, securing, and standardizing those tools across a supply chain that still runs largely on paper.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about how GTMI can help defense manufacturers build supply chain resilience, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E# # #\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGTMI to Build AI-Driven Cloud Lab for Remote Materials Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is building a Programmable Cloud Laboratory that will let researchers across the country direct materials experiments at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF)\u003C\/a\u003E without traveling on-site. The National Science Foundation is funding the project with $18.1 million as part of a planned national network of 20 AI-enabled cloud labs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers will submit a request, and AI agents will translate it into a detailed workflow, coordinating robots, equipment, and data collection across the facility. \u0022Researchers can ask a question, have work recommended by AI agents, have experiments carried out at the facility using robotics, and get the results back,\u0022 said Aaron Stebner, GTMI associate director, Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. Chair, and James R. and Sarah R. Borders Faculty Fellow in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. \u0022They can use AMPF resources to advance their own research without having to be experts in each piece of equipment or send students to AMPF for weeks at a time.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAMPF is approaching autonomous workflow capability across about 38 of its 160 pieces of equipment. The cloud lab aims to push that past 100. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/pascal-van-hentenryck\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPascal Van Hentenryck\u003C\/a\u003E, director of the NSF AI Institute for Advances in Optimization, said the system will rely on digital twins, virtual models of the facility, to plan and monitor experiments, and will improve its scheduling and machine tuning as it learns from each run.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project also integrates Duke University\u0027s Automatic FLOW for Materials Discovery platform and a knowledge and data management platform from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.contextualize.us.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EContextualize\u003C\/a\u003E to connect researchers, instruments, and IT systems across the network. Organizers expect more than 400 users from 150 academic, industry, and government institutions, with more than half participating remotely.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETom Kurfess, GTMI\u0027s executive director, said the lab will let industry partners test new ideas before committing to large-scale deployment. \u0022This initiative will shorten development cycles and make it easier to bring promising technologies into production, enabling our partners and us to innovate at the speed of thought,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"GTMI researchers say digital passports and secure-by-design manufacturing are closing gaps in defense supply chains. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are working to make U.S. manufacturing and defense supply chains more secure and resilient by combining digital part tracking, cybersecurity, AI-enabled quality verification, and real-time supply chain monitoring.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are working to make U.S. manufacturing and defense supply chains more secure and resilient by combining digital part tracking, cybersecurity, AI-enabled quality verification, and real-time supply chain monitoring."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-08-14 13:08:23","changed_gmt":"2026-08-14 19:52:15","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680876":{"id":"680876","type":"image","title":"Will Huggins Image","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech doctoral candidate Will Huggins presents findings of an AMPF case study featuring the manufacture and repair of high-value parts used by the railway industry.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786715691","gmt_created":"2026-08-14 13:54:51","changed":"1786715863","gmt_changed":"2026-08-14 13:57:43","alt":"Georgia Tech doctoral candidate Will Huggins presents findings of an AMPF case study","file":{"fid":"265206","name":"26-R10410-P134-057.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-057.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-057.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2347177,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-057.jpg?itok=QguEsN9A"}}},"media_ids":["680876"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJennifer Martin\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Research Communications Services\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWriter: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689015":{"#nid":"689015","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Successful USDA Program That Has Supported More Than 533,000 Affordable Rental Homes in Rural America is Getting Phased\u00a0Out","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/rent-apartments-cities-near-me-biggest-increases\/\u0022\u003EThe high cost of renting and buying homes in U.S. cities\u003C\/a\u003E is no secret. But this affordability problem isn\u2019t limited to urban regions \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/research\/2025\/06\/the-deterioration-of-housing-affordability-in-rural-america\/\u0022\u003Eit affects rural areas as well\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERural areas, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fhfa.gov\/blog\/insights\/who-lives-in-rural-america\u0022\u003Ehome to about 25% of Americans\u003C\/a\u003E, benefit from federally supported rental housing programs \u2013 particularly a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to provide affordable homes for low-income residents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ruralhome.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/storage\/documents\/rd515rental.pdf\u0022\u003EUSDA\u2019s Section 515 program\u003C\/a\u003E is the primary way that the U.S. government finances affordable rental homes in rural communities. Since its inception in 1963, the program has supported the construction of over \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pfs2.acl.gov\/strapib\/assets\/Rural_Housing_Programs_Chapter_Summary_50076d51da.pdf\u0022\u003E533,000 apartments, townhouses\u003C\/a\u003E and other small, multifamily rental homes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program offers below-market-rate loans to private and nonprofit developers who build and manage residential housing for low-income residents in small towns and rural counties. The terms of the deal between property owners and the government obliges these landlords to keep rents affordable for their occupants for decades, generally restricting rent to about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hudexchange.info\/programs\/home\/home-income-limits\/\u0022\u003E30% of tenants\u2019 income\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ELast New Loans Were in 2011\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeople who live in Section 515 housing typically \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ruralhousingcoalition.org\/section-515-rural-rental-housing-loans\/#:%7E:text=The%20USDA%20says%20that%20Section%20515%20housing,more%20than%20$325%20per%20unit%20per%20month\u0022\u003Epay around US$325 per month\u003C\/a\u003E. That\u2019s much less than rural market-rate rents, which \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.apartments.com\/blog\/states-with-the-cheapest-rent\u0022\u003Etypically run $800-$1,100 per month\u003C\/a\u003E for modest homes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nlihc.org\/sites\/default\/files\/AG-2025\/4-131_USDA-Rural-Rental-Housing-Programs.pdf\u0022\u003EUSDA stopped issuing new Section 515 loans in 2011\u003C\/a\u003E, this arrangement is phasing out now as existing loans mature.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELoans for about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ruralhome.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/storage\/documents\/publications\/rrreports\/rental_housing_for_a_21st_century_rural_america_ui.pdf\u0022\u003E90% of all remaining Section 515 homes\u003C\/a\u003E will mature by 2045, according to the Housing\u2002Assistance Council, a national nonprofit that supports affordable housing efforts throughout rural America. By 2050, the owners of nearly all properties currently in the program\u2019s portfolio are projected to have paid off their mortgages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd once most of the owners of these homes exit the Section 515 program, it will have been fully phased out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u00226NXiF\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/6NXiF\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAn Often-Overlooked Housing Program\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/c9f0cadc-5bb4-5b6f-9eca-bd38a9233993\u0022\u003Epublic policy professor who studies housing\u003C\/a\u003E, I wanted to understand what happens when Section 515 loans mature. I also was interested in what determines whether properties remain affordable or leave the program after the loans are paid off.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo find out, I worked with three other housing policy researchers on a national study that was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10511482.2025.2531878\u0022\u003Epeer-reviewed and published\u003C\/a\u003E in Housing Policy Debate in September 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs of 2024, these loans were still supporting \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pfs2.acl.gov\/strapib\/assets\/Rural_Housing_Programs_Chapter_Summary_50076d51da.pdf\u0022\u003Esome 400,000 homes\u003C\/a\u003E on almost \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/32-2024-RHS.pdf\u0022\u003E13,000 properties\u003C\/a\u003E across \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rd.usda.gov\/media\/file\/download\/hac-mfh-ta-fact-sheet.pdf\u0022\u003E87% of all U.S. counties\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe roughly 750,000 Americans in those homes are among the nation\u2019s poorest. The average household income of someone living in Section 515 housing in 2023 was just about $16,000 per year, which was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seekingalpha.com\/article\/4655566-median-household-income-in-october-2023\u0022\u003Eonly about one-fifth of the national median household income\u003C\/a\u003E, which hovered around $76,600 during the same period in inflation-adjusted 2023 dollars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to having a very low income, more than 60% of the people enrolled in the program are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nhlp.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Rural-Preservation-Handbook.pdf\u0022\u003Eover 62, have disabilities, or fall into both\u003C\/a\u003E of those categories.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EMarket-Rate Options After Maturity\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe vast majority of these affordable rental homes were built in the 1970s through the 1990s and financed with USDA loans that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cura.umn.edu\/research\/usda-section-515-program-quantitative-analysis\u0022\u003Elast between 30 and 50 years\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy 2050, there will be no Section 515 housing left.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe owners of these rental properties no longer have to keep rents affordable once they have paid off their loans. And their owners and tenants may also \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rd.usda.gov\/programs-services\/multifamily-housing-programs\/multifamily-housing-rental-assistancee\u0022\u003Elose access to a USDA rental assistance\u003C\/a\u003E program, which helps keep tenants\u2019 housing costs low.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey can refinance the homes or sell\u2002the properties. They also can continue to charge affordable rents to occupants or convert those units to market rate. Because of this flexibility, a large share of rural affordable housing units could soon be converted to properties rented at market rates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat the Data Shows So Far\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor this study, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10511482.2025.2531878\u0022\u003Eour research team analyzed data\u003C\/a\u003E from nearly 15,000 of the Section 515 properties throughout the country, which have been placed in service since 1963 \u2013 including many that are no longer providing rural affordable housing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe found that the largest factors determining whether a building remains affordable after a Section 515 loan matures are who owns and manages\u2002that property. Buildings owned by for-profit companies are far more likely to leave the program than those that belong to nonprofit housing organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENonprofit-owned\u2002buildings, after accounting for building age and local market conditions, are 30% to 40% less likely to convert formerly Section 515 affordable housing into market-rate properties after the owners pay off their loans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter analyzing this data, we also concluded that buildings run by small property management companies are more likely to leave the program than those managed by larger ones. Properties where the owner manages the homes are also more likely to exit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELandlords owning more residential properties were also more likely to exit the program. This indicates that larger landlords may be able to afford the renovations and upgrades required to turn their buildings into market-rate housing once restrictions end.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;rect=0%2C124%2C8256%2C4644\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A symbolic wooden house, containg a stack of $1 bills and a money bag with a dollar symbol, sits next to an alarm clock in a grocery cart.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;rect=0%2C124%2C8256%2C4644\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=356\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=356\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=356\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=447\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=447\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721319\/original\/file-20260302-71-tbznw9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=447\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ETime is running out on the nation\u2019s main affordable housing program in rural areas.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/symbolic-wooden-house-a-stack-of-us1-bills-and-a-royalty-free-image\/2206515182?adppopup=true\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EMax Zolotukhin\/iStock via Getty Images Plus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhy Subsidies and Local Markets Matter\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving subsidies through other government programs can help keep affordable housing units from being converted to market-rate housing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne-third of Section 515 properties also get support from other programs, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/helping-americans\/housing-choice-vouchers-tenants\u0022\u003ESection 8 vouchers\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.novoco.com\/resource-centers\/affordable-housing-tax-credits\/about-lihtc\u0022\u003Elow-income housing tax credits\u003C\/a\u003E. Those tax credits are another federal incentive that\u2019s provided to developers who build and rehabilitate affordable rental housing while allowing lower rents for low-income tenants.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose properties are more likely to remain affordable, even years after some of these tax incentives expire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocal economic conditions can play a role too. In areas with high unemployment rates, large military populations and low housing inventory, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/10511482.2025.2531878\u0022\u003Eproperties are also more likely to exit\u003C\/a\u003E the program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat means the same rural counties experiencing economic or demographic pressures are often the most likely to have a decline in affordable housing units when owners pay off their Section 515 loans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESteps That Can Be Taken\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongress and the USDA have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.us-hc.com\/blogs\/rhs-makes-funds-available-for-section-515-demonstration-program\/\u0022\u003Etaken some steps\u003C\/a\u003E to slow the loss of affordable housing in rural areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, the USDA has funded preservation efforts such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rd.usda.gov\/programs-services\/multifamily-housing-programs\/multifamily-preservation-and-revitalization-mpr\u0022\u003EMultifamily Housing Preservation and Revitalization\u003C\/a\u003E pilot program, which provides grants, loan restructuring and other financing tools to help repair aging Section 515 properties and extend their affordability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese efforts have helped preserve some buildings and support ownership transfers from private sector landlords to nonprofit housing groups. But they spend only tens of millions of dollars per year and focus mainly on maintaining existing properties rather than building new housing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers estimate that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs_external_products\/R\/PDF\/R47044\/R47044.1.pdf\u0022\u003Eabout $5.6 billion in repairs\u003C\/a\u003E would be needed to preserve the affordable housing currently tied to the Section 515 program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome lawmakers have proposed reforms aimed at doing more than chipping away at the loss of this kind of affordable housing. The bipartisan \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.naco.org\/news\/congressional-leaders-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-protect-rural-housing\u0022\u003ERural Housing Service Reform Act\u003C\/a\u003E, first introduced in 2023 and reintroduced in 2025, would modernize USDA rural housing programs and allow certain rental assistance contracts to continue after mortgages mature. As of early 2026, the bill remains under consideration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the next two decades, most of these landlords will pay off their Section 515 loans. Unless the government reinvigorates the program or replaces it with something else, much of rural America\u2019s affordable rental housing could gradually disappear as owners convert all Section 515 properties to market-rate housing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether rural communities retain affordable housing will depend not only on what the federal government does, but also on the properties\u2019 owners.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/273637\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/a-successful-usda-program-that-has-supported-more-than-533-000-affordable-rental-homes-in-rural-america-is-getting-phased-out-273637\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe high cost of renting and buying homes in U.S. cities is no secret. But this affordability problem isn\u2019t limited to urban regions \u2013 it affects rural areas as well.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The high cost of renting and buying homes in U.S. cities is no secret. But this affordability problem isn\u2019t limited to urban regions \u2013 it affects rural areas as well."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-12 17:07:54","changed_gmt":"2026-08-14 16:36:52","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679671":{"id":"679671","type":"image","title":"Low-income Americans in rural areas can struggle to pay market-rate rents. mphillips007\/iStock via Getty Images Plus","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELow-income Americans in rural areas can struggle to pay market-rate rents. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/housing-market-inflation-and-interest-rates-royalty-free-image\/1395524032?adppopup=true\u0022\u003Emphillips007\/iStock via Getty Images Plus\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773853784","gmt_created":"2026-03-18 17:09:44","changed":"1773853784","gmt_changed":"2026-03-18 17:09:44","alt":"Low-income Americans in rural areas can struggle to pay market-rate rents. mphillips007\/iStock via Getty Images Plus","file":{"fid":"263860","name":"file-20260302-57-nqoztj.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/file-20260302-57-nqoztj.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/18\/file-20260302-57-nqoztj.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":125948,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/18\/file-20260302-57-nqoztj.jpg?itok=Yq-cZ8Mz"}}},"media_ids":["679671"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/a-successful-usda-program-that-has-supported-more-than-533-000-affordable-rental-homes-in-rural-america-is-getting-phased-out-273637","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"},{"id":"188853","name":"go-seiinthenews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/brian-y-an-1461778\u0022\u003EBrian Y. An\u003C\/a\u003E, Co-Director of Center for Urban Research, Director of Master of Science in Public Policy Program, and Assistant Professor of Public Policy, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691665":{"#nid":"691665","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Smart Factories Aren\u0027t Coming. They\u0027re Here. ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. has seen its printed circuit board market share plummet to 4% while becoming dangerously dependent on foreign rare earth processing. Now, with global supply chains fracturing, defense industrial capacity under pressure, and adversaries looking to dominate advanced production, the country is in a race to rebuild \u2014 and to rebuild smarter.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo converging trends are shaping what that looks like on the factory floor. The first is the rise of the lighthouse factory, where AI-driven systems, autonomous mobile robots, and centralized digital control work with a skilled human workforce rather than replacing it. The second is physical AI, in which machine learning moves off the server rack and into the manufacturing process itself, making real-time decisions at the machine level that no human operator could match at scale. Together, these shifts are rewriting the economics and the security calculus of American production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the forefront of both is the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)\u003C\/a\u003E and its Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF), a first-of-its-kind, shared-use facility at a research university that is already doing what federal agencies are only beginning to fund. The AMPF is the proving ground where new manufacturing solutions are stress-tested before they reach the shop floor \u2014 where a scrap rate that plagued a major automobile supplier was cut in half in 45 days, and where capabilities are being realized faster than ever thought possible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The expectation was that building a capability like this would take decades,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/steven-ferguson\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, principal research scientist and GTMI deputy director. \u0022Instead, we\u0027ve compressed that timeline dramatically and are already applying these technologies to solve real manufacturing challenges.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe future Ferguson describes has already displaced the old \u201clights\u2011out\u201d myth of fully dark, fully automated factories. What modern smart manufacturing demands is tighter integration between machines and the people who define what those machines should accomplish.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia is well positioned to lead that charge. According to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gamfg.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Association of Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E, the state supports more than 426,000 manufacturing jobs with average earnings of $86,372, contributing $77.1 billion to the state\u0027s gross regional product. Projected employment growth of 8% between 2024 and 2029 reflects not just expansion but transformation; the sector needs a different kind of worker, and a different kind of research partner than it did a generation ago.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI and the AMPF have staked out a national leadership position in exactly those capabilities. The facility is pioneering the deployment of physical AI in a university R\u0026amp;D and demonstration environment, using machine learning to monitor and adjust manufacturing processes in real time. When printing a component from a $30,000 barrel of specialty powder or a newly developed superalloy, a process failure is not acceptable. AI-driven systems continuously analyze thousands of optical, thermal, acoustic, and process signals to identify patterns, optimize performance, and detect anomalies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022In an R\u0026amp;D facility, you program it once, and it changes a million times,\u0022 Ferguson said. \u0022We\u0027re using AI and mobile robots to intelligently coordinate production scheduling, material movement, and manufacturing processes, all while humans define the experiments and interpret the results.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe facility also connects the full innovation chain from materials discovery through manufacturing process to quality assurance, demonstrating in one space what others are still planning.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmart Manufacturing as a National Security Imperative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe stakes extend well beyond production efficiency. Ferguson points to pandemic-era chip shortages that left tens of thousands of finished vehicles waiting on a single component and to current constraints on the critical minerals and chips needed to build AI data centers and defense systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Our ability to manufacture at scale underpins both our economic competitiveness and our national security,\u0022 he said. \u0022If we can\u0027t build what we need when we need it, we\u0027re at a strategic disadvantage.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom the Shop Floor: IAC Group\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tom-f-boney\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETom Boney\u003C\/a\u003E, chief operating officer for the Americas at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iacgroup.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EIAC Group\u003C\/a\u003E, the question wasn\u2019t whether to modernize; it was who could help the company move fast enough to keep plants competitive and workers employed. Georgia Tech, he said, offered something IAC couldn\u2019t build on its own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech brings the brains and computing power we don\u2019t have,\u201d Boney said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got some of the smartest people in the world on that campus, plugged into world-class infrastructure, and we put them side by side with our operators on the shop floor.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn automotive interior components manufacturer with plants across the U.S., Mexico, and beyond, IAC is competing daily with facilities in lower-cost regions. \u201cFor us, smart manufacturing and AI are really about job and plant future security,\u201d Boney said. \u201cWe\u2019re competing every day with plants in China, Mexico, and the U.S., and we already have tons of production data, but we can\u2019t analyze it fast enough on our own.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIAC\u2019s first project with GTMI focused on a complex adhesive manufacturing process at a plant in Vance, Alabama. The facility had rich production data but lacked computational power and AI modeling to act on it in real time. GTMI students and researchers connected Georgia Tech\u2019s systems directly to the plant\u2019s equipment, working with line operators. The result was a 50% reduction in scrap in roughly 45 days, with those gains then extended to other IAC locations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pace of the partnership was another sign that this wasn\u2019t a typical university engagement. A framework agreement that usually takes 12 to 15 months was executed in 35 days, enabling the two organizations to move through new project cycles quickly. IAC now runs five active projects with GTMI, each advancing in turn or making way for the next initiative, a cadence Boney sees as essential to staying competitive on the factory floor.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding the Workforce of Tomorrow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIAC\u2019s success with GTMI underscores a hard truth: technology can unlock new performance, but only if there\u2019s a workforce ready to run it. Technology alone cannot sustain a manufacturing renaissance. Ferguson is candid about the workforce challenge posed by automation, particularly the erosion of entry-level roles that once served as the first rung of a career ladder.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The industry has an image problem. People still picture dark, dirty, and dangerous, when the reality is safer, cleaner, and far more interesting,\u0022 Ferguson said. \u0022Now we\u0027re trying to convince kids, \u0027You don\u0027t have to, you get to.\u0027 We don\u0027t need button pushers. We need thinkers and creators working alongside robots.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI\u0027s response runs from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/k-12-resources\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EK-12 engagement\u003C\/a\u003E through technical college partnerships to university engineering programs at Georgia Tech, UGA, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State, and others. For example, UGA partnered with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) to launch the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio. This traveling advanced-technology lab visits K-12 schools across the state to give students hands-on experience with interactive engineering vignettes and robotics. Teacher boot camps bring high school educators to campus for hands-on training in CAD design, CNC milling, and additive manufacturing, equipping them to return to their classrooms as informed advocates. Dual-enrollment pathways through Georgia\u0027s Technical College System give students an on-ramp well before they graduate from high school.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EThis workforce strategy extends beyond traditional education. Through programs such as Advanced Manufacturing Pathways, teacher professional development, dual-enrollment partnerships, undergraduate research experiences, graduate research opportunities, and industry-sponsored projects, GTMI is helping develop the technicians, engineers, researchers, and manufacturing leaders needed to support the nation\u0027s next generation of smart factories.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the workforce pipeline is only one strand of a much larger web. The AMPF is also where partners pressure-test how AI, automation, and new materials behave under real-world constraints like cost, quality, uptime, safety, and security. At GTMI, AI-driven process control, autonomous material handling, critical-mineral research, and cyber-physical security work in concert to create trusted, resilient production capacity that can scale when it counts, whether that means building lightweight components for vehicles, accelerating drone production to meet national needs, or hardening the critical infrastructure that underpins defense and the economy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn that context, smart manufacturing is no longer a niche technical initiative. It is the connective tissue between research labs, industry partners, and national readiness, and a platform for new kinds of careers. GTMI\u2019s role is to ensure that those connections are real, tested, and ready to perform under pressure, while opening doors for students, teachers, and workers who will run the next generation of factories. In Georgia, that ecosystem is already taking shape on the ground.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"From physical AI to cybersecure factory design, Georgia Tech\u0027s Manufacturing Institute is setting the pace for the next era of American production. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom physical AI to cybersecure factory design, Georgia Tech\u0027s Manufacturing Institute is setting the pace for the next era of American production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"From physical AI to cybersecure factory design, Georgia Tech\u0027s Manufacturing Institute is setting the pace for the next era of American production. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-08-13 19:07:32","changed_gmt":"2026-08-14 15:23:50","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680875":{"id":"680875","type":"image","title":"26-R10410-P134-059--2-.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech doctoral candidates Neel Shah and Jamila Khanfri discuss how smart factories have the potential to autonomously incorporate domain expertise into additive manufacturing process development, saving industry partners time and money.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786715179","gmt_created":"2026-08-14 13:46:19","changed":"1786715179","gmt_changed":"2026-08-14 13:46:19","alt":"Georgia Tech doctoral candidates Neel Shah and Jamila Khanfri in discussion","file":{"fid":"265205","name":"26-R10410-P134-059--2-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-059--2-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-059--2-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4555456,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/14\/26-R10410-P134-059--2-.jpg?itok=g2qupnzh"}}},"media_ids":["680875"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJennifer Martin\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Research Communications Services\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWriter: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691631":{"#nid":"691631","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How Does Wildfire Smoke Affect the Economy?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWildfires in the United States are getting bigger and the season is getting longer, fueled by hotter and drier weather from climate change. Even when fires are hundreds of miles away, the wildfire smoke can still harm people\u0027s health and create economic costs through air pollution, said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.caseyjwichman.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003ECasey Wichman,\u003C\/a\u003E an associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Economics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is. A healthy AQI is between zero and 50, but when wildfire smoke blows in and settles over cities, the AQI can reach levels of 500 or more. Poor air quality changes where and how people spend their time and money, reduces productivity (even for those working indoors), and increases healthcare costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnvironmental regulations like the Clean Air Act dramatically improved our air quality over the past 40 years, but as wildfire season becomes the new normal, wildfire smoke is eroding those gains,\u201d Wichman said. According to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-023-06522-6\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003Erecent research,\u003C\/a\u003E wildfire smoke has erased about a quarter of the progress made over previous decades, and more than half in many western states.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2026\/08\/wildfire-smoke-affect-economy\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the IAC News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWildfires in the United States are getting bigger and the season is getting longer, fueled by hotter and drier weather from climate change. Even when fires are hundreds of miles away, the wildfire smoke can still harm people\u0027s health and create economic costs through air pollution, said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.caseyjwichman.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003ECasey Wichman,\u003C\/a\u003E an associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Economics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Air Quality Index (AQI) measures how clean or polluted the air is. A healthy AQI is between zero and 50, but when wildfire smoke blows in and settles over cities, the AQI can reach levels of 500 or more. Poor air quality changes where and how people spend their time and money, reduces productivity (even for those working indoors), and increases healthcare costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnvironmental regulations like the Clean Air Act dramatically improved our air quality over the past 40 years, but as wildfire season becomes the new normal, wildfire smoke is eroding those gains,\u201d Wichman said. According to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-023-06522-6\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003Erecent research,\u003C\/a\u003E wildfire smoke has erased about a quarter of the progress made over previous decades, and more than half in many western states.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech economist Casey Wichman explains how increased wildfire smoke from climate change affects spending, productivity, and healthcare costs."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-08-12 19:02:31","changed_gmt":"2026-08-12 19:06:07","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680847":{"id":"680847","type":"image","title":"CaseyWichmanSQUARE--40-.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECasey Wichman, Associate Professor, Georgia Tech School of Economics.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786561359","gmt_created":"2026-08-12 19:02:39","changed":"1786561359","gmt_changed":"2026-08-12 19:02:39","alt":"Casey Wichman, Associate Professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Economics.","file":{"fid":"265174","name":"CaseyWichmanSQUARE--40-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/CaseyWichmanSQUARE--40-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/12\/CaseyWichmanSQUARE--40-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":448644,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/12\/CaseyWichmanSQUARE--40-.png?itok=GxjiNJf0"}}},"media_ids":["680847"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2026\/08\/wildfire-smoke-affect-economy","title":"Read Full Story on IAC News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691593":{"#nid":"691593","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Engineer Rethinks Supply Chains for Community Resilience ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E--Written by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a single Atlanta church to a growing network across the Southeast, Georgia Tech engineer Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n is connecting communities and researchers to support resilience in extreme weather events.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen a West Atlanta church received donated solar panels and battery storage to operate as a community resilience hub, P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n led an academic-practitioner team that helped the congregation turn that hardware into an operational playbook. She is now using the same model to build a regional network that links community leaders and researchers on resilience, food access, and disaster response.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EP\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n, an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a faculty fellow at the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), focuses on addressing problems within the supply chain and transportation domains. \u201cThese challenges often encompass disruptions, human behavior, multiple stakeholders, and sustainability objectives,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore joining Georgia Tech in 2023, she was a postdoctoral research associate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute\u2019s Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment. She also holds a courtesy appointment in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll of the research that I do always starts with a problem that has some sort of important social impact,\u201d she said, \u201cand then I try to draw from my expertise in different fields to help solve that problem.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a Network, One Pilot at a Time\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough BBISS and its Sustainability Next grant program, P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n co-leads a community resilience network of roughly 40 to 50 practitioners and researchers working on community-led resilience hubs across Georgia and South Carolina, with plans to expand across the Southeast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNeither researchers nor practitioners alone can advance community resilience as they could if they work together,\u201d she said. \u201cThe purpose of the network is to facilitate and leverage partnerships.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunity Church Atlanta is one of the first pilots. The church\u2019s resilience hub, established in 2023, offers weekly support services and on-site solar and battery storage to keep power flowing during outages caused by storms, heat waves, or other disruptions. It is also the launching point for the Westside Resilience Corridor, a partnership of four churches along Cascade Road working to become resilience hubs for their neighborhoods.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking with church leaders, emergency managers, and community representatives, P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n and partners held a two-day workshop to map likely hazards, define critical services, and draft activation procedures. Among those partners was Beth Remmes, coastal outreach and climate resiliency coordinator for Georgia Interfaith Power \u0026amp; Light (GIPL), who helped design and facilitate the process. \u201cThe whole idea behind resilience hubs is creating social cohesion,\u201d Remmes said. \u201cSocial connectivity and relationships in the community are one of the biggest determinants of our ability not only to bounce back, but hopefully to bounce forward in a stronger way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe noted that churches like Community Church Atlanta already serve as informal first responders. The resilience hub work makes that role more intentional by focusing on preparedness, programming, and connection well before an emergency. Just as important, in her view, was Tech\u2019s ability to see how lessons from Community Church Atlanta could inform future resilience hubs across the region.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EErica Holloman-Hill, founder and chief envisioning officer of Ayika Solutions Inc. and a member of Community Church Atlanta, sees that impact from inside the congregation. In the resilience hub effort, she provides technical guidance on the solar and battery system, helps shape programming such as workforce development, and helped bring partners like Groundswell and Georgia Tech to the table.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech uniquely brings the science and academia,\u201d Holloman-Hill said. \u201cBeing able to leverage an institution like Georgia Tech gives weight to some of the work that we\u2019re doing, while leaning on the technical expertise of professors like Sof\u00eda and partnering with organizations like GIPL to create models and support.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking ahead, Holloman-Hill said Community Church Atlanta is focused on refining how the hub operates and sharing lessons learned with other churches in the Westside Resilience Corridor. That means clarifying how the church will run the hub during emergencies, which partners need to be at the table, and how a third-party technical advisor can help keep the system performing as designed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n, those kinds of relationships are the real outcome. \u201cThe relationship, the trust, the partnership \u2014 it\u2019s probably the most important outcome we\u2019ve seen,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJennifer Hirsch, senior director of BBISS\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) and the network co-lead, sees the same value at an institutional scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUniversities are important members of their communities and can be key partners in sustainability and resilience efforts when they mobilize their research capabilities, students, and other resources to partner with and support local leadership and innovations,\u201d Hirsch said. \u201cNetworks of universities and communities can serve as multipliers of innovative approaches. With the resilience hubs network, we are excited to incubate new ideas that are community-centric and evidence-based and tailored to the Southeast communities that our partners know best.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhere Resilience Meets Food Access\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis partnership model also shapes what P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n calls her most immediately actionable project: a decision-support tool connecting local food producers, distributors, and access points in Atlanta. Her team has gathered survey and experimental data from residents in West End and citywide, testing how distance, travel time, price, and a store\u2019s ties to the community shape where people choose to shop. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to design tools for logistics and food distribution decisions that bring food closer to people,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA parallel thread runs through her disaster response work, where she studies how people choose among points of distribution for emergency relief. Proximity matters, she\u2019s found, but it isn\u2019t everything. Many people will travel farther if they believe they\u2019re more likely to receive supplies, or if it lets them move closer to family. In urban freight, she has applied the same lens to city logistics, studying behavior around emerging technologies such as sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous trucks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAtlanta\u2019s mix of freight infrastructure, food access challenges, and weather vulnerability makes it fertile ground for that range of work,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAcross every project, the constant is not only patience but also resilience. Along the way, we realize that the original research idea may no longer make sense, or that different approaches are required. The process is very nonlinear and requires revision, reassessment, and a lot of pivoting,\u201d she said. \u201cIt basically requires tons of resilience!\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThrough BBISS, P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n co-leads a community resilience network of roughly 40 to 50 practitioners and researchers working on community-led resilience hubs across Georgia and South Carolina.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Through BBISS, P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n co-leads a community resilience network of roughly 40 to 50 practitioners and researchers working on community-led resilience hubs across Georgia and South Carolina."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2026-08-10 17:09:38","changed_gmt":"2026-08-12 11:23:32","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680827":{"id":"680827","type":"image","title":"Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n","body":null,"created":"1786381614","gmt_created":"2026-08-10 17:06:54","changed":"1786381738","gmt_changed":"2026-08-10 17:08:58","alt":"Headshot of Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n","file":{"fid":"265150","name":"SPG2024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/10\/SPG2024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/10\/SPG2024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1710516,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/10\/SPG2024.jpg?itok=DoLrUXFb"}}},"media_ids":["680827"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMedia Contact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWriter: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691522":{"#nid":"691522","#data":{"type":"news","title":"As Water Systems Face Cyberattacks, Georgia Tech Research Points to Solutions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wsbtv.com\/news\/local\/water-supply-under-attack-by-cybercriminals-metro-atlanta-system-may-have-been-targeted\/XA46MWYNZRAZ5EYUN3RSJZG5SM\/\u0022\u003ERecent\u003C\/a\u003E cyberattacks on municipal water systems across the United States have renewed concerns about the cybersecurity of the operational technology that supports critical infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor researchers in Georgia Tech\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/capcpsec\/\u0022\u003ECyber-Physical Security\u003C\/a\u003E (CPSec) Lab, however, the vulnerabilities behind many of these incidents are far from new.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssociate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/strong\u003E leads the CPSec Lab and has studied programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for years. These devices automate critical infrastructure, including water treatment facilities, power grids, manufacturing plants, and transportation systems. The lab\u2019s work has revealed widespread internet exposure and software vulnerabilities that leave many industrial control systems vulnerable to cyberattacks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Out of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors defined by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cisa.gov\/topics\/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience\/critical-infrastructure-sectors\u0022\u003ECybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency\u003C\/a\u003E, four are considered lifelines,\u0022 Zonouz said. \u0022Of those four, communications, energy, transportation, and water, the water sector is the most vulnerable, which is why it is so often targeted.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPLCs serve as the brains of industrial operations, monitoring sensors and controlling equipment that keep essential services operational.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Imagine you have a thermostat that controls the temperature of your house. That is a type of controller,\u0022 Zonouz explained. \u0022The professional version does the same thing in industry.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen these controllers are directly accessible from the internet, attackers can exploit them to disrupt operations, manipulate industrial processes, or interfere with the systems that deliver essential services. Controllers may be intentionally exposed to allow operators to monitor equipment remotely. They can also be unintentionally accessible online because of configuration errors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, internet exposure is only part of the problem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CPSec Lab maintains a collection of PLCs that researchers reverse engineer to better understand their firmware, communication protocols, and security weaknesses. Their research has found that many controllers contain vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit once they gain access.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Not only can the attackers see the house they want to rob, but the doors are also left unlocked,\u0022 Zonouz said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, Zonouz and his collaborators presented \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dl.acm.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1145\/3658644.3690195\u0022\u003EPLCHound\u003C\/a\u003E at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS), introducing an automated system that identifies internet-connected PLCs hidden within massive internet-scale datasets collected by services such as Shodan and Censys. The work was led by Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003ERyan Pickren\u003C\/strong\u003E. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs \u003Cstrong\u003ERaheem Beyah\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFrank Li\u003C\/strong\u003E, and Research Scientist \u003Cstrong\u003EAnimesh Chhotaray\u003C\/strong\u003E are co-authors of the study.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather than relying on traditional scanning techniques, PLCHound identifies subtle network signatures that reveal industrial devices that prior methods often missed. Using the system, the researchers conducted one of the largest studies of publicly reachable PLCs from major manufacturers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir findings showed that previous estimates undercounted the number of internet-accessible industrial controllers by as much as 37 times. Even more concerning, nearly 96% of the identified devices exposed protocols linked to recently disclosed critical vulnerabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers did more than document the problem. After identifying exposed devices, the team launched a large-scale notification campaign, contacting more than 7,000 industrial operators to alert them that their systems appeared vulnerable. The effort enabled many organizations to investigate and address security issues before they could be exploited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe recent attacks on municipal water systems reinforce concerns researchers have raised for years: many critical infrastructure operators continue to rely on operational technology designed primarily for reliability and performance rather than for cybersecurity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImproving those defenses, Zonouz said, will require more than simply patching individual vulnerabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers cite the energy sector as a model. Compared with other critical infrastructure sectors, electric utilities generally operate under more mature cybersecurity requirements and undergo routine compliance audits, providing organizations with greater visibility into the devices connected to their networks and the risks they pose.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImplementing those improvements will not be easy. Many municipal water utilities operate with limited budgets and aging infrastructure, leaving little funding available for cybersecurity investments. As attacks on critical infrastructure become more frequent, the researchers argue that gaining visibility into operational technology assets and strengthening oversight are essential first steps to protect the systems communities rely on every day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CPSec Lab is a collaborative laboratory within the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E as well as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERecent cyberattacks on municipal water systems across the United States have renewed concerns about the cybersecurity of the operational technology that supports critical infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor researchers in Georgia Tech\u0027s Cyber-Physical Security (CPSec) Lab, however, the vulnerabilities behind many of these incidents are far from new.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Recent cyberattacks on municipal water systems across the United States have renewed concerns about the cybersecurity of the operational technology that supports critical infrastructure. "}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-08-06 16:59:42","changed_gmt":"2026-08-11 16:28:52","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673306":{"id":"673306","type":"image","title":"Saman Zonouz is a Georgia Tech associate professor and lead researcher for the DerGuard project. ","body":null,"created":"1709660104","gmt_created":"2024-03-05 17:35:04","changed":"1709660054","gmt_changed":"2024-03-05 17:34:14","alt":"Saman Zonouz is a Georgia Tech associate professor and lead researcher for the DerGuard project. ","file":{"fid":"256679","name":"Saman-Zonouz.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/03\/05\/Saman-Zonouz.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/03\/05\/Saman-Zonouz.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":56998,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/03\/05\/Saman-Zonouz.jpg?itok=qOSZDIrt"}}},"media_ids":["673306"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II at the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jpopham3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689472":{"#nid":"689472","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space\u0022\u003EFrontiers in Science\u003C\/a\u003E conference. Held on April 2, the full-day event focused on space research guiding discovery and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs during previous editions, this year\u2019s conference featured more than two dozen scientists, engineers, policy experts, and thought leaders from Georgia Tech and beyond, illustrating how collaboration across fields \u2013 from science and engineering to public policy and international affairs \u2013 helps to advance strategic research priorities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cFrontiers is about discovery and connections across disciplines and generations,\u201d says\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lozier.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. \u201cThis edition provided an inspiring glimpse into the future of space exploration and the many ways Georgia Tech is contributing to research and missions seeking answers to what lies beyond our planet.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommitment to Space\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESpace research is a key institutional priority at Georgia Tech, which is home to numerous academic and research programs in planetary sciences, robotics, mission design, space policy, and other areas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe recently established\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI) serves as the central hub connecting the broad range of space-related research across campus. Led by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2885\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who also serves as principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, SRI has expanded support for space research and commercialization through initiatives such as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/26\/new-space-startups-take-georgia-tech\u0022\u003ECreationsVC Space Fellows Program\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/12\/10\/georgia-techs-space-research-institute-announces-inaugural-seed-grant-awardees\u0022\u003ECenters, Programs, and Initiatives seed grant program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESRI\u2019s efforts are in line with Georgia Tech\u2019s long-standing contribution to space exploration. Hundreds of Yellow Jacket alumni work in the space sector, including several graduates who are playing key roles in the Artemis program. To date, more than a dozen Georgia Tech alumni have traveled to space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExploring the Final Frontier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference featured a series of panels and discussions led by faculty and researchers from the Colleges of Sciences and Engineering as well as the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESessions explored how researchers are studying the processes and conditions that support planetary habitability, seeking to answer one of humanity\u2019s greatest questions: Does life exist beyond Earth? Speakers also examined how analog fieldwork in Earth\u2019s extreme environments can inform space exploration, and how space research, in turn, can deepen our understanding of our own world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAdditional conversations centered on building better space missions through improved understanding of team and individual resilience, data collection, navigation, and the development of advanced technologies like the robots developed through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/good-dog-lassie-spirit-learns-walk-moon\u0022\u003ENASA LASSIE Project\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFrontiers also highlighted Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment to preparing the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and leaders. Student training and engagement were recurring themes throughout the day, with speakers emphasizing opportunities for student-led and student-run missions and research. A panel of Georgia Tech alumni shared their own STEM career journeys, challenging the idea of \u201cone right path\u201d to success \u2014 and acknowledging the resources and opportunities available at the Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA highlight of the conference was a fireside chat with Atlanta-native, retired U.S. Army Colonel and NASA Astronaut\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/kimbrough-rs.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ER. Shane Kimbrough\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. Operations Research 1998). Kimbrough, who spent a total of 388 days in space and performed nine spacewalks across three missions, reflected on his career and the evolution of spaceflight. He emphasized the expanding role of public-private and international partnerships in advancing ambitious goals, such as creating a permanent human outpost on the Moon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolicy and Public\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference also explored how policy influences space discovery and innovation, with discussions touching on such issues as space security, access, governance, sustainability \u2014\u0026nbsp;and the influence of technology and science fiction on public perception and policy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPanelists described current policy frameworks governing outer space as struggling to keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies and expanding activities. According to these experts, increasing tensions among commercial, research, and recreational uses of space call for greater coordination among private and government entities to balance competing priorities while maximizing opportunities for innovation and exploration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe conference was punctuated by a networking lunch connecting attendees with Atlanta\u2019s public astronomy community \u2013 including partners at several universities and the Georgia Tech Astronomy Club, which set up telescopes for attendees to safely observe the sun. Later that evening, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astronomy.gatech.edu\/Observatory.php\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Observatory\u003C\/a\u003E hosted its Public Night, welcoming the broader Atlanta community to campus for telescope views of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and other celestial bodies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe Observatory Night was a fitting conclusion to a full day focused on Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment and contributions to inspiring future generations of space explorers through research, education, and outreach.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EExperience the Frontiers conference in pictures on the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/gtsciences\/albums\/72177720332868366\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECollege of Sciences\u2019 Flickr account\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOne day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u0026nbsp;Frontiers in Science conference.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"One day after the historic Artemis II launch, the College of Sciences welcomed more than 150 researchers, students, and community members to its signature\u00a0Frontiers in Science conference."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-04-06 14:05:00","changed_gmt":"2026-08-07 18:24:55","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679862":{"id":"679862","type":"image","title":" Retired NASA astronaut R. Shane Kimbrough (M.S. Operations Research 1998) reflects on his career and the evolution of spaceflight.","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"R. Shane Kimbrough speaks in front of room of people during a fireside chat","file":{"fid":"264072","name":"55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2611719,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185614870_ef06b5fa33_o.jpg?itok=9k4zXi2s"}},"679861":{"id":"679861","type":"image","title":"Joyce Shi Sim, assistant professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Joyce Shi Sim holds a microphone and laser pointer while presenting to room of people","file":{"fid":"264071","name":"55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1858656,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185376153_8350a8e96f_o.jpg?itok=QKyejMSW"}},"679863":{"id":"679863","type":"image","title":"Professor James Wray, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences","body":null,"created":"1775485879","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:31:19","changed":"1775485923","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:32:03","alt":"Professor James Wray holds microphone and points to powerpoint slide during his presentation","file":{"fid":"264073","name":"55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2636888,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55184328417_3a02de62dc_o.jpg?itok=saXBEEUR"}},"679860":{"id":"679860","type":"image","title":" [From left] Professor Glenn Lightsey, Professor Thom Orlando, Moderator Naia Butler-Craig  (M.S. AE 2023, Ph.D. AE 2026), Associate Professor Brian Gunter, and Research Engineer I Ava Thrasher ","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Group photo of five people, including Georgia Tech faculty","file":{"fid":"264070","name":"55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6182876,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55184003111_c862d712f2_o.jpg?itok=dcGAnsv4"}},"679858":{"id":"679858","type":"image","title":" The Georgia Tech Astronomy Club set up telescopes for attendees to safely observe the sun.","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Three people stand outdoors with one person looking at the sun through a telescope","file":{"fid":"264068","name":"55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2674661,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185476429_49ab238e05_o.jpg?itok=cCQeyNP0"}},"679859":{"id":"679859","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Observatory\u2019s April 2, 2026 Public Night","body":null,"created":"1775484488","gmt_created":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","changed":"1775484488","gmt_changed":"2026-04-06 14:08:08","alt":"Adults and children observing the night sky through a computer that is connected to a telescope","file":{"fid":"264069","name":"55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4887238,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/06\/55185567256_ba1be5a592_o.jpg?itok=NaAICFg3"}}},"media_ids":["679862","679861","679863","679860","679858","679859"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/frontiers-space","title":"2026 Frontiers in Science: Advancing Space Exploration - Program"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/38-billion-year-old-titanium-clue-sheds-new-light-moons-early-chemistry","title":"3.8\u2011Billion\u2011Year\u2011Old Titanium Clue Sheds New Light on the Moon\u2019s Early Chemistry"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-pioneers-first-space-sustainability-course-us","title":"Georgia Tech Pioneers First Space Sustainability Course in the U.S."},{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/welcome-future-artemis-ii-set-launch-moon","title":"\u2018Welcome to the Future!\u2019 Artemis II Set for Launch to the Moon"},{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/26\/new-space-startups-take-georgia-tech","title":"New Space Startups Take Off at Georgia Tech"},{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/12\/10\/georgia-techs-space-research-institute-announces-inaugural-seed-grant-awardees","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Institute Announces Inaugural Seed Grant Awardees"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"172511","name":"Frontiers Conference"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194975","name":"go-space"},{"id":"188853","name":"go-seiinthenews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691494":{"#nid":"691494","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Where Breakthrough Meets Business: Georgia Tech Grad Makes Impact Through Research, Entrepreneurship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and as a former trainee in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E (IBB), it\u2019s no surprise that Georgia Tech alumnus and serial entrepreneur Chris Lee loves numbers. One in four. Eighty percent. Five times.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut for him, these numbers are more than just data \u2014 they\u2019re people. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31300334\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOne in four\u003C\/a\u003E adults have sleep apnea. Up to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31300334\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eeighty percent\u003C\/a\u003E go undiagnosed. And those who are untreated are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2542952\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Efive times\u003C\/a\u003E more likely to die of heart disease. Lee\u2019s latest company, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.huxleymed.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHuxley Medical\u003C\/a\u003E, aims to change those numbers with one simple patch.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen you look at sleep apnea, it\u0027s probably the highest diagnostic opportunity there is in healthcare that can lead to the most impactful outcome in terms of reducing heart disease,\u201d Lee said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company\u2019s point-of-care device, called SANSA, measures nine physiological channels, enabling it to help doctors diagnose sleep apnea and related cardiovascular disease simultaneously. The device can be shipped directly to the patient\u2019s home, adheres to the chest like a Band-aid, and uploads data to a cloud-based system automatically.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re able to detect diseases faster in a very consumer-friendly manner,\u201d Lee said. \u201cMore or less, you just wear it and you\u2019re done.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESANSA has already been tested by more than 30,000 patients, with plans to expand exponentially by the end of the year. For Lee, that growing number is the most important of all.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI can\u2019t think of a higher calling than coming up with innovations that can improve the health or extend the life of people around the world,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u0027s why it\u0027s important to understand how to bring what you\u0027re working on in the lab to the masses because, at least for me personally, there\u0027s no higher calling in life than to be able to do that.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ETurning Ideas into Innovation\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaking his research to market was always the goal for Lee, and something he learned how to do through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/tiger\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETI:GER program\u003C\/a\u003E during his time at Georgia Tech. TI:GER, which stands for Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results, is housed in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E. It connects Ph.D. students from the colleges of Engineering, Computing, and Sciences with MBA students to form teams that turn entrepreneurial ideas into technological innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELee, who joined the program in 2010 while still a trainee in IBB, was drawn to TI:GER because of the safe space it provided to develop his skills.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI would say TI:GER was a big part of why I chose this career path. I really enjoyed research, but the aspect I always liked was the potential for translation of that research,\u201d Lee said. \u201cTI:GER gives you direct insight, resources, mentorship, and a network to be able to do that.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe network that Lee developed through the program has been a constant throughout his career. After earning his Ph.D., he joined his program mentor, Kurt Jacobus, working at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/enovis.com\/medshape\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMedshape\u003C\/a\u003E, a startup that Jacobus founded. After that company was acquired, the two co-founded another medtech business together, Vertera, which was also later \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.globusmedical.com\/healthcare-professionals\/advanced-materials-science\/cohere\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eacquired\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, Jacobus sits on the board of Huxley Medical, and the connections don\u2019t stop there. The company\u2019s two co-founders \u2014 Brett Klosterhoff, Chief Business Officer; and Brennan Torstrick, Chief Scientific Officer \u2014 are also alumni of the TI:GER program and worked as trainees at IBB. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think it\u0027s the network that\u0027s probably the most surprising,\u201d Lee said. \u201cSomeone that I met at TI:GER when I completed that program 16 years ago, he\u0027s still someone that I work with on a regular basis and he\u0027s still an advisor as we continue to scale our businesses together. I would say that is probably the most valuable thing for me about the program.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the business-minded researcher, all the data, numbers, and statistics boil down to the human connection. More important than technology and innovation are the problems that they solve for patients, and Lee encourages young researchers to meet those problems with creativity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u0027s never one set path to figuring out how to translate research or starting a business or making an impact toward healthcare,\u201d he said. \u201cBut Georgia Tech can give you the tools that you can use to build your own path.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Chris Lee, numbers are more than just data \u2014 they\u2019re people. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31300334\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOne in four\u003C\/a\u003E adults have sleep apnea. Up to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/31300334\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eeighty percent\u003C\/a\u003E go undiagnosed. And those who are untreated are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC2542952\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Efive times\u003C\/a\u003E more likely to die of heart disease. Lee\u2019s latest company, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.huxleymed.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHuxley Medical\u003C\/a\u003E, aims to change those numbers with one simple patch.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Alumnus and serial entrepreneur Chris Lee is using research from his latest company, Huxley Medical, to improve the diagnosis of sleep apnea and related cardiovascular disease with a simple wearable device."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-08-05 19:08:38","changed_gmt":"2026-08-06 17:15:14","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680798":{"id":"680798","type":"image","title":"_0000_SANSA-2111.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left, Brett Klosterhoff (cofounder and chief business officer), Brennan Torstrick (cofounder and chief scientific officer), and Chris Lee (cofounder and CEO) of Huxley Medical. All three men are graduates of Georgia Tech and worked as trainees in the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785956927","gmt_created":"2026-08-05 19:08:47","changed":"1785956927","gmt_changed":"2026-08-05 19:08:47","alt":"Three men who co-founded and lead Huxley Medical stand together on the field of a baseball stadium, smiling at the camera. They are wearing SANSA-branded hats, with a large video board behind them displaying the SANSA logo and the stadium seating in the background.","file":{"fid":"265118","name":"_0000_SANSA-2111.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/05\/_0000_SANSA-2111.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/05\/_0000_SANSA-2111.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":179568,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/05\/_0000_SANSA-2111.jpg?itok=AybbTMkD"}}},"media_ids":["680798"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691214":{"#nid":"691214","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Rapid Testing Offers Path to More Sustainable Material Choices","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E-Written by Seungho Lee\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecycled materials promise a cleaner future, but recycled content alone does not necessarily make a product sustainable. At Georgia Tech\u2019s Daedalus Lab, assistant professor, National Science Foundation CAREER Award recipient, and Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Faculty Fellow Christos Athanasiou and postdoctoral researcher Danqi Sun are working to provide greater certainty to designers and engineers by rethinking how materials are tested for their fracture characteristics. Their article in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.aeh0456\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScience Advances\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E details a new testing protocol that reduces cost, increases speed, and simulates real-world conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaterials shape nearly every part of modern life, from packaging and consumer products to bridges and medical devices. Choosing the right material involves balancing durability, cost, manufacturability, and environmental impact. Yet those decisions are not always guided by a clear understanding of how materials age and fail under real-world conditions, especially for recycled materials like plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne way that materials frequently fail is by cracking. A small crack can begin almost invisibly. Over time, it can spread from regular wear and tear and exposure to common environmental factors like moisture, temperature fluctuations, or even dirt. Eventually, the crack expands, and the part fails. Engineers have studied fracture for more than a century, but connecting the science of cracking to practical decisions about sustainability remains a major challenge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe characteristics of recycled plastics often vary from those of the same material in unrecycled, or virgin, form. Products made from recycled plastics may be sold with sustainability claims under the assumption that they will perform as if they were made with virgin material. However, premature failure requiring repair or replacement can quickly change the sustainability equation as well as the acceptance of recycled materials by manufacturers and consumers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeyond Conventional Fracture Testing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaterials rarely fail due to a single factor. They may be exposed to several factors simultaneously, such as mechanical loading, chemical environments, temperature changes, moisture, and time. Traditional fracture protocols test one specimen at a time under carefully controlled laboratory conditions, which bear little resemblance to the real world. To move beyond this limitation, Sun developed an in-situ, high-throughput platform capable of studying how materials degrade and fail under more realistic conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe platform changes conventional fracture testing in three important ways. First, it can test multiple specimens simultaneously rather than one at a time. By monitoring samples in parallel, testing time can be reduced by more than 60%. Second, it allows materials to be tested in realistic environments. In this study, researchers examined virgin and recycled plastics in alkaline environments that resemble conditions encountered in applications like landfill liner membranes and geotextiles. Third, the platform incorporates an imaging technique known as photoelasticity, which reveals the formation of stress fields that form around the origin of a newly developing crack. This allows researchers to see cracks develop earlier than before, giving them a clearer picture of the forces that drive crack growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers have made the technology available for licensing through Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Technology Licensing. \u201cOur goal was to make fracture testing not only faster but also more informative,\u201d Sun said. \u201cBy combining high-throughput testing, realistic environments, and full-field stress imaging, we can better understand how materials fail under conditions closer to real-world applications.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn Honest View of Sustainability\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecycled plastics are often viewed as a greener choice. But according to the study, it\u2019s not always so straightforward. If a recycled product fails prematurely and needs to be replaced frequently, its environmental and economic costs can increase despite its recycled content. As Athanasiou puts it, \u201cFailing materials don\u2019t just break products. They can break sustainability promises.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, comparing virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with recycled PET (rPET) in applications such as landfill geotextiles, the researchers discovered that rPET showed lower resistance to environmental stressors, particularly in alkaline conditions over a pH of 9. In this application, specifying rPET over virgin PET would likely eliminate all of the presumed economic and environmental advantages of using a recycled material.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRecycling is essential, but recycled content alone does not tell the full story. If a material fails too soon, the environmental benefits can disappear,\u201d Athanasiou said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Cracks to Circularity\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the researchers, the significance of the work extends beyond recycled plastics. The broader goal is to provide a fast, affordable, and realistic platform for evaluating the sustainability of any material choice. Because current testing protocols are costly, not widely available, and limited in the information they yield, engineers, manufacturers, and policymakers often have little choice but to continue to specify non-recycled materials because they will perform as expected. Having cheap and accurate data on recycled materials will help to accelerate their adoption because matching the engineering properties of recycled materials to their most appropriate applications will become more obvious.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers also hope to expand the platform to simulate even more complex environments and apply it to a wider range of materials. Because the system generates large amounts of detailed data, it may enable opportunities to use computational modeling or artificial intelligence to digitally simulate mechanical testing, driving down costs and expanding availability even more.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe larger vision is a future in which sustainability is judged not by labels or assumptions, but by evidence for how a material performs, how long it lasts, how it fails, and what it costs society and the environment over its full lifetime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlease visit the Daedalus Lab YouTube channel to see an explainer video about this new testing protocol: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zmRhiRIiAkQ\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/youtube.com\/watch?v=zmRhiRIiAkQ\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the paper here: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.aeh0456\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.aeh0456\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis research was supported by the National Science Foundation CAREER Award No. 2338508.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EChoosing the right materials for manufacturing products involves balancing durability, cost, manufacturability, and environmental impact. Yet those decisions are not always guided by a clear understanding of how materials age and fail under real-world conditions, especially for recycled materials like plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"At Georgia Tech\u2019s Daedalus Lab, Christos Athanasiou and postdoctoral researcher Danqi Sun are working to provide greater certainty to designers and engineers by rethinking how materials are tested for their fracture characteristics. "}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-07-22 20:31:53","changed_gmt":"2026-08-05 18:02:44","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680664":{"id":"680664","type":"image","title":"Athanasiou_rPET_Fracture_Testing_Screencap.jpg","body":null,"created":"1784836559","gmt_created":"2026-07-23 19:55:59","changed":"1784836559","gmt_changed":"2026-07-23 19:55:59","alt":"Side-by-side scientific visualization comparing in-situ photoelasticity and modeled stress field evolution during fracture testing of a transparent material. The left panel shows a rectangular specimen with rainbow-colored stress patterns radiating from a crack tip near the center-right edge, while the right panel shows a corresponding color-coded stress map with blue, green, yellow, and red regions indicating increasing stress concentration around the crack tip. Labels at the top identify the two methods.","file":{"fid":"264955","name":"Athanasiou_rPET_Fracture_Testing_Screencap.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/23\/Athanasiou_rPET_Fracture_Testing_Screencap.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/23\/Athanasiou_rPET_Fracture_Testing_Screencap.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":75075,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/23\/Athanasiou_rPET_Fracture_Testing_Screencap.jpg?itok=35tzJwYR"}}},"media_ids":["680664"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"179356","name":"Industrial Design"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192170","name":"Christos Athanasiou"},{"id":"178818","name":"circular economy"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"194823","name":"plastic recycling"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communication Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690988":{"#nid":"690988","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How AI-Powered Flood Forecasts Could Transform Hurricane Resilience","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen most people think of hurricanes, they picture howling winds tearing off roofs and snapping trees. But for Ali Sarhadi, a Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Faculty Fellow, assistant professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sarhadi.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EClimate Risk and Extreme Dynamics Lab\u003C\/a\u003E, the real killer is often less visible. \u201cPeople think that hurricanes are about wind, but sometimes that\u2019s not the whole story,\u201d he said. \u201cThe majority of fatalities are coming from the water, not the wind.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESupported by two Sustainability Next Seed Grants, Sarhadi\u2019s work draws on climate science, fluid physics, engineering, and artificial intelligence. He\u2019s using AI-powered, physics-informed models to better anticipate water hazards that can cripple cities and power grids in both coastal and inland communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERethinking Hurricane Risk\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESarhadi focuses on compound flooding, the dangerous interaction between storm surge, torrential rainfall, and river flooding that increasingly defines hurricanes. He points to Hurricane Mitch, which hit Central America in 1998, as a stark example, noting that more than 12,000 people died, \u201call from freshwater flooding \u2014 none from wind,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis work has shown how climate change and sea-level rise are reshaping flood risk from storms like Hurricane Sandy, which devastated New York and New Jersey in October 2012. In the current climate, a Sandy-level natural disaster has a recurrence period of roughly once every 150 years. But that is changing fast. \u201cBecause of climate change and sea-level rise, by the middle of this century, the same level of flooding is likely to occur once every 60 years. By the end of the century, that goes up to once every 30 years,\u201d he says. \u201cHurricane Sandy caused about $70 billion in damage. Imagine experiencing that kind of destruction every 30 years.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 1970, Sarhadi notes, damage from tropical cyclones has increased by about 380% globally, a trend driven by the combined effect of stronger storms and more people and infrastructure being located in harm\u2019s way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhysics-Informed AI: Street-Level Flood Warnings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile storm forecasting has improved dramatically in recent decades, Sarhadi argues, \u201cWe\u2019re in good shape in terms of track forecasting, and we\u2019re getting better at rapid intensification forecasting. But what is missing is the hazard part, and specifically the water part. That\u2019s the number one killer.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis lab is developing AI models tightly coupled with physics-based simulations to forecast hurricane-induced flooding at unprecedented resolution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing Hurricane Sandy as a test case, his team showed that by integrating physics-based surge and rainfall models with generative AI, they could forecast building-level flood depths three to five days before landfall. \u201cWe could predict that a storm was surge-dominant and estimate how much flooding could happen at the level of each building with an accuracy beyond 90%,\u201d he says. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose extra days, and that level of granularity, could give emergency managers and local leaders the information they need to order earlier evacuations, pre-stage resources, and protect critical infrastructure. \u201cWe hope by combining AI and physics-based models we can come up with faster, more accurate modeling, first, to save lives, and then to minimize the economic damage,\u201d Sarhadi says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETargeting Georgia\u2019s Coastline\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough much of the public\u2019s attention focuses on the Gulf Coast and megacities on the Eastern Seaboard, Georgia\u2019s coastline is also highly vulnerable to surge and compound flooding. Sarhadi is collaborating with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sciences.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow\u003C\/a\u003E to model risk in places like Savannah and the surrounding coastal region. \u201cWe\u2019re working to come up with good long-term solutions for protecting coastal communities and infrastructure,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvents like Hurricane Helene in 2024, which triggered extended blackouts in Georgia and lethal flooding in western North Carolina, underscore how far inland these risks can reach. \u201cPeople think hurricanes are just a problem for coastal areas,\u201d Sarhadi says. \u201cBut even if you are far from a coastline, you can be at risk when saturated soils, torrential rain, and river flooding combine.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding Climate-Resilient Power Grids and Cities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESarhadi\u2019s work doesn\u2019t stop at forecasting. A central focus of his research is climate-resilient infrastructure, particularly the power grid. His team is exploring digital twin modeling \u2014 virtual replicas of energy and infrastructure systems. \u201cWhen you have a digital twin of your grid, you can run that hurricane through it and identify which substations or power lines are more vulnerable,\u201d he says, explaining that this knowledge could trigger utility crews to fix or reinforce power lines ahead of storms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking decades ahead, these tools could help utilities and planners prioritize where to upgrade aging infrastructure as hurricanes intensify and water levels rise. \u201cWe know hurricanes are getting more intense, and our infrastructure is aging,\u201d Sarhadi said. \u201cBy combining engineering, climate science, and AI, we\u2019re trying to design better adaptation plans so our communities and power systems are more resilient in the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy combining physics-based AI with climate and engineering insights, Ali Sarhadi is redefining how we predict compound flooding, safeguard power grids, and build hurricane-resilient infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Assistant Professor Ali Sarhadi is using AI and digital twins to predict how and where major storms will cause the most damage."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-06-30 19:48:34","changed_gmt":"2026-08-04 16:16:35","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680539":{"id":"680539","type":"image","title":"Ali Sarhadi Portrait","body":null,"created":"1782848936","gmt_created":"2026-06-30 19:48:56","changed":"1782849065","gmt_changed":"2026-06-30 19:51:05","alt":"Portrait of an individual standing on a paved campus walkway, wearing a light-colored button-down shirt. Trees, landscaped green spaces, and campus buildings appear in the softly blurred background, with daylight illuminating the outdoor scene. The image is framed from the waist up, with the individual centered in the foreground.","file":{"fid":"264813","name":"Ali_Sarhadi_portrait.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/30\/Ali_Sarhadi_portrait.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/30\/Ali_Sarhadi_portrait.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1150773,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/30\/Ali_Sarhadi_portrait.jpg?itok=InSZB5Ps"}}},"media_ids":["680539"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"195184","name":"Ali Sarhadi"},{"id":"179230","name":"digital twin"},{"id":"194819","name":"hurricane forecasting"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681677":{"#nid":"681677","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GTRI and SEI Announce Recipients of Phase Two Seed Funding From the Energy and National Security Initiative","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn July 2024, the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), in partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGTRI\u003C\/a\u003E), launched the Energy and National Security Initiative through a campuswide\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/georgia-tech-strategic-energy-institute_join-us-on-july-16th-for-the-energy-and-national-activity-7201262615388377088-fiDc?utm_source=social_share_send\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web\u0026amp;rcm=ACoAAD-PK50BuWdAR4FwJryxMAHBVta_rURyG5k\u0022\u003Eworkshop\u003C\/a\u003E. The event attracted over 100 participants from units across Georgia Tech and GTRI.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/john-tien\u0022\u003EJohn Tien\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI distinguished external fellow, professor of the practice, and former deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, along with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tom-fanning-06780a122\/\u0022\u003ETom Fanning\u003C\/a\u003E, former CEO at Southern Company, kicked off the workshop with a discussion on the role of energy in national security and the opportunities for Georgia Tech to align its research with this critical topic.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event concluded with the announcement of two rounds of seed funding, offering up to $500,000 annually for three years. The first round,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sei-and-gtri-announced-awardees-seed-funding-energy-and-national-security-workshop\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E in September 2024, provided planning grants to six teams to support their initiatives in the fall. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecipients of the second phase of seed funding have now been announced. This phase will provide research support in the spring, with an option for additional funding through the 2025-26 academic year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis seed funding initiative by SEI and GTRI is a significant step toward advancing national security through innovative energy solutions. We believe this support will empower the funded teams to explore critical intersections between energy infrastructure and security, fostering groundbreaking advancements for a safer energy future,\u201d said Christine Conwell, SEI\u2019s interim executive director.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeven interdisciplinary projects by team members from Georgia Tech and GTRI have been selected for the second phase, also known as Category B (Table 1).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe seed grant initiative is supporting energy and national security collaboration among researchers from multiple units across the Georgia Tech campus,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/people\/william-h-robinson\u0022\u003EWilliam H. Robinson\u003C\/a\u003E, interim chief technology officer and deputy director for Research in GTRI\u2019s Information and Cyber Sciences Directorate. \u201cWe are very pleased to see the teamwork of these faculty members as they address important issues facing our nation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA follow-up workshop will be held this summer to bring together the awardees of the seed grant program. Additionally, a lunch and learn seminar series is planned in the fall to showcase the research progress of the seed grant program. For updates, visit the Strategic Energy Institute\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\/events\u0022\u003Eevent webpage\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn July 2024, the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), in partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGTRI\u003C\/a\u003E), launched the Energy and National Security Initiative through a campuswide\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/posts\/georgia-tech-strategic-energy-institute_join-us-on-july-16th-for-the-energy-and-national-activity-7201262615388377088-fiDc?utm_source=social_share_send\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web\u0026amp;rcm=ACoAAD-PK50BuWdAR4FwJryxMAHBVta_rURyG5k\u0022\u003Eworkshop\u003C\/a\u003E. The event attracted over 100 participants from units across Georgia Tech and GTRI.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/john-tien\u0022\u003EJohn Tien\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI distinguished external fellow, professor of the practice, and former deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, along with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tom-fanning-06780a122\/\u0022\u003ETom Fanning\u003C\/a\u003E, former CEO at Southern Company, kicked off the workshop with a discussion on the role of energy in national security and the opportunities for Georgia Tech to align its research with this critical topic.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event concluded with the announcement of two rounds of seed funding, offering up to $500,000 annually for three years. The first round,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sei-and-gtri-announced-awardees-seed-funding-energy-and-national-security-workshop\u0022\u003Eannounced\u003C\/a\u003E in September 2024, provided planning grants to six teams to support their initiatives in the fall. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERecipients of the second phase of seed funding have now been announced. This phase will provide research support in the spring, with an option for additional funding through the 2025-26 academic year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Recipients of the second phase of seed funding from the Energy and National Security Initiative have now been announced."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-04-09 09:55:30","changed_gmt":"2026-07-28 20:44:33","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680707":{"id":"680707","type":"image","title":"IMG_4462-2_LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGary McMurray (GTRI), Rich Simmons (SEI), Christine Conwell (SEI), and John Tien (SEI)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785270866","gmt_created":"2026-07-28 20:34:26","changed":"1785270866","gmt_changed":"2026-07-28 20:34:26","alt":"Picture of Gary McMurray (GTRI), Rich Simmons (SEI), Christine Conwell (SEI) and John Tien (SEI)","file":{"fid":"265010","name":"IMG_4462-2_LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4462-2_LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4462-2_LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":596508,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4462-2_LR.jpeg?itok=AvpUAcXL"}},"680708":{"id":"680708","type":"image","title":"IMG_4366-3-copy-LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPhase 2 Cohort Summer 2025 Meeting Participants\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785270866","gmt_created":"2026-07-28 20:34:26","changed":"1785270866","gmt_changed":"2026-07-28 20:34:26","alt":"Phase 2 summer meeting participants","file":{"fid":"265011","name":"IMG_4366-3-copy-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4366-3-copy-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4366-3-copy-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":626694,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/28\/IMG_4366-3-copy-LR.jpeg?itok=xMXQI6RA"}},"676803":{"id":"676803","type":"image","title":"EnergyNationalSecurity_SeedFundingPhase2_Awardees.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETable 1: Energy and National Security Seed Funding Phase 2 Awardees with their Project Descriptions\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744241646","gmt_created":"2025-04-09 23:34:06","changed":"1744241646","gmt_changed":"2025-04-09 23:34:06","alt":"Energy and National Security Seed Funding Phase 2 Awardees and their Projects","file":{"fid":"260645","name":"EnergyNationalSecurity_SeedFundingPhase2_Awardees.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/09\/EnergyNationalSecurity_SeedFundingPhase2_Awardees.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/09\/EnergyNationalSecurity_SeedFundingPhase2_Awardees.png","mime":"image\/png","size":443531,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/09\/EnergyNationalSecurity_SeedFundingPhase2_Awardees.png?itok=SbQfSnnc"}}},"media_ids":["680707","680708","676803"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:John.Toon@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/a\u003E | GTRI Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691308":{"#nid":"691308","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andrew Lindsey Joins BBISS as Program Manager","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) is pleased to welcome Andrew Lindsey into the role of program manager. He will succeed Susan Ryan, who recently retired as senior program and operations manager.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELindsey will support BBISS\u2019s research, education, and partnership activities across Georgia Tech and beyond. Working closely with BBISS leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners, he will coordinate Institute programs, support leadership operations, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and help ensure smooth day-to-day operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndrew brings more than four years of experience in project management, operations, communications, compliance oversight, and organizational improvement in higher education and nonprofit settings. Most recently, he served as project intake and communications specialist at Kennesaw State University. Before that, Lindsey spent nearly four years with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, first as project coordinator and later as project manager.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELindsey\u2019s background also includes experience in higher education instruction and mentoring. As a teaching assistant with Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ft.e2ma.net%2Fclick%2Fm1825s%2Fyyyeqded%2Fa4ug97b\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cbrent.verrill%40research.gatech.edu%7C8e5b1e449e46406d62e408dee270ffeb%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639197172142695470%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=oofdOwX7ht4cfWelRuz460UZ9nCg55Uu2T%2BPrfsgQMY%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGrand Challenges program\u003C\/a\u003E, he worked directly with student teams tackling complex societal issues, providing guidance on research development, collaborative problem-solving, and project execution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe earned a B.A. in history, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2021, and completed a Master of Public Administration in 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAndrew\u2019s experience supporting complex projects, improving organizational processes, coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups, and commitment to mission-driven work make him a strong addition to the team,\u201d said BBISS Director of Business Administration Kristina Chatfield.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAndrew brings more than four years of experience in project management, operations, communications, compliance oversight, and organizational improvement in higher education and nonprofit settings.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Lindsey will support BBISS\u2019s research, education, and partnership activities across Georgia Tech and beyond."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-07-28 14:53:18","changed_gmt":"2026-07-28 14:57:27","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680695":{"id":"680695","type":"image","title":"Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","body":null,"created":"1785250422","gmt_created":"2026-07-28 14:53:42","changed":"1785250422","gmt_changed":"2026-07-28 14:53:42","alt":"Headshot portrait of an individual photographed from the chest up against a plain light gray background. The individual is wearing a light blue button\u2011down shirt and a dark patterned tie, facing the camera in a centered studio-style composition. The image is evenly lit with a neutral backdrop and no visible text or additional objects.","file":{"fid":"264997","name":"Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/28\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":439090,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/28\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg?itok=Iyie8dpC"}}},"media_ids":["680695"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680298":{"#nid":"680298","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Unearthing Climate Solutions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom new farming practices to paleontology, meet four Georgia Tech researchers who improve the climate and predict its future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/42455\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom new farming practices to paleontology, meet four Georgia Tech researchers who improve the climate and predict its future.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers explore how to improve the planet, one rock at a time."}],"uid":"36708","created_gmt":"2025-02-06 20:40:54","changed_gmt":"2026-07-27 17:05:10","author":"twilson338","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676233":{"id":"676233","type":"image","title":"0A6A6395.jpg","body":null,"created":"1738874566","gmt_created":"2025-02-06 20:42:46","changed":"1738874566","gmt_changed":"2025-02-06 20:42:46","alt":"Student in the lab working with a sample","file":{"fid":"259969","name":"0A6A6395.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/06\/0A6A6395.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/06\/0A6A6395.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":754158,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/06\/0A6A6395.jpg?itok=R8-VcJHc"}}},"media_ids":["676233"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680640":{"#nid":"680640","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Build Stable Solar Panel Without Silicon","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESolar power as an electricity source is growing in the United States, with 7% of Americans using it to run their homes. But scientists are still trying to make the solar panel production process more efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/node\/42579\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESolar power as an electricity source is growing in the United States, with 7% of Americans using it to run their homes. But scientists are still trying to make the solar panel production process more efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By adding titanium to perovskite crystals, researchers have made solar cells more durable."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-02-20 19:17:27","changed_gmt":"2026-07-27 17:03:03","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676353":{"id":"676353","type":"image","title":"PS Solar_013025-3.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFor years, Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena\u2019s research group has explored using perovskite crystals as an alternative to silicon. A promising and prevalent replacement, perovskite is made of iodine atoms, lead, and organic elements. It is also as efficient as silicon.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1740079072","gmt_created":"2025-02-20 19:17:52","changed":"1740079284","gmt_changed":"2025-02-20 19:21:24","alt":"male researcher wearing a black glove holds a solar cell prototype","file":{"fid":"260125","name":"PS Solar_013025-3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/20\/PS%20Solar_013025-3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/20\/PS%20Solar_013025-3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":10674598,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/20\/PS%20Solar_013025-3.jpg?itok=95fI8wFw"}}},"media_ids":["676353"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680763":{"#nid":"680763","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Startup Targets Building Energy Inefficiencies With AI and Drones","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELamarr.AI leverages AI and drones to autonomously diagnose building energy inefficiencies, reducing carbon emissions. The startup, a collaboration between Georgia Tech, MIT, and Syracuse University, raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding. Their technology provides detailed diagnostics of building exteriors, helping owners save on energy costs and improve indoor air quality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/42609\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Lamarr.AI raised $1.1 million to bring its innovative building diagnostics technology to market."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELamarr.AI leverages AI and drones to autonomously diagnose building energy inefficiencies, reducing carbon emissions. The startup, a collaboration between Georgia Tech, MIT, and Syracuse University, raised $1.1 million in pre-seed funding. Their technology provides detailed diagnostics of building exteriors, helping owners save on energy costs and improve indoor air quality.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Lamarr.AI uses drones, AI, and thermal imaging to identify energy inefficiencies in buildings, offering a faster, safer, and more accurate solution."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-02-26 19:40:33","changed_gmt":"2026-07-27 17:02:31","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676410":{"id":"676410","type":"image","title":"Tarek-Rakha-on-campus.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETarek Rakha on the Georgia Tech campus holding a drone in his arms.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1740598935","gmt_created":"2025-02-26 19:42:15","changed":"1740598935","gmt_changed":"2025-02-26 19:42:15","alt":"Tarek Rakha on the Georgia Tech campus holding a drone in his arms.","file":{"fid":"260194","name":"Tarek-Rakha-on-campus.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/Tarek-Rakha-on-campus.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/26\/Tarek-Rakha-on-campus.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2501738,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/26\/Tarek-Rakha-on-campus.jpeg?itok=1R3mtt_k"}}},"media_ids":["676410"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192255","name":"go-commercializationnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682913":{"#nid":"682913","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Slow and the Furious: The Researcher Driven to Curb Atlanta\u2019s Soul-Crushing Commute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith so many paths to research careers at Georgia Tech, finding the right one can be daunting. In an ongoing feature series, Unexpected Paths, we explore the journeys of 12 research faculty members from across the Institute and learn about their unique paths to research. In this feature, follow Angshuman Guin as he discusses his research into traffic patterns and how faculty serve as the connective tissue of the Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/43438\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn this feature, follow Angshuman Guin as he discusses his research into traffic patterns and how faculty serve as the connective tissue of the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"An engineer\u2019s unexpected path to Georgia Tech is paved with detours, data, and a dose of humor."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-06-26 21:32:21","changed_gmt":"2026-07-27 16:48:56","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677295":{"id":"677295","type":"image","title":"Unexpected-Paths_June-Issue_Angshuman-Guin-5.jpg","body":null,"created":"1750973577","gmt_created":"2025-06-26 21:32:57","changed":"1750973577","gmt_changed":"2025-06-26 21:32:57","alt":"Angshuman Guin (a male professor wearing a black suit) sits at a desk in front of two monitors displaying data","file":{"fid":"261179","name":"Unexpected-Paths_June-Issue_Angshuman-Guin-5.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/26\/Unexpected-Paths_June-Issue_Angshuman-Guin-5.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/26\/Unexpected-Paths_June-Issue_Angshuman-Guin-5.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1180614,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/26\/Unexpected-Paths_June-Issue_Angshuman-Guin-5.jpg?itok=yUPveq4Y"}}},"media_ids":["677295"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685671":{"#nid":"685671","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Fixing Flooding for the Southeast\u2019s Future","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFlooding can be an existential threat, affecting everything from infrastructure to health. Georgia Tech researchers are developing solutions to monitor and forecast flooding, as well as restore ecosystems to prevent future flooding. These efforts support communities\u2019 resilience in the face of climate change and keep the U.S. secure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/44095\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers use models to monitor flooding and improve the resilience of coastal cities."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFlooding can be an existential threat, affecting everything from infrastructure to health. Georgia Tech researchers are developing solutions to monitor and forecast flooding, as well as restore ecosystems to prevent future flooding. These efforts support communities\u2019 resilience in the face of climate change and keep the U.S. secure.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Coastal communities throughout the Southeast are now facing constant challenges from flooding and sea level rise and they are looking to nature-based solutions to prevent flooding and erosion related to storms."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-10-10 19:34:37","changed_gmt":"2026-07-27 13:18:26","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678333":{"id":"678333","type":"image","title":"kostka.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJoel Kostka and Michael Hodges, a\u0026nbsp;shellfish biologist in the South Carolina Department of Resources,\u0026nbsp;determining the elevation of degraded marsh habitat. [Photo courtesy of Joel Kostka]\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1760124907","gmt_created":"2025-10-10 19:35:07","changed":"1760124907","gmt_changed":"2025-10-10 19:35:07","alt":"two people walking in flood water","file":{"fid":"262349","name":"kostka.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/kostka.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/kostka.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3796327,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/10\/kostka.jpg?itok=E0sW1Z8-"}}},"media_ids":["678333"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690909":{"#nid":"690909","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How Agentic AI is Rethinking the Origins of Life on Earth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs strange as it sounds, the key to understanding life\u2019s origins might lie in artificial intelligence. At least, according to a new approached being pursued by researchers at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (ECE) Assistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/amirali-aghazadeh-mohandesi\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAmirali Aghazadeh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and Ph.D. student Daniel Saeedi have developed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astroagents.github.io\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAstroAgents\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an AI system that analyzes mass spectrometry data \u2014 detailed chemical compositions from meteorites and Earth soil samples \u2014 to generate novel hypotheses about the origins of life on the planet.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat sets AstroAgents apart is its use of agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI systems that perform fixed tasks, this agentic system is designed to pursue a scientific goal. It draws from astrobiology literature, interprets complex data, and proposes original ideas that researchers can investigate further.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2503.23170\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epaper\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, recently featured in the journal \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-01364-w#:~:text=AstroAgents%20comprises%20eight%20\u0026amp;apos;AI%20agents,\u0026amp;apos;%20%E2%80%94%20what%20can%20it%20do%3F\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENature,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is opening new possibilities for how scientists explore questions that have remained unanswered for decades.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a special Q\u0026amp;A, Aghazadeh and Saeedi explain how AstroAgents analyzes space chemistry, what it\u2019s revealing about the possible origins of life on Earth, and what they hope to explore next.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/06\/how-agentic-ai-rethinking-origins-life-earth\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EREAD THE Q\u0026amp;A\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers Amirali Aghazadeh and Daniel Saeedi discuss AstroAgents, an agentic AI system that analyzes space chemistry to generate new ideas for life\u2019s beginnings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers Amirali Aghazadeh and Daniel Saeedi discuss AstroAgents, an agentic AI system that analyzes space chemistry to generate new ideas for life\u2019s beginnings. "}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 20:18:05","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 20:21:39","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680511":{"id":"680511","type":"image","title":"agentic-ai.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1782332295","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 20:18:15","changed":"1782332553","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 20:22:33","alt":"Person working on a laptop with a digital visualization of an AI system, code, and automated workflows.","file":{"fid":"264784","name":"agentic-ai.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/agentic-ai.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/agentic-ai.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5343243,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/agentic-ai.jpeg?itok=gEreWYzD"}}},"media_ids":["680511"],"groups":[{"id":"545781","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDan Watson\u003Cbr\u003Edwatson@ece.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685723":{"#nid":"685723","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Head to Toe: Georgia Tech Researchers Treat the Entire Human Body Through Neuroscience Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENeuroscience experts from across Georgia Tech will soon come together for a new interdisciplinary research institute, the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS), launched in July. Faculty in INNS are helping to solve some of neuroscience\u2019s most pressing problems, and many have promising medical applications. One important aspect of studying the brain is understanding how the brain and the body work together. Meet the researchers who study brain-body interactions, from monitoring the neuron degradation that causes Alzheimer\u2019s to enhancing mobility for stroke survivors, in an effort to improve the health and quality of life for millions of Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/44169\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"From treatment-resistant depression to Parkinson\u0027s, Georgia Tech neuroscience researchers are tackling lifelong health problems."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENeuroscience experts from across Georgia Tech will soon come together for a new interdisciplinary research institute, the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS), launched in July. Faculty in INNS are helping to solve some of neuroscience\u2019s most pressing problems, and many have promising medical applications. One important aspect of studying the brain is understanding how the brain and the body work together. Meet the researchers who study brain-body interactions, from monitoring the neuron degradation that causes Alzheimer\u2019s to enhancing mobility for stroke survivors, in an effort to improve the health and quality of life for millions of Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Meet Georgia Tech\u2019s neurology experts exploring the brain\u2019s impact on the entire body."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-10-15 19:06:15","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 19:35:33","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678358":{"id":"678358","type":"image","title":"Wheaton.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELewis Wheaton (back) directs Georgia Tech\u2019s Cognitive Motor Control Lab.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1760555215","gmt_created":"2025-10-15 19:06:55","changed":"1760555363","gmt_changed":"2025-10-15 19:09:23","alt":"A person seated in a beige chair using a computer setup with multiple cables and devices, facing a large monitor in a testing or research room, with another individual visible through a window in an adjacent control room.","file":{"fid":"262376","name":"Wheaton.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/15\/Wheaton.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/15\/Wheaton.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":301329,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/15\/Wheaton.jpg?itok=8frNLUem"}}},"media_ids":["678358"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686991":{"#nid":"686991","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nuclear Waste: What It Is \u2014 and What It Isn\u2019t","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen people hear \u201cnuclear waste,\u201d they often imagine glowing green sludge leaking into the ground \u2014 a scene straight out of science fiction. The truth is far less dramatic and far more manageable. In fact, all the civilian nuclear waste produced by U.S. power plants so far could fit on a single football field stacked just 10 yards high. Managed under strict safety protocols, this byproduct of nuclear energy poses manageable risk compared to the billions of tons of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Today, researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 from clean energy to ultra-long-lasting batteries and even power for space missions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/44646\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen people hear \u201cnuclear waste,\u201d they often imagine glowing green sludge leaking into the ground \u2014 a scene straight out of science fiction. The truth is far less dramatic and far more manageable. In fact, all the civilian nuclear waste produced by U.S. power plants so far could fit on a single football field stacked just 10 yards high. Managed under strict safety protocols, this byproduct of nuclear energy poses manageable risk compared to the billions of tons of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels. Today, researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 from clean energy to ultra-long-lasting batteries and even power for space missions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Nuclear waste can be managed safely with proper safety protocols. Researchers at Georgia Tech and around the world are working on safer reactor designs, advanced monitoring, and innovative recycling methods to turn nuclear waste into new opportunities \u2014 f"}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 19:42:21","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 19:28:14","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678901":{"id":"678901","type":"image","title":"1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMartha Grover, professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with her research team. [Photo by Christopher McKenney]\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1767106727","gmt_created":"2025-12-30 14:58:47","changed":"1767106727","gmt_changed":"2025-12-30 14:58:47","alt":"Georgia Tech Professor Martha Grover with her research team","file":{"fid":"262994","name":"1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5334947,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/30\/1.-MarthaGroverTeam.jpg?itok=hG_9ee7m"}}},"media_ids":["678901"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689850":{"#nid":"689850","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Doing the Dirty Work of Sustainability ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s not glamorous. It\u2019s not trendy. In fact, it\u2019s downright grubby. But the work that a Georgia Tech researcher and his students are doing is improving campus sustainability, one pound of food waste at a time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2820\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Hu\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, gave his senior-level biology class this semester a unique assignment: Feed food waste to black soldier fly larvae, collect the organic byproduct (called \u201cfrass\u201d), and analyze the results. What they\u2019ve found so far is a composting method with the potential to dramatically reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions while producing a nutrient-dense fertilizer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s something special about these grubs,\u201d said Hu, who is also a faculty member within the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThey smell, and they\u2019re kind of ugly, but they process food extremely efficiently. When we feed them, they eat twice their body weight, finish that in five hours, and you can do it again the next day. Traditional composting could never be that fast.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing a unique closed-loop system pioneered by private-industry partner and early-stage startup \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biotechnicausa.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBiotechnica\u003C\/a\u003E, the larvae eat their way through more than 300 pounds of food in one semester, creating valuable frass that students harvest. When the larvae mature into adults, they fly into a shared chamber to reproduce, make more grubs, and start the process over again.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou can get a turnaround from food waste to frass in a day or two, and then from the raw frass to our ground-up frass that we use for our plants,\u201d said Mikkelle Peters, a fourth-year biology major in Hu\u2019s class. \u201cIt\u2019s just a much quicker process to get rid of the food waste.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFeeding and studying an army of larvae that can eat more than 10 gallons of food a day keeps Hu\u2019s students busy. The solution? Divide and conquer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe first group in the process gathers and grinds food scraps to feed the grubs, then collects the frass they produce. The next group mixes the frass with soil and analyzes its chemical makeup, comparing its nutrient density to commercial fertilizers. A third group uses the fertilized soil to grow vegetables like arugula and radishes that are measured against plants grown using synthetic fertilizer. The final two groups observe the environmental conditions that affect productivity and analyze the grubs\u2019 digestion to uncover the secrets to their success.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore testing will need to be done on outdoor farms to provide rigorous results. Data over the past few semesters were, at times, inconsistent. But the students\u2019 projects reveal a lot of promise for future experiments. Despite limitations to the study, including a small sample size and minor instrument malfunction, the students have been able to find helpful nutrients in their product and grow certain crops more successfully with frass than with commercial fertilizer. Unlike chemically based products or some traditional composts that need to be specially treated, black soldier fly frass is organic and easily processed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA lot of fertilizers can cause harmful runoff, and they can change soil balances over time,\u201d Peters said. \u201cFrass is a natural product, has more fibrous material, and has a lot more organic compounds.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the science that the students are exposed to, Hu said it is also eye-opening for them to see the work of sustainability. The project is an excellent case study for how a small group can make a big impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe students have learned a lot,\u201d Hu said. \u201cFor one of the activities, we had them bring in their own food waste from home to feed the composter. They realized that a person makes pounds of waste per day.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOffice of Sustainability\u003C\/a\u003E, the campus produces about 400 tons of food waste per year. Although Georgia Tech boasts \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/07\/new-composter-enhance-campus-waste-reduction\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eone of the largest commercial composters\u003C\/a\u003E on an urban campus in the Southeast, the machine can only process 175 tons per year. That leaves a gap that Hu said his research might one day be able to fill.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRight now, it\u2019s working,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to expand and see if it can work some more. The big issue is visibility, getting people to know that what we\u2019re doing is good. Because in some ways, saving the planet takes energy.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the main energy sources for the experimental composter is something Hu hopes to reduce: manpower. With a campus the size of Georgia Tech\u2019s, it\u2019s a very labor-intensive process for students to collect food waste from campus partners. Hu hopes that more community members will volunteer, not only to collect food, but also to improve the system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe need people power \u2014 people willing to volunteer to move, because right now, campus produces a lot of waste in different places,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd we also need biologists and engineers and computer scientists. We need people to make this system more well-engineered.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the current black soldier fly composter still has some flaws, Hu said his goal is to create an affordable, climate-friendly food waste recycling system that can scale up to support U.S. agriculture. By solving problems at the local level, his research is potentially removing economic and operational barriers to sustainability. But, according to Hu, the final step to long-term success is community involvement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn the end, we need people who care,\u201d Hu said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take that much effort to do a little bit, and a little bit can go a long way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech researcher and his students are using experimental composting to reduce campus food waste and support agriculture. Using a unique closed-loop system, black soldier fly larvae eat their way through more than 300 pounds of food in one semester, creating valuable frass that students harvest. What they\u2019ve found so far is a composting method with the potential to dramatically reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions while producing a nutrient-dense fertilizer. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech researcher and his students are using experimental composting to reduce campus food waste and support agriculture. "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-17 19:22:36","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 19:18:56","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679998":{"id":"679998","type":"image","title":"web_0000_BSF-Compost-Hu.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776688432","gmt_created":"2026-04-20 12:33:52","changed":"1776688432","gmt_changed":"2026-04-20 12:33:52","alt":"A male researcher opens the top of a blue barrel that is part of a composting system inside a greenhouse","file":{"fid":"264230","name":"web_0000_BSF-Compost-Hu.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/20\/web_0000_BSF-Compost-Hu.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/20\/web_0000_BSF-Compost-Hu.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":232961,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/20\/web_0000_BSF-Compost-Hu.jpg?itok=HEj6TZyg"}}},"media_ids":["679998"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"166882","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"14545","name":"George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"168693","name":"campus sustainability"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690440":{"#nid":"690440","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Scaling Innovation: Georgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium Builds for the Future ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMoving a new idea from a research lab to production remains one of industry\u2019s toughest challenges. But at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI), which leads the nation in translating research into technologies that shape the future of U.S. manufacturing, that gap is being closed by design. This effort was on full display during AMPF Week, a two-day celebration marking the official opening of the newly renovated Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/ampf-week\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E (AMPF).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/45675\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium is bridging the gap between research and real-world production by using AI, automation, and industry partnerships to accelerate advanced manufacturing. Showcased during AMPF Week, the newly upgraded facility highlights intelligent, connected systems and a \u201cself-driving\u201d lab that enables real-time testing, innovation, and workforce development.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium uses AI and industry partnerships to turn research into real-world manufacturing."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-05-22 13:37:39","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 19:17:46","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680332":{"id":"680332","type":"image","title":"ampf-week-thumb.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA student demonstrates human-robot interaction using virtual reality controls and collaborative robotics technology at the AMPF.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779457183","gmt_created":"2026-05-22 13:39:43","changed":"1779457183","gmt_changed":"2026-05-22 13:39:43","alt":"Person wearing a virtual reality headset controlling a humanoid robot equipped with tools in a laboratory setting.","file":{"fid":"264580","name":"ampf-week-thumb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/ampf-week-thumb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/ampf-week-thumb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":160283,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/22\/ampf-week-thumb.jpg?itok=aFnZ_JD1"}}},"media_ids":["680332"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690606":{"#nid":"690606","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Helping Patients See Again: How One Doctor Uses Georgia Tech Research to Treat Eye Disease With Precision","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Dr. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/garetina.com\/retina-specialist\/david-s-chin-yee-m-d\/\u0022\u003EDavid Chin Yee\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech microneedle is opening new possibilities for treating debilitating eye disease. Developed over two decades, it delivers medication precisely where it\u2019s needed, helping to preserve vision, ease pain, and prolong relief. For patients, that can mean fewer treatments \u2014 and more time for daily life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/real-life\/microneedle\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The tiniest breakthrough can make the biggest difference."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Dr. David Chin Yee, a Georgia Tech microneedle is opening new possibilities for treating debilitating eye disease. Developed over two decades, it delivers medication precisely where it\u2019s needed, helping to preserve vision, ease pain, and prolong relief. For patients, that can mean fewer treatments \u2014 and more time for daily life.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A doctor uses a tiny microneedle developed at Georgia Tech to preserve patients\u2019 vision, reduce their pain, and give them more time for daily life."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-06-02 17:56:24","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 19:16:58","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680406":{"id":"680406","type":"image","title":"Dr. David Chin Yee","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDr. David Chin Yee is an Atlanta-based retina specialist who collaborates with Georgia Tech researchers on advancing microneedle technology for targeted drug delivery in eye care.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1780423298","gmt_created":"2026-06-02 18:01:38","changed":"1780423602","gmt_changed":"2026-06-02 18:06:42","alt":"Person in blue medical scrubs demonstrates a small device to a seated patient in a clinical exam room with medical equipment visible in the background.","file":{"fid":"264662","name":"microneedle-thumb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/02\/microneedle-thumb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/02\/microneedle-thumb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":158236,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/02\/microneedle-thumb.jpg?itok=-Um6cUcC"}}},"media_ids":["680406"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690607":{"#nid":"690607","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Taking a Cue From Horror Movies: When Music Tells You What\u2019s Coming","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have developed Spherephones, a wearable system that uses spatialized music instead of alarms to help people anticipate movement around them \u2014 such as approaching robots \u2014 by conveying direction, distance, and timing through sound. Created in the Robotic Musicianship Lab, the technology aims to improve safety and awareness in human-robot environments while also showing promise for applications in virtual reality, gaming, and assistive navigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/spherephones\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are arranging music to help you see what\u2019s behind you."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have developed Spherephones, a wearable system that uses spatialized music instead of alarms to help people anticipate movement around them \u2014 such as approaching robots \u2014 by conveying direction, distance, and timing through sound. Created in the Robotic Musicianship Lab, the technology aims to improve safety and awareness in human-robot environments while also showing promise for applications in virtual reality, gaming, and assistive navigation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/spherephones\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers developed Spherephones, a wearable system that uses directional music to help people anticipate movement and improve safety and awareness."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-06-02 18:10:50","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 18:41:11","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680407":{"id":"680407","type":"image","title":"Spherephones headset with a robotic arm","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERobotic arm holds a prototype Spherephones headset, a Georgia Tech\u2013developed wearable that uses spatialized sound to help users anticipate movement around them.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1780423885","gmt_created":"2026-06-02 18:11:25","changed":"1780424174","gmt_changed":"2026-06-02 18:16:14","alt":"Robotic arm holding circular sensor devices with exposed wiring in a lab setting with a blurred brick wall background.","file":{"fid":"264663","name":"music-thumb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/02\/music-thumb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/02\/music-thumb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":114192,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/02\/music-thumb.jpg?itok=-SuGi3DO"}}},"media_ids":["680407"],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691207":{"#nid":"691207","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Neuro Revolution Is Dawning. Are We Ready?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs neuroscience and neurotechnology accelerate, possibilities once confined to science fiction are moving closer to reality. Georgia Tech researchers are examining what these advances mean for autonomy, privacy, ethics, health, creativity, and human flourishing in a neuro-connected future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/feature\/neuro-society\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"As neuroscience and neurotechnology accelerate, Georgia Tech researchers are grappling with how a neuro-connected future could reshape society \u2014 and humanity itself."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs neuroscience and neurotechnology accelerate, possibilities once confined to science fiction are moving closer to reality. Georgia Tech researchers are examining what these advances mean for autonomy, privacy, ethics, health, creativity, and human flourishing in a neuro-connected future.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"As neuroscience and neurotechnology accelerate, Georgia Tech researchers are examining what a neuro-connected future could mean for society and for humanity itself."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2026-07-22 13:24:09","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 18:23:13","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680643":{"id":"680643","type":"image","title":"AdobeStock_427642173.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs neuroscience and neurotechnology accelerate, Georgia Tech researchers are examining what a neuro-connected future could mean for society and for humanity itself.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784726698","gmt_created":"2026-07-22 13:24:58","changed":"1784726698","gmt_changed":"2026-07-22 13:24:58","alt":"Researcher fits and adjusts an EEG brain-monitoring cap with electrode leads on a seated participant in a neuroscience laboratory while holding a tablet.","file":{"fid":"264933","name":"AdobeStock_427642173.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/22\/AdobeStock_427642173.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/22\/AdobeStock_427642173.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3664833,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/22\/AdobeStock_427642173.jpeg?itok=liuinGwY"}}},"media_ids":["680643"],"groups":[{"id":"545781","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"},{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187023","name":"go-data"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683063":{"#nid":"683063","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Sparking New Ideas on How Wildfire Influences Climate","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWildfires have spread across the planet for millennia, but they are increasing as the climate warms. Decimated forests, depleted crops, and destroyed buildings are the hallmark of wildfire devastation. Another is the effect on air quality and even the entire climate system. Researchers at Georgia Tech offer solutions for not only surviving \u2014 but also benefiting from \u2014 fire.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/node\/43519\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers monitor wildfires and their impact on air quality and the climate system."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWildfires have spread across the planet for millennia, but they are increasing as the climate warms. Decimated forests, depleted crops, and destroyed buildings are the hallmark of wildfire devastation. Another is the effect on air quality and even the entire climate system. Researchers at Georgia Tech offer solutions for not only surviving \u2014 but also benefiting from \u2014 fire.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers monitor wildfires and their impact on air quality and the climate system."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-07-09 19:19:30","changed_gmt":"2026-07-24 17:47:07","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677377":{"id":"677377","type":"image","title":"climate-fire-thumb.jpg","body":null,"created":"1752088776","gmt_created":"2025-07-09 19:19:36","changed":"1752088776","gmt_changed":"2025-07-09 19:19:36","alt":"A male and female researcher working with a metal piece of equipment outdoors with trees and grass in the background","file":{"fid":"261271","name":"climate-fire-thumb.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/09\/climate-fire-thumb.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/09\/climate-fire-thumb.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":952080,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/09\/climate-fire-thumb.jpg?itok=pKFlhVQ6"}}},"media_ids":["677377"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"195203","name":"go-noshow"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676906":{"#nid":"676906","#data":{"type":"news","title":"SEI\/GTRI Announced Awardees for Category A Seed Funding From the National Security Workshop ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis Summer, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGTRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;jointly created the\u0026nbsp;Energy and National Security Initiative\u0026nbsp;through an inaugural workshop on July 16.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative included Phase 1 or Category A grants that allowed researchers up to $10,000 in seed funding to understand the viability of their research concepts. The multidisciplinary proposals that won the Category A grants include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003EEnergy Infrastructure Security and Risk Assessment Through Interactive Wargaming\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/dimitri-mavris\u0022\u003EDimitri Mavris\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Aerospace Engineering)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/scott-duncan\u0022\u003EScott Duncan\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Aerospace Engineering)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/michael-balchanos\u0022\u003EMichael Balchanos\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Aerospace Engineering)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Investigators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/adam-stulberg\u0022\u003EAdam Stulberg\u003C\/a\u003E (School of International Affairs)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/jenna-jordan\u0022\u003EJenna Jordan\u003C\/a\u003E (School of International Affairs)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/margaret-e-kosal\u0022\u003EMargaret Kosal\u003C\/a\u003E (School of International Affairs)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003EInternational Workshop on Nuclear Cybersecurity: Strengthening Global Leadership and Collaboration\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/fan-zhang\u0022\u003EFan Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E (Nuclear and Radiological Engineering)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/biegalski\u0022\u003ESteve Biegalski\u003C\/a\u003E (Nuclear and Radiological Engineering)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/valerie-thomas\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/alexander-w-miranda\u0022\u003EAlexander Miranda\u003C\/a\u003E (Electrial and Computer Engineering)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Investigators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/klesse.utsa.edu\/faculty\/profiles\/chen-qian.html\u0022\u003EGuenevere Chen\u003C\/a\u003E (Electrial and Computer Engineering) (University of Texas San Antonio)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003ERobust Energy Systems Planning by way of Novel Systems Engineering (RESPoNSE)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s): \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/comas-haynes\u0022\u003EComas Haynes\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Investigators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-mcdowell\u0022\u003EMatt McDowell\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Mechanical Engineering and School of Materials Science and Engineering)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003EShielding and Microreactor Arrangement Innovation (Sam\u03bcrai)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/john-brittingham-7810895\/\u0022\u003EJohn Brittingham\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/bojan-petrovic\u0022\u003EBojan Petrovic\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Mechanical Engineering)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Investigators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EHelen Works (GTRI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003EThe Strategic Mineral Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for Critical Resources\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/889222ee-d2fd-599b-9140-79d7dc30afeb\u0022\u003EBobby Harris\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Economics)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-swarts\u0022\u003EMatthew Swarts\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOther Investigators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/dylan-brewer\u0022\u003EDylan Brewer\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Economics)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/kevin-caravati\u0022\u003EKevin Caravati\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Economics)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/micah-ziegler\u0022\u003EMicah S. Ziegler\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Public Policy)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProject Title: \u003C\/strong\u003ETrustworthy AI for Critical Power Grid Infrastructure Resilience\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrimary Investigator(s):\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/glen-chou\u0022\u003EGlen Chou\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Cybersecurity and Privacy)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/yatis-k-dodia\u0022\u003EYatis Dodia\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/saman-zonouz\u0022\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhase 2 or Category B of the initiative includes up to $500,000 in seed funding to fund team research proposals, with funds likely to grow to $1.2 million in the coming years. Please note that teams must largely consist of those who participated in or expressed interest via the July workshop.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers and faculty are encouraged to submit the Notice of Intent for Phase 2 (Category B) submissions. While this is not a requirement of the proposal, it will provide the initiative with insights that will help with internal logistics. If you have any questions regarding the Category B Notice of Intent and the grant, please\u0026nbsp;contact the Strategic Energy Institute at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:connect@energy.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Econnect@energy.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESEI\/GTRI Announced Awardees for Category A Seed Funding From the National Security Workshop\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"SEI\/GTRI Announced Awardees for Category A Seed Funding From the National Security Workshop "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2024-09-18 03:34:30","changed_gmt":"2026-07-22 16:29:05","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675005":{"id":"675005","type":"image","title":"Screen Shot 2024-09-17 at 11.37.26 PM.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy and National Security Workshop Image\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1726630686","gmt_created":"2024-09-18 03:38:06","changed":"1726630686","gmt_changed":"2024-09-18 03:38:06","alt":"Energy and National Security Workshop Image","file":{"fid":"258589","name":"Screen Shot 2024-09-17 at 11.37.26 PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/17\/Screen%20Shot%202024-09-17%20at%2011.37.26%20PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/17\/Screen%20Shot%202024-09-17%20at%2011.37.26%20PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1106697,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/17\/Screen%20Shot%202024-09-17%20at%2011.37.26%20PM.png?itok=9KhQwvVT"}}},"media_ids":["675005"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691193":{"#nid":"691193","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Hot Enough For Ya? Georgia Tech Has an App for That, and It\u2019s More Useful Than You Might Think","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey say Atlanta is the city in a forest,\u201d Clayton Patterson, Georgia Tech\u2019s operations manager for horticulture, said, \u201cbut there\u2019s a lot of asphalt here, a lot of concrete, and it gets really hot around it. This place turns into an oven, real quick.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of City and Regional Planning \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/rounaq-basu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssistant Professor Rounaq Basu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E knows it, too. So he and his students (supported by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/resilience.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Urban Resilience and Analytics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) created the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/geo.gatech.edu\/coolroutes\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECool Routes app\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help people in Atlanta find the most shaded \u2014 and most importantly, the coolest \u2014 paths if they have to walk or bike outside.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDescribing Atlanta\u2019s latest heatwave, \u201cThis is great for research, but not so great for residents,\u201d Basu said. \u201cI like to walk and bike everywhere, and it\u2019s too hot. I need to know where the shaded paths are!\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Cool Routes app currently covers 10 cities in the U.S., including Atlanta. Users choose a city from a dropdown menu, provide a trip start and destination, tell the app whether they\u2019re walking or biking, and select route preferences. The app then generates up to three routes to the user\u2019s destination, allowing them to compare how much cooler one route is from another. Further refinement of routes is offered after that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/feature\/cool-routes-2026\u0022\u003ELearn more \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESchool of City and Regional Planning \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/rounaq-basu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAssistant Professor Rounaq Basu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E knows it, too. So he and his students (supported by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/resilience.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Urban Resilience and Analytics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) created the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/geo.gatech.edu\/coolroutes\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECool Routes app\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"School of City and Regional Planning Assistant Professor Rounaq Basu knows it, too. So he and his students (supported by the Center for Urban Resilience and Analytics) created the Cool Routes app"}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-07-21 15:40:21","changed_gmt":"2026-07-21 19:31:26","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680635":{"id":"680635","type":"image","title":"Cool Routes","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECool Routes App. Photo: Wes McRae\/College of Design\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784648226","gmt_created":"2026-07-21 15:37:06","changed":"1784648288","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 15:38:08","alt":"Cool Routes App","file":{"fid":"264924","name":"feature.CoolRoutes.AndrewDowdy-1209.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/feature.CoolRoutes.AndrewDowdy-1209.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/feature.CoolRoutes.AndrewDowdy-1209.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":627485,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/21\/feature.CoolRoutes.AndrewDowdy-1209.jpg?itok=EzCMhNWr"}}},"media_ids":["680635"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691194":{"#nid":"691194","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: How Jonathan Jean-Louis Helps Industry Evaluate Materials ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether it\u0027s paper used in packaging or metals designed for structural applications, manufacturers rely on testing to understand how materials will perform before they reach the real world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost people never think about paper as an engineered material. Yet everything from shipping boxes and food packaging to paper towels and specialty products depends on materials performing exactly as intended.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jonathan-jean-louis\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJonathan Jean-Louis\u003C\/a\u003E helps answer those questions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 2019 Georgia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, Jean-Louis works in materials testing, helping industry partners and researchers evaluate paper, metals, and other materials. While much of his work focuses on paper products, he also performs testing on metals and other engineered materials, providing data that companies use to assess quality, compare materials, and guide product development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJean-Louis was drawn to the role because it allowed him to combine engineering with hands-on research and testing. Since joining RBI, he has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from Georgia Tech researchers and students to companies and organizations seeking independent materials evaluation. Among them is the Library of Congress, which relies on materials testing as part of its preservation efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Jean-Louis, one of the most overlooked aspects of his field is the amount of engineering behind products people use every day. Materials that appear simple on the surface often undergo extensive testing before reaching consumers. Packaging must withstand transportation. Paper products must meet performance standards. Manufacturers depend on testing data to understand how materials behave under real-world conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt RBI, that work supports both research and industry. Whether evaluating paper, metal, or emerging materials, Jean-Louis helps generate the data needed to understand how materials will perform under real-world conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMuch of that work happens out of sight, but the results shape products and materials people encounter every day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about RBI\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/services\/paper-board-box-testing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Epaper, board, and box testing services.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, Jean-Louis works in materials testing, helping industry partners and researchers evaluate paper, metals, and other materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, Jean-Louis works in materials testing, helping industry partners and researchers evaluate paper, metals, and other materials. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-07-21 16:04:58","changed_gmt":"2026-07-21 16:07:53","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680636":{"id":"680636","type":"image","title":"Jonathan Jean Louis.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1784650024","gmt_created":"2026-07-21 16:07:04","changed":"1784650024","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 16:07:04","alt":"Jonathan Jean Louis Headshot","file":{"fid":"264925","name":"JJ-Louis.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/JJ-Louis.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/21\/JJ-Louis.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":970282,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/21\/JJ-Louis.jpeg?itok=jj01w_vT"}}},"media_ids":["680636"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003ENews Contact\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691185":{"#nid":"691185","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Richard Simmons Named Interim Director of Student Competition Center ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/user\/1187\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERichard Simmons\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, principal research engineer in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has been named interim director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudent Competition Center (SCC)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, where he will lead efforts to strengthen experiential learning and support the Institute\u2019s student competition teams.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SCC is home to seven student engineering competition teams and provides workspace, tools, and resources to help students apply classroom learning to real-world engineering challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his new role, Simmons will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for student competition teams, facilities, staff, budgets, sponsorships, and safety programs. He also will teach and mentor students through engineering design and experiential learning courses, helping connect classroom instruction with project-based experiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRichard brings a unique combination of industry experience, research leadership, and deep commitment to student success,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/user\/1078\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarolyn Seepersad\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair. \u201cAs an accomplished engineer and a Georgia Tech alumnus, he understands the value of experiential learning and is well-positioned to lead the Student Competition Center.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimmons, ME 1993, joined Georgia Tech in 2016 after spending the first 20 years of his career leading research, technology, and business development initiatives in the automotive industry, energy sector, and federal government. After graduating from Tech, he earned his master\u2019s and doctoral degrees from Purdue University and later became a licensed professional engineer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past decade, Simmons has held several leadership and research positions within Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, including founding director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and, most recently, director of Research and Studies. He has also taught a variety of courses at the Woodruff School, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/2110.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EME 2110\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/capstone-design\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECapstone Design\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Systems, and Renewable Energy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/richard-simmons-named-interim-director-student-competition-center\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the ME News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/user\/1187\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERichard Simmons\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, principal research engineer in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has been named interim director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudent Competition Center (SCC)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, where he will lead efforts to strengthen experiential learning and support the Institute\u2019s student competition teams.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SCC is home to seven student engineering competition teams and provides workspace, tools, and resources to help students apply classroom learning to real-world engineering challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his new role, Simmons will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for student competition teams, facilities, staff, budgets, sponsorships, and safety programs. He also will teach and mentor students through engineering design and experiential learning courses, helping connect classroom instruction with project-based experiences.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Richard Simmons, principal research engineer in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been named interim director of the Student Competition Center (SCC)."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-07-21 01:23:10","changed_gmt":"2026-07-21 01:28:44","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680632":{"id":"680632","type":"image","title":"GTMS-RSimmons_26_Sat-617_0.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERich Simmons on a F1-style race car designed by the GT-Motorsports team at the Michigan International Speedway\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784597001","gmt_created":"2026-07-21 01:23:21","changed":"1784597001","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:23:21","alt":"Rich Simmons on a car designed by the GT-Motorsports team at the Michigan International Speedway","file":{"fid":"264921","name":"GTMS-RSimmons_26_Sat-617_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/GTMS-RSimmons_26_Sat-617_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/GTMS-RSimmons_26_Sat-617_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1156844,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/GTMS-RSimmons_26_Sat-617_0.jpg?itok=yGJWQXKq"}}},"media_ids":["680632"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/richard-simmons-named-interim-director-student-competition-center","title":"Read Full Story on ME News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:tracie.troha@me.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ETraci Troha,\u003C\/a\u003E ME Communications.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["tracie.troha@me.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691168":{"#nid":"691168","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Building the Energy Workforce of Tomorrow Through Energy Unplugged at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEach summer, Georgia Tech\u2019s campus becomes a destination for eager high school students interested in exploring the future of energy. This year, the highly sought-after Energy Unplugged camp, a collaboration between the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ceismc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECEISMC\u003C\/a\u003E, attracted students from across the country, including California and Texas, for an immersive, hands-on experience in real-world energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBlending engineering challenges, field experiences, and team-based design projects, the weeklong program in June gave students a dynamic introduction to energy, sustainability, and engineering innovation and a rare opportunity to engage directly with the technologies, infrastructure, people, and ideas that help power the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur goal is to get outside of the classroom, have fun, and demonstrate how a STEM education can literally help turn on lightbulbs,\u201d said SEI\u2019s director of Research and Studies,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/richard-simmons\u0022\u003ERich Simmons\u003C\/a\u003E, who also directs Energy Unplugged. \u201cThrough hands-on learning, field trips, and real-world experiences, these creative students are learning that everyone can play a role in our energy future. Along the way, they are gaining a deeper understanding of the tradeoffs and challenges engineers face and learning from experts about pathways to an energy career.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMousetrap-Powered Cars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPutting those ideas into practice from day one,\u0026nbsp;the camp began with an engineering challenge in which students designed and constructed mousetrap-powered cars. Using the stored potential energy of a mousetrap spring to propel their vehicles, participants explored how energy is converted from one form to another and identified sources of friction and inefficiency that affect the distance traveled. The activity encouraged students to think like engineers, iteratively testing and refining their designs to improve results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEngineering Optimization and Tradeoffs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESimilar problem-solving skills were put to the test during an RC car optimization challenge. Equipped with a battery-powered vehicle and energy-monitoring systems, students were tasked with completing a driving course while maximizing their score by balancing speed, energy consumption, safety, and cargo capacity. Participants had the option to add weights and tennis balls to increase potential points, but doing so increased the risk of penalties from dropped cargo, missed obstacles, or vehicle rollovers. The exercise highlighted the tradeoffs engineers routinely face when optimizing systems under competing constraints.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe overall interest in green energy among youth is increasing, so having demonstrations and experiments as well as some high-level lectures on the actual science was a great way to engage the students,\u201d said student assistant\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/wnudd\u0022\u003EWilliam Nudd\u003C\/a\u003E, a senior in mechanical engineering who assisted with the camp. \u201cWhen I was in their shoes, I had never attended a physics class, so the camp was definitely getting them a step ahead and did a great job introducing and showcasing key concepts related to energy: How does my home get electricity? Where does energy come from? How do power plants operate?\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETrivia, Demos, and Scavenger Hunts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdditional activities throughout the week included energy-themed trivia competitions, a steam engine demonstration, a solar microgrid exercise, and a campus scavenger hunt. Together, they reinforced classroom concepts through interactive learning and encouraged students to connect technical principles with practical applications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EField Trips to Power Plants\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile these activities taught foundational concepts,\u0026nbsp;a highlight of the camp was a series of field trips that allowed students to observe large-scale energy infrastructure in operation. Participants toured the Georgia Power McDonough-Atkinson Plant, where they learned how combined-cycle power plants generate electricity using both gas and steam turbines to improve efficiency. Students also visited the Morgan Falls hydroelectric facility, getting an up-close view of the massive generators and equipment used to convert the energy of flowing water into electricity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECampus Tours\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIn addition to exploring regional energy infrastructure, students were introduced to Georgia Tech\u2019s innovation ecosystem through visits to campus makerspaces and research facilities, including the Flowers Invention Studio and The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design. Students explored one of the nation\u2019s most advanced examples of sustainable building design during a guided tour of The Kendeda Building, which generates 200% of the energy it consumes. Here they learned how energy efficiency, renewable generation, and resource conservation can be integrated into the built environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFinal Projects\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETo bring together the concepts explored throughout the week, students worked in teams on a final design challenge centered around a solar-powered disaster relief trailer on loan from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.footprintproject.org\/\u0022\u003EFootprint Project\u003C\/a\u003E. Equipped with photovoltaic panels and battery storage, the trailer was originally designed to provide off-grid power during emergencies. Students were challenged to identify additional uses for the system during periods when disaster response was not required. Many teams proposed sustainable food truck businesses powered by the trailer\u2019s solar energy system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeams also evaluated cooking technologies such as pressure cookers and slow cookers, comparing energy consumption, power requirements, efficiency, and operating costs. Students examined how energy demand aligned with available solar generation and battery storage while conducting economic analyses to determine business viability and profitability. The project integrated engineering, economics, and sustainability principles while encouraging creative thinking and collaborative problem-solving.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnergy Unplugged is an inspiring demonstration of how hands-on engineering experiences can spark curiosity and passion in the next generation of STEM leaders,\u201d said student assistant\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alvarohucker\/?isSelfProfile=false\u0022\u003EAlvaro Hucker\u003C\/a\u003E, a senior mechanical engineering student. \u201cWorking with this group and seeing the fun they were having brought back fond memories of my own childhood. It was an amazing experience.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStudent Contributors: Alvaro Hucker, Senior, Mechanical Engineering and William Nudd, Senior, Mechanical Engineering.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEach summer, Georgia Tech\u2019s campus becomes a destination for eager high school students interested in exploring the future of energy. 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","file":{"fid":"264915","name":"IMG_1906.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1906.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1906.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3510767,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1906.jpg?itok=GamNCFu_"}},"680628":{"id":"680628","type":"image","title":"IMG_1918-copy.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGroup picture of the 2026 Energy Unplugged camp participants with Rich Simmons, camp director and student assistants William Nudd and Alvaro Hucker\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784566485","gmt_created":"2026-07-20 16:54:45","changed":"1784597592","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:33:12","alt":"Group Picture of the 2026 Energy Unplugged Camp Participants along with Rich Simmons, and Student Assistants William Nudd and Alvaro 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Camp","file":{"fid":"264919","name":"IMG_2046-cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_2046-cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_2046-cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1176069,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_2046-cropped.jpg?itok=g9_3G5_I"}}},"media_ids":["680626","680627","680628","680629","680630"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communicatios Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStudent Contributors: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alvarohucker\/?isSelfProfile=false\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAlvaro Hucker\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Senior, Mechanical Engineering and \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/wnudd\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWilliam Nudd,\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E Senior, Mechanical Engineering.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690901":{"#nid":"690901","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Turning Pulp Mills Into Next-Generation Biorefineries ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u2019s $41 billion forest products industry needs a transformation, and a Georgia Tech research team is reimagining how pulp mills use energy and what they can make from their byproduct streams.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor nearly a decade, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sankar-nair\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESankar Nair\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a longtime researcher with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI), has led a collaborative effort to develop technologies that can radically improve the efficiency and profitability of kraft pulp mills.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat began as a project to save energy in pulp production has grown into a much broader vision,\u201d Nair explains. \u201cWe\u2019re not just trying to make mills more efficient. We\u2019re working to turn the kraft pulp mill into a kraft-based biorefinery that produces multiple higher-value products.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Energy Savings to High-Value Products\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENair explains that traditional kraft mills use a highly energy-intensive \u201cchemical recovery loop\u201d to handle black liquor \u2014 the dark, viscous byproduct left after pulp is separated from wood chips. That loop relies on multistage evaporators and massive recovery boilers to remove water, burn the remaining organics for steam and electricity, and recycle inorganic chemicals back into the process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe original desire from our industry partners was to save energy,\u201d Nair says. \u201cInstead of evaporating the water in black liquor, we asked whether membranes could take on most of the dewatering and potentially cut that energy use in half.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver time, the team realized the opportunity went well beyond efficiency. \u201cWe use these membranes in such a way that they actually fractionate the black liquor, not just dewater it,\u201d Nair says. \u201cOne stream is rich in lignin; another is rich in organic acids. From those, we can recover and purify components and turn them into entirely new products.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELignin is a complex organic polymer and one of the most abundant biological materials on Earth. It acts as nature\u2019s \u201cglue,\u201d providing plants with structural rigidity and resistance to decay.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom lignin-rich fractions, the team has already demonstrated carbon materials that can be tailored for battery anodes and porous adsorbents used in environmental remediation and separations \u2014 today mostly made from fossil-based carbons. These lignin-derived carbons are of particular interest as a domestic alternative to graphite, a critical battery material that is currently dominated by overseas production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn the organic acid side, Nair and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-jones\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChristopher Jones\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech\u202fcatalysis and reaction engineering expert, have gone a step further, converting those acids into mixtures of much heavier molecules that could become high-performance industrial lubricants and additives.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to do a new cascade of reactions to make products that we haven\u2019t really made before,\u201d says Jones, the John F. Brock III School Chair and professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJones explains that green lubricants derived from non-fossil sources have \u201cboth high demand and high value.\u201d Georgia Tech has not yet compared the performance of these products to conventional lubricants, but the platform is in place to do so in the future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe products we are pursuing from lignin and organic acids have bulk demand and also can command significantly higher prices than traditional pulp-based outputs,\u201d Nair notes. \u201cThat\u2019s essential if the forest products industry is going to be profitable and competitive over the long term.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two researchers have collaborated on three papers, with two already published in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/full\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.4c00212\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EACS Sustainable Chemistry \u0026amp; Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (June 2024) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acscatal.5c04841\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EACS Catalysis\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (February 2026).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScaling Up: Continuous Manufacturing and Field Trials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key hurdle in moving from lab concept to mill reality is scalable manufacturing of the membranes themselves. That\u2019s where collaboration with Georgia Tech\u2019s advanced manufacturing community comes in.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn recent years, we\u2019ve really focused on how we can manufacture these membranes at low cost and in a continuous, scalable way,\u201d Nair says. \u201cThat\u2019s involved close collaboration with colleagues in materials science, mechanical engineering, and Georgia Tech\u2019s manufacturing institutes.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother Georgia Tech collaborator, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/harris\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETequila Harris\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, is leading the effort to move the current small-scale batch process into a continuous, industry-ready, roll-to-roll system that can produce long sheets of reduced graphene oxide membranes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key enabling step to shift from batch-mode production, says Harris, was integrating vacuum pressure into the manufacturing system to support high-throughput continuous production without the use of any volatile organic solvents that are commonly used in membrane production. Harris envisions \u201chigh-quality output at production speeds above 60 meters per minute,\u201d which will \u201cdramatically increase production volume while reducing solvent usage and waste, such as water,\u201d says Harris.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technology is now mature enough for field testing. The team is preparing to deploy membrane modules at a major pulp and paper mill near Savannah operated by Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re assembling full membrane modules and installing them in a test skid that will run on real kraft black liquor from the mill,\u201d Nair says. \u201cWe\u2019ll collect long-term performance and reliability data that feeds into detailed models of how best to deploy these membranes in a working kraft mill.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERYAM leaders, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/larissafenn\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELarissa Fenn\u003C\/a\u003E, Director of New Products and Chair of the External Advisory Board for Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-Based Economy From Wood\u003C\/a\u003E (ReWOOD), help ensure that cutting-edge research remains connected to real-world industry challenges and opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMuch of our internal research is focused on supporting current operations, customers, and product lines,\u201d Fenn says. \u201cPartnerships with universities allow us to look five to ten years ahead and engage in transformational research that can create entirely new opportunities for our business and the broader forest products industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe transition to more sustainable materials, chemicals, and fuels represents one of the greatest opportunities our industry has seen in decades,\u201d she adds. \u201cContinued innovation is essential not only for maintaining competitiveness, but also for creating new markets for renewable, wood-based resources and strengthening the long-term sustainability of the forestry sector.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFenn emphasized that the impact extends well beyond individual companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe forestry economy is the backbone of many rural communities across Georgia and throughout the Southeast,\u201d she says. \u201cAdvancing technologies that create new value from renewable resources helps support landowners, manufacturers, and the communities that depend on this industry.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFenn works at RYAM\u2019s Jesup, Georgia facility, which employs more than 800 people and is the largest employer in the local community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFacilities like ours are deeply connected to the communities we serve,\u201d Fenn says. \u201cWhen we invest in innovation, we are investing in the future of manufacturing, forestry, and economic opportunity in rural America.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EModular Pathways to a Bio-Based Future\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETransforming an operating mill into a full biorefinery isn\u2019t something that happens overnight, and Nair\u2019s group is designing with that reality in mind.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll of these technologies are modular and designed to be fully integrated with the kraft process,\u201d he says. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to spend billions of dollars up front to build an entirely new plant. You can gradually integrate membrane-based fractionation and stream upgrading technologies for new product streams into the existing kraft process, and each mill can follow its own transition path.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat modular design also provides flexibility in how mills manage energy. Diverting black liquor into higher-value products means less organic material available as fuel for the recovery boiler. Still, the energy-efficiency gains from membrane dewatering reduce overall consumption, and mills can draw on grid electricity to make up the difference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe goal is not to save energy for its own sake,\u201d Nair emphasizes. \u201cIt\u2019s to use that energy more productively to create value-added outputs that support jobs, rural communities, and a more innovative and resilient bio-based economy in Georgia.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe urgency of this work is underscored by the pressures facing the industry: Georgia\u2019s forestry sector has seen paper mill closures since the 1990s, due to digitization and shifts in demand, with three major mill closures in 2025. The Georgia Forestry Commission estimates that mill closures erased the market for 8.3 million tons of timber, and reduced lumber usage, import tariffs, and labor shortages compounded the crisis, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fieldreport.caes.uga.edu\/publications\/AP130-4-13\/2026-timber-forecast\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E2026 Georgia AG Forecast\u003C\/a\u003E. New revenue streams and efficiency gains may be essential for mills\u2019 survival.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond kraft mills, Georgia Tech researchers are already extending the membrane platform to agricultural biomass and municipal waste streams in collaboration with partners like the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Texas Tech University. They are also tapping into national initiatives, including the NSF \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.casfer.us\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER)\u003C\/a\u003Eand the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bridgesengine.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBiobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security (BRIDGES)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELignin-Derived Materials for the Battery Supply Chain\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-mcdowell\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMatthew McDowell\u003C\/a\u003E, co-director of the Georgia Tech Advanced Battery Center, sees many cross-sector applications for lignin-derived carbon materials, including batteries, which are increasingly foundational to strategic sectors such as mobility, the power grid, and defense.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELignin-derived carbons can serve as a domestic replacement for graphite in lithium-ion batteries \u2014 a critical material not widely produced in the U.S.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cConventional synthetic graphite is derived from crude oil and requires very high temperatures, making it energy-intensive and polluting,\u201d McDowell said, noting that their goal is to convert lignin and cellulose \u201cto high-value battery materials that could enable the growth of a new battery supply chain here in the United States.\u201d He envisions the work one day transitioning to the Advanced Battery Center, which is planning a new facility scheduled to open at the end of 2027 that will enable companies and academic researchers to \u201cbuild and test full-scale battery cells for translational R\u0026amp;D.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELife-cycle analysis carried out by the team has shown benefits in both lower costs and more efficient energy use when making these carbons from biomass sources.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday,\u202fChina leads the world in battery production, with\u202fKorea and Japan\u202falso long-established leaders. The U.S. is building more domestic capability for national security and economic reasons.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at Georgia Tech on the front lines of this work also include Jones, who also collaborated on the lubricants research; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/valerie-thomas\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E, Anderson Interface Chair of Natural Systems and professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/meisha-shofner\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThomas is leading research on life-cycle and economic analyses of converting lignin to produce \u201ccarbonized lignin\u201d anodes that can replace petroleum\u2011based synthetic graphite in batteries. She says that lignin\u2011based graphite can displace petroleum\u2011derived synthetic graphite, delivering 84% lower energy use, 92% lower greenhouse gas emissions, and lower emissions of other pollutants.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis work establishes a supply chain for making batteries, which has really broader impacts throughout Georgia,\u201d says Thomas, who believes lignin-based battery materials will lead to a stronger forest products economy and a more resilient battery supply chain in Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcDowell agrees. \u201cMarrying the forest products industry and the battery industry makes a lot of sense for Georgia, because both of those industries are really big,\u201d he says, and both are \u201ckey employers in the state.\u201d In his view, innovations could benefit both simultaneously.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/scott-sinquefield\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott Sinquefield\u003C\/a\u003E, senior research engineer in RBI, sees the graphene-oxide membrane work as squarely within its charge to modernize the forest products sector that anchors Georgia\u2019s rural economy.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPart of our mission is to support this industry and advance it. This falls right under our umbrella,\u201d he said, noting that RBI has been providing scientific support to mills for nearly a century, dating back to its origins as the Institute of Paper Chemistry in 1929.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech team\u2019s vision is clear, as Nair explains: \u201cIf we can do this right, kraft mills don\u2019t just survive. They become hubs of advanced biomanufacturing that anchor a more resilient and sustainable forest-based economy for the state.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech infuses innovation into the forest products industry, converting waste streams into high-value products, from high-performance automotive lubricants to batteries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech infuses innovation into the forest products industry, converting waste streams into high-value products, from high-performance automotive lubricants to batteries. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 17:10:56","changed_gmt":"2026-07-16 18:36:13","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680506":{"id":"680506","type":"image","title":"sankar--1-.JPG","body":null,"created":"1782321076","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 17:11:16","changed":"1782321076","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 17:11:16","alt":"Headshot of Sankar Nair ","file":{"fid":"264779","name":"sankar--1-.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/sankar--1-.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/sankar--1-.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":20230,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/sankar--1-.JPG?itok=8DC9uqPB"}}},"media_ids":["680506"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003ENews Contact\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E Jennifer Martin | \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ejennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691128":{"#nid":"691128","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Receives Commitment to Launch New AI-Driven Health Innovation Center\u00a0 ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology today announced the creation of the Parker H. Petit Center for AI-Driven Health Innovation, a new research center that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help predict, treat, and prevent disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Petit Center is made possible by a transformational commitment from technology entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Georgia Tech alumnus Parker H. \u0022Pete\u0022 Petit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 1980, Petit has provided significant philanthropic support across campus, including the naming of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.petitinstitute.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)\u003C\/a\u003E, one of Georgia Tech\u2019s 11 Interdisciplinary Research Institutes. IBB is an interdisciplinary hub for transforming biological discovery into real-world health impact, bringing together engineers, scientists, and clinicians to accelerate innovations in diagnostics, therapeutics, medical devices, and biomanufacturing. With more than 300 interdisciplinary faculty researchers, 13 research centers, and 1,300 trainees making unprecedented discoveries and generating innovative technologies, IBB is a catalyst for innovative bioengineering and bioscience research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe success of IBB led Petit to make his latest investment, which will build on Georgia Tech\u2019s broader commitment to medical innovation: applying engineering, computing, AI, biosciences, and systems thinking to health challenges that require more than any one field can solve. The Petit Center\u2019s work will strengthen the tools, partnerships, and research pathways needed to help more discoveries move from the lab toward real-world patient care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA key goal of the Petit Center will be to use AI to build more precise models of how disease works in the body. Its first research initiative will focus on creating virtual models of human cells. Led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/jeff-skolnick\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJeffrey Skolnick\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor and Mary and\u0026nbsp;Maisie Gibson Chair\u0026nbsp;and GRA Eminent Scholar in Computational Systems Biology\u0026nbsp;in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, researchers will use those models to study how diseases progress and to identify treatments that may work best for individual patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy modeling disease at the cellular level, researchers can test ideas faster, uncover links among different diseases, and focus on therapies most likely to help patients based on their unique biology. The work could expedite the discovery of new therapies for some of the hardest-to-treat diseases, including pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMedical innovation is one of the fastest-growing areas in Georgia Tech\u2019s research, and Pete Petit\u2019s commitment will help us further shape the future of medicine,\u0022 said \u00c1ngel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. \u201cThis new research center will find new ways to harness the power of AI to accelerate critical medical discoveries and move them into clinical settings so patients can get the care they need. We\u2019re deeply grateful for Pete\u0027s support, and we\u2019re excited to get started.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Parker H. Petit Center for AI-Driven Health Innovation will operate under the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/data\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for Data Engineering and Science\u003C\/a\u003E (IDEaS) and bring together researchers from across Georgia Tech to advance AI-driven approaches to human health. Researchers affiliated with the Petit Center will work across fields and with clinical and healthcare organizations to help close the gap between discovery and practical use. Over time and with additional investments, the Petit Center\u2019s work will expand into areas such as cancer biomarker discovery, healthy aging, advanced cellular therapies, and AI-supported healthcare systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Georgia Tech has the expertise to redefine what is possible in healthcare through AI,\u0022 said Skolnick. \u0022By combining advanced computational methods with biological and medical insights, we can create powerful new approaches to predicting disease, identifying treatments, and improving patient outcomes.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPetit\u2019s commitment will support advanced computing infrastructure, graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, seed research grants, and annual programs that will bring together leading researchers from around the world working at the intersection of AI and health.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPetit hopes this investment will inspire others to support interdisciplinary research at the Institute. \u0022Georgia Tech has long demonstrated its ability to solve complex challenges,\u0022 said Petit. \u0022I believe artificial intelligence will fundamentally reshape healthcare, and I am excited to support a center that can help accelerate discoveries to improve and save lives.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis transformative commitment is included in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/transformingtomorrow.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETransforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and is propelling the comprehensive campaign\u2019s success.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EAbout Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the nation\u2019s leading public research universities, developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. Through education, research, and innovation, Georgia Tech creates solutions that improve lives and drive economic opportunity in Georgia and around the world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit\u2019s commitment will launch a research hub focused on using artificial intelligence to model diseases, identify treatment paths, and move discoveries closer to patient care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Parker H. Petit\u2019s commitment will launch a research hub focused on using artificial intelligence to model diseases, identify treatment paths, and move discoveries closer to patient care. "}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-07-16 16:52:47","changed_gmt":"2026-07-16 17:19:18","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680618":{"id":"680618","type":"image","title":"Jeffrey Skolnick","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJeffrey Skolnick will lead the first research initiative in the new Parker H. Petit Center for AI-Driven Health Innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784163552","gmt_created":"2026-07-16 00:59:12","changed":"1784163635","gmt_changed":"2026-07-16 01:00:35","alt":"Jeffrey Skolnick","file":{"fid":"264904","name":"skolnick-data_portrait_002.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/skolnick-data_portrait_002.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/15\/skolnick-data_portrait_002.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":386791,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/15\/skolnick-data_portrait_002.jpg?itok=AL8IuxCW"}}},"media_ids":["680618"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"351","name":"development"},{"id":"2096","name":"philanthropy"},{"id":"172458","name":"biological sciences"},{"id":"4449","name":"ideas"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"497","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:anne.stanford@dev.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAnne Stanford\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003EOffice of Development\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:media@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emedia@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691119":{"#nid":"691119","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andrew Lindsey Joins BBISS as Program Manager","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) is pleased to welcome Andrew Lindsey into the role of program manager. He will succeed Susan Ryan, who recently retired as senior program and operations manager.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELindsey will support BBISS\u2019s research, education, and partnership activities across Georgia Tech and beyond. Working closely with BBISS leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners, he will coordinate Institute programs, support leadership operations, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and help ensure smooth day-to-day operations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndrew brings more than four years of experience in project management, operations, communications, compliance oversight, and organizational improvement in higher education and nonprofit settings. Most recently, he served as project intake and communications specialist at Kennesaw State University. Before that, Lindsey spent nearly four years with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, first as project coordinator and later as project manager.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELindsey\u2019s background also includes experience in higher education instruction and mentoring. As a teaching assistant with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/grandchallenges.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Grand Challenges\u003C\/a\u003E program, he worked directly with student teams tackling complex societal issues, providing guidance on research development, collaborative problem-solving, and project execution.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe earned a B.A. in history, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Georgia in 2021, and completed a Master of Public Administration in 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAndrew\u2019s experience supporting complex projects, improving organizational processes, coordinating across diverse stakeholder groups, and commitment to mission-driven work make him a strong addition to the team,\u201d said BBISS Director of Business Administration Kristina Chatfield.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWorking closely with BBISS leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners, he will coordinate Institute programs, support leadership operations, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and help ensure smooth day-to-day operations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) is pleased to welcome Andrew Lindsey into the role of program manager."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-07-14 13:19:23","changed_gmt":"2026-07-15 16:33:06","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680603":{"id":"680603","type":"image","title":"Andrew_Lindsey_portrait","body":null,"created":"1784034931","gmt_created":"2026-07-14 13:15:31","changed":"1784035066","gmt_changed":"2026-07-14 13:17:46","alt":"Headshot portrait of an individual photographed from the chest up against a plain light gray background. The individual is wearing a light blue button\u2011down shirt and a dark patterned tie, facing the camera in a centered studio-style composition. The image is evenly lit with a neutral backdrop and no visible text or additional objects.","file":{"fid":"264886","name":"Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/14\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/14\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":439090,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/14\/Andrew_Lindsey_portrait.jpg?itok=-Jeh_vtR"}}},"media_ids":["680603"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691066":{"#nid":"691066","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Creating Synthetic Life in a Lab? SpudCell Falls Short of the Goal, But Raises Even More Useful Questions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENature is beautiful, powerful and essential. But nature is not always gentle. The same biological world that gives rise to forests, coral reefs and human life also produces infections, cancer, genetic disease, crop blights and toxins. Natural processes can heal, sustain and inspire, but they can also destroy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat dichotomy is part of what drives the field of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/synthetic-biology-promised-to-rewrite-life-with-the-death-of-its-pioneer-j-craig-venter-how-close-are-scientists-281963\u0022\u003Esynthetic biology\u003C\/a\u003E: where scientists apply engineering principles to learn from and carefully adapt nature\u2019s biological systems to address human problems. By understanding biological systems, scientists can carefully redirect them when natural processes cause harm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis principle has shaped my work \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=Xe78w-wAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Eas a biomedical engineer\u003C\/a\u003E for over two decades. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/deanslab\/\u0022\u003EMy lab\u003C\/a\u003E studies how to program cells in order to better understand their behavior and ultimately use them as medicine. The goal is not to discard or replace nature, but to learn from biological principles and use that knowledge to responsibly help society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers announced on July 2, 2026, that they had created the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.64898\/2026.07.01.735724\u0022\u003Efirst synthetic cell\u003C\/a\u003E built from purified, nonliving components.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lab\u2019s cell-like system, dubbed SpudCell, raises key questions: What does it take to build a cell from scratch? If scientists assemble something that feeds, grows, copies genetic material and divides, have they created life?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to Create Cells From Scratch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENatural cells are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/cells-have-more-mini-organs-than-researchers-thought-unbound-by-membranes-these-rogue-organelles-challenge-biologys-fundamentals-239558\u0022\u003Eastonishingly complicated\u003C\/a\u003E. Researchers want to use synthetic cells to learn more about how life works, and they are doing this by rebuilding some of life\u2019s basic features in a simpler, more understandable form.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier designs of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-023-06288-x\u0022\u003Eminimal cells\u003C\/a\u003E, used to test which components are necessary for lifelike behavior, began with existing living cells and reduced the size of their genomes. A minimal cell is useful because it is simple, but that simplicity comes at a cost. It may reveal which parts are needed for lifelike behavior, but it usually lacks the autonomy, resilience, metabolism and evolutionary capacity of natural cells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, synthetic cells are built through a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.1211701\u0022\u003Ebottom-up engineering\u003C\/a\u003E approach. Scientists start with a simplified compartment \u2013 a kind of biological \u201cbox\u201d \u2013 and ask what must be added for it to behave more like a living cell. A membrane separates the inside from the outside. Genetic material stores instructions. Molecular machinery reads those instructions to make molecules. Energy sources power reactions. Other components can allow growth, division and adaptation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/746476\/original\/file-20260707-57-jrf0t9.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/746476\/original\/file-20260707-57-jrf0t9.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 alt=\u0022Diagram showing a few membrane-bound components of an animal cell and a eurakyotic cell\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA useful way to think about synthetic cells is to compare them with technologies society already depends on. The radio wasn\u2019t invented all at once. Engineers learned how to combine an antenna, tuner, amplifier, power source and speaker to convert invisible electromagnetic waves into sound. A car is not just a metal shell; it becomes transportation only when a frame is connected to wheels, brakes, steering, an engine, and transmission and control systems. A computer began with switches and strings of ones and zeros that could be assembled into circuits capable of storing and processing information.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.64898\/2026.07.01.735724\u0022\u003ESpudCell was assembled\u003C\/a\u003E from the bottom up with purified, nonliving parts. Researchers used lipid molecules to create a cell-like membrane, DNA molecules to store genetic instructions, purified enzymes to copy and read those instructions, and other molecular machinery to help build proteins and other molecules from small chemical building blocks, such as amino acids and nucleotides.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpudCell is exciting scientists because it appears to bring several features of life together in one system. The researchers describe it as capable of feeding, growth, genome replication, genetically encoded division and something close to evolution. These features resemble a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK26869\/\u0022\u003Ebiological cell cycle\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClose to Life, But Not Quite\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile SpudCell is an important milestone in the field, it \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.zwa8dvz\u0022\u003Estops short\u003C\/a\u003E of being a fully synthetic living cell. A membrane-bound compartment containing DNA is not automatically a living cell, just as a pile of car parts is not a car.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpudCell can carry out several life-like processes, but it is not independent. It still relies on carefully controlled laboratory conditions and on researchers to supply its molecular machinery. It doesn\u2019t reliably pass on its genetic material or spontaneously evolve the way natural cells do.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo approach life, a synthetic cell must coordinate many processes at once. NASA describes life as a \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.nasa.gov\/research\/life-detection\/about\/\u0022\u003Eself-sustaining chemical system\u003C\/a\u003E capable of Darwinian evolution,\u201d meaning it must independently use energy, copy information, grow, divide, respond to its surroundings and persist over time. Natural cells do this with extraordinary reliability because they are the products of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/rain-may-have-helped-form-the-first-cells-kick-starting-life-as-we-know-it-238291\u0022\u003Ebillions of years of evolution\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/746474\/original\/file-20260707-57-an09wq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/746474\/original\/file-20260707-57-an09wq.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 alt=\u0022Microscopy image of a green sphere dividing into two\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpudCell still \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.zwa8dvz\u0022\u003Efalls short of that standard\u003C\/a\u003E. It depends on researchers to continuously supply it with the molecular machinery to function and to physically help it divide. It also cannot reproduce indefinitely outside a carefully controlled laboratory environment. In other words, SpudCell may have been built rather than born, but it is not yet autonomous life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat limitation does not make the achievement unimportant. In fact, it is scientifically valuable precisely because it exposes what is still missing to create life. Which parts are essential? Which processes must be coordinated? How much complexity is necessary before chemistry begins to look like biology?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Create Synthetic Cells?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThose questions have practical importance. Answering them can help scientists and engineers design safer biological systems for a wide range of industries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESynthetic cells allow scientists to more cleanly test how the surrounding membrane separates the inside of a cell from its environment, how genetic instructions are read, how energy is used, and how growth and division are coordinated. These cell-like systems could eventually become \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nist.gov\/blogs\/taking-measure\/promise-synthetic-cells-revolutionary-new-drugs-outer-space-explorers-and\u0022\u003Esimplified test beds\u003C\/a\u003E for studying biological circuits, disease mechanisms and the origins of life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey could also help scientists \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/projects\/DELS-BLS-22-12\u0022\u003Ebuild safer systems\u003C\/a\u003E for making medicines, fuels or materials, detecting environmental toxins, or delivering therapies without relying on fully living organisms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore broadly, synthetic biology connects medicine and biotechnology: Viruses can be redesigned \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-the-puzzle-of-viral-vector-vaccines-was-solved-leading-to-todays-covid-19-shots-167341\u0022\u003Einto vaccines\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/gene-therapy-restores-hearing-in-toddlers-and-teenagers-born-with-congenital-deafness-new-research-258112\u0022\u003Egene therapy\u003C\/a\u003E, immune cells can be reprogrammed to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/anti-cancer-car-t-therapy-reengineers-t-cells-to-kill-tumors-and-researchers-are-expanding-the-limited-types-of-cancer-it-can-target-196471\u0022\u003Erecognize cancer\u003C\/a\u003E, and microbes can be engineered to make useful molecules, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/insulin-injections-could-one-day-be-replaced-with-rock-music-new-research-in-mice-216787\u0022\u003Esuch as insulin\u003C\/a\u003E, or \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/genetically-engineered-bacteria-make-living-materials-for-self-repairing-walls-and-cleaning-up-pollution-191411\u0022\u003Edetect pollutants\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, researchers could use synthetic cells to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/biobots-arise-from-the-cells-of-dead-organisms-pushing-the-boundaries-of-life-death-and-medicine-238176\u0022\u003Edeliver a drug\u003C\/a\u003E only to diseased tissue, or create microbial systems that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13036-023-00379-z\u0022\u003Edetect toxins or pathogens\u003C\/a\u003E in water. They can also act as simplified biological factories that can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/helping-cells-become-better-protein-factories-could-improve-gene-therapies-and-other-treatments-a-new-technique-shows-how-187515\u0022\u003Emake medicines\u003C\/a\u003E without requiring a fully living organism, or as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0016292\u0022\u003Ebiosensors providing early warning\u003C\/a\u003E of dangerous threats, such as bioweapons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECreating Life Responsibly\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe philosophical question \u201cIs SpudCell alive?\u201d may not have a simple yes or no answer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDepending on whether your definition of life emphasizes metabolism, reproduction, evolution, autonomy or cellular organization, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/biobots-arise-from-the-cells-of-dead-organisms-pushing-the-boundaries-of-life-death-and-medicine-238176\u0022\u003Eboundary between living and nonliving\u003C\/a\u003E can look very different.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELife is not defined by one property alone. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-viruses-blur-the-boundaries-of-life-230802\u0022\u003EViruses\u003C\/a\u003E contain genetic information but depend on host cells to reproduce. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/mitochondria-can-sense-bacteria-and-trigger-your-immune-system-to-trap-them-revealing-new-ways-to-treat-infections-and-autoimmunity-255939\u0022\u003EMitochondria\u003C\/a\u003E perform essential metabolism but cannot live independently outside of cells. A \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/svalbard-global-seed-vault-evokes-epic-imagery-and-controversy-because-of-the-symbolic-value-of-seeds-240086\u0022\u003Eseed can remain dormant\u003C\/a\u003E for years before resuming growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen synthetic biology is guided by a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssynbio.1c00129\u0022\u003Estrong sense of responsibility\u003C\/a\u003E, scientists can learn how to redirect harmful processes, build safer tools and help society. This requires not only asking whether biological systems can be built, but also whether their creation should be controlled, where they should function and what safeguards are needed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past two decades, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nchembio.1979\u0022\u003Escientists have built\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cell.2007.05.045\u0022\u003Emany kinds of\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41564-024-01913-5\u0022\u003Ebiological kill switches\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 that is, genetic circuits that can shut down engineered cells under specific conditions. Some researchers have made cells dependent on a specific nutrient. Others have created cells that can survive only in a particular environment or activate self-destructive pathways when conditions change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKill switches are not magic off buttons and do not replace careful regulation, physical containment or public oversight. But they are an important example of synthetic biology\u2019s moral compass: to not only build useful biological tools, but to build them with safety, accountability and humility in mind.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/286762\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/creating-synthetic-life-in-a-lab-spudcell-falls-short-of-the-goal-but-raises-even-more-useful-questions-286762\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers announced on July 2, 2026, that they had created the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.64898\/2026.07.01.735724\u0022\u003Efirst synthetic cell\u003C\/a\u003E built from purified, nonliving components. The lab\u2019s cell-like system, dubbed SpudCell, raises key questions: What does it take to build a cell from scratch? If scientists assemble something that feeds, grows, copies genetic material and divides, have they created life?\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"While SpudCell is an important milestone in the field, it stops short of being a fully synthetic living cell."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-07-08 19:42:53","changed_gmt":"2026-07-13 16:12:48","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680580":{"id":"680580","type":"image","title":"spudcell.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1783539781","gmt_created":"2026-07-08 19:43:01","changed":"1783539781","gmt_changed":"2026-07-08 19:43:01","alt":"A rendering of transparent cells on a blue background","file":{"fid":"264858","name":"spudcell.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/08\/spudcell.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/08\/spudcell.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4473489,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/08\/spudcell.jpeg?itok=ybyDU2tc"}}},"media_ids":["680580"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/creating-synthetic-life-in-a-lab-spudcell-falls-short-of-the-goal-but-raises-even-more-useful-questions-286762","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETara Deans, associate professor, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691068":{"#nid":"691068","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience Announces New External Advisory Board Leadership and Members ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E (IBB) is pleased to announce new leadership and membership for its \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/about\/people\/advisory-board\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EExternal Advisory Board\u003C\/a\u003E, which provides strategic guidance to help advance the institute\u0027s mission of accelerating interdisciplinary research and innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EErin Dasher has been appointed chair of the External Advisory Board, and Vincent Ling will serve as vice chair. Dasher is founder and CEO of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/glui-io\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGlui Inc.\u003C\/a\u003E, a global advertising company creating engagement experiences across digital platforms. A seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and attorney, she brings more than 25 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, and mergers and acquisitions. Ling is chief business officer at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.morphocell.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMorphocell Technologies\u003C\/a\u003E, where he leads commercialization of regenerative medicine technologies. He has more than 30 years of biotechnology leadership experience spanning cell therapies, protein engineering, and biopharmaceutical innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIBB extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing board chair Chris Gemmiti for his outstanding leadership and service to the institute. The institute also thanks Linda Griffith for her valued contributions as a member of the External Advisory Board. Their expertise and commitment have helped shape IBB\u0027s continued growth and impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe institute is also pleased to welcome six new members to the External Advisory Board:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e72dedd6483cf827667bb2b4886fe7098\u0022\u003EChristopher Cashman, chief executive and advisor in the medical device, biologics, and advanced manufacturing sectors, with extensive leadership experience in public and private companies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e9e41324bd99f6430583f947df7ec5102\u0022\u003ERachel Cassidy, senior go-to-market and ecosystem executive with more than 30 years of experience building global innovation partnerships across the technology industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ec11b998f2145affcc30e3e61c9178cea\u0022\u003EShawn P. Davis, CEO of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.liberatebio.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELiberate Bio\u003C\/a\u003E, where he leads the development of next-generation delivery technologies for genetic medicines and brings more than two decades of biotechnology and pharmaceutical leadership.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed491b31155c6316632e305391c679866\u0022\u003ECharles A. Gersbach, director of the Duke Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies and the John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.duke.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDuke University\u003C\/a\u003E, internationally recognized for his work in genome editing and gene therapy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed1bf1c75dec04ba844fa62cd2b3aa163\u0022\u003ETodd McDevitt, vice president and head of Cell Therapy Research at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gene.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGenentech\u003C\/a\u003E, who leads development of cell-based therapies and previously founded Georgia Tech\u0027s Stem Cell Engineering Center.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e0aec0ac2886d7c9ba45553a081356ea7\u0022\u003ERidhi Tariyal, co-founder and CEO of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nextgenjane.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENextGen Jane\u003C\/a\u003E, whose work combines biotechnology, data science, and women\u0027s health to advance molecular understanding of uterine biology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022IBB is fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders whose expertise spans biotechnology, medicine, entrepreneurship, engineering, and innovation,\u0022 said Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda, Regents\u2019 Professor in the\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fand\u202fIBB\u2019s Executive Director. \u0022We are grateful to our outgoing members for their dedicated service and look forward to working with our new leadership and board members as we continue to advance transformative bioengineering and bioscience research.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe External Advisory Board brings together leaders from industry, academia, and entrepreneurship to provide strategic guidance that supports IBB\u0027s research, education, commercialization, and partnerships.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe External Advisory Board brings together leaders from industry, academia, and entrepreneurship to provide strategic guidance that supports IBB\u0027s research, education, commercialization, and partnerships. Erin Dasher has been appointed chair of the External Advisory Board, and Vincent Ling will serve as vice chair. IBB extends its sincere appreciation to outgoing board chair Chris Gemmiti for his outstanding leadership and service to the institute. The institute also thanks Linda Griffith for her valued contributions as a member of the External Advisory Board.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"IBB is pleased to announce new leadership and membership for its EAB, which provides strategic guidance to help advance the institute\u0027s mission of accelerating interdisciplinary research and innovation. "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-07-09 15:33:18","changed_gmt":"2026-07-09 15:40:32","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680582":{"id":"680582","type":"image","title":"cropped_IBB-Ramblin-Wreck.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Ramblin Wreck drives past the Petit Biotechnology Building, home of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1783611550","gmt_created":"2026-07-09 15:39:10","changed":"1783611550","gmt_changed":"2026-07-09 15:39:10","alt":"The Ramblin Wreck drives past the Petit Biotechnology Building, a red brick building with large trees in the foreground.","file":{"fid":"264860","name":"_0000_IBB---Ramblin-Wreck.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/09\/_0000_IBB---Ramblin-Wreck.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/09\/_0000_IBB---Ramblin-Wreck.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":256205,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/09\/_0000_IBB---Ramblin-Wreck.jpg?itok=xf6agjcf"}}},"media_ids":["680582"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690013":{"#nid":"690013","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Jamshad Mahmood Tackles Corrosion Across Industrial Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECorrosion remains a critical challenge across pulp and paper operations as well as a wide range of manufacturing processes and materials. It directly impacts the performance and longevity of equipment such as recovery boilers, digesters, reactors, storage tanks, piping systems, and paper machines. At the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jamshad-mahmood\u0022\u003EJamshad Mahmood\u003C\/a\u003E leads efforts to evaluate and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMahmood is a mechanical engineer with more than 23 years of experience in corrosion testing and the manufacturing of recovery boilers and pressure vessels. His work focuses on understanding material behavior under real operating conditions and identifying approaches to improve equipment reliability and safety.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt RBI, Mahmood oversees corrosion laboratories and chemical inventories that support both industry partners and research initiatives. His work includes slow strain rate testing, electrochemical analysis, high-temperature aqueous corrosion testing, and molten salts corrosion studies\u2014methods used to assess material performance and inform industrial decision-making.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn parallel, Mahmood conducts field studies in operating facilities, evaluating in-situ corrosion in critical equipment such as recovery boiler tubes, digesters, paper machines, and storage systems. This combination of laboratory and field work provides a more complete understanding of corrosion mechanisms and their impact on industrial processes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough this work, Mahmood contributes to RBI\u2019s efforts to improve the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of industrial systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/corrosion-testing\u0022\u003ELearn more about RBI\u0027s corrosion testing capabilities.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAt the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jamshad Mahmood leads efforts to tackle corrosion across industrial systems and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" At the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jamshad Mahmood leads efforts to tackle corrosion across industrial systems and mitigate these challenges through laboratory testing and field analysis. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-24 17:54:34","changed_gmt":"2026-07-08 14:36:55","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680145":{"id":"680145","type":"image","title":"250513RBI-LabPhotos_0023.jpg","body":null,"created":"1777666624","gmt_created":"2026-05-01 20:17:04","changed":"1777666624","gmt_changed":"2026-05-01 20:17:04","alt":"Headshot of Jamshad","file":{"fid":"264386","name":"250513RBI-LabPhotos_0023.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0023.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0023.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2627656,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0023.jpg?itok=W4KNrqm3"}}},"media_ids":["680145"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691040":{"#nid":"691040","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Develop a Safer, More Reliable Material for Growing Small-Scale Models of the Human Gut ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years, scientists studying the human gut have relied on a material that most people would never expect: a jelly made from mouse tumors. Called Matrigel, it is used to grow tiny, patient\u2011derived versions of the intestine that help researchers understand disease, test new drugs, and explore future therapies. However, since this material comes from animal tissue, it\u2019s unpredictable, difficult to control, and limits medical applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA new study conducted by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.edu\/node\/1\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E researchers and partners from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chop.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChildren\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.upenn.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EUniversity of Pennsylvania\u003C\/a\u003E offers a promising alternative.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work includes contributions from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/andres-j-garcia\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and Executive Director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, whose research focuses on how engineered materials can guide cell behavior. Instead of relying on a biological mixture with hundreds of variable components, the team created a fully synthetic gel designed to give intestinal stem cells exactly what they need to grow and organize into healthy tissue.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo build it, the researchers analyzed the genetic signals of human intestinal cells to understand what kind of environment they naturally prefer. They found that these cells latch onto collagen\u2011like structures and reshape their surroundings as they expand. Using that information, the team engineered a customizable gel that mimics those cues, without using any animal\u2011derived ingredients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe results were striking. Human intestinal cells grown in the synthetic gel formed realistic, well\u2011organized small-scale digestive tract models that closely match those grown in the traditional animal\u2011derived material. They maintained the same cell types, developed the same structures, and preserved patient\u2011specific features.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe implications reach far beyond the lab bench.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA fully synthetic, precisely defined gel means researchers can grow small-scale organs more consistently and ethically, reducing reliance on animal tissue and improving reproducibility. It also opens the door to future medical applications, from personalized drug testing to regenerative therapies, where animal\u2011based materials simply can\u2019t be used.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u0022Reproducible, well-defined culture conditions are essential to generating reliable data from patient-derived organoids in human disease research, and we were glad to contribute to work that brings the field a real synthetic alternative to Matrigel,\u201d said Kathryn Hamilton, a co-author of the study. Hamilton is an associate professor at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.upenn.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EUniversity of Pennsylvania\u003C\/a\u003E and a primary investigator at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chop.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChildren\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy replacing one of the biggest barriers in organoid science, this work moves the field closer to a future where patient\u2011specific tissues can be grown safely, reliably, and at scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u201cWe are excited about engineering this synthetic matrix as an alternative to natural materials and expect that it will accelerate human organoid research and clinical applications,\u201d Garc\u00eda said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study conducted by Georgia Tech researchers and partners offers a promising alternative to gel derived from animal tissue that is currently used to grow organ models. A fully synthetic, precisely defined gel means researchers can grow small-scale organs more consistently and ethically, reducing reliance on animal tissue and improving reproducibility.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers have developed a synthetic gel that could open new possibilities for drug testing and disease treatment."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-07-06 14:57:35","changed_gmt":"2026-07-08 12:52:44","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680577":{"id":"680577","type":"image","title":"_0000_organoids.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EScientists are able to use patient-derived tissue samples to grow miniature versions of human organs, allowing them to test new medications and disease treatments for personalized care.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1783515079","gmt_created":"2026-07-08 12:51:19","changed":"1783515079","gmt_changed":"2026-07-08 12:51:19","alt":"Microscopic image of pink tissue cells","file":{"fid":"264855","name":"_0000_organoids.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/08\/_0000_organoids.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/08\/_0000_organoids.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":355456,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/08\/_0000_organoids.jpg?itok=b2NxWXSv"}}},"media_ids":["680577"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691061":{"#nid":"691061","#data":{"type":"news","title":"In Memoriam: Sam Shelton, Founding Director of the Strategic Energy Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/sam-shelton\u0022\u003ESam Shelton\u003C\/a\u003E, founding director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), longtime professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, and designer of the torch for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, passed away on June 20, 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EColleagues and friends remember Shelton as a dedicated mentor, collaborator, and educator, whose curiosity, generosity, and sense of humor left a lasting impression on students and peers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSam exemplified the very best of Georgia Tech, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of engineers and educators,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech. \u201cI am deeply grateful for his friendship, mentorship, and leadership. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, and to the many students, colleagues, and friends whose lives he touched.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA nationally recognized leader in energy systems, Shelton founded SEI as an interdisciplinary organization that brought together engineers, researchers, policy experts, and industry leaders to advance high-impact energy solutions. That vision remains central to SEI\u2019s mission and continues to guide its work today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSam was the quintessential engineer and innovator, whose vision was always accompanied by the development and demonstration of actual products instead of leaving them as promising concepts,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garimella\u0022\u003ESrinivas Garimella\u003C\/a\u003E, Hightower Chair in the College of Engineering and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u201cHe had the rare ability to see through nebulous ideas and claims and get to the fundamental engineering truths. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to seek his advice, which he freely gave. I will miss his friendship and counsel very much.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring a career of more than 35 years, Shelton made lasting contributions to sustainable energy and engineering innovation. His work spanned combustion research, solar energy technologies, and offshore wind systems. He secured more than $30 million in research funding, held eight patents, founded two energy-focused companies, and helped translate research into real-world energy solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to his research, Shelton was deeply committed to education. During his academic career, he developed undergraduate and graduate courses in energy technology, teaching both in person and online. His\u0026nbsp;Energy 101 course reached tens of thousands of learners through a massive open online course platform, covering topics such as energy supply, independence, economics, and society\u2019s energy demands.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I first started at SEI in 2016, Sam and I would meet for lunch to discuss the latest research, consider how far we\u0027ve come since the Carter administration, and grapple over the world\u2019s energy problems,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/richard-simmons\u0022\u003ERich Simmons\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI\u2019s director of Research and Studies.\u0026nbsp;\u201cSam was genuine and objective, not working backward from a preconceived notion, but working forward with an open mind to understand, appreciate, and apply the first and second law. He was also colorful and witty! We are all privileged to pay these lessons forward to future energy students.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond academia, Shelton\u2019s engineering expertise reached a global stage as the designer of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2016\/07\/20th-anniversary-atlanta-games\u0022\u003EOlympic torch for the 1996 Atlanta Games\u003C\/a\u003E, an enduring symbol of innovation recognized worldwide. \u201cThe Olympics represented world peace, mankind coming together, and overcoming adversity. It was an amazing event to think about, to witness, to live through, and be a part of helping to create it,\u201d Shelton said in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=WyuWSPeGTXk\u0022\u003E2016 interview\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelton is survived by his\u0026nbsp;daughters, Suzie and Stacy, three granddaughters,\u0026nbsp;and a wide network of students, colleagues, and collaborators. His legacy continues through the programs he built, partnerships he fostered, and the people he helped.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.legacy.com\/us\/obituaries\/atlanta\/name\/samuel-shelton-obituary?id=61831858\u0022\u003Ememorial service\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E celebrating Shelton\u2019s life will be held Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. at The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant in Atlanta. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be directed to Roll Call, Georgia Tech\u2019s Fund for Excellence.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;Donations may be made at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/giving.gatech.edu\/campaigns\/63028\/donations\/new?\u0026amp;utm_source=ALMR26Q40NY1BU02KUD\u0022\u003Egtalumni.org\/SamShelton\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/sam-shelton\u0022\u003ESam Shelton\u003C\/a\u003E, founding director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), longtime professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, and designer of the torch for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, passed away on June 20, 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EColleagues and friends remember Shelton as a dedicated mentor, collaborator, and educator, whose curiosity, generosity, and sense of humor left a lasting impression on students and peers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSam exemplified the very best of Georgia Tech, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of engineers and educators,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech. \u201cI am deeply grateful for his friendship, mentorship, and leadership. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, and to the many students, colleagues, and friends whose lives he touched.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Sam Shelton, founding director of the Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), longtime professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and designer of the torch for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, passed away on June 20, 2026. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-07-07 21:11:19","changed_gmt":"2026-07-08 02:35:40","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680575":{"id":"680575","type":"image","title":"SamShelton.jpg","body":null,"created":"1783458862","gmt_created":"2026-07-07 21:14:22","changed":"1783458862","gmt_changed":"2026-07-07 21:14:22","alt":"Sam Shelton, Founding Director of the Strategic Energy Institute (Photo Credit: Georgia Tech Institute Communications)","file":{"fid":"264853","name":"SamShelton.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/SamShelton.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/SamShelton.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":485843,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/07\/SamShelton.jpg?itok=LXffzX8m"}},"680574":{"id":"680574","type":"image","title":"c46785ba-dee7-4ec5-a3fb-b6ad53283937.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1783458708","gmt_created":"2026-07-07 21:11:48","changed":"1783458708","gmt_changed":"2026-07-07 21:11:48","alt":"Sam Shelton, Founding Director of the Strategic Energy Institute","file":{"fid":"264852","name":"c46785ba-dee7-4ec5-a3fb-b6ad53283937.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/c46785ba-dee7-4ec5-a3fb-b6ad53283937.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/c46785ba-dee7-4ec5-a3fb-b6ad53283937.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":33796,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/07\/c46785ba-dee7-4ec5-a3fb-b6ad53283937.jpeg?itok=LUMuoM7e"}}},"media_ids":["680575","680574"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691059":{"#nid":"691059","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet the Expert: Brian An","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy resilience broadens the scope of urban policy\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHousing and transportation are top priorities for many city mayors, policymakers and public policy researchers\u2014including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/c9f0cadc-5bb4-5b6f-9eca-bd38a9233993\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian An\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech\u2019s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. But in February 2021, soon after Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc in Texas, an eight-hour power outage at his Atlanta home became an epiphany.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile housing stability had long been on my mind, losing power drove home the importance of another piece of urban infrastructure: reliable access to electricity,\u201d says An, an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-faculty-affiliates\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEPIcenter faculty affiliate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and co-director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/urbanresearch.iac.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Urban Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt sparked my interest in studying the intersection of energy and urban policy to help make cities and communities not only socially equitable but also resilient to extreme weather.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/06\/30\/meet-the-expert-brian-an\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the EPIcenter News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy resilience broadens the scope of urban policy\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHousing and transportation are top priorities for many city mayors, policymakers and public policy researchers\u2014including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/c9f0cadc-5bb4-5b6f-9eca-bd38a9233993\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian An\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech\u2019s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. But in February 2021, soon after Winter Storm Uri wreaked havoc in Texas, an eight-hour power outage at his Atlanta home became an epiphany.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile housing stability had long been on my mind, losing power drove home the importance of another piece of urban infrastructure: reliable access to electricity,\u201d says An, an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-faculty-affiliates\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEPIcenter faculty affiliate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and co-director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/urbanresearch.iac.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Urban Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt sparked my interest in studying the intersection of energy and urban policy to help make cities and communities not only socially equitable but also resilient to extreme weather.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In this EPIcenter Expert series, meet Brian An, EPIcenter Affiliate, studying the intersection of energy resilience and urban policy to improve grid equity during extreme weather."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-07-07 16:26:49","changed_gmt":"2026-07-07 16:31:03","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680569":{"id":"680569","type":"image","title":"Brian-An_IAC-faculty-profile-732x1024.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBrian An, EPIcenter Faculty Affiliate and Assistant Professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1783441679","gmt_created":"2026-07-07 16:27:59","changed":"1783441679","gmt_changed":"2026-07-07 16:27:59","alt":"Brian An, EPIcenter Faculty Affiliate and Assistant Professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy ","file":{"fid":"264847","name":"Brian-An_IAC-faculty-profile-732x1024.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/Brian-An_IAC-faculty-profile-732x1024.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/07\/Brian-An_IAC-faculty-profile-732x1024.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":69638,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/07\/Brian-An_IAC-faculty-profile-732x1024.jpg?itok=wcUA_U3y"}}},"media_ids":["680569"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStory Written by: Silke Schmidt\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENews Contact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690894":{"#nid":"690894","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Discover Membrane-Based Approach to More Sustainable Oil Refining","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERefining crude oil into gasoline, jet fuel, and other everyday products requires enormous amounts of energy. The atmospheric and vacuum distillation processes used in refineries worldwide consume more than 1,100 terawatt-hours of energy annually \u2014 roughly enough to power 100 million U.S. homes for a year \u2014 while generating millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESix years after demonstrating that membranes could separate crude oil at the molecular level, Georgia Tech researcher Ryan Lively is part of an international team that has taken the concept a significant step further.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team, including investigators at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), discovered that a membrane material widely believed to be non-selective for molecules as small as those found in crude can in fact selectively separate crude oil into lighter and heavier fractions in a way researchers did not expect.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPublished in \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-026-10677-3\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etheir findings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E suggest that using membranes to separate crude oil before distillation could significantly reduce the energy, water, and carbon footprint of petroleum refining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lively.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELively\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the Thomas C. DeLoach Jr. Endowed Professor in Georgia Tech\u0027s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, served as an advisor and corresponding author on the study. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pure.kaist.ac.kr\/en\/persons\/dong-yeun-koh\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDong-Yeun Koh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor at KAIST and a former postdoc in the Lively Lab at Georgia Tech, led the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding on Earlier Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the 2020 \u003Cem\u003EScience\u003C\/em\u003E paper, Lively and collaborators demonstrated that specially designed membranes could separate crude oil into valuable fractions without relying solely on traditional heat-driven distillation. The work helped establish membrane-based crude oil fractionation as a promising alternative for reducing energy use in refining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This work grew directly out of the challenges we identified in our original findings in the 2020 article,\u0022 Lively said. \u0022One of the key challenges that the KAIST team set out to tackle was the very low oil productivities of the membrane units, which has limited the ability of this concept to leave the lab. Along the way, we not only increased the productivities, but we also uncovered a surprising new mechanism that could make membrane-based crude oil separations even more practical.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new study built on that foundation. The researchers investigated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes, a material commonly used as a non-selective support layer in filtration systems. Because the material is porous, the team generally did not expect it to perform precise molecular separations on its own.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut what they found surprised them, Lively said. As crude oil flowed through the membrane, heavier hydrocarbon molecules accumulated within the membrane\u0027s pores. Instead of clogging the membrane, the buildup created a stable internal layer that gradually narrowed the pathways through which molecules could travel. Surprisingly, the molecules that caused the buildup in the first place were eventually excluded from entering the membrane, resulting in a steady production of higher quality oil through the narrow pathways that remained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn effect, the membrane created its own molecular-scale filter. The result was a process that allowed lighter hydrocarbons to pass through while holding back heavier components.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe membrane enriched lighter fractions such as naphtha and kerosene while achieving crude oil flow rates more than 23 times higher those reported in the 2020 paper for whole crude oils\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen Buildup Becomes an Asset\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn most filtration systems, buildup inside a membrane (or fouling) is considered a problem because it reduces performance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut according to the researchers, this study demonstrates that something different can happen under the right conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing a range of analytical techniques, the researchers found that long-chain hydrocarbon molecules accumulated inside the membrane and became an essential part of the separation process. The deposits effectively transformed larger pores into stable transport pathways measuring less than two nanometers across, they deduced based on available experimental evidence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe membrane maintained consistent separation performance during four weeks of continuous operation, suggesting the filtration pathways remained stable over time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe findings challenge traditional assumptions about membrane fouling and may offer new opportunities for designing industrial separation systems that take advantage of similar behavior,\u201d Lively said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPotential Impact on Refining\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday\u0027s refineries heat entire streams of crude oil to separate them into useful products. By using membranes to remove a substantial portion of the lighter hydrocarbons before distillation, refineries could reduce the amount of material that must undergo energy-intensive heating. Alternatively, the refinery can use the membranes to incrementally increase refinery capacity, which is currently not possible using large-scale distillation equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo evaluate the potential impacts of the membrane system, the researchers modeled a refinery process that incorporated a membrane separation step before conventional distillation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis study reveals a new scientific principle in which a membrane interacts with a complex mixture and spontaneously forms its own separation channels,\u0022 Koh said. \u0022Working with real crude oil supplied by HD Hyundai Oilbank allowed us to validate the technology under conditions relevant to industrial operation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u0027s technoeconomic analysis showed that incorporating the membrane process could reduce distillation energy use by 30%, carbon dioxide emissions by 35%, and water consumption by 20%.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApplied across U.S. atmospheric crude distillation capacity \u2014 about 18 million barrels per day \u2014 those savings would be equivalent to powering roughly 2.2 million homes, removing about 3 million passenger vehicles from the road, and supplying enough water for approximately 660,000 people each year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Turning crude oil into useful products has relied on essentially the same basic approach for more than a century,\u0022 Lively said. \u0022Membranes offer a path toward achieving those separations with dramatically lower energy requirements and emissions.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study\u0027s findings also suggest that the phenomenon may not be limited to a single membrane chemistry. Researchers observed similar behavior in a second membrane material, raising the possibility that the approach could be extended to other membrane systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This is a terrific piece of research that rewards curiosity,\u0022 said Andrew LIvington, vice president of research and innovation and professor at Queen Mary University of London, who was not involved with the study. \u0022This work adds significantly to the field of membrane separations of crude oil streams as it tackles the first, hard to achieve separation of heavy hydrocarbons \u2013 most work to date has focused on lighter oils\u0026nbsp;\u2013 and it uses a simple and readily available membrane.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJihoon Choi, Hyeokjun Seo, Minyong Lee, Woong-Chul Shin, Jaemin Choi, Keonwoo Choi, Min-Jun Jang, Sung Gap Im, Jae W. Lee, Ryan P. Lively, and Dong-Yeun Koh, \u0022\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41586-026-10677-3\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECrude oil fractionation by means of mesoporous polyacrylonitrile membranes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0022 \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E, 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPublished in \u003Cem\u003ENature\u003C\/em\u003E, the researchers\u0027 findings suggest that using membranes to separate crude oil before distillation could significantly reduce the energy, water, and carbon footprint of petroleum refining.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Published in Nature, the researchers\u0027 findings suggest that using membranes to separate crude oil before distillation could significantly reduce the energy, water, and carbon footprint of petroleum refining."}],"uid":"27271","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 15:45:46","changed_gmt":"2026-07-06 17:19:42","author":"Brad Dixon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680502":{"id":"680502","type":"image","title":"RyanDong-Yeun.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EProfessors Ryan Lively (Georgia Tech) and Dong-Yeun Koh (KAIST). Koh used to be postdoctoral researcher in the Lively Lab.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782316293","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 15:51:33","changed":"1782316293","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 15:51:33","alt":"Professors Ryan Lively (Georgia Tech) and Dong-Yeun Koh (KAIST). Koh used to be postdoctoral researcher in the Lively Lab.","file":{"fid":"264775","name":"RyanDong-Yeun.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/RyanDong-Yeun.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/RyanDong-Yeun.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":190547,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/RyanDong-Yeun.jpg?itok=-eLTFUXj"}},"680503":{"id":"680503","type":"image","title":"PAN-Crude---Manuscript---R1---V6.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESchematic illustration of the membrane-based pre-fractionation process, showing the selective separation of light hydrocarbon fractions from crude oil feedstock to reduce energy requirements for subsequent atmospheric distillation.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782316323","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 15:52:03","changed":"1782316323","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 15:52:03","alt":"Schematic illustration of the membrane-based pre-fractionation process, showing the selective separation of light hydrocarbon fractions from crude oil feedstock to reduce energy requirements for subsequent atmospheric distillation.","file":{"fid":"264776","name":"PAN-Crude---Manuscript---R1---V6.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude---Manuscript---R1---V6.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude---Manuscript---R1---V6.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":84713,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude---Manuscript---R1---V6.jpg?itok=6Y4qawLU"}},"680504":{"id":"680504","type":"image","title":"PAN-Crude.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPhotographs illustrating the distinct color change upon fractionation of crude oils via PAN membrane.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782316357","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 15:52:37","changed":"1782316357","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 15:52:37","alt":"Photographs illustrating the distinct color change upon fractionation of crude oils via PAN membrane.","file":{"fid":"264777","name":"PAN-Crude.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":141397,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/PAN-Crude.jpg?itok=9_uTRAtb"}}},"media_ids":["680502","680503","680504"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"11764","name":"filtration"},{"id":"2177","name":"membranes"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon, \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:braddixon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebraddixon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["braddixon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691043":{"#nid":"691043","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia\u2019s First Superfund Research Center to Study Hazardous Industrial Pollution, Remediation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA coalition of scientists from six universities and community partners has received a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)\u003C\/a\u003E grant to establish Georgia\u2019s first Superfund Research Center. The center will study the health effects and potential remediation of harmful contaminants in Glynn County, a Georgia coastal community with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/magazine\/2024\/spring\/burden-brunswick\u0022\u003Ea long history of industrial pollution\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuperfund sites are highly contaminated areas designated by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/superfund\/what-superfund\u0022\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u003C\/a\u003E for hazardous waste cleanup. Superfund Research Centers are coordinated research programs \u2014 not physical buildings \u2014 designed to address complex environmental health problems, reduce exposure to contaminants, and improve public health.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tools.niehs.nih.gov\/srp\/programs\/index267.cfm\u0022\u003EFewer than 24\u003C\/a\u003E exist nationwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Community Asking Questions for Decades\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor generations, residents of the city of Brunswick and Glynn County have lived near former industrial facilities that produced or used chemicals such as toxaphene, PCBs, and mercury. Many have long suspected that these contaminants were affecting their health, yet lacked scientific evidence to validate their concerns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat began to change in 2023, when Emory University researchers launched the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S026974912500613X\u0022\u003EGlynn County human exposure study\u003C\/a\u003E at the invitation of residents. The study found elevated levels of legacy pollutants in the blood of many participants, confirming what community members had feared.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI want more neighbors to have the opportunity to be tested and to learn about the project,\u201d said resident Semona Holmes. \u201cBecause now more folks are saying, \u2018I want to be tested.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOthers on the coast echoed the need for continued investigation. \u201cExposure isn\u2019t always uniform,\u201d said Brunswick resident Michael Staley. \u201cSome residents may have higher levels depending on their proximity, diet, or occupation. I hope this gives our neighbors a clearer understanding of how our communities are affected, because often regular people feel uncertain and overlooked.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResidents have repeatedly asked for more testing, more transparency, and more opportunities to understand what is in their soil, water, and bodies. \u201cI would like to see an expansion of the exposure study because the soil needs to be tested,\u201d said Larry Owens, who lives near the Hercules-Pinova site, a former chemical plant that closed in 2023.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother resident, John Freeman, emphasized the need for broad participation. \u201cThey need to make sure everybody in our neighborhood knows they are going to be doing research so that everybody will have the chance to come out and get tested and see what\u2019s in their bodies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding on Community Momentum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new Superfund Research Center will expand this work significantly. Led by Emory University in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and Texas Tech University, the center will focus on five major research areas:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eaae967e07b3b81fd60ba6286b3615bd5\u0022\u003EHuman health research \u2014 evaluating links between chemical exposures and metabolic diseases.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ebae9bb06b2fa8cff77be0fb491e1c408\u0022\u003EToxicity testing \u2014 assessing how contaminants harm health.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ee609cad4ed42d244dc99b94572f68295\u0022\u003EEnvironmental sampling \u2014 identifying soil, water, and other exposure pathways.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e953737438b0a65d926def30bd93a72c1\u0022\u003EExtreme weather modeling \u2014 studying how storms and flooding move hazardous chemicals.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e124a5cca6a8725180eba7d57942d84a8\u0022\u003ERemediation research \u2014 evaluating low\u2011impact cleanup strategies suitable for sensitive coastal ecosystems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy combining cutting-edge exposure science and health research with direct community partnerships, the center will translate complex environmental data into practical information that supports healthier decisions for families, clinicians, and policymakers,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/profile\/faculty\/dana-barr\u0022\u003EDana Barr,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eprofessor of environmental health at Emory University and director of the Superfund Research Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBarr credited community leadership for the center\u0027s existence. \u201cThis project is a direct consequence of community support in many forms. We would not be here without your efforts, and we know what that means: We must keep community voices at the forefront of our work, and we need to deliver.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommunity Voices at the Heart of the Work\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResidents say the exposure study empowered them to speak up and demand answers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAfter I learned my numbers showed contamination, I started coming to the community meetings,\u201d said Jocelyn Farmer, a fenceline resident. \u201cI wanted to learn more about the study and about my neighborhood.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother resident, Eugene Smiley, said that \u201ceveryone who lives in this neighborhood should have their blood tested. Yes, I think they should come back and give people a chance to get tested so that we all are aware of what chemicals are in our bodies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor many in this coastal Georgia area, the new center represents long-awaited recognition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve been living here a long time, and we\u2019ve been exposed to it,\u201d said Victoria Mackey. \u201cIf this study had not happened, we would not have known. Now we have chemical awareness. There are generations that have been exposed to these chemicals. The expanded exposure study is needed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunity partners also see the center as a turning point.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research involves working with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.healthycoastalneighborhoods.org\/\u0022\u003EHealthy Coastal Neighborhoods\u003C\/a\u003E, a community-driven coalition working at the intersection of environmental quality and public health in Glynn County, Georgia. The coalition brings together community groups, researchers, and residents to address the toxic legacy that has affected coastal Georgia communities for decades. The coalition issued a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.healthycoastalneighborhoods.org\/Photos\/HCN%20Superfund%20Center%20Press%20Release%20Website%206-10-26.pdf\u0022\u003Elocal news release\u003C\/a\u003E announcing the new research center on June 10.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are honored and truly humbled to be partners in this project,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/jill-gambill\u0022\u003EJill Gambill,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eexecutive director of the CEAR Hub and senior research associate for the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech-Savannah. \u201cThe residents of Glynn County have been asking hard questions about their health and environment for a long time. This center is our opportunity to put Georgia Tech\u0027s resources and expertise to work directly for the community.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInvesting in Education, Engagement, and Local Capacity\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded at approximately $15 million over five years, the center will also support:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e31d51bd314b7ad43328ac994f0436402\u0022\u003ECommunity engagement programs.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5cd4b589ec5ce0e5bf347a175b92f70b\u0022\u003EYouth educational outreach.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e304724d42fcbe165dcd814b23cba2d8e\u0022\u003EImprovements to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.healthycoastalneighborhoods.org\/smart-seafood.html\u0022\u003EHealthy Coastal Neighborhoods\u2019 Seafood Smart website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e56228226f7b07420f5bd370d6e33a1d0\u0022\u003EA community advisory group.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e3d48d67a1692c28f7dea8f61df452170\u0022\u003ETraining for local healthcare providers.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe issue of industrial contamination is inherently complex, and this Superfund Research Center offers a rare opportunity to address it from multiple angles,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/profile\/faculty\/noah-scovronick\u0022\u003ENoah Scovronick,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Edeputy director of the center. \u201cJust as important, the center supports community-led efforts to raise awareness and reduce exposures.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Model for the Nation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the center\u2019s work is focused on Glynn County, its findings will have national relevance. Communities across the country face similar challenges with legacy pollutants, and the center\u2019s research aims to provide actionable insights for reducing exposure and improving public health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEven after production stops, these chemicals can continue entering people\u2019s bodies through lingering exposure pathways,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emoryhercules.com\/bio\/melanie-pearson-phd\/\u0022\u003EMelanie Pearson,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eassociate professor in the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. \u201cUnderstanding how that happens is essential to reducing risk. Partnering with affected residents strengthens the science and ensures it leads to meaningful, real-world benefits.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA coalition of scientists from six universities and community partners has received a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)\u003C\/a\u003E grant to establish Georgia\u2019s first Superfund Research Center.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A coalition of scientists from six universities and community partners has received a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) grant to establish Georgia\u2019s first Superfund Research Center. "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-07-06 16:57:08","changed_gmt":"2026-07-06 17:01:51","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680555":{"id":"680555","type":"image","title":"Some of the researchers and coastal community members participating in the study.","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome of the researchers and coastal community members participating in the study: \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFront row: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMelanie Pearson\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003EKasey McClary\u003C\/strong\u003E from Emory University, \u003Cstrong\u003ESemona Holmes\u003C\/strong\u003E from Urbana Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly, and \u003Cstrong\u003ERachael Thompson\u003C\/strong\u003E from Glynn Environmental Coalition. \u003Cem\u003EBack row: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnita Collins\u003C\/strong\u003E from Urbana Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly, \u003Cstrong\u003EKaty Smith\u003C\/strong\u003E from University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, \u003Cstrong\u003ENoah Scovronick\u003C\/strong\u003E from Emory University, community organizer and activist \u003Cstrong\u003EJazz Watts\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EJill Gambill\u003C\/strong\u003E from CEAR Hub at Georgia Tech, \u003Cstrong\u003EKimberly Andrews\u003C\/strong\u003E from University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, \u003Cstrong\u003EAlice Keyes\u003C\/strong\u003E from One Hundred Miles, and \u003Cstrong\u003EEtta Brown\u003C\/strong\u003E, who is a resident in the Urbana Perry Park neighborhood, a participant in the initial study of 100 residents, and a vocal supporter of the Superfund Research Center.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1783356598","gmt_created":"2026-07-06 16:49:58","changed":"1783357657","gmt_changed":"2026-07-06 17:07:37","alt":"Some of the researchers and coastal community members participating in the study.  Front row: Melanie Pearson and Kasey McClary from Emory University, Semona Holmes from Urbana Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly, and Rachael Thompson from Glynn Environmental Coalition.  Back row: Anita Collins from Urbana Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly, Katy Smith from University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Noah Scovronick from Emory University, community organizer and activist Jazz ","file":{"fid":"264832","name":"IMG_1697-2-use-THIS.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/IMG_1697-2-use-THIS.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/IMG_1697-2-use-THIS.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4846900,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/06\/IMG_1697-2-use-THIS.jpeg?itok=tW6MRPHd"}},"680556":{"id":"680556","type":"image","title":"Georgia marsh photo","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas, including this one, in Glynn County, Georgia. (Emory photo by Rob Spahr)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1783357178","gmt_created":"2026-07-06 16:59:38","changed":"1783357249","gmt_changed":"2026-07-06 17:00:49","alt":"Georgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas, including this one, in Glynn County, Georgia. (Emory photo by Rob Spahr)","file":{"fid":"264833","name":"2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/06\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":697249,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/06\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy.jpg?itok=ZtpIYY5K"}}},"media_ids":["680555","680556"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:walter.rich@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691032":{"#nid":"691032","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EPIcenter Experts in the News: AI, Prices, and the War","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEPIcenter Faculty Affiliates\u003C\/strong\u003E have recently contributed to more than a dozen news broadcasts, public radio interviews, and national media conversations on energy price trends, the war in Iran, and what these mean for everyday Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunities across Georgia and the nation are navigating a range of economic and energy-related pressures. Gas prices, inflation, and the rapid growth of data centers are shaping the cost of goods and services, influencing everyday household financial decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same time, ongoing geopolitical tensions are driving fluctuations in global oil markets and fuel prices. The expansion of AI data centers is also increasing demand for land, power, and water resources. And conflicts involving energy infrastructure in parts of the Middle East and Europe have affected supply stability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResponding to these challenges requires careful analysis of emerging trends, supported by strong research in policy and economics. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-faculty-affiliates\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Affiliates\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E study these complex, interconnected issues affecting energy systems, costs, and access. They analyze emerging trends, evaluate policy options, and identify practical pathways forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/07\/01\/epicenter-affiliated-experts-inform-public-understanding-of-energy-systems-and-their-economic-impacts\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the EPIcenter News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEPIcenter Faculty Affiliates\u003C\/strong\u003E have recently contributed to more than a dozen news broadcasts, public radio interviews, and national media conversations on energy price trends, the war in Iran, and what these mean for everyday Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunities across Georgia and the nation are navigating a range of economic and energy-related pressures. Gas prices, inflation, and the rapid growth of data centers are shaping the cost of goods and services, influencing everyday household financial decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"EPIcenter Faculty Affiliates have recently contributed to more than a dozen news broadcasts, public radio interviews, and national media conversations on energy price trends, the war in Iran, and what these mean for everyday Americans."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-07-02 19:36:58","changed_gmt":"2026-07-02 19:40:46","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680549":{"id":"680549","type":"image","title":"Adobe-Stock-Image-Collage-600x400.png","body":null,"created":"1783021099","gmt_created":"2026-07-02 19:38:19","changed":"1783021099","gmt_changed":"2026-07-02 19:38:19","alt":"4 panel image: clockwise from upper left - solar panels in field, data center and cooling complex, Hormuz Island, gas pump in a car\u0027s fuel port","file":{"fid":"264825","name":"Adobe-Stock-Image-Collage-600x400.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/02\/Adobe-Stock-Image-Collage-600x400.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/02\/Adobe-Stock-Image-Collage-600x400.png","mime":"image\/png","size":103965,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/02\/Adobe-Stock-Image-Collage-600x400.png?itok=GVkV7SSC"}}},"media_ids":["680549"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689006":{"#nid":"689006","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Conversation: Researchers develop biodegradable, plant\u2011based packaging from natural fibers \u2013 new research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full article in The Conversation here: https:\/\/bit.ly\/4uBteYr\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 20:13:54","changed_gmt":"2026-07-01 18:46:03","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"691018":{"#nid":"691018","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Research Seeks to Help Transplanted Cells Thrive in Type 1 Diabetes Treatment","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bio\/alexander-e-vlahos\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlexander Vlahos\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been awarded a five-year, research grant from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener nofollow noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022(opens in a new window)\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreakthrough T1D\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, to support pioneering work aimed at improving therapies for T1D. The award will support Vlahos\u2019 project, \u003Cem\u003E\u201cRewiring Cellular Microenvironments with Synthetic Circuits for Subcutaneous Islet Transplantation,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E through the Georgia Tech Research Corporation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ET1D is caused by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, requiring individuals to manage their blood glucose levels through lifelong insulin therapy. Transplanting pancreatic islets has long been investigated as a potential curative treatment, but long-lasting success in extrahepatic sites has been limited\u2014particularly when islets are transplanted beneath the skin\u2014due to poor blood vessel formation, immune rejection, and cellular stress following transplantation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVlahos\u2019 research addresses these limitations by combining synthetic biology\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eand tissue engineering\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Ein a new way: engineering cells to actively reshape their local environment after transplantation to make it more hospitable for the graft. Rather than relying solely on biomaterials or porous structures to support transplanted cells, the project focuses on programming the cells themselves to sense stress and respond dynamically.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/news\/new-research-seeks-help-transplanted-cells-thrive-type-1-diabetes-treatment\u0022\u003ERead the full story.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe award will support Vlahos\u2019 project, \u003Cem\u003E\u201cRewiring Cellular Microenvironments with Synthetic Circuits for Subcutaneous Islet Transplantation,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E through the Georgia Tech Research Corporation. Transplanting pancreatic islets has long been investigated as a potential curative treatment, but long-lasting success in extrahepatic sites has been limited. Vlahos\u2019 research addresses existing limitations by combining synthetic biology\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eand tissue engineering\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Ein a new way: engineering cells to actively reshape their local environment after transplantation to make it more hospitable for the graft.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Alexander Vlahos has been awarded a five-year, research grant to support pioneering work aimed at improving therapies for T1D."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-07-01 17:34:15","changed_gmt":"2026-07-01 17:39:38","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680543":{"id":"680543","type":"image","title":"_0000_Vlahos-Blood-Glucose.jpg","body":null,"created":"1782927261","gmt_created":"2026-07-01 17:34:21","changed":"1782927261","gmt_changed":"2026-07-01 17:34:21","alt":"A medical worker wearing latex gloves uses a device to test a patient\u0027s blood sugar.","file":{"fid":"264817","name":"_0000_Vlahos-Blood-Glucose.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/01\/_0000_Vlahos-Blood-Glucose.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/01\/_0000_Vlahos-Blood-Glucose.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":76893,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/01\/_0000_Vlahos-Blood-Glucose.jpg?itok=MSzUqn6I"}}},"media_ids":["680543"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"171033","name":"Synthetic Biology"},{"id":"178211","name":"islet"},{"id":"49591","name":"Diabetes"},{"id":"195186","name":"cell engineering"},{"id":"1039","name":"pancreas"},{"id":"3344","name":"insulin"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelly Petty | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690916":{"#nid":"690916","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Classroom to Manufacturing Floor: Teachers Build Real-World Manufacturing Skills at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor three days in June, a dozen middle and high school teachers from rural Georgia traded their classrooms for Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/montgomery-machining-mall\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMontgomery Machining Mall\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a machine shop where students and researchers design and build custom parts. Instead of grading papers, they cut metal on bandsaws, lathes, and milling machines while learning skills they\u2019ll take back to their students this fall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop is part of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/advanced-manufacturing-program\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a collaboration between the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtmi.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI), which connects rural educators with hands-on manufacturing training. This particular training was delivered through a partnership between GTMI, STEM@GTRI \u2014 GTRI\u2019s K-12 outreach program \u2014 and the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, leveraging the facilities and expertise of the Montgomery Machining Mall to provide teachers with direct experience in modern manufacturing. Building on GTRI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the program expands access to high-skill, high-wage career pathways across rural communities. The initiative is supported through state funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop comes at a time when demand for skilled manufacturing workers continues to grow nationwide, particularly in roles requiring precision, technical expertise, and problem-solving.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full story on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/classroom-manufacturing-floor-teachers-build-real-world-manufacturing-skills-georgia-tech\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research news site\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor three days in June, a dozen middle and high school teachers from rural Georgia traded their classrooms for Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/montgomery-machining-mall\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMontgomery Machining Mall\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a machine shop where students and researchers design and build custom parts.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"For three days in June, a dozen middle and high school teachers from rural Georgia traded their classrooms for Georgia Tech\u2019s Montgomery Machining Mall, a machine shop where students and researchers design and build custom parts. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-06-25 17:25:42","changed_gmt":"2026-06-25 17:25:42","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690736":{"#nid":"690736","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Professor, Student Lead Pioneering Research in Women\u2019s Health ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt affects up to one-third of the human population and can create symptoms severe enough to lead to hospitalization, yet much about what causes it remains a mystery. It\u2019s rarely discussed in public, often goes undiagnosed, and remains a consistently \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/immersive\/d41586-023-01475-2\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eunderfunded\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aamc.org\/news\/why-we-know-so-little-about-women-s-health\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eunderstudied\u003C\/a\u003E area of science.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat is this mystery condition? Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), which can cause severe pain, anemia, fatigue, and may even require some women to get blood transfusions.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScience has historically \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/time.com\/7171341\/gender-gap-medical-research\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eoverlooked\u003C\/a\u003E diseases and conditions such as HMB that predominantly affect women, but one Georgia Tech researcher and his doctoral student are working to change that.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAbout 30 percent of women have heavy menstrual, and that can cause them to become anemic,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/david-ku\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Ku\u003C\/a\u003E, a Regents\u2019 Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThere are a lot of lost days where there\u0027s fatigue and embarrassment from bleeding too much, and the causes of that bleeding are poorly understood.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKu, a faculty member in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, has received initial funding from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wellcomeleap.org\/the-missed-vital-sign\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWellcome Leap\u003C\/a\u003E to study whether clotting disorders contribute to HMB. The condition is most often attributed to hormone imbalances, leading many patients to receive treatments such as hormonal therapies that help manage symptoms. But in some cases, these treatments may treat symptoms while leaving an underlying bleeding disorder undiagnosed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf a woman goes on the pill, it supposedly regulates the hormones and masks if there\u0027s a blood clotting problem,\u201d Ku said. \u201cIf she has a clotting problem and doesn\u2019t know it, she could run into other clotting problems if she has an injury or some type of trauma in the future. By diagnosing it properly, we can fix it properly.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the study, Ku and his team of Chris Bresette, Minki Kang, and Raphaelle Dodart, are using a microfluidic blood-clotting test developed in the Ku laboratory to investigate whether clotting dysfunction contributes to heavy menstrual bleeding. This handheld instrument \u2014 which runs blood through a microfluidic tube about the width of a human hair \u2014 measures the speed of blood clotting and may open up possibilities for more personalized patient care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to develop a point of care device that could allow gynecologists to diagnose the problem while the patient is visiting, as opposed to sending the blood off to the lab,\u201d Ku said. \u201cCurrently, there is no good test for that. We\u2019ve simplified the microscope system so that you can directly see whether the blood is clotting by going through that small tube.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDodart, who was studying the mechanics of clotting and hypothesized the prevalence in HMB, is recruiting volunteers for the study. She is currently working with women who exhibit symptoms of HMB and are willing to give a small amount of blood to be tested through the diagnostic device. If her hypothesis around blood clotting is proven true, the study can expand further into the realm of treatment options.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe main goal now is that we identify a cause,\u201d Dodart said. \u201cIn the future, hopefully we can focus on finding some solutions, some non-hormonal treatments, because we are looking for a treatable dysfunction.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough women\u2019s health remains a largely underfunded area of science, the landscape is beginning to shift thanks to researchers like Ku and Dodart.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a widespread problem that not too many people have studied,\u201d Ku said. \u201cWhat we are studying is one of the treatable causes for heavy menstrual bleeding that we could actually change the outcome of right now.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Study Could Eventually Result in Improved Diagnostic Tool and Treatments for Common Disorder "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EHeavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects up to one-third of the human population and can create symptoms severe enough to lead to hospitalization, yet much about what causes it remains a mystery. David Ku, a faculty member in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, has received initial funding from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/wellcomeleap.org\/the-missed-vital-sign\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWellcome Leap\u003C\/a\u003E to study whether clotting disorders contribute to HMB.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Science has historically overlooked diseases and conditions that predominantly affect women, but one Georgia Tech researcher and his doctoral student are working to change that. "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-06-12 13:12:55","changed_gmt":"2026-06-25 15:52:30","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680456":{"id":"680456","type":"image","title":"HMB---Raphaelle-1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDoctoral student Raphaelle Dodart looks through a microscope at a small sample of clotted blood contained in a microfluidic chip.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781269982","gmt_created":"2026-06-12 13:13:02","changed":"1781269982","gmt_changed":"2026-06-12 13:13:02","alt":"A woman in a laboratory wearing a white lab coat looks through a microscope on a benchtop. Petri dishes and a digital scale sit nearby, with lab supplies and equipment arranged on shelves and counters. A window in the background shows greenery outside, and cables connect the microscope to nearby devices.","file":{"fid":"264718","name":"HMB---Raphaelle-1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/12\/HMB---Raphaelle-1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/12\/HMB---Raphaelle-1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":116366,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/12\/HMB---Raphaelle-1.jpg?itok=05VYGJ1j"}}},"media_ids":["680456"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690907":{"#nid":"690907","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Bruce Weinelt Joins BBISS as Managing Director","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) at Georgia Tech is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce Weinelt as its inaugural managing director (at the rank of Principal Extension Professional). In his new role, he will develop and lead BBISS\u2019s external partnership and fundraising strategy, while ensuring cohesive execution across the faculty leadership portfolio. \u0022The world\u0027s sustainability challenges demand collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and institutions. I\u0027m excited to help build the partnerships that enable Georgia Tech\u0027s research to create impact at scale,\u0022 Weinelt said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBruce brings more than two decades of senior executive experience at the intersection of global partnerships, institutional growth, and cross-sector collaboration spanning academia, philanthropy, government, and industry. Most recently, he served as senior expert and strategic advisor to the C-Suite at Conservation International on AI-enabled sustainability innovation. Before Conservation International, Weinelt served as Vice President of Global Growth at Schmidt Futures, where he founded the Global Growth function and served as chair of the Quad Fellowship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarlier, Weinelt spent a decade at the World Economic Forum, most recently as co-head of Partner Development for North America and Europe and a member of the North America Executive Team. He also led the Forum\u0027s multiyear Digital Transformation initiative, advising six national governments on digital readiness. In addition, he served as head of the Global Future Council on Space, shaping global space governance through frameworks such as the Space Sustainability Rating. He is a regular speaker and contributor to global media and convenings and has contributed to publications including Klaus Schwab\u0027s \u003Cem\u003EThe Fourth Industrial Revolution\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBruce is a rare hire for an academic institution,\u201d said\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EBeril Toktay, executive director of BBISS, Regents\u2019 Professor, and Brady Family Chair in the Scheller College of Business. \u0022He has built and scaled global partnerships at the highest levels of philanthropy, multilateral diplomacy, and the private sector. His combination of strategic experience, fundraising track record, and convening power across sectors is exactly what BBISS needs as we move into our next chapter.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWeinelt holds MBAs from the Mason School of Business at the College of William \u0026amp; Mary and IESE Universidad de Navarra. He completed an Executive Education in Global Leadership program offered by Columbia University, Wharton, INSEAD, and the China Europe International Business School, tailored to World Economic Forum Leadership.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBruce is a rare hire for an academic institution,\u201d said\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EBeril Toktay, executive director of BBISS, Regents\u2019 Professor, and Brady Family Chair in the Scheller College of Business. \u0022He has built and scaled global partnerships at the highest levels of philanthropy, multilateral diplomacy, and the private sector.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Bruce will develop and lead BBISS\u2019s external partnership and fundraising strategy, grounded in the Institute\u0027s academic research priorities."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 19:57:50","changed_gmt":"2026-06-25 15:16:16","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680510":{"id":"680510","type":"image","title":"Bruce_Weinelt_pic_sized","body":null,"created":"1782331580","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 20:06:20","changed":"1782331731","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 20:08:51","alt":"Headshot portrait of an individual photographed from the shoulders up against a plain light gray background, wearing a light gray turtleneck sweater. The individual faces forward with short, neatly styled hair and evenly lit features, centered in the frame.","file":{"fid":"264783","name":"Bruce_Weinelt_pic_sized.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Bruce_Weinelt_pic_sized.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/Bruce_Weinelt_pic_sized.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1757929,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/Bruce_Weinelt_pic_sized.png?itok=93o2HOzu"}}},"media_ids":["680510"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"195181","name":"Bruce Weinelt"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690746":{"#nid":"690746","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GIGABYTE Grant Supports Robotics and AI Ecosystem at Tech ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lab-idar.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ELaboratory for Intelligent Decision and Autonomous Robots (LIDAR)\u003C\/a\u003E was awarded a $1 million, three-year industrial grant from GIGABYTE to advance robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) research, with a focus on helping robots better interact with the real world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe grant will support building a robotics and AI ecosystem for dexterous and mobile manipulation, enabling robots to move through environments, interact with objects, and adapt to changing conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhao\u0022\u003EYe Zhao\u003C\/a\u003E, LIDAR director and associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, leads the project, with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/anqi-wu\u0022\u003EAnqi Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, serving as co-principal investigator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/gigabyte-grant-supports-robotics-and-ai-ecosystem-tech\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead the full story on the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering website\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Laboratory for Intelligent Decision and Autonomous Robots (LIDAR) was awarded a $1 million, three-year industrial grant from GIGABYTE to advance robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) research, with a focus on helping robots better interact with the real world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe grant will support building a robotics and AI ecosystem for dexterous and mobile manipulation, enabling robots to move through environments, interact with objects, and adapt to changing conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYe Zhao, LIDAR director and associate professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, leads the project, with Anqi Wu, assistant professor in the School of Computational Science and Engineering, serving as co-principal investigator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Laboratory for Intelligent Decision and Autonomous Robots (LIDAR) was awarded a $1 million, three-year industrial grant from GIGABYTE to advance robotics and AI research, with a focus on helping robots better interact with the real world. "}],"uid":"35851","created_gmt":"2026-06-12 19:28:34","changed_gmt":"2026-06-25 14:20:07","author":"aritchie6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ashley.ritchie@me.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAshley Ritchie\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690910":{"#nid":"690910","#data":{"type":"news","title":"What It Takes to Deliver a Tech\u2011Heavy World Cup","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith an estimated 500,000 visitors coming to the eight games in Atlanta over the next two months, the 2026 World Cup will be one of the biggest sporting events to come to the city since the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFIFA President Gianni Infantino likened the scale of each game to that of a Super Bowl. The success of a tournament that large will rely heavily on technology, affecting everything from the players on the pitch, all the way to viewers at home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn top of the state-of-the-art technology used at many large events, this World Cup will also see the debut of new technology. At the center of much of it will be electrical and computer engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperts from the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) weigh in on how the field is enabling the technology behind the world\u2019s largest sporting event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/what-it-takes-deliver-tech-heavy-world-cup\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the ECE News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWith hundreds of thousands of people attending the 104 World Cup games over the next 39 days and billions more watching at home, an immense amount of technology will be needed to ensure a seamless, safe, and enjoyable experience. Experts from ECE explain how electrical and computer engineering are facilitating some of the tournament\u0027s newest and most crucial technology.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"With hundreds of thousands of people attending the 104 World Cup games, Georgia Tech experts explain  how electrical and computer engineering are facilitating some of the tournament\u0027s newest and most crucial technology."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-06-24 21:24:12","changed_gmt":"2026-06-24 21:28:36","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680512":{"id":"680512","type":"image","title":"What-It-Takes-to-Deliver-a-Tech-Heavy-World-Cup.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1782336352","gmt_created":"2026-06-24 21:25:52","changed":"1782336420","gmt_changed":"2026-06-24 21:27:00","alt":"Stock image that shows a soccer stadium as the center of an AI chip design","file":{"fid":"264785","name":"What-It-Takes-to-Deliver-a-Tech-Heavy-World-Cup.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/What-It-Takes-to-Deliver-a-Tech-Heavy-World-Cup.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/24\/What-It-Takes-to-Deliver-a-Tech-Heavy-World-Cup.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":272785,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/24\/What-It-Takes-to-Deliver-a-Tech-Heavy-World-Cup.jpeg?itok=EGonBxq9"}}},"media_ids":["680512"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/06\/what-it-takes-deliver-tech-heavy-world-cup","title":"Read Full Story on ECE News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EZachary Winiecki\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDan Watson, Georgia Tech ECE\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690843":{"#nid":"690843","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Classroom to Manufacturing Floor: Teachers Build Real-World Manufacturing Skills at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor three days in June, a dozen middle and high school teachers from rural Georgia traded their classrooms for Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/montgomery-machining-mall\u0022\u003EMontgomery Machining Mall\u003C\/a\u003E, a machine shop where students and researchers design and build custom parts. Instead of grading papers, they cut metal on bandsaws, lathes, and milling machines while learning skills they\u2019ll take back to their students this fall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop is part of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/advanced-manufacturing-program\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) program\u003C\/a\u003E, a collaboration between the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtmi.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI), which connects rural educators with hands-on manufacturing training. This particular training was delivered through a partnership between GTMI, STEM@GTRI \u2014 GTRI\u2019s K-12 outreach program \u2014 and the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, leveraging the facilities and expertise of the Montgomery Machining Mall to provide teachers with direct experience in modern manufacturing. Building on GTRI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003ERural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, the program expands access to high-skill, high-wage career pathways across rural communities. The initiative is supported through state funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop comes at a time when demand for skilled manufacturing workers continues to grow nationwide, particularly in roles requiring precision, technical expertise, and problem-solving.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EInside the Machine Shop\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe training took place June 3 \u2013 5 in the Montgomery Machining Mall, where staff provided access to facilities, equipment, and technical expertise that made the immersive learning experience possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETeachers designed and manufactured a metal meat tenderizer and a metal coaster etched with both the Georgia Tech logo and their name. For many, this was their first exposure to advanced manufacturing tools and processes, and a glimpse into high-skill, high-wage careers within reach for their students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany of these teachers have never been exposed to any advanced manufacturing,\u201d said Sean Mulvanity, a program manager for STEM@GTRI and project lead for this workshop. \u201cBy the time they walk out of here, they\u2019ve actually created and manufactured physical items they can take back to their students.\u201d Unlike traditional professional development, the workshop places teachers directly in the machine shop, working on heavy equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor AMP program leaders, this pilot was a way to build momentum for school districts that may add advanced manufacturing courses and to make the machine shop feel less intimidating in the process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the biggest misconceptions about modern manufacturing is that it is inaccessible or limited to specialized factory environments,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtmi.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022\u003EGTMI Deputy Director Steven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cToday\u2019s manufacturing combines hands-on skills, digital technologies, AI, and problem-solving in ways that are relevant to students across many career pathways. By giving teachers direct experience in the machine shop, we help them bring that excitement back to their classrooms and show students that they can design, build, and innovate in their own communities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EFrom the Shop Floor to the Classroom\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the workshop participants is James Beveridge, who teaches computer science for grades 6-12 in the Chattahoochee County School District, a small, rural district south of Columbus. He has participated in multiple Georgia Tech-led training programs, and he runs a full computer science pathway for 450 middle and high school students. This fall will mark his third year in the Rural Computer Science Initiative and teaching computer science after two decades in industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeveridge had some informal experience with tools growing up \u2014 his father taught him basic carpentry and welding \u2014 but he had never done formal machining work before the AMP workshop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWorking with metal is different than working with wood, obviously, but it\u2019s been really interesting to see the precision involved,\u201d he said. \u201cWith wood, you can be off by a sixteenth of an inch, and nobody cares. When you\u2019re machining metal parts, it has to be very, very precise. Learning to use the precision measuring tools has been eye-opening.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Beveridge, one of the biggest benefits of his ongoing work with Georgia Tech through the Rural Computer Science Initiative and related programs is that he never leaves empty-handed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEvery time I come up here to learn something new, they send me home with the equipment to teach it with,\u201d he said. \u201cThe first time, I left with a classroom set of robots so my students could learn to program. Another time, it was a more advanced humanoid robot with artificial intelligence. Now, I\u2019m going back with new skills in machining and a physical project I can show my students.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother participant, Juone Brown, teaches high school computer science and AI to students at Dooly County High School in Vienna, Georgia. This is her second year in the rural computer science partnership and her fourth year teaching at Dooly. Previously, Brown was a professor for 25 years at Fort Valley State University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike Beveridge, Brown has no formal machining background but said the way workshop instructors broke down each step \u2014 especially the math behind the cuts \u2014 made the work feel approachable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt has been fantastic and really well-paced,\u201d she said. \u201cWe all come from different backgrounds, but the way they present the information makes it click. We know the math, but when you\u2019re on the machine, and they show you easier ways to get the cut you need, it\u2019s very encouraging.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe\u2019s already thinking about how to translate that feeling for her students, many of whom prefer building things to writing code. \u201cI\u2019m always telling them that skills pay the bills,\u201d Brown said. \u201cA lot of my students are hands-on. Now I can connect what we\u2019re doing in class to real parts and jobs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBringing Advanced Manufacturing to More Georgia Classrooms\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the workshop, teachers are expected to integrate machining concepts into existing courses or help build new manufacturing pathways at their schools. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAMP program leaders intentionally kept this pilot cohort small. The team plans to repeat the workshop several times over the coming year, expanding to more schools and districts across Georgia, building local champions who can help launch advanced manufacturing programs in their communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) convenes industry leaders, government partners, and top researchers to collaborate on the grand challenges facing manufacturing today: accelerating technology development and deployment; creating, maintaining, and filling quality jobs; ensuring global competitiveness; and advancing economic and environmental stability.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EOur vision is to ensure rapid innovation that secures U.S. dominance in advanced manufacturing. Through the design and development of artificial intelligence systems, secure digital manufacturing, additive and subtractive processes, and large-scale production enterprises, GTMI stands at the forefront of manufacturing innovation \u2014 leveraging state-of-the-art facilities, including the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility, to turn research breakthroughs into market-ready solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).\u202fFounded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 3,000 employees, supporting eight laboratories across more than 20 locations nationwide and performing more than $919 million in problem-solving research annually for government and industry.\u202fGTRI\u0027s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERural Georgia teachers gain practical machine shop training at Georgia Tech, bringing advanced manufacturing skills back to their classrooms.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Rural Georgia teachers gain practical machine shop training at Georgia Tech, bringing advanced manufacturing skills back to their classrooms."}],"uid":"35874","created_gmt":"2026-06-22 13:56:29","changed_gmt":"2026-06-22 14:28:20","author":"Anna Akins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680485":{"id":"680485","type":"image","title":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_07.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJuone Brown (left), a teacher at Dooly County High School in Vienna, Georgia, called the bootcamp well-paced and plans to bring what she learned back to her students this fall, many of whom prefer hands-on learning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782132769","gmt_created":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","changed":"1782132769","gmt_changed":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","alt":"A participant at a Georgia Tech manufacturing workshop cuts metal on industrial equipment. ","file":{"fid":"264755","name":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_07.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_07.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_07.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":15053651,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_07.JPG?itok=DogDs26z"}},"680488":{"id":"680488","type":"image","title":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_28.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERural Georgia teachers pose with the metal meat tenderizers they made during a machining workshop hosted by the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) and Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) at the Montgomery Machining Mall.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782132769","gmt_created":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","changed":"1782132769","gmt_changed":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","alt":"Participants in a Georgia Tech machining workshop pose for a group photo. ","file":{"fid":"264758","name":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_28.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_28.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_28.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":19978833,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_28.JPG?itok=6CoXkoFp"}},"680487":{"id":"680487","type":"image","title":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_23.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJames Beveridge, a computer science teacher in the Chattahoochee County School District, said he is excited to take back new machining skills and physical items back to share with his students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782132769","gmt_created":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","changed":"1782132769","gmt_changed":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","alt":"A participant at a Georgia Tech manufacturing workshop cuts metal on industrial equipment. ","file":{"fid":"264757","name":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_23.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_23.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_23.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17227017,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_23.JPG?itok=G0dCSa97"}},"680486":{"id":"680486","type":"image","title":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_16.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA metal meat tenderizer created by participants during the workshop.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1782132769","gmt_created":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","changed":"1782132769","gmt_changed":"2026-06-22 12:52:49","alt":"A metal meat tenderizer with a textured striking surface created by participants at a Georgia Tech workshop. ","file":{"fid":"264756","name":"2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_16.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_16.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_16.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":20854471,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/22\/2026_0603_image_STEM-GTRI_machine-bootcamp_16.JPG?itok=hDoa2ebX"}}},"media_ids":["680485","680488","680487","680486"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"94431","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"170709","name":"STEM@GTRI"},{"id":"185675","name":"Montgomery Machining Mall"},{"id":"1690","name":"rural economic development"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E Anna Akins\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E Jennifer Martin | jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhotos: \u003C\/strong\u003ESean McNeil\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECopyediting:\u003C\/strong\u003E Stacy Braukman\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690826":{"#nid":"690826","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Zhuomin Zhang Receives ASME 2026 James Harry Potter Gold Medal","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhang\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZhuomin Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, J. Erskine Love, Jr. Professor in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has been awarded the 2026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.asme.org\/about-asme\/honors-awards\/achievement-awards\/james-harry-potter-gold-medal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Harry Potter Gold Medal \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003Eby the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This award recognizes eminent achievement or distinguished service in the science of thermodynamics and its applications in mechanical engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhang joins a select group of past recipients whose work has shaped modern understanding of energy systems and thermal sciences. The medal is considered one of the most prestigious awards presented by ASME.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI feel deeply honored to be listed alongside distinguished scholars in the field of thermodynamics research and education, including some of my own teachers and mentors,\u201d Zhang said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EASME recognized Zhang for his \u201cpioneering study of radiative thermal power generation and electroluminescent refrigeration, especially on the application of second-law analysis to these systems while accounting for photon entropy and chemical potential.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/zhuomin-zhang-receives-asme-2026-james-harry-potter-gold-medal\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the ME Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhang\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZhuomin Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, J. Erskine Love, Jr. Professor in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has been awarded the 2026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.asme.org\/about-asme\/honors-awards\/achievement-awards\/james-harry-potter-gold-medal\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Harry Potter Gold Medal \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003Eby the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This award recognizes eminent achievement or distinguished service in the science of thermodynamics and its applications in mechanical engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhang joins a select group of past recipients whose work has shaped modern understanding of energy systems and thermal sciences. The medal is considered one of the most prestigious awards presented by ASME.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI feel deeply honored to be listed alongside distinguished scholars in the field of thermodynamics research and education, including some of my own teachers and mentors,\u201d Zhang said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EASME recognized Zhang for his \u201cpioneering study of radiative thermal power generation and electroluminescent refrigeration, especially on the application of second-law analysis to these systems while accounting for photon entropy and chemical potential.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Zhuomin Zhang, J. Erskine Love, Jr. Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been awarded the 2026 James Harry Potter Gold Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-06-18 21:08:58","changed_gmt":"2026-06-18 21:12:50","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680484":{"id":"680484","type":"image","title":"Zhuomin_Zhang-photo_png_web.png","body":null,"created":"1781817065","gmt_created":"2026-06-18 21:11:05","changed":"1781817065","gmt_changed":"2026-06-18 21:11:05","alt":"Zhuomin Zhang Profile Picture","file":{"fid":"264753","name":"Zhuomin_Zhang-photo_png_web.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/18\/Zhuomin_Zhang-photo_png_web.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/18\/Zhuomin_Zhang-photo_png_web.png","mime":"image\/png","size":272492,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/18\/Zhuomin_Zhang-photo_png_web.png?itok=kUMW8_nb"}}},"media_ids":["680484"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/zhuomin-zhang-receives-asme-2026-james-harry-potter-gold-medal","title":"Read Full Story on the ME Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690767":{"#nid":"690767","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Summer Carbon Management Fellows Program Visit to the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Lab","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe combustion lab had the pleasure of touring visiting scholars from several neighboring universities on Wednesday, May 27. The combustion lab tour was part of a larger campus visit centered on the topic of carbon management. On the tour, students learned about combustion research activities in fuel flexibility and advanced propulsion concepts. A description of the larger campus visit follows.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Summer Carbon Management Fellows Program launched with an in-person kickoff at Georgia Tech, giving students an opportunity to connect with one another, learn more about the program, and begin exploring the role of carbon management in energy, sustainability, and industry innovation. The student group included Georgia Tech Graduate Assistants and students from Kentucky State University, Tennessee State University, Florida A\u0026amp;M University, North Carolina A\u0026amp;T State University, Tuskegee University, Southern University Law Center, and Southern University and A\u0026amp;M College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/comblab.gatech.edu\/node\/335\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the Ben T. Zinn Lab News page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe combustion lab had the pleasure of touring visiting scholars from several neighboring universities on Wednesday, May 27. The combustion lab tour was part of a larger campus visit centered on the topic of carbon management. On the tour, students learned about combustion research activities in fuel flexibility and advanced propulsion concepts. A description of the larger campus visit follows.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Summer Carbon Management Fellows Program launched with an in-person kickoff at Georgia Tech, giving students an opportunity to connect with one another, learn more about the program, and begin exploring the role of carbon management in energy, sustainability, and industry innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The combustion lab had the pleasure of touring visiting scholars from several neighboring universities on Wednesday, May 27. The combustion lab tour was part of a larger campus visit centered on the topic of carbon management. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-06-16 17:37:21","changed_gmt":"2026-06-16 17:44:50","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680471":{"id":"680471","type":"image","title":"GTCarbonFellowsKickoff-5159-LR.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Emerson, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech giving a tour of the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Lab for the Summer Carbon Management Fellows\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781631462","gmt_created":"2026-06-16 17:37:42","changed":"1781631462","gmt_changed":"2026-06-16 17:37:42","alt":"Ben Emerson, Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering giving a tour of the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Lab for the Summer Carbon Management Fellows","file":{"fid":"264737","name":"GTCarbonFellowsKickoff-5159-LR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/16\/GTCarbonFellowsKickoff-5159-LR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/16\/GTCarbonFellowsKickoff-5159-LR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":924107,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/16\/GTCarbonFellowsKickoff-5159-LR.jpg?itok=EBkZvv2e"}}},"media_ids":["680471"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/comblab.gatech.edu\/node\/335","title":"Read Full Story on Ben T. Zinn Lab News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194608","name":"HBCU\/MSI Partnerships"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690754":{"#nid":"690754","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Wearable Reroutes Lost Sensation, Restores Stability","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMisjudge a curb or miss a step on the stairs, and there is a split second of panic as your foot doesn\u2019t land when you expect it to. That brief loss of pressure can be enough to throw off your balance entirely.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor most, that heart-pounding uncertainty ends the moment the foot finds solid ground. But for many individuals living with conditions like stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI), that sense of disconnect is a permanent reality.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese conditions of course have a huge effect on our ability to move around and be independent \u2014 but the other side of it is the sensory feedback that we lose,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/matthew-t-flavin\u0022\u003EMatthew Flavin\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. Most rehabilitation treatments primarily focus on restoring movement, but \u201ceven if you have motor control, if you can\u2019t feel when your foot\u0027s touching the ground it can be really hard for you to move around safely.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a new study published in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2536577123\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Flavin and an interdisciplinary team of researchers introduce a way to bridge this gap: a wearable \u201csensory substitution\u201d system that translates foot pressure into high-tech patterns of heat and vibration they can feel elsewhere.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system uses high-resolution pressure-sensing insoles designed by the team, which are placed inside a user\u0027s shoes to record how their weight shifts in real-time. This data is streamed via Bluetooth to a flexible, skin-conformable array of haptic receivers worn on the forearms, a part of the body that often retains sensation in SCI. The receivers give quick pressure feedback through vibration, while also alerting the user to longer-term pressure \u201chotspots\u201d through heat.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the limitations of a lot of approaches in haptics is that you\u0027re having to map a missing sense onto a completely different sense,\u201d says Flavin. \u201cWe\u2019re keeping the type of information that we\u0027re missing, which is the distribution of pressure, and we\u0027re just basically putting it on a different part of their body.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERerouting the lost sensation was key to making the device intuitive to learn. Participants were able to correctly identify the \u201cfeel\u201d of the ground through their arms with high accuracy within a mere two-hour session. When tested with a small group of participants with stroke or SCI, the wearable significantly improved standing balance and led to steadier walking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat\u2019s encouraging about these early results is that participants appeared to use the feedback in ways that supported balance and walking,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mccormick.northwestern.edu\/research-faculty\/directory\/profiles\/rogers-john.html\u0022\u003EJohn Rogers\u003C\/a\u003E, a materials science and engineering professor at Northwestern University who collaborated on this study. \u201cOur study suggests that providing pressure information through another part of the body could be a practical path for helping people compensate for lost sensation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile vibration provides immediate feedback for walking and balance, the team views the thermal feedback as a tool for long-term health. Heat is a slower, low-frequency signal that could alert patients to pressure hotspots, potentially preventing diabetic foot ulcers or pressure injuries for those who are bedridden or use wheelchairs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe small, lightweight system is completely untethered, making it suitable for use during daily activities in and outside the clinic. It\u2019s also highly adaptable to different injury types, which is ideal for conditions as variable as stroke, SCI, and diabetic neuropathy. Placement of the haptic receivers can be adjusted based on where a patient has the most sensation, and the sensitivity of the insoles can be tailored to each patient.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a member of several of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/interdisciplinary-research-institutes\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Research Institutes\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/robotics\u0022\u003EInstitute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 Flavin credits the project\u2019s success to an interdisciplinary effort and deep engagement with clinicians and patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis reinforces the importance of really engaging with your stakeholders very early on,\u201d says Flavin. \u201cIf you\u0027re not continually refining that concept with those stakeholders, you quickly find that they might be looking for something that your device isn\u0027t delivering.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith new funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the team is now working to make the technology even smaller and more reconfigurable, moving closer to a standard wearable for daily clinical use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDOI: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2536577123\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2536577123\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have developed a wireless wearable that translates foot pressure into heat and vibration, helping individuals with sensory impairments regain balance and mobility.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers have developed a wireless wearable that translates foot pressure into heat and vibration, helping individuals with sensory impairments regain balance and mobility."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-06-15 20:56:13","changed_gmt":"2026-06-16 12:16:33","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680466":{"id":"680466","type":"image","title":"Flavin-Device-Under-Microscope.png","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EThe system converts pressure underfoot into vibration and heat felt elsewhere on the body, helping people with sensory loss regain awareness of their footing and improve balance.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1781557523","gmt_created":"2026-06-15 21:05:23","changed":"1781557523","gmt_changed":"2026-06-15 21:05:23","alt":"Close-up of hands positioning a flexible haptic device with embedded electronics under a microscope, highlighting the small components and patterned array used to deliver sensory feedback.","file":{"fid":"264732","name":"Flavin-Device-Under-Microscope.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Under-Microscope.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Under-Microscope.png","mime":"image\/png","size":10816942,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Under-Microscope.png?itok=7OCs2RGM"}},"680467":{"id":"680467","type":"image","title":"Flavin-Device-Portrait.png","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EMatthew Flavin, assistant professor in electrical engineering and lead author of the study, holds the flexible haptic device.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1781557731","gmt_created":"2026-06-15 21:08:51","changed":"1781557731","gmt_changed":"2026-06-15 21:08:51","alt":"A researcher stands in a laboratory holding a flexible, transparent wearable device embedded with small electronic nodes, with microscopes and lab equipment visible in the background.","file":{"fid":"264733","name":"Flavin-Device-Portrait.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Portrait.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Portrait.png","mime":"image\/png","size":12093054,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Portrait.png?itok=7qCineau"}},"680468":{"id":"680468","type":"image","title":"Flavin-Device-Schematic.png","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EPressure-sensing insoles in the shoes transmit real-time data to flexible haptic arrays worn on the forearms, where patterns of vibration and heat recreate a sense of foot-ground contact through sensory substitution.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1781571167","gmt_created":"2026-06-16 00:52:47","changed":"1781571167","gmt_changed":"2026-06-16 00:52:47","alt":"Schematic diagram of a wearable sensory substitution system showing pressure-sensing insoles placed inside shoes, flexible haptic arrays worn on both forearms, and a smartphone interface. Close-up views highlight the insole sensor layout and a dense grid of small actuators on the forearm device that deliver vibration and heat.","file":{"fid":"264734","name":"Flavin-Device-Schematic.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Schematic.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Schematic.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2450907,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/15\/Flavin-Device-Schematic.png?itok=U8hkGUYv"}}},"media_ids":["680466","680467","680468"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/new-wearable-device-monitors-skin-health-real-time","title":"New Wearable Device Monitors Skin Health in Real Time"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/confronting-roadblocks-medical-technology-innovation","title":"Confronting the Roadblocks in Medical Technology Innovation"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/head-toe-georgia-tech-researchers-treat-entire-human-body-through-neuroscience-research","title":"Head to Toe: Georgia Tech Researchers Treat the Entire Human Body Through Neuroscience Research"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter and Media Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhotos:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EMaxwell Guberman\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690517":{"#nid":"690517","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Data Centers, Microbes, and the Future of Water Reuse","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs metro Atlanta becomes a magnet for hyperscale data centers, the region faces a twin challenge: securing enough water to cool these facilities while ensuring that wastewater reuse doesn\u0027t introduce new public health risks. At Georgia Tech, Katherine Graham, assistant professor of environmental engineering and Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Faculty Fellow, is working at exactly that nexus, using viruses, bacteria, and advanced analytics to understand how water reuse and cooling systems can support data center growth without compromising community health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Data centers are important, and so are their cooling needs. I don\u0027t think they\u0027re going away,\u0022 she said. \u0022But there needs to be a lot of investigation to develop guidelines for operating these facilities based on how microbes behave so that we can get the economic benefit and protect the communities where they operate.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETracing Viruses Across Georgia\u0027s Water Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough a Sustainability Next Seed Grant project administered by the BBISS, Graham\u0027s lab focuses on water reuse safety, particularly in Georgia communities facing water stress. Her team works with municipal reuse facilities, where, she said, \u201cWe look at what comes out of wastewater treatment plants, what exists in the natural waters they discharge treated water into, and what comes into downstream drinking water plants at their intake.\u0022 Her team is especially interested in pathogens such as viruses and phages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhages \u2014 viruses that infect bacteria rather than humans \u2014 pose no direct human hazard. Still, because they travel through water systems similarly to viruses that can harm people, they serve as powerful ecological markers. \u0022They can be good surrogates for human viruses,\u0022 she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis work builds on Graham\u0027s wastewater surveillance experience dating to 2018, which became central during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her lab helped develop actionable public health guidelines to show how wastewater can be used to monitor for mpox outbreaks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Cooling Towers to Data Centers: A Proactive Public Health Lens\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Graham\u0027s Sustainability Next Seed Grant project isn\u0027t exclusively about data centers, the connection to their cooling systems is direct. Data centers need to dissipate massive quantities of heat \u2014 typically with water-hungry cooling towers \u2014 and are increasingly turning to treated wastewater as a supply.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Reuse can supply more water of sufficient quality for these cooling systems,\u0022 Graham said. But beyond the quantity issue lies an underexplored dimension: microbial risk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECooling towers have long been linked to Legionnaires\u0027 disease, with documented outbreaks occurring miles downwind of a source. \u0022For most healthy people, it may not be a problem,\u0022 Graham noted, \u0022but for the immunocompromised and elderly, it can be a really big problem.\u0022 What makes this especially concerning is how little is known. \u0022It\u0027s not well quantified. It\u0027s not well characterized,\u0022 she said. \u0022There\u0027s been no national study collecting cooling-tower waters and looking at the prevalence of these bacteria.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is currently no systematic, national effort to characterize the prevalence of Legionella and other opportunistic pathogens in any cooling towers \u2014 let alone the potential additional risk of building more cooling systems to accommodate the needs of hyperscale data centers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBBISS has been central to sharpening her focus here. Exposing Graham to colleagues working on energy and water quantity challenges helped her connect the microbiology dots. \u0022A lot of the data center ideas I\u0027ve started to think about have been generated by BBISS faculty presenting their own work,\u0022 she said. \u0022Given that cooling towers are already a problem in pre-AI settings, it seems like a good proactive idea to be aware of the problem going into the age of AI.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraham is now writing proposals to study microbial communities in cooling towers, analyzing water, air, and biofilms under different operating conditions. Her call to industry is direct: Partner early. \u0022I would be extremely happy to collaborate with anyone interested in this problem. Industry buy-in would be critical \u2014 and so helpful \u2014 to get it done.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHeat Waves, Infrastructure, and Legionella\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraham\u0027s lab also examines how climate-driven extreme heat affects drinking water systems. Working with utilities in the Southwest, her team studies how prolonged heat waves warm distribution-system water, accelerate disinfectant loss, and shape the persistence of microorganisms in drinking water distribution systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We were able to see temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit) \u2014 with a maximum of 52 (126 degrees Fahrenheit) \u2014 which is very warm,\u0022 she said. \u0022Most of the literature refers to testing conducted at much lower temperatures, like room temperature.\u0022 Such elevated temperatures, combined with nutrients and stagnation, can allow opportunistic pathogens to thrive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeaching and Outreach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraham teaches undergraduate environmental engineering and graduate courses in quantitative microbial risk assessment and public health microbiology. She serves as associate editor for \u003Cem\u003EWater Research\u003C\/em\u003E and has hosted a microbiology outreach workshop for K-12 students through Georgia Tech\u2019s \u0026nbsp;Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe through line across her work is consistent: science that anticipates risk and informs action. \u0022As we expand this data center infrastructure, a proactive approach should be taken to understanding concerns that, maybe, haven\u0027t been fully addressed yet.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a region and a world betting big on AI, her research offers a timely reminder: Progress depends not just on computing power, but on ensuring that the water that keeps these systems from melting down remains safe for the communities living alongside them.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThrough a Sustainability Next Seed Grant project administered by the BBISS, Graham\u0027s lab focuses on water reuse safety, particularly in Georgia communities facing water stress.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Metro Atlanta has become a magnet for hyperscale data centers and securing enough cooling water with wastewater reuse has unknown public health risks."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 18:20:24","changed_gmt":"2026-06-15 17:12:50","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680362":{"id":"680362","type":"image","title":"Katherine_Graham_portrait.jpg","body":null,"created":"1779906452","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 18:27:32","changed":"1779906576","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 18:29:36","alt":"Portrait of an individual photographed outdoors, shown from the shoulders up and wearing a dark red top. The background includes a textured stone column, greenery, and part of a building with a window visible behind the subject.","file":{"fid":"264618","name":"Katherine_Graham_portrait.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/Katherine_Graham_portrait.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/Katherine_Graham_portrait.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":414974,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/27\/Katherine_Graham_portrait.jpg?itok=JmK9zlJR"}}},"media_ids":["680362"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"195154","name":"hyperscale datacenters"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690711":{"#nid":"690711","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Maintains No. 1 Ranking in Energy and Fuels for Third Consecutive Year","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-global-universities\/united-states\/energy-fuels\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has named\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech the top-ranked public university in energy and fuels research (No. 3 nationally). The Institute has maintained this ranking every year since the category was first introduced in 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-named-top-ranked-public-university-energy\u0022\u003Econtinued recognition\u003C\/a\u003E highlights Georgia Tech\u2019s research leadership in advancing energy solutions across technology, science, policy, and economics and in delivering technically advanced solutions that is scalable, secure, and sustainable for the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe scale and integration of our energy ecosystem is among Georgia Tech\u2019s great strengths,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/leadership\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cA defining part of that ecosystem is the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), our interdisciplinary research institute that brings together the talents of researchers from across disciplines to accelerate energy innovation and deliver real-world solutions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESEI integrates energy activities at Georgia Tech by connecting more than 1,000 researchers across the entire energy value chain and enabling collaboration with industry, government, communities, and nonprofits.\u0026nbsp;SEI is deeply engaged in building community, developing resources, promoting thought leadership, and marshaling the full resources of Georgia Tech around tackling the tough energy and environmental problems and opportunities society faces.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech\u2019s energy leadership is built on the depth of our research and the breadth of our collaborations,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, SEI\u2019s executive director. \u201cBy connecting expertise across the full energy value chain, we are advancing solutions that enhance affordability, reliability, security, and sustainability.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/em\u003E evaluates the academic research performance of universities in 51 subject areas using indicators such as publications, citations, and global and regional research reputation. Georgia Tech was assessed among 292 institutions in the U.S. and\u0026nbsp;continues its strong\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/best-colleges\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1569\/overall-rankings\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estanding\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in the rankings, claiming the No. 32 spot overall in the nation and No. 9 among public universities.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-global-universities\/united-states\/energy-fuels\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has named\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech the top-ranked public university in energy and fuels research (No. 3 nationally). The Institute has maintained this ranking every year since the category was first introduced in 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-named-top-ranked-public-university-energy\u0022\u003Econtinued recognition\u003C\/a\u003E highlights Georgia Tech\u2019s research leadership in advancing energy solutions across technology, science, policy, and economics and in delivering technically advanced solutions that is scalable, secure, and sustainable for the future.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"U.S. News \u0026 World Report has named Georgia Tech the top-ranked public university in energy and fuels research (No. 3 nationally). The Institute has maintained this ranking every year since the category was first introduced in 2024."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-06-09 17:01:43","changed_gmt":"2026-06-15 13:28:52","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680441":{"id":"680441","type":"image","title":"EnergyGraphic.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1781024511","gmt_created":"2026-06-09 17:01:51","changed":"1781024511","gmt_changed":"2026-06-09 17:01:51","alt":"Graphic showing #1 public university in energy in Georgia Tech colors","file":{"fid":"264700","name":"EnergyGraphic.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/09\/EnergyGraphic.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/09\/EnergyGraphic.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":134834,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/09\/EnergyGraphic.jpeg?itok=3L5Z9pvJ"}}},"media_ids":["680441"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPriya Devarajan | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690733":{"#nid":"690733","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Scientist Maps Biodiversity on a Warming Southern Landscape","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/news\/jenny-mcguire-named-teasley-professor\u0022\u003EJenny McGuire\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor\u0026nbsp;in the Schools of Biological Sciences and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, is building a regional blueprint for safeguarding biodiversity in the southeastern United States while drawing insights from half a world away in Denmark. She is\u0026nbsp;the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/news\/jenny-mcguire-named-teasley-professor\u0022\u003EHarry and Anna Teasley Professor in Ecology\u003C\/a\u003E and Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) faculty fellow. She is currently on faculty development leave in Copenhagen where she is sharpening her work with fresh perspectives from European conservation practice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGuire, winner of the National Science Foundation\u2019s prestigious \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/news\/jenny-mcguire-lutz-warnke-receive-nsf-career-awards-0\u0022\u003EFaculty Early Career Development Award\u003C\/a\u003E, describes herself as a\u0026nbsp;spatial or landscape ecologist, rather than a traditional wildlife biologist. She currently leads Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Spatial Ecology and Paleontology Lab, whose motto is\u0026nbsp;\u201clearning from the past how to conserve the future.\u201d\u0026nbsp;She uses modern, historical, and paleontological specimens\u0026nbsp;to identify how communities of plants and animals move across landscapes over long time scales in response to past climate shifts. Her goal is to identify\u0026nbsp;strategies to conserve as much biodiversity as possible\u0026nbsp;in the face of an increasingly volatile climate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwice awarded\u0026nbsp;with Sustainability Next Seed Grants by BBISS, most recently in 2025, McGuire is using that support to knit together scientists, conservation groups, agencies, and students to understand how plants and animals are moving in response to both climate and land-use change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve been wanting to pivot to a more regional approach toward this work,\u201d McGuire said. \u201cThe Southeast, and especially the Atlanta region, is really critical because we sit at this \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.maps.tnc.org\/migrations-in-motion\/#3\/19\/-78\u0022\u003Eimportant geographic point\u003C\/a\u003E where southern Appalachia and the Piedmont come together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs species track cooler temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, many are expected to move upslope into the\u0026nbsp;southern Appalachians, even as Atlanta\u2019s urban and suburban footprint continues to expand northward. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of competing stressors on the regional environment,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a Regional Conservation Community\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of McGuire\u2019s Sustainability Next Seed Grants, in collaboration with Nicole Kennard, BBISS Assistant Director for Community Engaged Research, supports a partnership with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rootsdownregen.com\/\u0022\u003ERoots Down\u003C\/a\u003E, an innovative urban land-use nonprofit working with the cities of Avondale Estates and Atlanta to understand how\u0026nbsp;native plant restoration\u0026nbsp;affects ecosystem health. Georgia Tech students established protocols to survey sites before and after restoration to track changes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe other seed grant McGuire received enabled her to convene a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mcguire.gatech.edu\/wildlife-conservation-conference\/\u0022\u003Econference\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Ethat brought together nonprofit conservation organizations, government agencies such as Georgia\u2019s Department of Natural Resources, and academics from across the Southeast. The group formalized their collaboration as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mcguire.gatech.edu\/wepa\/\u0022\u003EWildlife Ecology in the Piedmont and Appalachia (WEPA) coalition\u003C\/a\u003E. They agreed to survey the resources, such as data,\u0026nbsp; projects, and people, that would support a regional wildlife conservation effort. Over the past semester, her team compiled those resources and shared results back with partners in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mcguire.gatech.edu\/wepa-workshop\/\u0022\u003Esecond virtual conference\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEarly indications from this survey show a strong focus on mammals in urban Atlanta, including 11 camera-trap projects. Two of these projects follow transects from urban cores to suburbs to see how animals move across the city. This group has conducted extensive studies on how wildlife use roadside drainage structures, such as culverts, to move beneath roadways, and how animals are shifting to more nocturnal activity to avoid traffic.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaking connections among current and ongoing studies reveals knowledge gaps where both contemporary and historical data are sparse. Although historical records are held by regional museums, including the Georgia Museum of Natural History, many collections across the broader region remain undigitized. \u201cThose historic distributions exist somewhere, but they\u2019re really difficult to access,\u201d McGuire said. Identifying these data sets is \u201ccritical to establish a baseline of where things lived in the past so we can understand how human landscapes and climate change are affecting things today and into the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe\u2019s also working with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/12\/04\/college-sciences-launches-new-center-georgia-tech-georgias-tomorrow\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2)\u003C\/a\u003E, a new College of Sciences initiative focused on regional impact. The program is hiring a postdoctoral fellow whom McGuire will supervise to jumpstart a collaborative research agenda around biodiversity dynamics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGuire\u2019s work is increasingly collaborative, drawing on expertise across Georgia Tech and partner institutions like Atlanta\u2019s Fernbank Museum.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBenjamin Freeman, assistant professor in the School of Biological Sciences, focuses on bird ecology to detect shifts in diversity and species ranges. In a new North Georgia Bird Project, with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, he is resurveying bird communities across 13 mountain ridges, concentrating on about 40 forest bird species. His research tests projections that a rapidly warming climate could leave Georgia with very different plant and animal communities within a few human generations. \u201cThere\u2019s no substitute for going out there and seeing what is actually changing,\u201d says Freeman.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a May 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44358-026-00167-9\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENature Reviews Biodiversity\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;paper\u003C\/a\u003E co-authored with McGuire, he combines his field-based bird surveys with her paleo-ecological analysis of fossil and pollen records. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe make models that predict how species and biological communities will respond to warming, then we go into nature to test those predictions, and finally refine our models when reality doesn\u2019t match what we expected,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother Georgia Tech faculty member, Steve Mussman, assistant professor in the College of Computing, brings a different skill set to the project. \u201cI\u2019m a computer and data scientist. I can help with the technical modeling aspects to make the analyses valid and useful,\u201d he says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the ways he does this is to identify \u201csampling bias\u201d in\u0026nbsp;camera-trap and citizen science data, which may not be uniformly sampled from the animal population. \u201cI\u2019m really excited to bring machine learning and statistics to a very practical problem,\u201d he adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, these collaborations support WEPA\u2019s overarching goal: to integrate past and present data into tools that help decision-makers prioritize conservation actions under climate uncertainty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELessons From Denmark\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the past nine months, McGuire has been on faculty development leave in\u0026nbsp;Copenhagen, using the time to think deeply about habitat connectivity and how species move across altered landscapes. There, she found a natural comparison point.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe entire country of Denmark is about the same geographic size as the region we\u2019re interested in,\u201d she noted. \u201cAnd population-wise, it\u2019s smaller than the Atlanta metro area.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat struck her most was how thoroughly human activity has reshaped Denmark. \u201cThere\u2019s no part of the entire country that hasn\u2019t been very heavily modified by humans,\u201d she said. \u201cAt this point, all conservation is gardening.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy contrast, she sees the Southeast as having retained a foundation of the historical ecology. Forests in the Appalachians have been heavily affected, \u201cbut not nearly for as long, or to the same extent, as in Europe,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of nice to think about how we still have a slightly more natural landscape to start with that we can then maintain moving forward.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Denmark, McGuire has been learning from conservation biologists who are developing\u0026nbsp;tiered metrics\u0026nbsp;to assess restoration success, from basic, low-cost measures such as tree diameter and understory volume to more advanced tools like genomic analyses. She hopes to adapt similar frameworks to help southeastern land managers and communities assess ecosystem health under tight budgets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Appalachia to Berkeley to Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGuire grew up in\u0026nbsp;southern Virginia, where her love for biodiversity and the southern Appalachians first took root. She went on to earn her\u0026nbsp;Ph.D. in integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley, where she deepened her focus on how species and ecosystems respond to environmental change over long time scales.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe then completed postdoctoral research at the\u0026nbsp;National Evolutionary Synthesis Center\u0026nbsp;and at the\u0026nbsp;University of Washington, where she expanded her quantitative and interdisciplinary toolkit \u2014 experience that now underpins her work at Georgia Tech, bridging ecology, paleontology, data science, and conservation planning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom my perspective, there\u2019s an ethical imperative to maintain the world around us,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing in nature and recognizing that we\u2019re being good neighbors and good partners to the other species on the planet is just incredibly rewarding. We must leave the next generation a planet that is at least as healthy as the one we inherited.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELife Beyond the Lab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond research and mentoring, McGuire enjoys hiking and biking. Much of her free time during her Copenhagen sabbatical has revolved around her young daughter, who turns 4 this summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGuire looks forward to the occasion, which follows a cherished Danish school tradition: The child circles a picture of the sun once for each year of their life, holding a small Earth, while a parent holds up photos and tells a story from each year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReturning Home\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs she prepares to return to Georgia Tech in August after a year away, McGuire will resume her fieldwork and continue her conservation initiatives throughout the Southeast. She hopes to draw in collaborators from all across Georgia Tech to help build a truly regional, interdisciplinary effort around biodiversity and climate resilience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWithin WEPA, we\u2019re really excited to bring more people into this work. For anyone interested in conservation modeling, sensors and AI, policy, or how nature supports communities,\u201d she said, \u201cthere\u2019s a place in this regional effort to understand and protect biodiversity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMcGuire leads Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Spatial Ecology and Paleontology Lab, whose motto is\u0026nbsp;\u201clearning from the past how to conserve the future.\u201d\u0026nbsp;She uses modern, historical, and paleontological specimens\u0026nbsp;to identify how communities of plants and animals move across landscapes over long time scales in response to past climate shifts.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jenny McGuire is refining tools and partnerships that help protect biodiversity, from Atlanta\u2019s urban canopy to the southern Appalachians."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-06-11 18:44:58","changed_gmt":"2026-06-11 19:05:42","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"660288":{"id":"660288","type":"image","title":"Jenny McGuire, Ph.D.","body":null,"created":"1660770880","gmt_created":"2022-08-17 21:14:40","changed":"1660770880","gmt_changed":"2022-08-17 21:14:40","alt":"","file":{"fid":"250228","name":"mcguire_jenny.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/mcguire_jenny.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/mcguire_jenny.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1120755,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/mcguire_jenny.jpg?itok=ni8-bYdD"}}},"media_ids":["660288"],"related_files":{"264714":{"fid":null,"name":"McGuire_Copenhagen_2026","file_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/11\/McGuire_Daughter_Copenhagen.jpg","file_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/11\/McGuire_Daughter_Copenhagen.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":131099,"description":null}},"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"168746","name":"Jenny McGuire"},{"id":"195175","name":"species migration"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690118":{"#nid":"690118","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 Sustainability Next Seed Grants Awarded","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe most recent round of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainability-next-plan\/\u0022\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Research Seed Grants has been awarded to 15 transdisciplinary teams featuring 36 collaborators from across Georgia Tech and beyond. The teams span 21 units from six of Georgia Tech\u2019s seven Colleges, including Schools, research centers, and Interdisciplinary Research Institutes, as well as organizations external to Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe seed grant program, administered by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), reaches faculty members from a diverse array of disciplines due to the generous support provided by broad-based partnerships in addition to the funds provided by the Sustainability Next committee. This year\u2019s partners are\u0026nbsp;the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/design.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ethe\u0026nbsp;College of Design\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainablesystems.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBBISS,\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ethe\u0026nbsp;Renewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/data\u0022\u003EInstitute for Data Engineering and Science\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe goal of the program is to nurture promising research areas for future large-scale collaborative sustainability research, research translation, and\/or high-impact outreach; to provide mid-career faculty with leadership and community-building opportunities; and to broaden and strengthen the Georgia Tech sustainability community as a whole. The call for proposals was modeled after the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Moving Teams Forward and Forming Teams programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s seed grant awards align with the four main thematic areas in which BBISS aims to enhance Georgia Tech\u2019s research to address some of our most pressing sustainability challenges:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eb093cfb5ae8a6b6a3830c19ddc0e62f9\u0022\u003EAI and Sustainability, and the Sustainability of AI Infrastructure.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ee5eed9c59345c67cf16a2095a3c1ca59\u0022\u003EClimate Science, Technology, and Solutions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eeff06928324490ae6ab7715e8e5a1716\u0022\u003EHealthy Environments and Sustainable Resource Use.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eeaef417908461d165bb4284022466f40\u0022\u003EResilience and Regeneration.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe 2026 Sustainability Next Seed Grant awards are:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EForming Teams:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e25f6df467676a7c1cc7e3a56d4c134de\u0022\u003EActualize Shallow Geothermal Systems for Decentralized Heating.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EPrincipal Investigator (PI):\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sheng-c-dai\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESheng Dai\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e1d482fbc517458d8123f6d8c5b4b2674\u0022\u003EBuilding Community University Research Capacity for PFAS Testing and Treatment. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/ruthie-yow\u0022\u003ERuth C. Yow\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ECo-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs): \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/joe-f-bozeman-iii\u0022\u003EJoe Bozeman\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/yongsheng-chen\u0022\u003EYongsheng Chen\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seeel.ce.gatech.edu\/our-team-2\/\u0022\u003EAhmed Ibrahim Yunus\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e927b790b8958ca6a0d675948dad53b31\u0022\u003EA Global Sustainability Analysis of Places \u201cUrbanizing from Within.\u201d PI:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/gregory-randolph\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGregory\u0026nbsp;Randolph\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.theigc.org\/people\/sabina-dewan\u0022\u003ESabina Dewan\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/yiyi-he\u0022\u003EYiyi He\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/john-e-taylor\u0022\u003EJohn Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/independent.academia.edu\/CelineVacchianiMarcuzzo\u0022\u003ECeline Vacchiani\u2011Marcuzzo\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5fc89393dc8654e6991c59dafc1c54b5\u0022\u003ECreating a Refusal Taxonomy to Explore Alternate Computing Practices. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lmc.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/richmond-wong\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERichmond\u0026nbsp;Wong\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lmc.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/624a4663-6439-585b-8bb0-3633dbbf089f\u0022\u003EHeidi Biggs\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ic.gatech.edu\/people\/carl-disalvo\u0022\u003ECarl DiSalvo\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ef6184112845dc36886ab6996d162cc00\u0022\u003EDemystifying Data Centers: Examining Georgia Tech\u2019s Coda HPCC in the Context of Sustainability and Resilience. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/scott-j-duncan\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott\u0026nbsp;Duncan\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/jung-ho-lewe\u0022\u003EJung-Ho Lewe\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/david-solano-sarmiento\u0022\u003EDavid Solano Sarmiento\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e9709e50e9a293bcbbd1e752223b3c7dd\u0022\u003EPhysical Transport of Sunlight\u2011Exposed Dissolved Organic Carbon in the New Arctic. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/lily-dove\u0022\u003ELilian Dove\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-bowen\u0022\u003EJennifer Bowen\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMoving Teams Forward:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ec012ec93ef9cc92e5c82d516f070fd8d\u0022\u003EAgentic AI Digital Twins for Hurricane Resilience in Coastal Georgia. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/sarhadi-ali\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAli\u0026nbsp;Sarhadi\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed86bd082992b186131f9ef933c629e08\u0022\u003ECLEAR\u2011SE: Co\u2011Creating a Center\u2011Scale Network for Advancing Collaborative, Long\u2011Term Action Research on Community\u2011Led Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Southeast. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sofia-perez-guzman\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESof\u00eda\u0026nbsp;P\u00e9rez\u2011Guzm\u00e1n\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/our-team\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJennifer\u0026nbsp;Hirsch\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e82478e789a048825abcc3157e9db6535\u0022\u003EData Center Effects on Communities in Georgia\u2019s Black Belt. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ic.gatech.edu\/people\/cindy-kaiying-lin\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECindy\u0026nbsp;Kaiying\u0026nbsp;Lin\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs:\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/joe-f-bozeman-iii\u0022\u003EJoe Bozeman\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/tony-harding\u0022\u003EAnthony Harding\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/allen-hyde\u0022\u003EAllen Hyde\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/jung-ho-lewe\u0022\u003EJung-Ho Lewe\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scs.gatech.edu\/people\/ahmed-saeed\u0022\u003EAhmed Saeed\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ebfb94066d0a2555e5c67ef6e930bea7c\u0022\u003EReimagining Southern Forests: Enabling Cost\u2011Effective Sustainable Production of High\u2011Value Climate\u2011Ready Southern Pines. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/caitlin-petro\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECaitlin\u0026nbsp;Petro\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/clay\/index.html\u0022\u003ELucas Clay\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ulrika-egertsdotter\u0022\u003EUlrika Egertsdotter\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/joel-kostka\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eef714ab155b21002722ebcf190dddf60\u0022\u003EHuman\u2011Technology Collaborations: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/rosemarie-santa-gonzalez\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERosemarie\u0026nbsp;Santa\u0026nbsp;Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/ashutosh-dhekne\u0022\u003EAshutosh Dhekne\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/sylvia-janicki\u0022\u003ESylivia Janicki\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/yaman-sangar\u0022\u003EYaman Sangar\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/id.gatech.edu\/people\/abigale-stangl\u0022\u003EAbigale Stangl\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e0d944f2e85ddfd8b4fd8e29e8fd4acc8\u0022\u003EGuiding Transportation with Community Action through Research, Education, and Service (GT\u2011CARES). PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/rounaq-basu\u0022\u003ERounaq Basu\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sofia-perez-guzman\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESof\u00eda\u0026nbsp;P\u00e9rez\u2011Guzm\u00e1n\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/our-team\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJennifer\u0026nbsp;Hirsch\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/scott-moffat\u0022\u003EScott Moffat\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eb89b80d033629196b64c7b6ebc8685ba\u0022\u003EInstability\u2011Resolved Ocean Mixing for Climate Prediction and Climate Solutions. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/user\/1086\u0022\u003ESuhas S. Jain\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/mohammad-mohaghar\u0022\u003EMohammad Mohaghar\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/donald-r-webster\u0022\u003EDonald Webster\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e72e6c1ade52f81e05c4a967a8110c6da\u0022\u003EBuildings Next: Forming a Transdisciplinary Consortium for Sustainable Building Innovation. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fptd.gatech.edu\/people\/paula-gomez\u0022\u003EPaula Gomez\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/staff\/bridges\/index.html\u0022\u003EAllison Bridges\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5f679ec3c5c8332e040392bdc39f6430\u0022\u003EPaper and Natural Dye Living Exhibition. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/people\/anna-doll\u0022\u003EAnna Doll\u003C\/a\u003E. Co\u2011PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/people\/virginia-howell\u0022\u003EVirginia Howell\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Sustainability Next seed grant program, administered by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), reaches faculty members from a diverse array of disciplines due to the generous support provided by broad-based partnerships in addition to the funds provided by the Sustainability Next committee.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"This year\u2019s seed grant awards align with the four main thematic areas in which BBISS aims to enhance Georgia Tech\u2019s research to address some of our most pressing sustainability challenges"}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-05-04 16:57:44","changed_gmt":"2026-06-11 18:10:32","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-04T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680154":{"id":"680154","type":"image","title":"2026_Sustainability_Next_Seed_Grant_Collage","body":"\u003Cp\u003E2026 Sustainability Next Seed Grant Principal Investigators:\u0026nbsp;(R to L, Top to Bottom) Rounaq Basu, Sheng Dai, Anna Doll, Lilian Dove, Scott Duncan, Paula Gomez, Suhas S. Jain, Cindy Kaiying Lin, Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez Guzm\u00e1n, Caitlin Petro, Gregory Randolph, Rosemarie Santa Gonzalez, Ali Sarhadi, Richmond Wong, and Ruth C. Yow.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777913877","gmt_created":"2026-05-04 16:57:57","changed":"1777916844","gmt_changed":"2026-05-04 17:47:24","alt":"Collage of multiple individual portrait photos arranged in a grid, showing people photographed from the shoulders up in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings. Backgrounds include office spaces, greenery, campus walkways, and neutral studio backdrops, with individuals wearing professional or business\u2011casual clothing. The images vary in lighting and composition but share a consistent head\u2011and\u2011shoulders portrait style.","file":{"fid":"264396","name":"2026_Sustainability_Next_Seed_Grant_Collage.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/04\/2026_Sustainability_Next_Seed_Grant_Collage.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/04\/2026_Sustainability_Next_Seed_Grant_Collage.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1325301,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/04\/2026_Sustainability_Next_Seed_Grant_Collage.jpg?itok=cKUbBHG-"}}},"media_ids":["680154"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"191514","name":"sustainability next"},{"id":"174822","name":"seed grants"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690724":{"#nid":"690724","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Island Waste to Packaging Solutions: How Javaz Rolle Found His Path in Sustainable Materials ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGrowing up in the Bahamas, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/javaz-rolle-phd-79945a115\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJavaz Rolle\u003C\/a\u003E noticed something that would later shape his research career.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe island nation imports much of what it consumes, yet many local resources are discarded as waste. These include lobster shells, shrimp shells, and other byproducts from the seafood industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I noticed that there were a lot of resources that we had on the island that we could use for something in a more sustainable effort, but people weren\u0027t actually using that,\u0022 Rolle said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYears later, that observation would shape the direction of his doctoral research in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a fellow at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute(RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E, Rolle studied sustainable packaging materials made from naturally sourced compounds such as cellulose and chitin, which can be extracted from the shells of crustaceans, including shrimp and lobster.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022As you can imagine, that\u0027s all of your shrimp shells, your lobster shells, all of those, which essentially would just go in the garbage,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the lab, however, those materials became something else entirely.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERolle\u0027s research focused on transforming renewable materials into packaging alternatives capable of mimicking the performance of traditional petroleum-based plastics. The goal was to create materials that could limit the movement of oxygen and moisture, which are two factors that can quickly degrade food, pharmaceuticals, and other products.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work aligned closely with his long-standing interest in sustainability. Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Rolle had researched ways to reduce microplastics in the environment. When exploring graduate programs, he found a similar research path in the lab of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/carson-meredith-8aa1838\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Carson\u0027s research really piqued an interest in me,\u0022 Rolle said. \u0022I was still on the trying-to-reduce-plastics end, but just from a different approach.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of addressing plastic pollution after it entered the environment, Rolle\u0027s research explored how biodegradable alternatives could help reduce the problem before it began.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Rolle works as a product development engineer at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sealedair.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESealed Air\u003C\/a\u003E, where he helps solve packaging challenges for food products. His days are spent investigating why materials behave the way they do on production lines and determining whether a problem originates in the material itself or somewhere in the manufacturing process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022If something\u0027s not packaging the way it\u0027s supposed to, we look at the formulation, how they\u0027re running the process, and determine exactly why this is happening,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough his current role focuses on conventional packaging materials, many of the scientific principles remain familiar. The polymer chemistry and barrier-property research that shaped his doctoral work now help him evaluate packaging performance in industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the connection between his research and his career runs deeper than chemistry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGrowing up in the Bahamas taught Rolle to look at materials differently, not simply for what they are, but for what they could become. At Georgia Tech, that perspective led him to transform seafood waste into potential packaging materials. Today, it helps him solve challenges for products used every day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat began with questions about waste and sustainability has evolved into a career focused on understanding materials and improving how they perform. The setting may have changed from a university research lab to the packaging industry, but the curiosity that first brought him to Georgia Tech continues to guide his work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EInspired by his upbringing in the Bahamas, Georgia Tech alumnus Javaz Rolle transformed seafood waste into sustainable packaging research at RBI, \u0026nbsp;launching a career dedicated to material performance and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Inspired by his upbringing in the Bahamas, Georgia Tech alumnus Javaz Rolle transformed seafood waste into sustainable packaging research at RBI,  launching a career dedicated to material performance and innovation."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-06-10 20:59:23","changed_gmt":"2026-06-10 21:07:08","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680447":{"id":"680447","type":"image","title":"image--1-.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJavaz Rolle Headshot\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781125581","gmt_created":"2026-06-10 21:06:21","changed":"1781125581","gmt_changed":"2026-06-10 21:06:21","alt":"Javaz Rolle Headshot","file":{"fid":"264709","name":"image--1-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/10\/image--1-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/10\/image--1-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":110631,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/10\/image--1-.png?itok=qxILqUNd"}}},"media_ids":["680447"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690647":{"#nid":"690647","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: How Jonathan Jean-Louis Helps Industry Evaluate Materials","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EWhether\u0026nbsp;it\u0027s\u0026nbsp;paper used in packaging or metals designed for structural applications, manufacturers rely on testing to understand how materials will perform before they reach the real world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EMost people never think about paper as\u0026nbsp;an engineered\u0026nbsp;material. Yet everything from shipping boxes and food packaging to paper towels and specialty products depends on materials performing exactly as intended.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EAt Georgia Tech\u0027s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jonathan-jean-louis\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJonathan Jean-Louis\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;helps answer those questions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EA 2019 Georgia Tech mechanical engineering graduate, Jean-Louis works in materials testing, helping industry partners and researchers evaluate paper, metals, and other materials. While much of his work focuses on paper products, he also performs testing on metals and other engineered materials, providing data that companies use to assess quality, compare materials, and guide product development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EJean-Louis was drawn to the role because it allowed him to combine engineering with hands-on research and testing. Since joining RBI, he has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from Georgia Tech researchers and students to companies and organizations seeking independent materials evaluation. Among them is the Library of Congress, which relies on materials testing as part of its preservation efforts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EFor Jean-Louis, one of the most overlooked aspects of his field is the amount of engineering behind products people use every day. Materials that appear simple on the surface often undergo extensive testing before reaching consumers. Packaging must withstand transportation. Paper products must meet performance standards. Manufacturers depend on testing data to understand how materials behave under real-world conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EAt RBI, that work supports both research and industry. Whether evaluating paper, metal, or emerging materials, Jean-Louis helps generate the data needed to understand how materials will perform under real-world conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EMuch of that work happens out of sight, but the results shape products and materials people\u0026nbsp;encounter\u0026nbsp;every day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003ELearn more about RBI\u0027s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/services\/paper-board-box-testing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Epaper, board, and box testing services.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMost people never think about paper as an engineered material. Yet everything from shipping boxes and food packaging to paper towels and specialty products depends on materials performing exactly as intended. At Georgia Tech\u0027s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Jonathan Jean-Louis helps answer those questions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: How Jonathan Jean-Louis Helps Industry Evaluate Materials"}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-06-05 18:12:58","changed_gmt":"2026-06-05 18:12:58","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690639":{"#nid":"690639","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Steven Ferguson Builds Better On-Ramps to Georgia Manufacturing, Education","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Steven Ferguson, deputy director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\/manufacturing-40-consortium\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium\u003C\/a\u003E, advancing Georgia\u2019s manufacturing industry and its workforce is personal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was Ferguson\u2019s own first manufacturing industry job at Glidden Paint in high school that tipped a row of dominoes, clearing his way out of poverty. Following next in the Hall County native\u2019s\u0026nbsp;favor was his receiving the Pell Grant and HOPE Grant, which led to his associate\u2019s degree and first job in education.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, Ferguson has spent the better part of three decades advancing workforce preparation and education access in Georgia, first as chief information officer for the Technical College System of Georgia, and now through his current roles at Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAccess to higher education changed the trajectory of my life. The question now is how we build systems that create those same opportunities for others \u2014 whether someone starts their career right out of high school, earns credentials while working, or returns later to pursue advanced technical education or engineering. We need to create flexible pathways that develop talent at every stage of life.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EForged in Manufacturing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFerguson was born into a family of \u201cmakers,\u201d who got by on odd jobs and money from their small bait and tackle shop on Lake Lanier and later peddling a variety of goods. At a young age, Ferguson learned salesmanship and picked up the tinkering spirit.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy dad was always entrepreneurial, and I think you might even consider us manufacturers, always making fishing equipment or other things,\u201d said Ferguson. \u201cFrom a very young age, I was out making jig heads, tying flies, and bagging hooks or sinkers. It was definitely in my blood.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen he was in 10th grade, a teacher nominated Ferguson for a new youth apprenticeship program. That opportunity ultimately led to his role as an information technology apprentice at Glidden Paint, which became Ferguson\u2019s first job in the manufacturing industry. The job was a perfect fit for Ferguson, who enjoyed learning more about the manufacturing process and the practical outlet for his computing knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe continued working there until he began studying computer science at North Georgia College and State University. Later, he transferred to Gainesville College (GC) to participate in a joint enrollment program designed to lead to eventual enrollment for a bachelor\u2019s degree at Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, before Ferguson completed his time at GC, he had an \u003Ca\u003Eassociate\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E degree and, more importantly, a job offer. GC wanted him to train others for careers in information technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.em.gatech.edu\/2026\/05\/27\/access-steven-ferguson-manufacturing-education\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the Enrollment Management News Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Steven Ferguson, deputy director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\/manufacturing-40-consortium\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium\u003C\/a\u003E, advancing Georgia\u2019s manufacturing industry and its workforce is personal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt was Ferguson\u2019s own first manufacturing industry job at Glidden Paint in high school that tipped a row of dominoes, clearing his way out of poverty. Following next in the Hall County native\u2019s\u0026nbsp;favor was his receiving the Pell Grant and HOPE Grant, which led to his associate\u2019s degree and first job in education.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince then, Ferguson has spent the better part of three decades advancing workforce preparation and education access in Georgia, first as chief information officer for the Technical College System of Georgia, and now through his current roles at Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"For Steven Ferguson, deputy director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and executive director of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium, advancing Georgia\u2019s manufacturing industry and its workforce is personal."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-06-04 14:17:03","changed_gmt":"2026-06-04 14:21:17","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680416":{"id":"680416","type":"image","title":"StevenFerguson-IMG_5862.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESteven Ferguson, deputy director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\/manufacturing-40-consortium\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1780582672","gmt_created":"2026-06-04 14:17:52","changed":"1780582713","gmt_changed":"2026-06-04 14:18:33","alt":"Steven Ferguson","file":{"fid":"264673","name":"StevenFerguson-IMG_5862.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/04\/StevenFerguson-IMG_5862.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/04\/StevenFerguson-IMG_5862.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":176331,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/04\/StevenFerguson-IMG_5862.jpg?itok=xDe8xlwi"}}},"media_ids":["680416"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.em.gatech.edu\/2026\/05\/27\/access-steven-ferguson-manufacturing-education\/","title":"Full Story on the Enrollment Management News Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:amanda.budd@ssc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAmanda Budd\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["amanda.budd@ssc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685207":{"#nid":"685207","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Advanced Manufacturing Takes Off in Georgia Classrooms","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESmart manufacturing, data-driven design, and artificial intelligence aren\u2019t just buzzwords \u2014 they are fields that are creating high-paying, high-tech careers across the country. In rural communities across Georgia, these advanced manufacturing roles are growing, but the talent pipeline isn\u2019t keeping pace.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not just about creating jobs, it\u2019s about filling them,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11182\u0022\u003ETom Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor in mechanical engineering and executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI). \u201cTo do that, we need to show students how exciting and innovative manufacturing can be. Manufacturing has really changed over the past few years. Today, going from an idea to a physical part is much easier to do. It is fun and exciting to bring ideas to life and to actually hold the results in your hands.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI is working to\u0026nbsp;reignite student interest in the art and science of making\u0026nbsp;through its new K\u201312 initiative: the\u0026nbsp;Advanced Manufacturing Pathways (AMP) Program. Modeled after Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003ERural CS Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, AMP\u0026nbsp;empowers schools with faculty expertise, cutting-edge equipment, and a hands-on curriculum\u0026nbsp;to give students early exposure to the tools, technologies, and creativity behind modern manufacturing while building a pipeline of future talent ready to thrive in high-tech careers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.swgrc.org\/\u0022\u003ESouthwest Georgia Regional Commission\u003C\/a\u003E (SWGRC), AMP is kicking off in three school districts this fall \u2014 Decatur County,\u0026nbsp;Thomas County, and\u0026nbsp;the city of Thomasville\u0026nbsp; \u2014 with plans to expand to additional schools in the spring of 2026. The program will start by engaging more than 200 students through hands-on learning, virtual instruction, and in-person lab experiences led by Georgia Tech researchers and faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHere in Southwest Georgia, we believe that opportunities like this are vital for integrated learning in schools and for growing our future workforce,\u201d says Beka Shiver, economic development and transportation planner for SWGRC. \u201cWorkforce development and K-12 integration are at the heart of our Southwest Georgia Ecosystem Building Project, and we are so pleased to be able to provide funding for this program.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe launch of the AMP Program is\u0026nbsp;centered around Design, Build, Race, a course putting a modern spin on the classic pinewood derby. Students will use digital design, 3D printing, and machining to build and race custom cars, while also learning how to collect and analyze performance data to improve their designs and predict outcomes. The course blends engineering with data science, sparking curiosity and showing students how modern manufacturing is powered by both technical skills and smart data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis program delivers real-world industry experience to students while strengthening the talent pipeline that drives innovation, competitiveness, and resilience in advanced manufacturing\u201d, says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21289\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, interim director of operations at GTMI and one of the project\u2019s leaders. \u201cAfter more than 20 years of driving education and workforce development innovation, I\u2019m more energized than ever to help launch the AMP program to open doors for students and advance U.S. manufacturing leadership.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding the Blueprint\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore it evolved into the AMP Program, Design, Build, Race was a course developed by GTMI research engineer \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/kyle-saleeby\u0022\u003EKyle Saleeby\u003C\/a\u003E in 2023. Originating in GTMI\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF), the course was designed to introduce Morehouse and Georgia Tech students to the possibilities of modern manufacturing through digital design, 3D printing, machining, and competitive creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEven after the first week, it was powerful to watch students discover how exciting it is to design and manufacture a competition-ready car in a matter of hours,\u201d said Saleeby. \u201cThat\u2019s when I knew we were onto something special.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaleeby teamed up with\u0026nbsp;Ferguson to transform the course into a broader initiative. The duo engaged colleagues from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/outreach\/stem-at-gtri\u0022\u003ESTEM@GTRI\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;secured funding from SWGRC to modify the curriculum and scale the course for a high school audience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are thrilled that we have been able to take the lessons learned during the development of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ceismc.gatech.edu\/rural-cs-initiative\u0022\u003ERural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E and expand opportunities for students in Southwest Georgia,\u201d says Sean Mulvanity, a senior research associate in the Georgia Tech Research Institute. Mulvanity is one of the founders of the initiative and has been a key contributor to the AMP Program. \u201cWe hope this program can grow and expose students across the state to the field of advanced manufacturing.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough granted by the SWGRC, funds for the program were provided by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E, a statewide initiative founded by GTMI and Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E to advance AI-driven manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo bring AMP into classrooms,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/\u0022\u003ESouthern Regional Technical College\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;helped set up labs and provide technical support, ensuring schools were ready to launch.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt all levels, the community has rallied around this program,\u201d says Saleeby. \u201cProviding students with a unique experience learning advanced manufacturing technologies will open countless career opportunities. I cannot wait to see where they go.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaunched this fall, Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Program works to spark interest in high-tech careers and strengthen Georgia\u2019s talent pipeline.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Launched this fall, Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Program works to spark interest in high-tech careers and strengthen Georgia\u2019s talent pipeline."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-09-23 18:32:30","changed_gmt":"2026-06-03 19:13:38","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678139":{"id":"678139","type":"image","title":"GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStudents across Georgia are designing and 3D printing pinewood derby cars as part of a new hands-on advanced manufacturing initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811031","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:37:11","changed":"1758811031","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:37:11","alt":"Students across Georgia are designing and 3D printing pinewood derby cars as part of a new hands-on advanced manufacturing initiative.","file":{"fid":"262126","name":"GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png","mime":"image\/png","size":8283257,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/GT-Pinewood-Derby-Cars.png?itok=5NM2T1H7"}},"678140":{"id":"678140","type":"image","title":"Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKyle Saleeby (left) works side-by-side with a teacher to set up precision milling equipment, a key part of the AMP Program\u2019s hands-on curriculum.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811233","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:40:33","changed":"1758811233","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:40:33","alt":"Kyle Saleeby (left) works side-by-side with a teacher to set up precision milling equipment, a key part of the AMP Program\u2019s hands-on curriculum.","file":{"fid":"262127","name":"Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":221625,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/Saleeby-setting-up-equipment.jpeg?itok=38NIH9i0"}},"678141":{"id":"678141","type":"image","title":"Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith more than two decades of workforce development experience, Steven Ferguson is helping launch a new era of hands-on learning through the AMP Program.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758811394","gmt_created":"2025-09-25 14:43:14","changed":"1758811394","gmt_changed":"2025-09-25 14:43:14","alt":"With more than two decades of workforce development experience, Steven Ferguson is helping launch a new era of hands-on learning through the AMP Program.","file":{"fid":"262128","name":"Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2690472,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/25\/Steven-Ferguson.jpeg?itok=87CORHJc"}}},"media_ids":["678139","678140","678141"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.research.gatech.edu\/2025\/09\/16\/georgia-tech-taps-military-talent-boost-manufacturing-workforce","title":"Georgia Tech Taps Military Talent to Boost Manufacturing Workforce"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/impact\/workforce\/michael-trigger","title":"How a Veteran Gained Invaluable Skills in AI Manufacturing at Georgia Tech"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"193651","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institiute"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"195164","name":"go-ampf"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"667608":{"#nid":"667608","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Addressing the Nation\u2019s Call for Semiconductors","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESemiconductors, or microchips, are vital to life in the modern world. They\u2019re used in the microwave you heated your breakfast in this morning, the car you drove to work, the mobile phone you shouldn\u2019t use while driving, the bank ATM you visited, and the screened device you\u2019re reading this story on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey\u2019re in our TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines, helping us live comfortable lives. They also help us stay alive as part of the medical network, used in pacemakers, blood pressure monitors, and MRI machines, among other things. Also, our national economic and defense systems rely on them. Basically, semiconductors control and manage the flow of information in the machinery that keeps the world going.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd right now, at Georgia Tech, researchers are working to innovate chip technology to ensure that U.S. semiconductor development is globally competitive, reliable, sustainable, and resilient, today and in the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf you look at semiconductors, or the whole area of computing, it spans across Georgia Tech \u2014 across many different schools and disciplines,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/arijit-raychowdhury\u0022\u003EArijit Raychudhury\u003C\/a\u003E, professor and Steve W. Chaddick Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cStarting with physics and chemistry, where we essentially learn how different types of materials will react, to materials science and engineering, to electrical engineering and computer engineering, to computer science.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s a diverse, multidisciplinary enterprise from bottom to top, Raychudhury noted. And there is still plenty of room at the bottom, as theoretical physicist Richard P. Feynman famously said more than 60 years ago, predicting that one day we\u2019d be making things at the atomic level. We are. It\u2019s a familiar realm to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cse.gatech.edu\/people\/victor-fung\u0022\u003EVictor Fung\u003C\/a\u003E and his lab, where they are designing new materials for semiconductors from the ground up, atom by atom.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are interested in exploring how to translate the latest advances in AI and machine learning to aid in accelerating computational materials simulations and materials discovery,\u201d said Fung, assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWe\u2019ve been developing methods which can accurately predict a wide range of materials\u2019 properties, to greatly facilitate high-throughput materials screening.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fung-group.org\/\u0022\u003EFung\u2019s lab\u003C\/a\u003E is using AI to discover previously unstudied materials with the electronic properties to build into chips. This approach to creating \u201cdesigner\u201d semiconductors would be significantly faster and cover more of the materials space than current methods.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImproving the Landscape\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmaller, more efficient, and more powerful are all part of the constantly evolving landscape in semiconductor research and development. It\u2019s a very expensive landscape. While many chips are about the size of a fingernail, they are among the most complex human-made objects on Earth. Just building a semiconductor fabrication factory costs billions of dollars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a chemical engineer like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/people\/michael-filler\u0022\u003EMichael Filler\u003C\/a\u003E, that sounds like opportunity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cChemical engineers think about how we produce products on a massive scale,\u201d said Filler, associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and associate director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/nano\u0022\u003EInstitute for Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN)\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFiller, whose research involves the growing of semiconductor components, like transistors, from seed particles, is aiming to help democratize the process of chip development, bringing down the cost substantially while maintaining performance. In a not too distant future, that could mean an individual at home printing a chip on a machine similar to a 3D printer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cImagine a laser printer that can literally spit out custom electronics in a matter of minutes,\u201d Filler said. \u201cWe\u2019re big believers in the individual\u2019s ability to be creative and know what they want to build for their applications. Ultimately, we\u2019re interested in giving makers and prototypers opportunities to customize electronics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe\u2019s in the right place for the far-reaching research he has in mind, adding, \u201cWe are so blessed with great facilities at Georgia Tech. It would be hard to imagine working somewhere else, because very few places have the diversity and quality of tooling we have here.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIEN, which facilitates much of the semiconductor research at Georgia Tech, is based in the Marcus Nanotechnology Building, with its state-of-the-art micro\/nano fabrication facilities such as the shared cleanroom space and a laser machine lab for micromachining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut it is the range of expertise and creativity among faculty and students who are making IEN and Georgia Tech a thought leader in semiconductor research. This is evidenced by Tech\u2019s recent grant of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-receives-65-million-grant-semiconductor-research-corporation-jump-20-centers\u0022\u003E$65.7 million from the Semiconductor Research Corporation and the Defense Research Projects Agency to launch two new interdisciplinary research centers.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvents like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/nano\/GT-chips-day\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Chip Day\u003C\/a\u003E (May 2) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nanowireweek2023.info\/\u0022\u003ENanowire Week\u003C\/a\u003E, an international gathering happening in Atlanta in October, also speak to Tech\u2019s growing influence in this area.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnswering the Call\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Covid-19 pandemic clarified just how difficult it can be to make more chips. A shortage of semiconductors affected the supply of phones, computers, and other commonly used items during the global shutdown. Increased demand, depleted reserves, and too few manufacturing plants and workers significantly crippled the supply chain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe high degree of geographic concentration in certain parts of the semiconductor supply chain has recently created a heightened risk of supply interruptions,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/chelsea-white\u0022\u003EChip White\u003C\/a\u003E, Schneider National Chair in Transportation and Logistics and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE)\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cSuch interruptions and resulting wild fluctuations in semiconductor demand can threaten the nation\u2019s public health, defense, and economic security.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith that in mind, translational supply chain research is going on in several places on campus, White said, including the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scl.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESupply Chain and Logistics Institute\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ai4opt.org\/\u0022\u003ENSF AI Research Institute for Advances in Optimization\u003C\/a\u003E. White and his colleagues are developing software platforms for stress testing manufacturing supply chains. The goal is to identify vulnerabilities and risk mitigation procedures to design and operate next generation supply chains for critical industries such as the semiconductor industry, to improve global competitiveness and strike a balance between market forces and national security.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn an effort to address and feed the next generation demand for chips, the Biden administration recently launched a massive effort to outcompete China in semiconductor manufacturing, offering $39 billion in funding incentives for companies seeking to build plants in the U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother related area of importance in the ongoing development of semiconductors is growing the workforce of the future, and that includes a new wave of researchers. This is a role that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/jennifer-olson-hasler\u0022\u003EJennifer Hasler \u003C\/a\u003Etakes seriously.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI have a strong interest and belief in mentoring,\u201d said Hasler, ECE professor and founder of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hasler.ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EIntegrated Computational Electronics lab\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech. She\u2019s proven, theoretically at least, that the technology already exists to build a silicon-based version of the human cerebral cortex (which would cost billions of dollars to design and build), but one of her favorite roles is working with new, young faculty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a personal thing for me, but it\u2019s one of the coolest things I\u2019m involved in,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen they come to Georgia Tech, they see how big this place is, bigger than a company. I like to say to them, \u2018Let\u2019s calm down, take a breath, you\u2019re good, so let\u2019s go make some cool stuff. Let\u2019s get some momentum going.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Raychowdhury, director of the new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.src.org\/program\/jump2\/cocosys\/#:~:text=COCOSYS%20aims%20to%20enable%20the,and%20collective%20and%20collaborative%20intelligence.\u0022\u003ECenter for the Co-Design of Cognitive Systems\u003C\/a\u003E (part of the JUMP 2.0 program), developing the skilled workforce of the future means answering the call of the nation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is one of the largest ECE departments in the country, with many, many talented students,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd given the need and shortage of skilled professionals in this particular area, I think it\u2019s critical for us to create that kind of pipeline.\u201d Last year, ECE undergraduate students started taking a new, two-semester course, sponsored by Apple, in which they actually build microprocessors from scratch.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is completely new,\u201d Raychowdhury said. \u201cIt\u2019s expensive to offer this course, but we plan to keep doing it and we\u2019re in conversations with other companies that want to invest in workforce development. So, in addition to doing fantastic research, we want to be sensitive to the needs of the country and a new generation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0027s multidisciplinary semiconductor researchers working to innovate chip technology to ensure U.S. competitiveness\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u0027s multidisciplinary semiconductor researchers working to innovate chip technology to ensure U.S. competitiveness"}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2023-05-02 17:25:16","changed_gmt":"2026-06-03 19:07:22","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-05-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"670757":{"id":"670757","type":"image","title":"IEN cleanroom staff member holding a wafer","body":null,"created":"1683294311","gmt_created":"2023-05-05 13:45:11","changed":"1683294366","gmt_changed":"2023-05-05 13:46:06","alt":"Cleanroom worker holding a wafer","file":{"fid":"253680","name":"IEN-person-wafer.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/05\/IEN-person-wafer.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/05\/IEN-person-wafer.png","mime":"image\/png","size":311467,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/05\/05\/IEN-person-wafer.png?itok=KpXbVZbt"}},"670713":{"id":"670713","type":"image","title":"Semiconductor Researchers","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELeft to right: Arijit Raychowdhury, Victor Fung, Jennifer Hasler, Michael Filler, Chip White\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1683042732","gmt_created":"2023-05-02 15:52:12","changed":"1683042828","gmt_changed":"2023-05-02 15:53:48","alt":"Semiconductor researchers","file":{"fid":"253625","name":"semiconductor team.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/02\/semiconductor%20team.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/02\/semiconductor%20team.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":481819,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/05\/02\/semiconductor%20team.jpg?itok=OfU7eiUh"}}},"media_ids":["670757","670713"],"related_files":{"253625":{"fid":null,"name":"Semiconductor Researchers","file_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/02\/semiconductor%20team.jpg","file_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/05\/02\/semiconductor%20team.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":481819,"description":"\u003Cp\u003ELeft to right: Arijit Raychowdhury, Victor Fung, Jennifer Hasler, Michael Filler, Chip White\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n"}},"groups":[{"id":"197261","name":"Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology"}],"categories":[{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187433","name":"go-ien"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Ca href=\u0022jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690581":{"#nid":"690581","#data":{"type":"news","title":"BBISS Insights Series Reflection: Demystifying Data Centers \u2014 Water","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- by Seungho Lee\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs data center development accelerates across Georgia and beyond, understanding the relationship between AI infrastructure and water systems is becoming increasingly urgent. The BBISS Demystifying Data Centers Insights Series on March 27 focused on this issue, bringing together perspectives from engineering, utilities, and infrastructure planning. Moderated by Ameet Pinto, BBISS faculty director for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration, the discussion highlighted the water impacts of data centers and the need for systems thinking and collaboration across disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Systems Thinking Matters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA recurring theme was the mismatch between AI infrastructure and water systems. AI services are ubiquitous and scalable, while water resources are local, physically constrained, and managed by regionally fragmented utility systems. Data centers can be deployed rapidly, but water infrastructure evolves slowly. These differences complicate how impacts are measured and managed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWater usage is more complex than it appears. While discussions often focus on water used directly for cooling, this represents only part of the total footprint. Significant water is used indirectly through electricity generation and the manufacturing of the computing hardware and cooling systems installed in data centers. As noted by Akanksha Menon, \u0026nbsp;assistant professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, distinguishing between direct, indirect, and embodied water use shows that impacts extend far beyond individual facilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese complexities make isolated solutions insufficient. Reducing water use in one location doesn\u2019t necessarily reduce overall demand. For example, Douglas County\u2019s collaboration with Google, as presented by Brian Keel, deputy director of Engineering for Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority, has invested in alternative water sources, such as treating wastewater from the Sweetwater Creek facility for non-potable cooling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet the growing energy and water demands driven by accelerating AI use remain a major challenge. In particular, managing water as a finite resource becomes increasingly important because energy can be generated through different methods, but water cannot simply be created. Such complexity highlights the need for a systems approach to navigate overlapping and conflicting issues.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Collaboration Is Essential\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe session also underscored that no single discipline or entity can fully address these challenges. Douglas County\u2019s partnership with Google highlights not only collaboration between local agencies and industry, but also the need for coordination beyond individual jurisdictions, as water used for power generation or sourced outside the immediate region can create indirect pressures elsewhere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohn Ikeda, chief mission officer for the Water Environment Federation, discussed governance challenges associated with data center water use. Ikeda underlined the challenges in measurement and governance, noting that water impacts can be counterintuitive. While efforts that appear water-saving, such as avoiding on-site water use, can increase indirect water demand through additional electricity use, water-based cooling may reduce total systemwide demand. These complexities reveal the limits of single metrics and the need for frameworks that account for direct, indirect, and life-cycle impacts. Governance challenges can arise from complex practical issues, including rural communities\u2019 limited experience working with industrial partners and broader social resistance to AI and AI infrastructure, which once again calls for large-scale collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe broader takeaway is that the challenges linking AI and water are deeply tied to structural mismatches between digital AI infrastructure and physical water systems: ubiquitous AI services versus physically constrained water resources; rapid data center growth versus the slower development of water infrastructure; and global digital demand versus regionally concentrated environmental impacts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs these gaps complicate measurement, planning, and governance, the discussion highlighted the need for broader, systems-level perspectives and collaboration across disciplines and sectors, including engineering, computing, utilities, policy, and community stakeholders. Sustainable data center development depends on perspectives that consider water, energy, infrastructure, and community resilience together.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAI services are ubiquitous and scalable, while water resources are local, physically constrained, and managed by regionally fragmented utility systems. Data centers can be deployed rapidly, but water infrastructure evolves slowly.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent BBISS seminar focused on the issue of water and data centers, bringing together perspectives from engineering, utilities, and infrastructure planning."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-06-01 18:26:29","changed_gmt":"2026-06-01 18:52:29","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680391":{"id":"680391","type":"image","title":"Data_Center_Cooling_Towers.jpg","body":null,"created":"1780338414","gmt_created":"2026-06-01 18:26:54","changed":"1780338414","gmt_changed":"2026-06-01 18:26:54","alt":"Aerial view of a large industrial facility with multiple blue cylindrical cooling towers arranged in rows, releasing visible steam into the air. The structures are connected by metal walkways, pipes, and equipment, with a darker building facade behind them. Green grass and patches of standing water are visible in the distance beyond the facility.","file":{"fid":"264647","name":"Data_Center_Cooling_Towers.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/01\/Data_Center_Cooling_Towers.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/01\/Data_Center_Cooling_Towers.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1581977,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/01\/Data_Center_Cooling_Towers.jpg?itok=bzU5yje8"}}},"media_ids":["680391"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690554":{"#nid":"690554","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Clough Lecture Highlights the Human Side of Climate Science","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- By Seungho Lee\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2026 Clough Lecture, co-sponsored by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, featured Kate Marvel, a climate scientist and author. Marvel opened a space for conversation about how we understand, feel, and communicate climate change and sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe evening opened with remarks from Georgia Tech College of Sciences Dean Susan Lozier, who recognized President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough for his support in making the lecture series possible. Alexander Robel, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, then introduced Marvel, describing her work as being at the intersection of climate science and public communication. Robel highlighted Marvel\u2019s \u201cwarmth and fearless honesty\u201d in her insistence \u201cthat science and feeling are not opposites.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased on her recent book \u003Cem\u003EHuman Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet\u003C\/em\u003E, Marvel\u2019s lecture questioned a long-standing assumption in science: that objectivity requires emotional distance. She argued instead that climate science is not only about data and models, but also about human experience. Scientific inquiry, she suggested, does not exclude emotion; rather, it can be informed and motivated by it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarvel began by reflecting on Earth\u2019s uniqueness as a habitable planet, shaped by a delicate balance of atmosphere, temperature, and position in the solar system. The sense of awe inspired by the planet\u2019s unique position, she noted, is often the starting point for scientific curiosity as well as a sense of commitment to a sustainable Earth. From there, she moved to consider the more difficult emotions, including anger and guilt, that may arise as the stability of that system becomes increasingly uncertain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo illustrate how understanding of climate evolves, Marvel walked through a range of potential explanations for changes in the Earth\u2019s climate \u2014 from orbital shifts and solar variation to volcanic activity and deforestation. What stood out was her skillful interweaving of science and storytelling. For example, she noted how the atmospheric conditions created by the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia influenced European artistic expression. Citing the hyper-real intensity of the sky\u2019s color in Edvard Munch\u2019s 1893 painting, \u003Cem\u003EThe Scream\u003C\/em\u003E, Marvel highlighted the role of human feeling and imagination in making sense of complex environmental change.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext, Marvel also suggested that climate modeling is not simply a technical exercise. It can be deeply intertwined with narratives about the future. Different assumptions about human behavior, policy decisions, and technological development produce different climate outcomes. In this sense, models reflect not only data, but also the stories societies tell about where they are headed and what future they would like to have.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lecture concluded with Marvel emphasizing the importance of framing climate challenges in ways that connect with lived experience and a sustainable future, suggesting that storytelling can help inspire more meaningful communication and action. She pointed to the \u201chero\u2019s journey\u201d as one framework for climate storytelling \u2014 one in which moments of difficulty and uncertainty are inseparable from growth, purpose, and joy, and where action becomes central to moving toward a better future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarvel now works with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/drawdown.org\u0022\u003EProject Drawdown\u003C\/a\u003E, who have developed the Drawdown Explorer, an open-access platform that helps individuals and governments assess everyday decisions and public policies in terms of climate outcomes. The Drawdown Explorer frames daily practices as part of a broader journey toward a more sustainable future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe lecture offered an engaging and inspiring perspective, encouraging the audience to think more actively about how sustainability is communicated, what stories are told, and how emotional engagement can contribute to meaningful climate action.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKate Marvel\u0027s talk offered an inspiring perspective on how sustainability is communicated, what stories are told, and how emotional engagement can contribute to meaningful climate action.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2026 Clough Lecture, co-sponsored by BBISS, featured Kate Marvel, a climate scientist and author."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-05-29 18:36:58","changed_gmt":"2026-06-01 16:23:40","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680383":{"id":"680383","type":"image","title":"Kate_Marvel_Human_Nature.png","body":null,"created":"1780079828","gmt_created":"2026-05-29 18:37:08","changed":"1780079934","gmt_changed":"2026-05-29 18:38:54","alt":"Side\u2011by\u2011side image showing a portrait photo on the left and a book cover on the right. The left image shows an individual standing outdoors among trees, wearing a dark jacket over a light shirt, while the right image displays the book Human Nature: Nine Ways to Feel About Our Changing Planet with bold red title text and illustrated ocean waves and ice formations. The book cover also includes the author name Kate Marvel at the bottom.","file":{"fid":"264639","name":"Kate_Marvel_Human_Nature.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/29\/Kate_Marvel_Human_Nature.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/29\/Kate_Marvel_Human_Nature.png","mime":"image\/png","size":708275,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/29\/Kate_Marvel_Human_Nature.png?itok=clsB5lJ6"}}},"media_ids":["680383"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"195156","name":"Kate Marvel"},{"id":"195157","name":"Clough Lecture"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690188":{"#nid":"690188","#data":{"type":"news","title":"What\u2019s in the Price of a Gallon of Gas?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Energy Information Administration expects nationwide retail gasoline prices to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/outlooks\/steo\/\u0022\u003Eaverage near $4.30 a gallon\u003C\/a\u003E for April 2026 \u2013 the highest monthly average of the year. The political response has been familiar. Georgia has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.multistate.us\/insider\/2026\/4\/6\/lawmakers-push-fuel-tax-relief-amid-rising-gas-costs\u0022\u003Esuspended its state gas tax\u003C\/a\u003E, other states are weighing their own tax holidays, and the White House has issued a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.marketplace.org\/story\/2026\/03\/19\/waiving-the-jones-act-will-boost-the-number-of-ships-available-to-transport-oil-in-the-us\u0022\u003Etemporary waiver of a law known as the Jones Act\u003C\/a\u003E in hopes of moving more domestic fuel to East Coast ports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=jjvorcAAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003Eenergy economist\u003C\/a\u003E, I am often asked about what contributes to gas prices and what different policies can do to affect them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn nationwide figures from January 2026, crude oil accounted for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/petroleum\/gasdiesel\/\u0022\u003Eabout 51% of the pump price\u003C\/a\u003E, refining roughly 20%, distribution and marketing about 11% and taxes about 18%. That mix shifts with conditions: When crude oil prices spike, that can drive more than 60% of the price; when the price drops, taxes and logistics are larger shares of the cost.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECrude Oil is the Biggest Ingredient\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause the price of crude oil is the largest element, most of the price at the pump is derived from the global oil market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy\u0022\u003EPrivacy Policy\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms\u0022\u003ETerms of Service\u003C\/a\u003E apply.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsually, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/doi.org\/10.1257\/aer.99.3.1053\u0022\u003Ebig swings in crude prices\u003C\/a\u003E come mainly from shifts in global demand and expectations \u2013 not from supply disruptions, according to widely cited research in 2009 by the economist Lutz Kilian.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut what is happening in early 2026 with the war in Iran is one of the exceptions: a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-is-less-prone-to-oil-price-shocks-than-in-past-decades-277709\u0022\u003Eclassic supply shock\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/oil-market-report-april-2026\u0022\u003ESevere disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz\u003C\/a\u003E and attacks on Middle East oil infrastructure have taken millions of barrels a day off the global market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost drivers generally can\u2019t quickly reduce how much they drive or how much gas they use when prices rise, so \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dallasfed.org\/research\/economics\/2020\/0616\u0022\u003Egasoline demand doesn\u2019t change much in the short run\u003C\/a\u003E. That means a jump in crude costs tends to result in people paying more rather than driving less.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERefining, Regulations, and the California Puzzle\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERefining turns crude into gasoline at industrial scale. The U.S. doesn\u2019t have a single gasoline market, though. Roughly \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/gasoline-standards\/reformulated-gasoline\u0022\u003Ea quarter of U.S. gasoline\u003C\/a\u003E is a cleaner-burning blend of petroleum-derived chemicals called \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/gasoline-standards\/reformulated-gasoline\u0022\u003Ereformulated gasoline\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d which is required in urban areas across 17 states and the District of Columbia to reduce smog.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECalifornia uses an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ww2.arb.ca.gov\/our-work\/programs\/fuels-enforcment-program\/california-reformulated-gasoline\u0022\u003Eeven stricter formulation\u003C\/a\u003E that few out-of-state refineries make. California is also geographically isolated: No pipelines bring gasoline in from other U.S. refining regions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECalifornia\u2019s gasoline prices have long run above the national average, explained in part by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=65184\u0022\u003Ehigher state taxes\u003C\/a\u003E and stricter environmental rules. But since a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.csb.gov\/exxonmobil-torrance-refinery-explosion-\/\u0022\u003Erefinery fire in Torrance, California, in 2015\u003C\/a\u003E reduced production capacity, the state\u2019s prices have been \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haas.berkeley.edu\/energy-institute\/about\/in-the-media\/mystery-gasoline-surcharge\/\u0022\u003Eabout 20 to 30 cents a gallon\u003C\/a\u003E higher than what those factors would indicate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy economist and University of California, Berkeley, professor Severin Borenstein has called this the \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haas.berkeley.edu\/energy-institute\/about\/in-the-media\/mystery-gasoline-surcharge\/\u0022\u003Emystery gasoline surcharge\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d and attributes it to the fact that there isn\u2019t as much competition between refineries or gas stations in California as in other states. California\u2019s own Division of Petroleum Market Oversight says the surcharge cost the state\u2019s drivers \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.ca.gov\/publications\/2025\/division-petroleum-market-oversight-2024-annual-report\u0022\u003Eabout $59 billion from 2015 to 2024\u003C\/a\u003E. It\u2019s not exactly clear who is getting that money, but it could be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyathaas.wordpress.com\/2023\/01\/09\/whats-the-matter-with-californias-gasoline-prices\/\u0022\u003Egas stations themselves or refineries\u003C\/a\u003E, through complex contracts with gas stations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGetting the Gas Into Your Car\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe distribution and marketing category covers the costs of everything involved in getting the gasoline from the refinery gate to your tank.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGasoline moves by pipeline, ship, rail and truck to wholesale terminals, and then by local delivery truck to service stations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the retailer\u2019s end, the key factors are station rent and labor, the cost to buy gasoline in bulk to be able to sell it, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/credit-cards\/learn\/what-are-credit-card-interchange-fees\u0022\u003Ecredit card fees\u003C\/a\u003E of as much as 6 to 10 cents a gallon at current prices, and franchise fees paid to the national brand, such as Sunoco or ExxonMobil, for permission to put their branding on the gas station.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost gas station operators net \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.convenience.org\/Media\/conveniencecorner\/Who-Makes-Money-Selling-Gas\u0022\u003Eonly a few cents per gallon\u003C\/a\u003E on fuel itself \u2013 which is why many gas stations are really convenience stores with pumps out front. Borenstein and some of his collaborators have also documented that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1162\/003355397555118\u0022\u003Eretail gas prices rise quickly\u003C\/a\u003E when wholesale costs climb but fall slowly when wholesale costs drop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Question of Gas Tax Holidays\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe federal government charges a tax on fuel, of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/tools\/faqs\/faq.php?id=10\u0026amp;t=5\u0022\u003E18.4 cents a gallon for gasoline\u003C\/a\u003E and 24.3 cents a gallon for diesel. States charge their own taxes, ranging from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/taxfoundation.org\/data\/all\/state\/gas-taxes-state\/\u0022\u003E70.9 cents a gallon for gas\u003C\/a\u003E in California to 8.95 cents in Alaska.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen gas prices rise, many politicians start talking about temporarily suspending their state\u2019s gas tax. That does reduce prices, but not as much as politicians \u2013 or consumers \u2013 might hope. Research on past gas tax holidays has found that consumers get \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu\/issues\/2022\/6\/15\/effects-of-a-state-gasoline-tax-holiday\u0022\u003Eabout 79% of the reduction\u003C\/a\u003E in gas taxes. That means oil companies and fuel retailers keep about one-fifth of the tax cut for themselves rather than passing that savings to the public.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGas tax holidays also reduce funding for what the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/blog.turbotax.intuit.com\/tax-deductions-and-credits-2\/the-highs-and-lows-of-gasoline-tax-15098\/\u0022\u003Etaxes are designed to pay for\u003C\/a\u003E, typically roads and bridges. That pushes road and bridge upkeep costs onto future drivers and general taxpayers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is an additional problem, too: Taxes on gasoline are supposed to charge drivers for some of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w14685\u0022\u003Ecosts their driving imposes on everyone else\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 carbon emissions, local air pollution, congestion and crashes. But Borenstein has found that U.S. fuel tax levels are already \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyathaas.wordpress.com\/2022\/02\/28\/cut-the-electricity-tax-not-the-gas-tax\/\u0022\u003Efar below the true cost to society\u003C\/a\u003E. Removing the tax on drivers effectively raises the costs for everyone else.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Jones Act: A Small Number That Adds Up\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/soaring-gas-prices-prompt-trump-to-ease-oil-tanker-rules-how-waiving-the-jones-act-affects-what-you-pay-at-the-pump-278387\u0022\u003E1920 Jones Act\u003C\/a\u003E is a federal law that requires cargo moving between U.S. ports to travel on vessels built and registered in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, and crewed primarily by U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Of the world\u2019s 7,500 oil tankers, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/2026\/03\/18\/jones-act-suspended-shipping-oil\/\u0022\u003Eonly 54 meet this requirement\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cato.org\/blog\/jones-act-forces-us-gasoline-take-long-way-home\u0022\u003EOnly 43 of these\u003C\/a\u003E can transport refined fuels such as gasoline.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, despite significant refining capacity on the Gulf Coast, some U.S. gasoline is exported overseas even as the Northeast imports fuel, in part reflecting the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/analysis\/transportationfuels\/padd1n3\/\u0022\u003Erelatively high cost of moving fuel\u003C\/a\u003E between U.S. ports.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEconomists Ryan Kellogg and Rich Sweeney estimate that the law \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w31938\u0022\u003Eraises East Coast gasoline prices by about a penny and a half per gallon\u003C\/a\u003E on average, costing drivers roughly $770 million a year. In light of the war\u2019s effect on gas prices, the Trump administration has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/soaring-gas-prices-prompt-trump-to-ease-oil-tanker-rules-how-waiving-the-jones-act-affects-what-you-pay-at-the-pump-278387\u0022\u003Etemporarily suspended the Jones Act requirements\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 an action more commonly taken when \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dhs.gov\/publication\/september-2017-jones-act-waivers\u0022\u003Ehurricanes knock out Gulf Coast refineries and pipeline networks\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat Moves the Number\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result of all these factors is that the price that drivers see at the pump mostly reflects the global price of crude, plus a stack of domestic costs, only some of which are inefficient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETax holidays give a partial, short-lived rebate. Jones Act waivers trim pennies, though permanent repeal may cause more fundamental changes, such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cato.org\/publications\/policy-analysis\/jones-act-burden-america-can-no-longer-bear\u0022\u003Ereduced rail and truck transport of all goods\u003C\/a\u003E, which could lower costs, emissions and infrastructure damage associated with cargo transportation. Harmonizing fuel blends across states and seasons may lower prices somewhat, but likely at the expense of increased emissions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately, the best protection against oil price shocks is a more efficient gas-burning vehicle, or \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/04\/02\/evs-autos-energy-oil-iran-war-electric-transport-fossil-fuels.html\u0022\u003Eone that doesn\u2019t burn gasoline\u003C\/a\u003E at all. In the meantime, the best I can offer as an economist is clarity about what that $4.30 actually buys.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/whats-in-the-price-of-a-gallon-of-gas-281494\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech energy economist Bobby Harris said U.S. gasoline prices are driven mainly by crude oil costs, with refining, distribution and taxes accounting for a smaller and shifting share of what consumers pay at the pump.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech energy economist Bobby Harris said U.S. gasoline prices are driven mainly by crude oil costs, with refining, distribution and taxes accounting for a smaller and shifting share of what consumers pay at the pump. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-07 13:46:11","changed_gmt":"2026-06-01 14:59:37","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680213":{"id":"680213","type":"image","title":"What-s-inthepriceofagallonofgas.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGas prices were well over $4 a gallon on April 28, 2026, in Brooklyn, N.Y. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/fuel-prices-are-displayed-at-a-brooklyn-gas-station-on-news-photo\/2273575764\u0022\u003ESpencer Platt\/Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778162898","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 14:08:18","changed":"1778162898","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 14:08:18","alt":"A person filling gas in his car with the gas prices shown in the foreground","file":{"fid":"264457","name":"What-s-inthepriceofagallonofgas.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/What-s-inthepriceofagallonofgas.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/What-s-inthepriceofagallonofgas.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":243115,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/What-s-inthepriceofagallonofgas.jpeg?itok=ROlYqpjU"}},"680212":{"id":"680212","type":"image","title":"the-cost-of-crude-oil-is-a-key-driver-of-gas-and-diesel-prices.png","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAs of January 2026.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EChart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/petroleum\/gasdiesel\/\u0022 rel=\u0022nofollow noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EU.S. Energy Information Administration\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022javascript:void(0)\u0022 target=\u0022_self\u0022\u003EGet the data\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/CnmrT\/1\/#embed\u0022\u003EEmbed\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/CnmrT\/full.png\u0022\u003EDownload image\u003C\/a\u003E Created with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.datawrapper.de\/_\/CnmrT\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDatawrapper\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1778162088","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 13:54:48","changed":"1778162088","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 13:54:48","alt":"Chart showing cost distribution of crude oil, refining, marketing and distribution and taxes for gas and diesel","file":{"fid":"264456","name":"the-cost-of-crude-oil-is-a-key-driver-of-gas-and-diesel-prices.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/the-cost-of-crude-oil-is-a-key-driver-of-gas-and-diesel-prices_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/the-cost-of-crude-oil-is-a-key-driver-of-gas-and-diesel-prices_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":81655,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/the-cost-of-crude-oil-is-a-key-driver-of-gas-and-diesel-prices_0.png?itok=p_-8Gzh1"}},"680210":{"id":"680210","type":"image","title":"BobbyHarris-file-20260429-57-ux2drz.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA tanker truck delivers fuel to a gas station. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/newsroom.ap.org\/detail\/IranUSOil\/aa65c07d8aa34344acfa1aa5bcfda39c\/photo\u0022\u003EAP Photo\/Erin Hooley\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778161952","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 13:52:32","changed":"1778161952","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 13:52:32","alt":"A tanker truck delivers fuel to a gas station. AP Photo\/Erin Hooley","file":{"fid":"264454","name":"BobbyHarris-file-20260429-57-ux2drz.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260429-57-ux2drz.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260429-57-ux2drz.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":101295,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260429-57-ux2drz.jpeg?itok=SkqSopUw"}},"680211":{"id":"680211","type":"image","title":"BobbyHarris-file-20260318-71-tw0cca.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESuspending the Jones Act allows foreign-based oil tankers to sail between U.S. ports. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/newsroom.ap.org\/detail\/OilPrices\/773825116ccd4cf8943c40836038be54\/photo?vs=false\u0026amp;currentItemNo=25\u0026amp;startingItemNo=0\u0022\u003EAP Photo\/Eric Gay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778161998","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 13:53:18","changed":"1778161998","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 13:53:18","alt":"An oil tanker ship with the sun in the background and a man with a cap with a fishing poll in the foreground","file":{"fid":"264455","name":"BobbyHarris-file-20260318-71-tw0cca.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260318-71-tw0cca.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260318-71-tw0cca.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":127210,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/BobbyHarris-file-20260318-71-tw0cca.jpeg?itok=1ZUJVvv4"}}},"media_ids":["680213","680212","680210","680211"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/whats-in-the-price-of-a-gallon-of-gas-281494","title":"Original Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/robert-i-harris-2669057\u0022 rel=\u0022author\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERobert I. Harris\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssistant Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Research Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690508":{"#nid":"690508","#data":{"type":"news","title":"BBISS Appoints Three New Faculty Directors","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) has expanded its faculty leadership team to advance its work in partnerships, AI and resilience research, and interdisciplinary graduate student training.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMarta Hatzell to Lead BBISS External Partnership Efforts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarta Hatzell has been appointed as faculty director for Strategic Engagement and Partnerships. Hatzell is a Woodruff Professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u0026nbsp;with a joint appointment in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Her research builds the foundation for sustainable food, energy, and water systems through electrified catalysis and separations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross institutes, research centers, federal agencies, national laboratories, and industry partnerships, Hatzell\u2019s work has operated at the intersection of research, infrastructure, policy, and implementation. She has worked closely with power utilities, industry partners, and federal sponsors. In this role, Hatzell will help shape BBISS\u2019s external-facing strategy involving federal agencies, national laboratories, and university partners. She will bring her experience and expertise to steward strategic partnerships and strengthen large-scale collaborative research efforts, working closely with Ameet Pinto, faculty director for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EXiao Liu to Advance AI and Resilience Research at BBISS\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXiao Liu has been appointed as faculty director for Resilience and AI. Liu is the David M. McKenney Family Associate Professor in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. His research advances statistical methods and machine learning, with applications spanning wildfire risk analysis, climate and environmental modeling, infrastructure systems, and data-driven resilience research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiu\u2019s appointment is part of BBISS\u2019s growing focus on connecting AI, resilience, and sustainability research across disciplines, particularly in areas related to sustainable AI and AI for climate and sustainability science. His work on wildfire ignition risk quantification for power delivery networks, wildfire spread modeling, and remote-sensing analysis of wildfire aerosols demonstrates a commitment to using machine learning and AI to address complex environmental and infrastructure challenges. In this role, Liu will lead efforts to advance AI-driven approaches to resilience and will co-steward the AI, Sustainability, and Resilience Initiative in partnership with Josiah Hester, faculty director for Civic Innovation and AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Realff to Lead BBISS Education Initiatives\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMatthew J. Realff has been appointed as faculty director for Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education. Realff is a professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he has served on the faculty since 1993. Realff\u2019s decades of research and education leadership center on advancing sustainable systems, with an emphasis on integrating process systems engineering with environmental and economic analysis. He has contributed to the development of sustainability policy, environmentally informed design, recycling systems, and industry standards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERealff\u2019s appointment supports BBISS\u2019s ongoing efforts to strengthen interdisciplinary graduate education and workforce development aligned with Georgia Tech\u2019s broader sustainability strategy. His commitment to sustainable systems education and his prior leadership roles, including chair of the Sustainability Education and Curriculum Committee, position him to expand interdisciplinary training and pathways for students who want to tackle sustainability challenges across boundaries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeril Toktay, BBISS executive director, said, \u201cI\u2019m delighted to welcome Marta, Xiao, and Matthew to the BBISS faculty leadership team. These appointments greatly expand BBISS\u2019s capacity to address sustainability challenges crossing disciplinary, institutional, and sectoral lines.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) has expanded its faculty leadership team to advance its work in partnerships, AI and resilience research, and interdisciplinary graduate student training.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"BBISS has expanded its team to include three more faculty members."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 13:59:29","changed_gmt":"2026-05-29 18:49:48","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680358":{"id":"680358","type":"image","title":"Hatzell_Liu_Realff_Collage.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E(L to R) Marta Hatzell, Xiao Liu, Matthew Realff\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779890379","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 13:59:39","changed":"1779890379","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 13:59:39","alt":"\u0022Three side\u2011by\u2011side headshot portraits showing individuals from the shoulders up against different backgrounds. The left image shows a person wearing a black top with greenery behind them, the center image shows a person in a light blue shirt and patterned tie against a neutral brown backdrop, and the right image shows a person in a light green collared shirt against a gray studio background.\u0022","file":{"fid":"264614","name":"Hatzell_Liu_Realff_Collage.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/Hatzell_Liu_Realff_Collage.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/Hatzell_Liu_Realff_Collage.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":222426,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/27\/Hatzell_Liu_Realff_Collage.jpg?itok=HGGYQnHW"}}},"media_ids":["680358"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690507":{"#nid":"690507","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) Spring Workshop Highlights Advances in Renewable Materials ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12. The workshop brought together university researchers, scientists, and industry partners to discuss new developments shaping the future of the bioeconomy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPreceded by an Industry Advisory Board meeting, the two-day workshop focused on how renewable materials, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing can support more sustainable industrial systems. Discussions throughout the event explored topics ranging from forest health and biotechnology innovations to sustainable packaging and high-value biochemical products derived from forest resources.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpening the workshop, RBI Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/j-carson-meredith\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E emphasized the institute\u2019s focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur goal is to catalyze a community of researchers who focus on solving real-world challenges by investing in team building across interdisciplinary boundaries,\u201d Meredith said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeredith also highlighted the growing need to create higher-value products from renewable resources in addition to traditional commodity materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat focus connected closely with updates on Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-based Economy from Wood (ReWOOD)\u003C\/a\u003E. The center supports research aimed at turning sustainable plant-based materials into products such as aviation fuels, specialty chemicals, solvents, and pharmaceutical ingredients while strengthening connections between research and industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral presentations focused on improving the long-term health and productivity of working forests. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/warnell.uga.edu\/directory\/people\/caterina-villari\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECaterina Villari\u003C\/a\u003E from the University of Georgia and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ornl.gov\/staff-profile\/david-j-weston\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Weston\u003C\/a\u003E from Oak Ridge National Laboratory shared research aimed at protecting trees from diseases such as fusiform rust and brown spot needle blight. Their work combines biotechnology, genetic screening, and artificial intelligence tools to help identify tree varieties that are more resilient to disease and environmental stress.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop also explored how forest fibers can be used to create more sustainable packaging materials. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/patricia-stathatou\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPatritsia Stathatou\u003C\/a\u003E from Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E presented research on manufacturing methods designed to reduce water and energy use in paper and packaging production.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndustry speakers discussed the challenges of bringing those materials into large-scale manufacturing. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/michael-joyce-phd\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMichael Joyce\u003C\/a\u003E, Senior Associate Principal Engineer at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mondelezinternational.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMondel\u0113z International\u003C\/a\u003E, emphasized that paper-based alternatives must still meet the strength, durability, and performance standards required for existing packaging systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional discussions focused on how forest-derived materials can be used to create higher-value products beyond traditional paper and lumber applications. Speakers highlighted a growing interest in converting wood residues and byproducts into specialty chemicals, fuels, and biomaterials that can strengthen the long-term economics of renewable manufacturing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/larissafenn\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELarissa Fenn\u003C\/a\u003E from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ryam.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERayonier Advanced Materials\u003C\/a\u003E discussed the company\u2019s work converting wood-derived materials into natural prebiotics for livestock. In collaborative studies with researchers at the University of Georgia, the products improved livestock gut health and feed efficiency while performing similarly to traditional antibiotics in certain diseased conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop also included a student poster session and networking event, giving attendees an opportunity to engage directly with RBI Fellows and researchers working across renewable materials and manufacturing research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cWhat made the workshop especially valuable was having people from different backgrounds and sectors all in the same room looking at these challenges from different perspectives. Those conversations are what move ideas from research into real-world applications,\u201d said Meredith. \u201cRBI will continue to host these workshops as part of our commitment to interdisciplinary research advancing the bioeconomy. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12. The workshop brought together university researchers, scientists, and industry partners to discuss new developments shaping the future of the bioeconomy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) at Georgia Tech hosted its Spring 2026 Workshop, \u201cResilient Forests to Renewable Futures,\u201d on May 11 and 12."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 14:01:16","changed_gmt":"2026-05-28 17:03:11","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680365":{"id":"680365","type":"image","title":"Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left: Carson Meredith, Blair Brettmann, Andreas (Andy) S. Bommarius, Ulrika Egertsdotter, Joel Kostka, Titiksha Fernandes and Chris Luettgen.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779987698","gmt_created":"2026-05-28 17:01:38","changed":"1779987775","gmt_changed":"2026-05-28 17:02:55","alt":"From left: Carson Meredith, Blair Brettmann, Andreas (Andy) S. Bommarius, Ulrika Egertsdotter, Joel Kostka, Titiksha Fernandes and Chris Luettgen.","file":{"fid":"264621","name":"Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":9375345,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/28\/Screenshot-2026-05-28-at-11.58.47-AM.png?itok=0oINCaZC"}}},"media_ids":["680365"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690488":{"#nid":"690488","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Program Backs Pioneering Antibody Research with Global Reach","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new grant from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gra.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Research Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E (GRA) is backing an ambitious effort by Georgia Tech scientists to accelerate the development of human antibody therapies \u2014 a class of medicines that has transformed treatment across cancer, autoimmune disease, and infectious illness, yet it cannot be generated against many disease targets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe $250,000 funding award, made through GRA\u2019s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I\u0026amp;E) program, supports the translational work of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/ankur-singh\u0022\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/andres-j-garcia\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor in Mechanical Engineering and the Executive Director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E. Singh and Garc\u00eda are collaborating to develop functional human antibodies against some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases. While antibody therapies already benefit an estimated 20 million patients worldwide, fewer than 10 percent of discovery efforts ultimately yield candidates suitable for clinical use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis shortfall spans major disease areas \u2014 from oncology and autoimmune disorders to heart and metabolism-related conditions and neurological and infectious diseases \u2014 limiting therapeutic options for patients. The challenge lies not only in identifying candidate antibodies, but in engineering them to function reliably in the human body.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe I\u0026amp;E program exists to bridge the gap between a discovery that works in the lab and one that can anchor a company,\u201d said Justin Burns, Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at GRA. \u201cSingh and Garc\u00eda are tackling a problem the field has faced for decades: A significant fraction of drug targets remains inaccessible to antibody-based therapies. Our goal is to help move bold, high-potential science toward real-world impact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGRA\u2019s model targets a well-known bottleneck in translation. While university labs generate promising technologies, many stall before reaching the marketplace due to a lack of validation and early-stage development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh and Garc\u00eda aim to overcome this barrier by using a proprietary antibody-engineering framework developed in Singh\u2019s laboratory, and supported by an earlier GRA grant. The objective is straightforward: Increase the success rate of discovery efforts so more antibody candidates can advance toward clinical use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe implications extend well beyond our laboratory,\u201d said Singh. \u201cBy expanding the pipeline of functional human antibodies, we can begin to address diseases that currently lack durable treatment options. GRA\u2019s support is transformative \u2014 not only for advancing the science, but for positioning Georgia as a leader in biotechnology innovation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project is built with real-world use in mind, aiming to turn the research into a new company and eventually a clinical product. By testing the idea early and lowering risk, the team hopes to attract investment and move the technology quickly beyond the Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda emphasized the translational vision of the work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a transformative platform technology that overcomes major bottlenecks in antibody discovery and will accelerate and increase the efficiency of this powerful class of therapeutics,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis effort is about rethinking how we design antibodies from the ground up \u2014 integrating biological insight with engineering principles to produce molecules that are not just viable, but clinically meaningful,\u201d he said. \u201cWith GRA\u2019s support, we can de-risk early discovery and create a clearer path from promising concepts to therapies that reach patients.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Tracey Mullen, a seasoned biopharma executive, entrepreneur, and antibody discovery and engineering leader currently serving as Chief Strategy Officer at Mosaic Biosciences, is advising the team on translational strategy, commercial development, and company formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe ability to rapidly generate functional human antibodies in physiologically relevant systems could meaningfully change how therapeutic discovery is approached,\u201d Mullen said. \u201cBy moving beyond largely empirical, animal- or screening-heavy workflows and incorporating human-specific, mechanism-informed evaluation earlier in the process, this platform has the potential to generate more relevant antibody candidates and create a stronger path from discovery concept to translational development.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs global demand for advanced therapeutics grows, efforts like this reflect a broader shift in how innovation moves from bench to bedside \u2014 one driven not only by scientific ingenuity, but by targeted investment at critical early stages.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAntibody therapy is a class of medicines that has transformed treatment across cancer, autoimmune disease, and infectious illness, yet it cannot be generated against many disease targets. The $250,000 funding award, made through GRA\u2019s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I\u0026amp;E) program, will help two Georgia Tech researchers develop functional human antibodies against some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new grant from the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) is backing an ambitious effort by Georgia Tech scientists to accelerate the development of human antibody therapies "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 12:28:35","changed_gmt":"2026-05-27 14:06:25","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680359":{"id":"680359","type":"image","title":"_0000_Singh_GRA.jpg","body":null,"created":"1779890722","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 14:05:22","changed":"1779890722","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 14:05:22","alt":"A man sits in a lab in front of a fume hood and uses tweezers to hold a plastic chip out toward the camera.","file":{"fid":"264616","name":"_0000_Singh_GRA.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/_0000_Singh_GRA.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/27\/_0000_Singh_GRA.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":130894,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/27\/_0000_Singh_GRA.jpg?itok=Cdmy-61A"}}},"media_ids":["680359"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690486":{"#nid":"690486","#data":{"type":"news","title":"INTERSECT 2026 Marks a Decade of Impact in Advancing the Southeast\u2019s Energy Policy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s INTERSECT 2026 brought together leading voices in energy on May 18 to explore critical issues in the Southeast\u2019s energy ecosystem. Hosted by the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E), INTERSECT coincided with the center\u2019s 10th anniversary, reflecting its sustained impact in convening cross-sector leaders to advance regional energy innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith more than 150 attendees from industry, academia, and research organizations, the event\u2019s high-level engagement underscored the urgency of critical issues facing the energy sector today, including the surging electricity demand, resiliency of the grid, and evolving supply chains, as well as the value of a dedicated space for candid, solutions-oriented dialogue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cINTERSECT 2026 demonstrated the power of bringing together leaders who are actively shaping the future of energy,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter. \u201cWhat began as a forum to explore emerging ideas has grown into a critical platform for aligning perspectives and advancing actionable solutions across the Southeast.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s program focused on real-world implementation challenges, including managing large-scale load growth and coordinating infrastructure investments to meet demand reliably and affordably. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/intersect-2026\/\u0022\u003EPanels\u003C\/a\u003E featuring leaders from utilities, global energy corporations, and research organizations emphasized the importance of aligning strategy across sectors to ensure that the Southeast remains competitive and resilient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southerncompany.com\/about\/leadership\/chris-womack.html\u0022\u003EChris Womack\u003C\/a\u003E, chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Company, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the unprecedented scale of current energy demands.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMeeting this moment requires us to think differently \u2014 serving growth while ensuring reliability, resilience, and long-term value for our customers and communities,\u201d said Womack.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2017, the inaugural INTERSECT conference marked the launch of EPIcenter itself and established Georgia Tech\u2019s commitment to connecting research, industry insight, and policy development. It focused on the need to bridge the gap between rapidly advancing technologies and slower-moving regulatory and market frameworks, a theme that continues to shape its mission today.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs INTERSECT 2026 concluded, participants pointed to a shared takeaway: With its\u0026nbsp;industrial base, growing population, and integrated energy systems,\u0026nbsp;the Southeast is uniquely positioned to lead in the next phase of the energy transition. With AI-driven power demand and grid infrastructure playing a significant role going forward, it is imperative to bring together the right voices to shape policies and strategies that will connect ideas to action.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s INTERSECT 2026 brought together leading voices in energy on May 18 to explore critical issues in the Southeast\u2019s energy ecosystem. Hosted by the Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E), INTERSECT coincided with the center\u2019s 10th anniversary, reflecting its sustained impact in convening cross-sector leaders to advance regional energy innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s INTERSECT 2026 brought together leading voices in energy on May 18 to explore critical issues in the Southeast\u2019s energy ecosystem."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-27 00:38:33","changed_gmt":"2026-05-27 10:50:35","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680346":{"id":"680346","type":"image","title":"Intersect 2026 Leadership Group 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Chriss (Walmart), Aaron Mitchell (Georgia Power), and Srimonto Ghosh (Chevron)","file":{"fid":"264602","name":"IMG_1434.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1434.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1434.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2102204,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1434.jpg?itok=j8RsnUOk"}},"680354":{"id":"680354","type":"image","title":"IMG_1449.jpg","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EFireside chat featuring Rich Simmons, Strategic Energy Institute, and Rich Voorberg, QII.\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1779847562","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 02:06:02","changed":"1779889346","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 13:42:26","alt":"Fireside chat featuring Rich Simmons, Strategic Energy Institute, and Rich Voorberg, QII.","file":{"fid":"264608","name":"IMG_1449.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1449.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1449.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2495542,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1449.jpg?itok=vr1zD1ce"}},"680352":{"id":"680352","type":"image","title":"IMG_1514.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EModerator Craig Jones (Oglethorpe Power Corporation) with Panelists Lisa Epifani (ClearPath, William Pizer (Resources for the Future) and Brad Townsend (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779847353","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 02:02:33","changed":"1779848242","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 02:17:22","alt":"Moderator Craig Jones (Oglethorpe Power Corporation) with Panelists Lisa Epifani (ClearPath, William Pizer (Resources for the Future) and Brad Townsend (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions)","file":{"fid":"264606","name":"IMG_1514.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1514.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1514.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2456990,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1514.jpg?itok=NKTo9xm8"}},"680355":{"id":"680355","type":"image","title":"IMG_1464.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EModerator Scott McWhorter (Strategic Energy Institute), with Panelists Neva Espinoza (EPRI), Sherman Knight (Competitive Power Ventures), and Barbara Hampton (Georgia Transmission Corporation)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779847699","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 02:08:19","changed":"1779848292","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 02:18:12","alt":"Moderator Scott McWhorter (Strategic Energy Institute), with Panelists Neva Espinoza (EPRI), Sherman Knight (Competitive Power Ventures), and Barbara Hampton (Georgia Transmission Corporation)","file":{"fid":"264609","name":"IMG_1464.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1464.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1464.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2152246,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1464.jpg?itok=Qqri1Y77"}},"680356":{"id":"680356","type":"image","title":"IMG_1536.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EModerator Elaine Johns (Vantage Point Solutions and EnerVision) with Panelists Wayne Gossage (Jefferson Energy Cooperative), Michael Goodroe (Sawnee EMC) and Jeremy Nelms (Flint Energies)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779847849","gmt_created":"2026-05-27 02:10:49","changed":"1779847849","gmt_changed":"2026-05-27 02:10:49","alt":"Moderator Elaine Johns (Vantage Point Solutions and EnerVision) with Panelists Wayne Gossage (Jefferson Energy Cooperative), Michael Goodroe (Sawnee EMC) and Jeremy Nelms (Flint Energies)","file":{"fid":"264610","name":"IMG_1536.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1536.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1536.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2400022,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/IMG_1536.jpg?itok=dxTsR50P"}}},"media_ids":["680346","680347","680353","680348","680354","680352","680355","680356"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || Research Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690463":{"#nid":"690463","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Students Advance Energy, Science Innovation Through National Lab Internships","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech students are gaining hands-on research experience at U.S. national laboratories this summer, reinforcing the Institute\u2019s strong and enduring partnerships across the national lab system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe highly competitive\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/wdts\/About\/Laboratory-Participants\u0022\u003ELaboratory Placement program\u003C\/a\u003E is a paid opportunity offered through the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/wdts\/suli\u0022\u003EScience Undergraduate Laboratory Internships\u003C\/a\u003E. It provides students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at leading facilities, including\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anl.gov\/\u0022\u003EArgonne National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ameslab.gov\/\u0022\u003EAmes National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lbl.gov\/\u0022\u003ELawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nlr.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Laboratory of the Rockies\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ornl.gov\/\u0022\u003EOak Ridge National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pppl.gov\/\u0022\u003EPrinceton Plasma Physics Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.srnl.gov\/\u0022\u003ESavannah River National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program\u2019s 2026 cohort includes 16 Georgia Tech students from disciplines such as artificial intelligence, materials science, aerospace engineering, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics. Their research placements reflect the interdisciplinary nature of today\u2019s scientific challenges, with projects covering bioinformatics, high-energy and condensed matter physics, accelerator science, environmental management, and advanced materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of the internships are closely aligned with national energy priorities, with students working in research areas including nuclear energy, hydrogen and chemical systems, materials for energy applications, plasma and fusion sciences, and complex engineered systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech\u2019s deep engagement with the national laboratory system creates unparalleled opportunities for our students to contribute to the future of energy,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute. \u201cBy connecting interdisciplinary talent with world-class research environments, we are not only advancing discovery but also shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive secure, sustainable, and resilient energy systems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking alongside national lab scientists, students will not only gain access to world-class facilities but benefit from mentorship and professional networks, while contributing to research critical to national security, economic competitiveness, and a more sustainable energy future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese internships demonstrate the strength of Georgia Tech\u2019s relationships across the federal research ecosystem,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gov.gatech.edu\/staff-directory\u0022\u003ERobert Knotts\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Federal Relations in the Office of Institute Relations. \u201cThey provide a direct pathway for students to engage in public service through mission-driven research at national laboratories \u2014 while strengthening connections that are vital to advancing national priorities in energy, security, and innovation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech students are gaining hands-on research experience at U.S. national laboratories this summer, reinforcing the Institute\u2019s strong and enduring partnerships across the national lab system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe highly competitive\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/wdts\/About\/Laboratory-Participants\u0022\u003ELaboratory Placement program\u003C\/a\u003E is a paid opportunity offered through the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.osti.gov\/wdts\/suli\u0022\u003EScience Undergraduate Laboratory Internships\u003C\/a\u003E. It provides students from a wide range of disciplines an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at leading facilities, including\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.anl.gov\/\u0022\u003EArgonne National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ameslab.gov\/\u0022\u003EAmes National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lbl.gov\/\u0022\u003ELawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nlr.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Laboratory of the Rockies\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ornl.gov\/\u0022\u003EOak Ridge National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.pppl.gov\/\u0022\u003EPrinceton Plasma Physics Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.srnl.gov\/\u0022\u003ESavannah River National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech students are gaining hands-on research experience at U.S. national laboratories this summer, reinforcing the Institute\u2019s strong and enduring partnerships across the national lab system."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-26 14:34:26","changed_gmt":"2026-05-26 19:23:02","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680345":{"id":"680345","type":"image","title":"National Lab Student Internships 2026","body":null,"created":"1779823309","gmt_created":"2026-05-26 19:21:49","changed":"1779823332","gmt_changed":"2026-05-26 19:22:12","alt":"Logos of national labs including Oak Ridge National Lab, AMES Lab, Argonne National Lab, Savannah River National Lab, PPPL, National Lab of the Rockies, National Fusion Facility, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Brookhaven National Lab and Sandia national lab","file":{"fid":"264598","name":"GT-Students-Interning-at-Labs_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/GT-Students-Interning-at-Labs_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/26\/GT-Students-Interning-at-Labs_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2027423,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/26\/GT-Students-Interning-at-Labs_1.jpg?itok=SiYNOZ89"}}},"media_ids":["680345"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || Research Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690442":{"#nid":"690442","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College Recognizes 8 Faculty Members with Excellence Awards","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEight faculty members have been honored by the College of Engineering (CoE) for their excellence in research, service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECandidates for the fifth annual CoE Faculty Excellence Awards were nominated by their peers or submitted self-nominations. Materials were reviewed by a committee of academic and research faculty members within the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo of these faculty award winners, Hong Yeo and Omar Inan, are members of the Institute for People and Technology. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/college-recognizes-8-faculty-members-excellence-awards\u0022\u003ERead the full CoE article \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Honorees have demonstrated outstanding service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEight faculty members have been honored by the College of Engineering (CoE) for their excellence in research, service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECandidates for the fifth annual CoE Faculty Excellence Awards were nominated by their peers or submitted self-nominations. Materials were reviewed by a committee of academic and research faculty members within the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo of these faculty are members of the Institute for People and Technology. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/college-recognizes-8-faculty-members-excellence-awards\u0022\u003ERead more \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Honorees have demonstrated outstanding service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-05-22 14:25:55","changed_gmt":"2026-05-22 14:34:00","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680334":{"id":"680334","type":"image","title":"College Recognizes 8 Faculty Members with Excellence Awards","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Engineering Faculty Members with Excellence Awards \u003C\/strong\u003E(Akanksha Menon, Hong Yeo, Kinsey Herrin, Lauren Steimle, Kevin Haas, Omer Inan, Scott Hollister, and Kim Paige).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779459864","gmt_created":"2026-05-22 14:24:24","changed":"1779460276","gmt_changed":"2026-05-22 14:31:16","alt":"College Recognizes 8 Faculty Members with Excellence Awards","file":{"fid":"264582","name":"8CoE-Faculty-copy.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/8CoE-Faculty-copy.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/8CoE-Faculty-copy.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1443077,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/22\/8CoE-Faculty-copy.png?itok=SfWxCAxs"}}},"media_ids":["680334"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690439":{"#nid":"690439","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Associate Professor John Blazeck Receives NSF\u2019s CAREER Award","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Blazeck, associate professor in Georgia Tech\u0027s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), has won a 2026 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/career-faculty-early-career-development-program\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECAREER\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Award is the NSF\u2019s most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/john-blazeck\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBlazeck\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E will receive $647,941 over five years for \u201cCreating and evolving antibodies from scratch in yeast.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAntibodies are key proteins of the immune system that help fight disease. In people, immune cells called B cells create antibodies and then evolve them. B cells take months to do this, which makes it difficult to study antibody creation and evolution, Blazeck explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis CAREER project will design a method to evolve antibodies \u201cfrom scratch\u201d in yeast, which will open new avenues for exploring antibody creation, evolution, and function.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full story on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/associate-professor-john-blazeck-receives-nsfs-career-award\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biomolecular Engineering\u0027s website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/funding\/opportunities\/career-faculty-early-career-development-program\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECAREER\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Award is the NSF\u2019s most prestigious award in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"John Blazeck, associate professor in Georgia Tech\u0027s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), has won a 2026 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF)."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-05-22 11:51:40","changed_gmt":"2026-05-22 11:53:35","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680331":{"id":"680331","type":"image","title":"Blazeck-2019-HeadShot.jpg","body":null,"created":"1779450727","gmt_created":"2026-05-22 11:52:07","changed":"1779450727","gmt_changed":"2026-05-22 11:52:07","alt":"A man with brown hair and a short beard smiles for a portrait while wearing a dark blue suit and red tie.","file":{"fid":"264579","name":"Blazeck-2019-HeadShot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/Blazeck-2019-HeadShot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/22\/Blazeck-2019-HeadShot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":250304,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/22\/Blazeck-2019-HeadShot.jpg?itok=lElpIX1Z"}}},"media_ids":["680331"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"94981","name":"College of Engineering; School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon, Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690428":{"#nid":"690428","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Engineering Recognizes 8 Faculty Members with Excellence Awards","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEight faculty members have been honored by the College of Engineering for their excellence\u0026nbsp;in research, service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECandidates for the fifth annual Faculty Excellence Awards were nominated by their peers or submitted self-nominations. Materials were reviewed by a committee of academic and research faculty members within the College.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach honoree receives $2,000. The honorees are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/menon\u0022\u003EAkanksha Menon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/yeo\u0022\u003EHong Yeo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/herrin\u0022\u003EKinsey Herrin\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/lauren-steimle\u0022\u003ELauren Steimle\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/kevin-haas\u0022\u003EKevin Haas\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/omer-t-inan\u0022\u003EOmer Inan\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bio\/scott-j-hollister\u0022\u003EScott Hollister\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bio\/kim-l-paige\u0022\u003EKim L. Paige\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERead the full story on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/college-recognizes-8-faculty-members-excellence-awards\u0022\u003ECollege of Engineering website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECandidates for the fifth annual Faculty Excellence Awards were nominated by their peers or submitted self-nominations. Materials were reviewed by a committee of academic and research faculty members within the College.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach honoree receives $2,000.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Eight faculty members have been honored by the College of Engineering for their excellence in research, service, teaching, inventorship, and commercialization."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-05-21 18:30:58","changed_gmt":"2026-05-21 18:33:06","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680327":{"id":"680327","type":"image","title":"_0000_Tech-Tower.jpg","body":null,"created":"1779388267","gmt_created":"2026-05-21 18:31:07","changed":"1779388267","gmt_changed":"2026-05-21 18:31:07","alt":"Georgia Tech\u2019s historic Tech Tower rises above leafy green trees on a clear day, featuring a red brick facade, arched windows, and a pointed gray roof with the word \u201cTECH\u201d displayed prominently near the top.","file":{"fid":"264574","name":"_0000_Tech-Tower.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/21\/_0000_Tech-Tower.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/21\/_0000_Tech-Tower.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":173014,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/21\/_0000_Tech-Tower.jpg?itok=BjjKwXOD"}}},"media_ids":["680327"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187433","name":"go-ien"},{"id":"594","name":"college of engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer, Director of Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690386":{"#nid":"690386","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Vida Jamali Receives the Inaugural Dr. James Robert and Margaret Spencer Early Career Fellowship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAssistant Professor Vida Jamali is the inaugural recipient of the new Dr. James Robert and Margaret Spencer Early Career Fellowship in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE@GT).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHer outstanding research accomplishments and contributions to the School and Georgia Tech led to this selection,\u201d said Professor Christopher W. Jones, the John F. Brock III School Chair in ChBE@GT.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe $20,000 in discretionary funding from this one-year fellowship will support \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vidajamali.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJamali\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s research activities focused on developing new tools for \u003Cem\u003Ein situ\u003C\/em\u003E liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy, stochastic thermodynamics, and nanoscience-based platforms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Spencers established the endowment from which the term fellowship funding comes in 2017. This endowment will eventually lead to the establishment of a professorship in ChBE@GT.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBob Spencer is a successful alumnus who has remained connected to our chemical engineering program,\u201d according to Jones. \u201cHis family\u2019s gift will allow ChBE@GT to support an early career professor at a critical stage of their development\u2014the crucial years just before their promotion and tenure review. We are grateful for their support and generosity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/vida-jamali-receives-inaugural-dr-james-robert-and-margaret-spencer-early-career\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the ChBE Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAssistant Professor Vida Jamali is the inaugural recipient of the new Dr. James Robert and Margaret Spencer Early Career Fellowship in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE@GT).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHer outstanding research accomplishments and contributions to the School and Georgia Tech led to this selection,\u201d said Professor Christopher W. Jones, the John F. Brock III School Chair in ChBE@GT.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe $20,000 in discretionary funding from this one-year fellowship will support \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vidajamali.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJamali\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s research activities focused on developing new tools for \u003Cem\u003Ein situ\u003C\/em\u003E liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy, stochastic thermodynamics, and nanoscience-based platforms.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Assistant Professor Vida Jamali is the inaugural recipient of the new Dr. James Robert and Margaret Spencer Early Career Fellowship in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE@GT)."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-19 20:50:46","changed_gmt":"2026-05-19 20:54:42","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680322":{"id":"680322","type":"image","title":"vida_image_0.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EVida Jamali, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779223851","gmt_created":"2026-05-19 20:50:51","changed":"1779223851","gmt_changed":"2026-05-19 20:50:51","alt":"Vida Jamali, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"264569","name":"vida_image_0.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/19\/vida_image_0.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/19\/vida_image_0.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":30687,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/19\/vida_image_0.jpeg?itok=tgpG-de0"}}},"media_ids":["680322"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:braddixon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrad Dixon\u003C\/a\u003E, ChBE\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["braddixon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690325":{"#nid":"690325","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow Awarded National Climate Resilience Grant","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA Georgia Tech-led project advancing coastal resilience and ecosystem restoration has been selected for the inaugural\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/revive-restore-announces-inaugural-climate-resilience-fund-cohort\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClimate Resilience Fund\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E cohort, awarded by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/\u0022\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/a\u003E. The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELed by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJoel E. Kostka\u003C\/strong\u003E, Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and director of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the research effort will help restore coastal salt marshes through AI-enabled micropropagation and developing probiotics for plants. It is the only salt marsh-focused effort funded nationally in the cohort.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe award supports both the development of more climate-resilient salt marsh plants, as well as new capacity for coastal restoration in Georgia \u2014 an effort that aligns closely with GT\u00b2\u2019s mission to connect research, innovation, and community needs to address critical environmental and community challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHealthy Coasts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESalt marshes are among Georgia\u2019s most important natural resources, helping buffer communities from storms, support fisheries, and sustain coastal economies. Yet the state currently lacks a reliable source of salt marsh seedlings needed for large-scale restoration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/probiotics-and-ai-enabled-micropropagation-for-salt-marsh-restoration\/\u0022\u003EThe funded project\u003C\/a\u003E addresses that gap by advancing the production of hardier marsh plants and laying the groundwork for a broader restoration economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe opportunity here is to build something that doesn\u2019t currently exist in Georgia \u2014 a scalable, science-driven supply of salt marsh plants for safer, healthier coastal communities and ecosystems,\u201d Kostka says. \u201cBy combining biotechnology, ecology, and partnerships across the region, we are accelerating coastal resilience while supporting long-term environmental and economic benefits.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EKostka will work with project co-researchers\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EElse-Marie Ulrika Egertsdotter\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ECaitlin Petro\u003C\/strong\u003E (Georgia Tech Biological Sciences),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHeather Joesting (\u003C\/strong\u003EGeorgia Southern University),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEmily Coffey\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELauren Eserman-Campbell\u003C\/strong\u003E (Atlanta Botanical Garden), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESydney Williams\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Georgia and Georgia Sea Grant) \u2014 along with several anticipated regional partners, including University of Georgia Marine Institute, GA\/SC\/NC Departments of Natural Resources, Southeastern Plant Conservation Alliance, and Bald Head Island Conservancy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team will create a \u201cClimate-Ready Spartina Toolkit\u201d with automated plant tissue culture, AI-based screening tools, a culture collection that serves as probiotics for plants, a seed bank and library of preserved plant materials, step-by-step instructions for successful growing, and ready for regional deployment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe project also continues the evolution of Kostka\u2019s collaborative research Egertsdotter and the Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute. \u201cRBI shares the goal of using biotechnology to produce climate-resilient plants that benefit society,\u201d Kostka says. \u201cTheir expertise in plant tissue culture and automation make this work possible. It also is a great example of collaboration between GT Sciences and Engineering \u2014 the automation of plant tissue culture was developed by mechanical engineers in RBI.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegional Resilience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe new award builds on growing momentum for Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow and its expanding network of collaborators focused on coastal resilience. Based in the College of Sciences, GT\u00b2 is designed to align discovery science with technological innovation and data-driven tools to deliver practical solutions for communities across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn April, GT\u00b2 launched a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/23\/georgias-tomorrow-and-bald-head-island-conservancy-launch-research-fund-partnership\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eformal research fund and partnership with the Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, connecting Georgia Tech researchers with BHIC\u2019s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability in North Carolina to advance shared work in coastal sustainability, ecosystem health, and environmental resilience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe partnership combines BHIC\u2019s applied, field-based conservation work with Georgia Tech\u2019s strengths in technological innovation and data analysis, creating new opportunities for graduate research, community engagement, and real-world implementation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBetter Together\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThese \u201call hands on deck\u201d approaches reflect a broader strategy to scale tangible solutions across regional ecosystems by connecting researchers and partners with community stakeholders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cTogether, we hope these projects will demonstrate that genetic rescue is a powerful lever for the blue carbon ecosystems that underpin both ecological and human communities in the face of climate change,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELiv Liberman\u003C\/strong\u003E, Director of Ocean and Climate at Revive \u0026amp; Restore and program manager for the Climate Resilience Fund.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe efforts reflect GT\u00b2\u2019s goal of creating pathways from research to implementation, working across sectors to deliver measurable outcomes for the southeastern environment and its communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThis award recognizes the kind of integrated, real-world research that GT\u00b2 is built to deliver,\u201d says Kostka. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing together researchers, agencies, and community partners to move from science to scalable solutions \u2014 especially along southeastern coasts, where the need is urgent and the opportunities are significant.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E###\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2) is a College of Sciences\u2013based initiative that connects discovery science, innovation, and partnerships to address pressing challenges in environmental and community resilience across Georgia. The initiative works with state agencies, industry, non-profits, and local communities to develop solutions that improve quality of life and strengthen the state\u2019s future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Revive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore is a nonprofit conservation organization that develops and promotes genetic rescue technologies to protect and restore endangered and extinct species. Founded in 2012 by Stewart Brand and Ryan Phelan, the organization works across birds, mammals, coral, and marine ecosystems to demonstrate that biotechnology is an essential tool in the conservation toolkit.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech-led project advancing coastal resilience and ecosystem restoration has been selected for the inaugural Climate Resilience Fund cohort, awarded by Revive \u0026amp; Restore. The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The award is one of ten in a new $3.4 million fund to leverage genetic rescue for marine and coastal ecosystems under threat from climate shifts.  "}],"uid":"34528","created_gmt":"2026-05-18 15:27:44","changed_gmt":"2026-05-18 17:52:44","author":"jhunt7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680302":{"id":"680302","type":"image","title":"Spartina alterniflora lines a marsh environment on Sapelo Island. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESpartina alterniflora lines a marsh environment on Sapelo Island. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779119519","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:51:59","changed":"1779119683","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:54:43","alt":"A salt marsh waterway is lined by cord grasses, sand, and trees. The sunny cerulean sky is dotted with clouds.","file":{"fid":"264549","name":"DSC00553-copy2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2475406,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/DSC00553-copy2.jpg?itok=IRHQ2IaM"}},"680300":{"id":"680300","type":"image","title":"Ulrika Egertsdotter is a principal research scientist in the Renewable Bioproducts Institute and a renowned expert in seed cloning. (Credit: Christopher McKenney)","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EUlrika Egertsdotter is a principal research scientist in the Renewable Bioproducts Institute and a renowned expert in seed cloning. She designs and develops automated technologies that produce valuable plants for the state\u2019s forestry, agriculture, and horticulture industries. (Credit: Christopher McKenney)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779118934","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:42:14","changed":"1779118934","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:42:14","alt":"Ulrika Egertsdotter is pictured in her lab, between shelves of trays with seeds that she is cloning.","file":{"fid":"264547","name":"seed-cloning.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2208576,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/seed-cloning.jpg?itok=KDdpfW8e"}},"680301":{"id":"680301","type":"image","title":"Joel Kostka and co-presenters at the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop.","body":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka and co-presenters at the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop. An international leader in ecosystem biogeoscience, Kostka is the inaugural faculty director of Georgia Tech for Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow, as well as Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and associate chair for Research in the School of Biological Sciences. He holds a joint appointment in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. (Credit: Jess Hunt-Ralston)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1779119044","gmt_created":"2026-05-18 15:44:04","changed":"1779119044","gmt_changed":"2026-05-18 15:44:04","alt":"Joel Kostka and co-presenters stand under a leafy tree in a courtyard outside the RBI 2026 Spring Workshop.","file":{"fid":"264548","name":"Kostka.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8844237,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/18\/Kostka.jpg?itok=GbeZPGHC"}}},"media_ids":["680302","680300","680301"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow","title":"Georgia Tech for Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow"},{"url":"https:\/\/reviverestore.org\/revive-restore-announces-inaugural-climate-resilience-fund-cohort\/","title":"Revive \u0026 Restore: Climate Resilience Fund"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2026_-_georgias_tomorrow_-_concept_paper_-_coastal_solutions.pdf","title":"GT\u00b2 Concept Paper: Coastal Solutions"},{"url":"https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:elizabeth@reviverestore.org\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElizabeth Bennett\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Director\u003Cbr\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Restore\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jess@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690222":{"#nid":"690222","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Chris Luettgen Named Interim Director of Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter more than 25 years at Georgia Tech, including six years leading the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Executive Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/carson-meredith\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E will depart the Institute this summer to begin a new role at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEffective August 1, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-luettgen\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E will assume the role of interim director of RBI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCarson has made lasting contributions to Georgia Tech and to RBI during his time as executive director,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/julia-kubanek-0\u0022\u003EJulia Kubanek\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president for Interdisciplinary Research. \u201cWe are grateful for his leadership and wish him continued success in this next chapter.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring his tenure, Meredith helped expand RBI\u2019s research footprint, strengthen partnerships across academia and industry, and advance the Institute\u2019s leadership in sustainable bioproducts and bio-based innovation. His work helped position RBI as a key driver of collaboration and research in the forest products and renewable materials sectors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELuettgen brings extensive experience in forest-based and bio-based research, industry collaboration, and technical leadership. He has held leadership roles at Georgia Tech and has longstanding ties to the Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST), working extensively at the intersection of academic research and industry collaboration. He currently serves as Professor of the Practice in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, where he teaches in Georgia Tech\u2019s pulp and paper program and serves as RBI\u2019s strategic lead for Pulp and Paper.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore joining Georgia Tech, Luettgen spent many years at Kimberly-Clark and Scott Paper Company, where he held senior technical and research leadership positions focused on translating research into commercial impact. He is also widely recognized for his longstanding involvement with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tappi.org\/\u0022\u003ETechnical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI)\u003C\/a\u003E, reflecting his commitment to advancing innovation, workforce development, and collaboration across the forest products and bioproducts industries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cChris brings deep expertise, strong industry connections, and a clear understanding of RBI\u2019s mission and community,\u201d Meredith said. \u201cI\u2019m confident he will provide steady leadership and continuity for the Institute during this transition.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERBI will share additional details regarding the transition in the coming months.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter more than 25 years at Georgia Tech, including six years leading the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Executive Director Carson Meredith will depart the Institute this summer to begin a new role at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"After more than 25 years at Georgia Tech, including six years leading the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), Executive Director Carson Meredith will depart the Institute this summer to begin a new role at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-05-11 15:16:43","changed_gmt":"2026-05-11 16:24:11","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680251":{"id":"680251","type":"image","title":"ChrisL-Headshot.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EChris Luettgen, incoming interim director of the Renewable Bioproducts Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778516550","gmt_created":"2026-05-11 16:22:30","changed":"1778516550","gmt_changed":"2026-05-11 16:22:30","alt":"Headshot of Chris Luetggen","file":{"fid":"264495","name":"ChrisL-Headshot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/ChrisL-Headshot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/11\/ChrisL-Headshot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":635254,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/11\/ChrisL-Headshot.jpg?itok=LjgbYlYj"}}},"media_ids":["680251"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690206":{"#nid":"690206","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IBB Launches New Spatial Omics and Data Analytics Center ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E (IBB) at Georgia Tech has launched the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/soda\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESpatial Omics and Data Analytics (SODA) Center\u003C\/a\u003E, a new interdisciplinary research hub advancing the next frontier of biomedical discovery.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe center is co-directed by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/ahmet-coskun\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAhmet Coskun\u003C\/a\u003E, Bernie-Marcus Early-Career Professor and Associate Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/xiuwei-zhang\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EXiuwei Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E, J.Z. Liang Early Career Associate Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe rapidly growing field of spatial omics is a way to study lipids, genes, proteins, and other biological molecules while keeping track of where they are in tissue. This can allow researchers to determine how cells interact with their native environment, providing potentially critical information for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SODA Center envisions a future where spatial omics is used to help researchers understand biological function through their precise spatial and temporal relationships within tissues and organs, rather than solely through molecular components. By integrating expertise in biomedical engineering and computational science, the center seeks to transform raw spatial omics data into predictive models of health and disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough the development of next-generation analytical methods, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/news\/seeing-big-picture-tissue-dynamics\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ecomputational tools\u003C\/a\u003E, and open-source resources, SODA aims to empower researchers to map the cellular and molecular architecture of life with unprecedented resolution and translational impact. The center\u2019s broader goal is to establish Georgia Tech as a global leader in spatial omics research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo build community and foster collaboration, the center is launching the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/events\/spatial-omics-and-data-analytics-soda-seminar\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESODA Synergy Seminar Series\u003C\/a\u003E, beginning May 15 from 12\u20131 p.m. in the Krone Engineered Biosystems Building, CHOA Seminar Room. This series will bring together researchers across disciplines to share emerging discoveries and accelerate innovation in spatial omics and data analytics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SODA Center represents a major step forward in uniting data science and bioengineering to unlock new insights into complex biological systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe rapidly growing field of spatial omics is a way to study lipids, genes, proteins, and other biological molecules while keeping track of where they are in tissue. This can allow researchers to determine how cells interact with their native environment, providing potentially critical information for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The SODA Center envisions a future where spatial omics is used to help researchers understand biological function through their precise spatial and temporal relationships within tissues and organs, rather than solely through molecular components."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-05-08 18:42:27","changed_gmt":"2026-05-08 18:45:11","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680241":{"id":"680241","type":"image","title":"SODA-image-16X9.jpg","body":null,"created":"1778265754","gmt_created":"2026-05-08 18:42:34","changed":"1778265754","gmt_changed":"2026-05-08 18:42:34","alt":"Images of fluorescent cells in orange, blue, purple, pink, and green are shown on a black background. ","file":{"fid":"264485","name":"SODA-image-16X9.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/08\/SODA-image-16X9.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/08\/SODA-image-16X9.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":393921,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/08\/SODA-image-16X9.jpg?itok=z8Kfv1fF"}}},"media_ids":["680241"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"33301","name":"data analytics"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690194":{"#nid":"690194","#data":{"type":"news","title":"When oil prices spike, where does the money go?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe market for oil is global, which is why events like the war in Iran affect oil prices \u2013 and prices of the wide range of products made from oil \u2013 literally everywhere. Federal data shows that the price at the primary crude oil hub in the U.S. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/dnav\/pet\/hist\/RWTCD.htm\u0022\u003Ewas US$66 a barrel in late February 2026\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran \u2013 and $101 a barrel on April 13. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/09\/nx-s1-5745144\/oil-company-profits-high-oil-prices\u0022\u003ESimilar price increases\u003C\/a\u003E have reverberated around the globe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=WhCSHYkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003Eenergy economist\u003C\/a\u003E and an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=p4hJf78AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Einternational trade economist\u003C\/a\u003E, we field a lot of questions during such episodes, because when oil prices go up, manufacturers, businesses and ultimately \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/soaring-gas-prices-and-disrupted-supply-chains-will-ripple-out-to-increase-costs-in-every-store-and-sector-of-the-economy-278349\u0022\u003Econsumers pay more\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESome basic economics\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECrude oil may be the most important commodity in the global economic system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s a literal fuel for the industrial economy. It powers the engines that drive transportation and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pavementinteractive.org\/reference-desk\/materials\/asphalt\/asphalt-production-and-oil-refining\/\u0022\u003Epaves the roads\u003C\/a\u003E vehicles drive on. It\u2019s a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/tools\/faqs\/faq.php?id=34\u0026amp;t=6\u0022\u003Esource for plastics\u003C\/a\u003E from which the world\u2019s products get made and packaged, and a key ingredient at some point in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/oil-isnt-just-fuel-iran-conflict-could-disrupt-markets-for-everything-from-plastics-to-fertilizers-277946\u0022\u003Ealmost every supply chain\u003C\/a\u003E. Even \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hormuz-closure-threatens-the-global-food-supply-why-grocery-price-hikes-are-coming-279899\u0022\u003Efertilizers that boost the food supply\u003C\/a\u003E are made from it. In short, it is difficult to imagine modern life without \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.business-standard.com\/world-news\/oil-role-modern-life-petrochemicals-impact-everyday-products-explained-126032300615_1.html\u0022\u003Eoil and its derivatives\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd when its supply changes, its price changes. Economists explain this using a fundamental model of our field: the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/l\/law-of-supply-demand.asp\u0022\u003Esupply-demand\u003C\/a\u003E diagram. When there\u2019s less of something to go around, competition among consumers who want it and companies that need it can drive the price up.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometimes this process can play out over time, allowing people to adjust their purchasing or activities to dampen price shocks. But when a significant source of the world\u2019s oil is effectively blocked without much advance notice, such as when the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hormuz-closure-threatens-the-global-food-supply-why-grocery-price-hikes-are-coming-279899\u0022\u003Ethe U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz\u003C\/a\u003E, prices can rise sharply in a short period of time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA natural question many people ask when oil prices spike is: Where does all that additional money go, and who benefits from it?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome people have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mitpress.mit.edu\/9780262536165\/energy-and-civilization\/\u0022\u003Ewritten\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/books\/paperback\/9780691159638\/the-oil-curse\u0022\u003Eentire\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/global.oup.com\/academic\/product\/the-world-for-sale-9780197651537\u0022\u003Ebooks\u003C\/a\u003E dissecting all the places that money goes when it leaves consumers\u2019 pockets. But ultimately, the bulk of the money heads in the direction of the source of the oil itself \u2013 the oil companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat they do with the money varies widely, depending on where in the world an oil company is operating and who owns it. What also matters is the business environment \u2013 the set of laws and regulations \u2013 in which the company operates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMiddle East faces danger\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOil producers in the Middle East face significant new risk because of the war in Iran, including threats to production, processing locations and shipping routes. These risks raise their costs for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/middle-east\/gulfs-worst-case-scenario-2026-04-08\/\u0022\u003Einsurance, security and transportation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-the-persian-gulf-has-more-oil-and-gas-than-anywhere-else-on-earth-279303\u0022\u003Eproduction costs in the region\u003C\/a\u003E are relatively low, so higher global oil prices typically still translate into strong profits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a major exporter such as Saudi Arabia, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/saudi-aramco-oil-colossus-2024-05-30\/\u0022\u003Ethe government owns and controls nearly all oil production\u003C\/a\u003E, so high prices generally benefit the government\u2019s finances and investments, even during a war. In Saudi Arabia, oil revenue has historically been used to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/agsi.org\/analysis\/aramco-and-the-saudi-government-budget\/\u0022\u003Efund public spending\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWest Texas gets a windfall\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dallasfed.org\/research\/energy11\/permian\u0022\u003EPermian Basin\u003C\/a\u003E, the largest oil field in the U.S., is a long way from the Persian Gulf. When global oil prices rise because of the war in Iran, oil companies operating in West Texas effectively get a windfall gain: Prices rise more quickly than costs, at least in the short run.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe immediate effect is more income from higher prices. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.houstonpublicmedia.org\/articles\/economy\/2026\/03\/11\/545798\/texas-oil-iran-war-gas-prices\/\u0022\u003EThe money largely goes to company owners\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 meaning shareholders \u2013 through dividends, debt reduction, company-backed purchases of its own stock, and reinvestment in drilling and production. Over time, companies may decide to spend some of that windfall on building more production capacity or \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/breakingviews\/us-shale-wont-repeat-old-boom-iran-war-2026-04-02\/\u0022\u003Epipelines to get more oil and gas to market\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENorth Sea boosts government revenue\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the North Sea, between the island of Great Britain and Scandinavia, a mix of multinational and government-owned companies produce most of the oil.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the U.K., private shareholders are the primary beneficiaries of higher profits from increased oil prices, though an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commonslibrary.parliament.uk\/research-briefings\/cbp-9578\/\u0022\u003Eadditional tax on oil and gas companies\u2019 profits\u003C\/a\u003E means the government also collects a significant share of the money, which it uses to help pay public expenses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Norway, oil revenues flow into the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nbim.no\/en\/\u0022\u003EGovernment Pension Fund Global\u003C\/a\u003E, the world\u2019s largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $2 trillion. Laws govern how much, and for what purposes, money can be withdrawn from the fund, supporting \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nbim.no\/en\/about-us\/about-the-fund\/\u0022\u003Epublic spending and preserving wealth\u003C\/a\u003E for future generations. This is a similar model to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apfc.org\/\u0022\u003EAlaska\u2019s state-owned program\u003C\/a\u003E, funded by oil revenue, that pays for government services and sends an annual dividend to every permanent resident.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERussian oligarchs get rich\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERussian oil is subject to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/national-security-daily\/2026\/04\/13\/the-return-of-russia-oil-sanctions-00869329\u0022\u003Estringent economic sanctions\u003C\/a\u003E imposed by major industrial countries as a response to the Russian invasion and occupation of parts of Ukraine. While the U.S. cannot control how much Russia charges for its oil, it can control services needed to move Russian oil around the world. Under current price sanctions, Western shipping, insurance and financing can be used to ship and sell Russian crude oil only if the price is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sanctionsnews.bakermckenzie.com\/g7-sets-price-cap-for-russian-oil-at-usd-60-per-barrel\/\u0022\u003Ebelow $60 per barrel\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERussia\u2019s oil industry is dominated by government-controlled companies whose \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c4g6xgv1n41o\u0022\u003Eleaders maintain close ties\u003C\/a\u003E to President Vladimir Putin. The dealings of those shadowy figures are often shrouded in secrecy, but it is likely that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/investigates\/section\/comrade-capitalism\/\u0022\u003Ethey and Putin\u2019s military-industrial complex\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 not the Russian people \u2013 are the main beneficiaries of high oil prices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat this means for you\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEveryday U.S. consumers may not like the idea of their hard-earned cash going into the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tu.no\/artikler\/the-10-wealthiest-people-in-the-oil-industry\/231147\u0022\u003Ealready deep pockets\u003C\/a\u003E of any of these groups. But in the short run, there\u2019s not much to do but pay the price. For the long run, however, people around the world are already thinking and talking about, and opting for, sources of energy that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-is-less-prone-to-oil-price-shocks-than-in-past-decades-277709\u0022\u003Edon\u2019t depend on fossil fuels\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/when-oil-prices-spike-where-does-the-money-go-280763\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe market for oil is global, which is why events like the war in Iran affect oil prices \u2013 and prices of the wide range of products made from oil \u2013 literally everywhere. Federal data shows that the price at the primary crude oil hub in the U.S. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/dnav\/pet\/hist\/RWTCD.htm\u0022\u003Ewas US$66 a barrel in late February 2026\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran \u2013 and $101 a barrel on April 13. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/04\/09\/nx-s1-5745144\/oil-company-profits-high-oil-prices\u0022\u003ESimilar price increases\u003C\/a\u003E have reverberated around the globe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=WhCSHYkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003Eenergy economist\u003C\/a\u003E and an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=p4hJf78AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Einternational trade economist\u003C\/a\u003E, we field a lot of questions during such episodes, because when oil prices go up, manufacturers, businesses and ultimately \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/soaring-gas-prices-and-disrupted-supply-chains-will-ripple-out-to-increase-costs-in-every-store-and-sector-of-the-economy-278349\u0022\u003Econsumers pay more\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEveryday U.S. consumers may not like the idea of their hard-earned cash going into the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tu.no\/artikler\/the-10-wealthiest-people-in-the-oil-industry\/231147\u0022\u003Ealready deep pockets\u003C\/a\u003E of any of the oil-producing groups. But in the short run, there\u2019s not much to do but pay the price. For the long run, however, people around the world are already thinking and talking about, and opting for, sources of energy that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-is-less-prone-to-oil-price-shocks-than-in-past-decades-277709\u0022\u003Edon\u2019t depend on fossil fuels\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2013affiliated energy and trade economists describe how higher oil prices don\u2019t just hurt consumers\u2014they also shift enormous amounts of money to oil producers, with impacts varying by region, ownership, and government policy."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-07 20:10:19","changed_gmt":"2026-05-07 20:20:00","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680221":{"id":"680221","type":"image","title":"file-20260415-71-kc4tq8.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn general, when supply of a product is reduced, prices rise. As a result, even when demand remains stable, the quantity consumers buy decreases because of higher prices. Matthew E. Oliver and Tibor Besede\u0161, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u0022\u003ECC BY-NC-ND\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778184730","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 20:12:10","changed":"1778184730","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 20:12:10","alt":"Graph showing supply demand of crude oil with price plotted in the Y axis and quantity in million barrels per day in the X axis during the months of Feb-April 2026.","file":{"fid":"264465","name":"file-20260415-71-kc4tq8.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260415-71-kc4tq8.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260415-71-kc4tq8.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":115393,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260415-71-kc4tq8.jpeg?itok=T4qXe3oZ"}},"680222":{"id":"680222","type":"image","title":"file-20260416-63-ul6ilw.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA satellite photo shows damage from the war at Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ras Tanura oil refinery, which must be repaired before full operations can resume. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/vantor-satellite-image-shows-the-damaged-sections-and-burnt-news-photo\/2263898268\u0022\u003ESatellite image (c) 2026 Vantor via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778184836","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 20:13:56","changed":"1778184836","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 20:13:56","alt":"A satellite photo shows damage from the war at Saudi Arabia\u2019s Ras Tanura oil refinery, which must be repaired before full operations can resume. Satellite image (c) 2026 Vantor via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"264466","name":"file-20260416-63-ul6ilw.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-ul6ilw.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-ul6ilw.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":869181,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-ul6ilw.jpeg?itok=t6bc4Mxq"}},"680223":{"id":"680223","type":"image","title":"file-20260416-63-4z9v13.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDrilling rigs in the North Sea are still operating and shipping oil. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/newsroom.ap.org\/detail\/DenmarkCarbonCapture\/9c2bf7ede3bf4f4b9a938934131da66d\/photo\u0022\u003EAP Photo\/James Brooks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778184879","gmt_created":"2026-05-07 20:14:39","changed":"1778184879","gmt_changed":"2026-05-07 20:14:39","alt":"Drilling rigs in the North Sea. AP Photo\/James Brooks","file":{"fid":"264467","name":"file-20260416-63-4z9v13.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-4z9v13.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-4z9v13.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":249017,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/07\/file-20260416-63-4z9v13.jpeg?itok=7sBRd-Bu"}}},"media_ids":["680221","680222","680223"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/when-oil-prices-spike-where-does-the-money-go-280763","title":"Original Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/matthew-e-oliver-2656330\u0022 rel=\u0022author\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew E. Oliver\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssociate Professor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/tibor-besedes-2656327\u0022 rel=\u0022author\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETibor Besede\u0161\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EProfessor of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690139":{"#nid":"690139","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EPIcenter Awards Inaugural Funding to Advance Energy Policy Impact in the Southeast","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) at Georgia Tech has awarded funding to a new cohort of faculty through its ACCELERATE program, an initiative designed to strengthen Georgia Tech\u2019s thought leadership and real\u2011world impact in energy policy, decision\u2011making, and innovation across the Southeast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEight faculty members received funding for projects that advance Georgia Tech energy research by generating early insights, expanding shared research tools, and exploring solutions related to energy policy, grid reliability, clean energy incentives, and industry\u2011driven innovation shaping Georgia\u2019s energy future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy supporting timely, policy-relevant research and engagement that connect Georgia Tech expertise with pressing regional energy challenges, the ACCELERATE program encourages collaboration across the Institute and with external partners, supports graduate student involvement, and amplifies research outputs that inform policy, regulatory, and market decisions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cACCELERATE is designed to help early- and mid-career faculty move quickly on ideas that can shape energy policy and practice,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter. \u201cBy supporting both early\u2011stage collaboration and more developed policy research, the program enables Georgia Tech researchers to engage decision\u2011makers and stakeholders when it matters most.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProposals considered for funding were grounded in policy and behavioral research, including studies that examined how past or potential policies and regulations worked, and analyses of current market and behavioral outcomes that revealed management, policy, or regulatory gaps and opportunities. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded projects span a range of disciplines and policy\u2011focused topics aligned with EPIcenter\u2019s mission, with a strong emphasis on challenges facing Georgia and the Southeast. Collectively, the awards support research development, data creation, stakeholder engagement, and public-facing thought leadership intended to inform energy policy and implementation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022As electricity demand grows, it is increasingly important to understand how\u0026nbsp;industrial processes could use energy flexibly to enable efficient use of renewable resources like solar and wind,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/micah-ziegler\u0022\u003EMicah Ziegler\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy. \u201cSupport from the EPIcenter ACCELERATE program enables us to ask fundamental questions about how to design flexible systems and supply chains.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAwards ranged from $5,000 to $75,000. Projects that received ACCELERATE funding include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeasuring the Alignment Between Legislators\u2019 Energy Bill Votes and Their District Characteristics in the Georgia House of Representatives\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/clio-andris\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClio Andris\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u003C\/strong\u003E Associate Professor, School of City and\u0026nbsp;Regional Planning and School of Interactive Computing\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrengthening Georgia Tech\u2019s National Energy Modeling of Priority Research Areas\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/marilyn-brown\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMarilyn Brown\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Regents\u0027 Professor and Brook\u0026nbsp;Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProtecting Consumers From Price Volatility: Evidence and Policy Lessons From Georgia\u0027s Natural Gas Market\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/dylan-brewer\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EDylan Brewer\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Economics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan Place-Based Incentives Accelerate the Energy Transition?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/gaurav-doshi\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGaurav Doshi\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, School of Economics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Revolving Door in Utility Regulation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/f276dd8a-0e13-5b66-b4cf-3d2960e01b2d\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMichelle Graff\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow Do Data Centers Affect Tradeoffs Between Reliability and Decarbonization?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researchers:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-harding\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETony Harding\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, and\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/c9f0cadc-5bb4-5b6f-9eca-bd38a9233993\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBrian An\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECalculating the Emissions Cost of the Solar Rebound for the United States\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researcher:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/matthew-oliver\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMatt Oliver\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Associate Professor, School of Economics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEvaluating Long-Duration Flexibility of Industrial Demand in Electric Power Systems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFaculty Researchers:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/micah-ziegler\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMicah Ziegler\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E,\u0026nbsp;assistant professor, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, and\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, Assistant Professor, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EACCELERATE is an annual program open to all Georgia Tech faculty, focusing on policy\u2011 and decision\u2011relevant research that advances energy affordability, reliability, resilience, and decarbonization in the region.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore information about EPIcenter\u2019s research areas and programs is available at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eepicenter.energy.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) at Georgia Tech has awarded funding to a new cohort of faculty through its ACCELERATE program, an initiative designed to strengthen Georgia Tech\u2019s thought leadership and real\u2011world impact in energy policy, decision\u2011making, and innovation across the Southeast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEight faculty members received funding for projects that advance Georgia Tech energy research by generating early insights, expanding shared research tools, and exploring solutions related to energy policy, grid reliability, clean energy incentives, and industry\u2011driven innovation shaping Georgia\u2019s energy future.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Energy Policy and Innovation Center at Georgia Tech has awarded funding to a new faculty cohort through its ACCELERATE program, designed to strengthen Georgia Tech\u2019s thought leadership and real world impact in energy policy in the Southeast."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-05 15:53:02","changed_gmt":"2026-05-06 02:11:13","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680187":{"id":"680187","type":"image","title":"ACCELERATE-Program-Funding-Recipients--EPIcenter---1-.jpg","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEPIcenter ACCELERATE Program Recipients: Top (Left to Right) - Clio Andris, Marilyn Brown, Dylan Brewer, Gaurav Doshi, Michelle Graff; Bottom (Left to Right) - Tony Harding, Brian An, Matt Oliver, Micah Ziegler, Constance Crozier\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1778033435","gmt_created":"2026-05-06 02:10:35","changed":"1778033435","gmt_changed":"2026-05-06 02:10:35","alt":"EPIcenter ACCELERATE Program Recipients: Top (Left to Right) - Clio Andris, Marilyn Brown, Dylan Brewer, Gaurav Doshi, Michelle Graff; Bottom (Left to Right) - Tony Harding, Brian An, Matt Oliver, Micah Ziegler, Constance Crozier","file":{"fid":"264429","name":"ACCELERATE-Program-Funding-Recipients--EPIcenter---1-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/05\/ACCELERATE-Program-Funding-Recipients--EPIcenter---1-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/05\/ACCELERATE-Program-Funding-Recipients--EPIcenter---1-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":382746,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/05\/ACCELERATE-Program-Funding-Recipients--EPIcenter---1-.jpg?itok=9suDx9ym"}}},"media_ids":["680187"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689985":{"#nid":"689985","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow and Bald Head Island Conservancy Launch Research Fund, Partnership","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENorth Carolina\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bhic.org\/\u0022\u003EBald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC)\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2)\u003C\/a\u003E are pleased to announce a formal research fund and partnership between BHIC\u2019s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability and GT\u00b2.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGT\u00b2\u0026nbsp;is a newly established research initiative at Georgia Tech that focuses on discovery science, engineering innovation, and AI-enabled decision tools to address urgent challenges at the intersection of environmental and community resilience in the Southeast. The initiative fosters research in direct service to regional communities through public-private partnerships, and it provides opportunities for graduate student engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe BHIC-GT\u00b2 research fund and partnership will pursue shared initiatives in the fields of coastal sustainability, ecosystem health, and environmental resilience. By combining BHIC\u2019s applied, field-based conservation work with Georgia Tech\u2019s expertise in technological innovation and data analysis, new opportunities for impactful research will be created through graduate student projects and community engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Partnership\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ELike the GT\u00b2 initiative, BHIC\u2019s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability was created to translate research into real-world impact. BHIC established the Johnston Center as a research partnership and education hub for sustainability initiatives on Bald Head Island, with the broader goal of advancing coastal sustainability across the Southeast. Seed funding for the Center was provided in 2021 by \u003Cstrong\u003EDick and Pat Johnston\u003C\/strong\u003E, longtime supporters of BHIC.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDick, a Georgia Tech IM 1962 alumnus, and Pat Johnston shared their enthusiasm for the BHIC and Georgia Tech collaboration, noting:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe are delighted to see our two favorite institutions come together through this partnership. It brings additional resources, expertise, and leadership to our shared focus on keeping the historic tagline \u2018Living in Harmony with Nature\u2019 in the hearts of future generations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/strong\u003E, Faculty Director of GT\u00b2 who also serves as Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and associate chair for Research in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E with a joint appointment in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech added:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe Bald Head Island Conservancy and its Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability exemplify how place\u2011based conservation and rigorous science can work together to create real impact. The Bald Head Island Conservancy\u2019s long\u2011term stewardship, research infrastructure, and commitment to translating science into action make it an ideal partner for Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow as we advance collaborative research that strengthens coastal resilience across the Southeast.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis partnership will focus on Georgia Tech graduate student research projects that use innovative technology and data analyses to directly support the conservation work of BHIC.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGraduate student research already plays an important role in BHIC\u2019s conservation efforts. \u003Cstrong\u003EGabie Krueger\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ocean.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOcean Sciences and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and BHIC\u2019s 2025-26 Johnston Graduate Fellow in Coastal Sustainability, has been working with BHIC scientists on a salt marsh ecology project that examined how ribbed mussels and fiddler crabs influence the health of Bald Head Island\u2019s dominant salt marsh grass\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ESpartina alterniflora\u003C\/em\u003E. These flora-fauna interactions serve as primary indicators of marsh health, so her research is important for understanding the resilience of Bald Head Island\u2019s salt marsh to environmental concerns such as sea-level rise and development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThrough the BHIC-GT\u00b2 partnership, Georgia Tech student researchers who work with the Conservancy will also gain invaluable experience with local conservation efforts and community engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EG. Christopher Shank, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E, Executive Director of BHIC, commented:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe Bald Head Island Conservancy is thrilled about this opportunity to create a formal research partnership with Georgia Tech, one of the nation\u2019s most esteemed research universities. It is recognition of the quality of conservation studies we are currently pursuing at the Conservancy and it also augments the impact of our work for BHI and beyond because of the technological and data analysis talent that Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow will bring to this partnership.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy This Matters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThis research fund and partnership represents an important step forward in strengthening connections between academic research and applied conservation institutions. Together, BHIC and GT\u00b2 aim to inform coastal management decisions, support resilience planning, engage students, and advance research that benefits coastal ecosystems and communities across the southeastern U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdditional details about joint initiatives, research priorities, and collaborative opportunities will be shared in the coming months.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC) and Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow (GT\u00b2) are pleased to announce a formal research fund and partnership between BHIC\u2019s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability and the GT\u00b2 initiative.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Bald Head Island Conservancy and Georgia Tech for Georgia\u2019s Tomorrow are pleased to announce a formal research fund and partnership."}],"uid":"34528","created_gmt":"2026-04-23 21:00:49","changed_gmt":"2026-05-04 18:26:45","author":"jhunt7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680049":{"id":"680049","type":"image","title":"120259-bhiconservancy-b.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EVibrant \u0027Spartina alterniflora\u0027 salt marsh grass wraps the oxbow of a tidal waterway. (Credit: Bald Head Island Conservancy)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776978094","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 21:01:34","changed":"1776978094","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 21:01:34","alt":"Vibrant \u0027Spartina alterniflora\u0027 salt marsh grass wraps the oxbow of a tidal waterway. (Credit: Bald Head Island Conservancy)","file":{"fid":"264283","name":"120259-bhiconservancy-b.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/120259-bhiconservancy-b.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/120259-bhiconservancy-b.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":164976,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/120259-bhiconservancy-b.jpg?itok=XyoQqRZY"}}},"media_ids":["680049"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/georgias-tomorrow","title":"Georgia Tech for Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow"},{"url":"https:\/\/bhic.org\/","title":"Bald Head Island Conservancy (BHIC)"},{"url":"https:\/\/portcitydaily.com\/news-briefs\/2026\/04\/21\/bald-head-island-conservancy-announces-partnership-with-georgia-tech-for-coastal-resilience\/","title":"Port City Daily: Bald Head Island Conservancy announces partnership with Georgia Tech for coastal resilience"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wect.com\/2026\/04\/23\/bald-head-island-conservancy-georgia-tech-form-research-partnership\/","title":"WECT: Bald Head Island Conservancy, Georgia Tech form research partnership"}],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"195058","name":"Georgia\u0027s Tomorrow"},{"id":"194752","name":"transforming tomorrow"},{"id":"365","name":"Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences at Georgia Institute of Technology\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Shank\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EExecutive Director\u003Cbr\u003EBald Head Island Conservancy\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shank@bhic.org\u0022\u003Eshank@bhic.org\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690117":{"#nid":"690117","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Powering the Future - Georgia Tech Alumni Fuel Nation\u2019s Largest Nuclear Plant","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPrimarily driven by the rapid construction of data centers nationwide amid the artificial intelligence boom, total electricity usage in the United States is projected to grow by 32% by 2030, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gridstrategiesllc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grid-Strategies-National-Load-Growth-Report-2025.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnected Grid Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENuclear power currently supplies roughly 20% of U.S. electricity, but because of its reliability compared to wind and solar power and its potential to reduce carbon emissions, the industry is positioned to expand its role in reshaping the future of energy. When Southern Company officially connected Units 3 and 4 at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant to the grid, Georgia became home to the country\u2019s largest nuclear power facility and to the first nuclear units built in the U.S. in more than 30 years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Georgia Tech alumni playing critical roles at the plant, students entering the field, and faculty conducting innovative research, the Institute\u2019s influence can be felt throughout the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2026\/04\/powering-future\u0022\u003ERead more on the Georgia Tech Newscenter Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPrimarily driven by the rapid construction of data centers nationwide amid the artificial intelligence boom, total electricity usage in the United States is projected to grow by 32% by 2030, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gridstrategiesllc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Grid-Strategies-National-Load-Growth-Report-2025.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnected Grid Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENuclear power currently supplies roughly 20% of U.S. electricity, but because of its reliability compared to wind and solar power and its potential to reduce carbon emissions, the industry is positioned to expand its role in reshaping the future of energy. When Southern Company officially connected Units 3 and 4 at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant to the grid, Georgia became home to the country\u2019s largest nuclear power facility and to the first nuclear units built in the U.S. in more than 30 years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith Georgia Tech alumni playing critical roles at the plant, students entering the field, and faculty conducting innovative research, the Institute\u2019s influence can be felt throughout the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s influence on the Vogtle expansion spans alumni leadership at the plant, a growing student pipeline, and faculty conducting cutting\u2011edge nuclear research."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-05-04 16:37:22","changed_gmt":"2026-05-04 16:41:58","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680152":{"id":"680152","type":"image","title":"vogtle34-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1777912664","gmt_created":"2026-05-04 16:37:44","changed":"1777912664","gmt_changed":"2026-05-04 16:37:44","alt":"Plant Vogtle Aerial View","file":{"fid":"264394","name":"vogtle34-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/04\/vogtle34-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/04\/vogtle34-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":372738,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/04\/vogtle34-2.jpg?itok=6l25kHth"}}},"media_ids":["680152"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2026\/04\/powering-future","title":"Full Story on Georgia Tech Newscenter Page"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689912":{"#nid":"689912","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Is Building for an AI Future That May Not Happen","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalton County, Georgia, didn\u2019t ask to become a test case for the artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure boom.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.meta.com\/about\/?srsltid=AfmBOorq5DbaO21MiOmnzavdCGimvjUKN-1Hxf4u3ZVf7y4qlNfEjReW\u0022\u003EMeta\u003C\/a\u003E, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, made the decision for them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2018, the company broke ground in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.socialcirclega.gov\/\u0022\u003ESocial Circle\u003C\/a\u003E, a small town an hour east of Atlanta with about 5,000 residents, to build one of its largest U.S. data centers. It opened in 2020.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocal officials called it a win.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022\/\/\/Users\/mazriel3\/Downloads\/Shane%20Short,\u0022\u003EShane Short\u003C\/a\u003E, president and CEO of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/choosewalton.com\/\u0022\u003EDevelopment Authority of Walton County\u003C\/a\u003E, said the plant generates about $10 million annually in property tax revenue and has led to road improvements and expanded broadband.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElectric vehicle maker\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rivian.com\/\u0022\u003ERivian\u003C\/a\u003E followed Meta\u2019s lead and began construction on a plant near Social Circle in September 2025, adding to the area\u2019s rapid industrial growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut for residents, the shift from a largely rural, agricultural economy to an energy-intensive industrial one has put new pressure on power and water systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey\u2019re seeing higher water and power bills, worse air quality, and very few jobs in return for this, while large corporations get tax benefits,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scs.gatech.edu\/people\/ahmed-saeed\u0022\u003EAhmed Saeed\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computer Science\u003C\/a\u003E, describing why residents in some communities push back on new data center development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaeed and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/josiah-hester\u0022\u003EJosiah Hester\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor of interactive computing and computer science and director of the Center for Advancing Responsible AI, have spent the past year studying the energy, water, and financial demands associated with these facilities, and how those costs are distributed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBetting on Demand\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI data centers run on specialized chips that use large amounts of electricity. That power generates heat, which requires energy- and water-intensive cooling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe state is adding capacity based on expected demand, not current use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved an estimated $16 billion expansion for Georgia Power to support that growth. It is expected to produce about 10 gigawatts of electricity at a given time. That\u2019s enough energy to power about 7.5 million homes for a year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf that demand materializes, the electricity is used. If it doesn\u2019t, the cost still has to be paid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGrid Stability\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThose workloads can put a very large demand on the grid all at once, and then remove it just as quickly,\u201d Saeed said. \u201cThat sudden change is difficult for the system to handle.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat volatility is a separate issue.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven if data center operators pay for the infrastructure they use, large swings in demand can still strain grid operations, especially during peak periods or extreme weather.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat Comes Next\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBack in Walton County, the Meta facility is already\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.covnews.com\/news\/cities\/social-circle-planning-commission-recommends-latest-data-center-request\/\u0022\u003Eattracting additional data centers\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach new site adds power and water infrastructure designed to operate for decades.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe servers inside need to be upgraded every few years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaeed and Hester said if Georgia wants to remain an AI and cloud hub, the state needs to set the terms and companies need to meet them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat starts with disclosure \u2014 how much power data centers draw from the grid, how that demand spikes, and how much water they use. It includes clear expectations for how those facilities respond when the grid is under stress, and protections for the communities where they\u2019re built.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers maintain that \u201cbuild it and hope\u201d is not a strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The state is spending $16 billion to power data centers that could be obsolete in seven years. Two Georgia Tech researchers say residents will pay for that gamble either way."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia is betting $16 billion on power infrastructure to support an AI-driven data center boom that may not materialize \u2014 and residents will pay either way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe story follows two Georgia Tech researchers who argue the state is building for speculative demand: AI workloads drive massive, volatile energy use, data centers become obsolete within years, and efficiency gains only increase total consumption.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn places like Walton and Newton counties, the promised benefits \u2014 tax revenue and development \u2014 collide with higher utility costs, water strain, and minimal job creation. If demand falls short, the financial burden of overbuilt infrastructure shifts to ratepayers, leaving communities with the costs long after the companies move on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The state is spending $16 billion to power data centers that could be obsolete in seven years. Two Georgia Tech researchers say residents will pay for that gamble either way."}],"uid":"36410","created_gmt":"2026-04-21 14:45:44","changed_gmt":"2026-05-04 16:27:22","author":"mazriel3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-21T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-21T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680009":{"id":"680009","type":"image","title":"Data centers","body":null,"created":"1776780028","gmt_created":"2026-04-21 14:00:28","changed":"1776780264","gmt_changed":"2026-04-21 14:04:24","alt":"AI rendering of the servers inside of a data center","file":{"fid":"264242","name":"Data-Centers.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/21\/Data-Centers.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/21\/Data-Centers.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2439341,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/21\/Data-Centers.png?itok=xre68az6"}}},"media_ids":["680009"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"194190","name":"AI data centers"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Azriel\u003Cbr\u003ESr. Writer-Editor\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:mazriel3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emazriel3@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690000":{"#nid":"690000","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Scott Sinquefield\u2019s Work Behind More Efficient Industrial Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scott-sinquefield-2862a4\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott Sinquefield\u003C\/a\u003E is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis work at Georgia Tech is closely tied to the development and operation of the Pressurized Entrained Flow Reactor (PEFR), one of the largest university-operated reactors of its kind used for high-temperature, high-pressure research. The system enables testing under conditions that reflect industrial recovery processes, supporting both fundamental research and applied work with industry partners.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinquefield brings more than two decades of experience in chemical engineering, with a focus on pilot-scale reactor design, control systems, and thermodynamic modeling of aqueous electrolyte systems. He has also worked extensively on boiler fire-side fouling, a persistent issue in industrial recovery operations that affect efficiency, maintenance, and cost.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBefore joining Georgia Tech, Sinquefield completed his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Oregon State University and conducted experimental combustion research at Sandia National Laboratories\u2019 Combustion Research Facility in Livermore as part of the Multi-Fuel Combustion Group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross his work, Sinquefield focuses on developing and operating systems that support more efficient and reliable recovery processes, with applications in both industry and research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about RBI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/recovery-testing\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERecovery Testing\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scott-sinquefield-2862a4\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScott Sinquefield\u003C\/a\u003E is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Scott Sinquefield is a senior research engineer at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads research on black liquor gasification and advanced chemical recovery systems. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-24 15:47:27","changed_gmt":"2026-05-01 20:30:10","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680146":{"id":"680146","type":"image","title":"250513RBI-LabPhotos_0143-Scott-Sinquefield.jpg","body":null,"created":"1777667350","gmt_created":"2026-05-01 20:29:10","changed":"1777667350","gmt_changed":"2026-05-01 20:29:10","alt":"Headshot of Scott Sinquefield","file":{"fid":"264387","name":"250513RBI-LabPhotos_0143-Scott-Sinquefield.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0143-Scott-Sinquefield.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0143-Scott-Sinquefield.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":353150,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/05\/01\/250513RBI-LabPhotos_0143-Scott-Sinquefield.jpg?itok=JF8DSNfA"}}},"media_ids":["680146"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689785":{"#nid":"689785","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Announces New Fellowships, Expanding Interdisciplinary Reach  ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi1.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s cohort is one of the largest in recent years, signaling renewed momentum in the research areas it supports. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis year\u2019s projects reflect the strength of our core areas while also showing how the field is expanding,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/carson-meredith\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of RBI. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing faculty from more disciplines engage in bioproducts research in ways that open up new opportunities for collaboration and impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat expansion is reflected in where the fellowships are being awarded. For the first time, RBI has selected faculty from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Architecture (ARCH)\u003C\/a\u003E in the College of Design and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences (BIOS)\u003C\/a\u003E in the College of Science, continuing to broaden participation beyond its traditional base in chemistry and engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe projects themselves reflect that shift. This year\u2019s projects work on topics ranging from microbial approaches to strengthening forest health to developing next-generation packaging materials, including high-performance barrier coatings and cellulose-derived materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe projects also advance the use of AI and machine learning in bioproducts development, the physics of fiber networks, and converting biomass into pharmaceuticals and synthetic leather.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of these efforts align closely with industry priorities, particularly in packaging, papermaking, and sustainable materials\u2014areas where demand for scalable, sustainable solutions continues to grow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, the 2026 cohort points to a program that is expanding its reach across disciplines while staying focused on real-world applications of bioproduct research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 RBI Fellowship projects and associated faculty are listed below.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhysics-Guided Learning of Mechanical Behavior in Forming-Stage Fiber Networks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/xia\u0022\u003EShuman Xia\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhu-1\u0022\u003ETing Zhu\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022\u003EJohn Xu\u003C\/a\u003E (ME\/RBI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpcycling Wood-Derived Cellulose Nanomaterials into Circular Barrier Coatings for Postharvest Preservation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/vida-jamali\u0022\u003EVida Jamali\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/amirali-aghazadeh\u0022\u003EAmirali Aghazadeh\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/lily-cheung\u0022\u003ELily Cheung\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE\/ECE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReimagining Southern Forests: Microbial Biotechnology for High Value Climate-Ready Biomass Feedstocks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/joel-kostka\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/e-m-ulrika-egertsdotter\u0022\u003EUlrika Egertsdotter\u003C\/a\u003E (BIOS\/RBI)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntegrated Experimental-Computational-ML Framework for Accelerated Evaluation and Design of Biodegradable Barrier Coating for Paper-Based Packaging\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/aditya-kumar\u0022\u003EAditya Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/yuhang-hu\u0022\u003EYuHang Hu\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/danny-smyl\u0022\u003EDanny Smyl\u003C\/a\u003E* (CEE\/ME)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDirect Method for Analysis of Fiber Orientation in Multiphase Forming\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/user\/1086\u0022\u003ESuhas Jain\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/aidun\u0022\u003ECyrus Aidun\u003C\/a\u003E (ME)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERobust Packaging Insert via Phase-Separated Lignin Aerogel Particle-Supported Cellulose Hydrogel Composites\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/shucong-li\u0022\u003EShucong Li\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/zhaohui-julene-tong\u0022\u003EJulene Tong \u003C\/a\u003E(MSE\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETowards Continuous Processes from Biochar to Pharmaceuticals\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/andreas-bommarius\u0022\u003EAndy Bommarius\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022\u003EAnthony \u0022Bo\u0022 Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/jesse-mcdaniel\u0022\u003EJesse McDaniel\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE\/CHEM)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EALD Modification of Nanocellulosic Films for Ultra-High Barrier Performance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/mark-losego\u0022\u003EMark Losego\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/meisha-shofner\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E (MSE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBiomass-Derived Glycosyl Furans for the Development of Novel Value-Added Materials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/stefan-france\u0022\u003EStefan France\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-jones\u0022\u003EChris Jones\u003C\/a\u003E (CHEM\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDesign and Scale-Up of Mechanochemical Reactors for Cellulose Biorefining\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/fani-boukouvala\u0022\u003EFani Boukouvala\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/carsten-sievers\u0022\u003ECarsten Sievers\u003C\/a\u003E (ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EXylohyde\u2122: The Sustainable Production of Synthetic Leather from Cellulose\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022\u003EAnthony \u0022Bo\u0022 Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-luettgen\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E (CHEM\/RBI\/ChBE)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETailorable PLA-Alginate High-Performance Bio-Nanocomposites via Chitosan Cationic Bridging of Sargassum-Derived Alginate and Polylactic Acid (PLA)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/karl-jacob\u0022\u003EKarl Jacob\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/people\/inge-rocker\u0022\u003EIngebourg Rocker\u003C\/a\u003E*, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/kalaitzidou\u0022\u003EKyriaki Kalaitzidou\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/hamid-garmestani\u0022\u003EHamid Garmestani\u003C\/a\u003E (ME, ARCH, MSE)\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003E*Indicates first-time RBI fellowship recipients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has announced its newest cohort of 12 fellowship projects, an expansion that reflects both growing interest and a broader vision for bioproducts research at Georgia Tech.  "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-16 06:37:58","changed_gmt":"2026-04-30 19:13:36","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690082":{"#nid":"690082","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Potential of Electrified Supply Chains","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers examines whether electrified supply chains can provide a new source of long\u2011duration demand flexibility for the electric grid, helping integrate variable renewable energy such as wind and solar.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe paper, authored by EPIcenter faculty affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology), EPIcenter student affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/rina-davila-severiano\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERina Davila Severiano\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and Mark O\u2019Malley explores how electrifying both industrial manufacturing and freight transportation could allow electricity demand to shift over days or even weeks \u2014 far longer than the hours\u2011long flexibility commonly associated with electric vehicle charging or battery storage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing a case study of the cement industry along the U.S. East Coast, the authors model a fully electrified supply chain spanning 20 cities, two manufacturing hubs, electric truck fleets and warehouse storage. Their analysis shows that, by adjusting manufacturing schedules and inventory levels, electrified supply chains could shift tens of gigawatt\u2011hours of electricity demand to better align with renewable availability, particularly wind power, whose output varies over longer timescales. They find that this flexibility can emerge under relatively modest carbon price signals \u2014 below $50 per ton of CO\u2082 \u2014 well before grid\u2011scale battery storage becomes economically viable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/04\/26\/the-potential-of-electrified-supply-chains\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the EPIcenter Research Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/04\/26\/the-potential-of-electrified-supply-chains\/\u0022\u003EListen to a podcast on the Research Here\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers examines whether electrified supply chains can provide a new source of long\u2011duration demand flexibility for the electric grid, helping integrate variable renewable energy such as wind and solar.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers examines whether electrified supply chains can provide a new source of long\u2011duration demand flexibility for the electric grid, helping integrate variable renewable energy such as wind and solar."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-04-30 18:15:09","changed_gmt":"2026-04-30 18:28:57","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680137":{"id":"680137","type":"image","title":"PotentialofElextrifiedSupplyChainsAdobeStock_91772254.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1777572917","gmt_created":"2026-04-30 18:15:17","changed":"1777572917","gmt_changed":"2026-04-30 18:15:17","alt":"Cement Factory at night","file":{"fid":"264377","name":"PotentialofElextrifiedSupplyChainsAdobeStock_91772254.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/PotentialofElextrifiedSupplyChainsAdobeStock_91772254.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/PotentialofElextrifiedSupplyChainsAdobeStock_91772254.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":345509,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/30\/PotentialofElextrifiedSupplyChainsAdobeStock_91772254.jpeg?itok=kb6t4SrX"}}},"media_ids":["680137"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ggonzalez68@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690084":{"#nid":"690084","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Frontiers of Weatherization","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review published in Energy Research \u0026amp; Social Science by EPIcenter public policy affiliates \u2013 Ryan Anthony, Brian An, Marilyn A. Brown, Michelle Graff, and Daniel C. Matisoff \u2013 examines five decades of low-income weatherization program evaluations. The researchers systematically analyzed 17 retrospective, outcome-focused evaluations to identify how assessment methods have shifted from early pre-post energy comparisons to more rigorous causal inference research designs. While the literature consistently finds low-income home retrofit programs, such as the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), reduce energy burdens, many earlier evaluations are limited by research designs, including selection-biased control groups and minimal community engagement in the evaluation process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address these limitations, the authors recommend that future evaluations prioritize the construction of appropriate control groups or adopt quasi-experimental approaches, such as propensity score matching, to better isolate causal impacts. They also highlight the value of modern difference-in-difference estimators for strengthening causal identification. In addition, the review emphasizes the importance of leveraging available and emerging technologies, such as smart meters, thermostats, and sensors, to provide timely, precise data for evaluating both energy consumption and savings as well as non-energy impacts, like health and safety.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/04\/17\/frontiers-of-weatherization\/\u0022\u003ERead more on the EPIcenter Research Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/04\/17\/frontiers-of-weatherization\/\u0022\u003EListen to a Podcast on the Research Here\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review published in Energy Research \u0026amp; Social Science by EPIcenter public policy affiliates \u2013 Ryan Anthony, Brian An, Marilyn A. Brown, Michelle Graff, and Daniel C. Matisoff \u2013 examines five decades of low-income weatherization program evaluations.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent review published in Energy Research \u0026 Social Science by EPIcenter public policy affiliates \u2013 Ryan Anthony, Brian An, Marilyn A. Brown, Michelle Graff, and Daniel C. Matisoff \u2013 examines five decades of low-income weatherization program evaluations"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-04-30 18:21:16","changed_gmt":"2026-04-30 18:28:07","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680138":{"id":"680138","type":"image","title":"FrontiersofWeatherization-AdobeStock_248626760-LR.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1777573327","gmt_created":"2026-04-30 18:22:07","changed":"1777573327","gmt_changed":"2026-04-30 18:22:07","alt":"Ground\u2011mounted solar panel array in the foreground with wind turbines and large battery storage units visible in the background under a cloudy sky.","file":{"fid":"264378","name":"FrontiersofWeatherization-AdobeStock_248626760-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/FrontiersofWeatherization-AdobeStock_248626760-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/FrontiersofWeatherization-AdobeStock_248626760-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":774061,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/30\/FrontiersofWeatherization-AdobeStock_248626760-LR.jpeg?itok=WCAVdk-a"}}},"media_ids":["680138"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ggonzalez68@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ggonzalez68@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690077":{"#nid":"690077","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI\u2019s Energy Demands Spark Nuclear Revival","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe demand for electricity to power AI data centers is skyrocketing, placing immense pressure on traditional energy sources.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we continue pursuing clean energy for AI and data centers, we will need to triple the energy supply for data centers by 2030,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/erickson\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWoodruff Professor Anna Erickson, a nuclear engineering expert from Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Nuclear power, with its high energy density and continuous operation, is well-suited to provide the steady base load of electricity required.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Erickson, the recent headlines of the restarting of Pennsylvania\u2019s Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor (TMI-1) could play a crucial role in meeting these demands sustainably.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis decision, supported by a 20-year agreement with Microsoft, aims to provide carbon-free energy to meet the escalating power demands of AI data centers. The company\u2019s goal to be carbon negative by 2030 aligns with the broader push for sustainable energy solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/nuclear\/us-nuclear-industry.php\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUnited States Energy Information Administration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, as of Aug. 1, 2023, the United States has 93 operating commercial nuclear reactors across 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states. The most recent reactor to begin commercial operation is Unit 4 at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia, which started on April 29, 2024.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe commercial start of Unit 4 completes the 11-year expansion project at Plant Vogtle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/10\/ais-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revival\u0022\u003ERead more on the Georgia Tech Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Anna Erickson highlights the reopening of Three Mile Island Unit 1 as a crucial step in meeting the growing energy demands of AI data centers with carbon-free nuclear power, aligning with Microsoft\u0027s sustainability goals.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Professor Anna Erickson highlights the reopening of Three Mile Island Unit 1 as a crucial step in meeting the growing energy demands of AI data centers with carbon-free nuclear power, aligning with Microsoft\u0027s sustainability goals."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-04-30 17:27:49","changed_gmt":"2026-04-30 17:30:36","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680136":{"id":"680136","type":"image","title":"AIs-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revivalAdobeStock_229927661--1-.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1777570080","gmt_created":"2026-04-30 17:28:00","changed":"1777570080","gmt_changed":"2026-04-30 17:28:00","alt":"Three Mile Island Nuclear site","file":{"fid":"264376","name":"AIs-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revivalAdobeStock_229927661--1-.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/AIs-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revivalAdobeStock_229927661--1-.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/30\/AIs-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revivalAdobeStock_229927661--1-.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":315486,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/30\/AIs-energy-demands-spark-nuclear-revivalAdobeStock_229927661--1-.jpeg?itok=X4iNRPcc"}}},"media_ids":["680136"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESiobhan Rodriguez - \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sar30@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Esar30@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["sar30@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689587":{"#nid":"689587","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Use Statistics and Math to Understand How The Brain Works","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENothing rivals the human brain\u2019s complexity. Its 86 billion neurons and 85 billion other cells make an estimated 100 trillion connections. If the brain were a computer, it would perform an exaflop (a billion-billion) mathematical calculations every second and use the equivalent of only 20 watts of power. As impressive as the brain is, neurologists can\u2019t fully explain how neurons work together.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo help find answers, researchers at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS) are using math, data, and AI to unlock the secrets of thought. Together they are helping turn the brain\u2019s raw electrical \u201cnoise\u201d into real insights about how people think, move, and perceive the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFair warning: Prepare your neurons for the complexity of this brain research ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBuilding AI Like a Brain\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat if artificial neurons in AI programs were arranged as they are in the brain?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI programs would then help us understand why the brain is organized the way it is. This neuro-AI synthesis would also work faster, use less energy, and be easier to interpret. Creating such systems is the goal of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/apurva-ratan-murty\u0022\u003EApurva Ratan Murty\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPsychology\u003C\/a\u003E who is creating topographic AI models like the one above of three domains \u2014 vision, audition, and language inspired by the brain. In the near future, he predicts doctors might be able to use these patterns to predict the effects of brain lesions and other disorders. \u201cWe\u2019re not there yet,\u201d he says. \u201cBut our work brings us significantly closer to that future than ever before.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EComputing Thought and Movement\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHow cats walk keeps \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/5354\u0022\u003EChethan Pandarinath\u003C\/a\u003E on his toes. This biomedical engineer uses sensors to analyze how two sets of feline leg muscles \u2014 flexors and extensors \u2014 are controlled by the spinal cord. Understanding how that happens could help patients partially paralyzed from spinal cord injuries, strokes, or progressive neuro-degenerative diseases get back on their feet again. \u201cMy lab is using AI tools that allow us to turn complex spinal cord activity data into something we can interpret. It tells us there\u2019s a simple underlying structure behind the complex activity patterns,\u201d says the associate professor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ERevealing the Brain\u2019s Spike Patterns\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe brain is like a symphony conductor,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3736\u0022\u003ESimon Sponberg\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIndividual instruments have some independent control, but most of the music comes from the brain\u2019s precise coordination of notes among the different players in the body.\u201d This \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ephysics\u003C\/a\u003E professor studies the fantastically fast-beating wings of the hummingbird-sized hawk moth (Manduca sexta). Its agile flight movement comes as a result of spikes in electrical activity in 10 muscles. Sponberg found something that surprised him \u2014 the brain focuses less on creating the number of spikes than in orchestrating their precise patterns over time. To Sponberg, every millisecond matters. \u201cWe are just beginning to understand how the nervous system first acquires precisely timed spiking patterns during development,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPredicting Decisions Through Statistics\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPut a mouse in a maze with food far away, and it will learn to find it. But life for mice \u2014 and people \u2014 isn\u2019t so simple. Sometimes they want to explore, only want water, or just want to go home. What\u2019s more, animals make decisions based on their history, not just on how they feel at the moment. To dig deeper into the decision-making process, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/18557\u0022\u003EAnqi Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, is giving mice more options. By using a new computational framework called SWIRL (Switching Inverse Reinforcement Learning), her findings have outperformed models that fail to take historical behavior into account. \u201cWe\u2019re seeking to understand not only animal behavior but also human behavior to gain insight into the human decision-making process over a long period of time,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EModeling the Mind\u2019s Wiring With Math\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConnectivity shapes cognition in the cerebral cortex, a layered structure in the brain. The visual cortex, in particular, processes visual data from the retina relayed through the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) in the thalamus, and directs it to the correct cognitive domain in the brain. How it does this is the mystery that computational neuroscientist \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/13005\u0022\u003EHannah Choi\u003C\/a\u003E wants to solve. \u201cThe big question I\u2019m interested in is how network connectivity patterns in the architecture of the LGN are related to computations,\u201d says this assistant \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/math.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Emath\u003C\/a\u003E professor. To find answers, she shows mice repeated image patterns such as flower-cat-dog-house and then disrupts the pattern. The goal? To grasp how the thalamus\u2019s nonlinear dynamical system works. If scientists and doctors better understand how brain regions are wired together, such knowledge could lead to better disease treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis story was originally published through the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. Read the original publication \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/news\/2026\/georgia-tech-researchers-use-statistics-and-math-to-understand-how-the-brain-works.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehere\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearchers at Georgia Tech are using math, science, and artificial intelligence to better understand how people think, move, and perceive the world.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers at Georgia Tech are using math, science, and artificial intelligence to better understand how people think, move, and perceive the world."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-04-09 14:51:00","changed_gmt":"2026-04-29 19:29:24","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679908":{"id":"679908","type":"image","title":"AdobeStock_506880018.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at Georgia Tech are using math, science, and artificial intelligence to better understand how people think, move, and perceive the world.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775747910","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 15:18:30","changed":"1775747910","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 15:18:30","alt":"Digital illustration of a human brain split down the middle: the left side is filled with white mathematical equations, diagrams, and formulas, while the right side is surrounded by colorful, flowing lines and abstract wave patterns against a dark blue background.","file":{"fid":"264129","name":"AdobeStock_506880018.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/AdobeStock_506880018.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/AdobeStock_506880018.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":11158535,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/AdobeStock_506880018.jpeg?itok=smMzQtFc"}},"679903":{"id":"679903","type":"image","title":"Brain-Data-New-480x3301.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECaption:\u0026nbsp;This image shows a topographic vision model trained to have a brain-like organization.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775746394","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 14:53:14","changed":"1775746394","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 14:53:14","alt":"Three layered, abstract heat\u2011map style grids in shades of blue, red, and beige, stacked to resemble data layers or visualization panels.","file":{"fid":"264124","name":"Brain-Data-New-480x3301.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-New-480x3301.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-New-480x3301.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":53268,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-New-480x3301.jpg?itok=vNYzcaPf"}},"679904":{"id":"679904","type":"image","title":"Chethan-480x330.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECaption:\u0026nbsp;This shows how spinal cord activity guides transitions in muscle output for extensor muscles.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775746465","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 14:54:25","changed":"1775746465","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 14:54:25","alt":"Two side\u2011by\u2011side scientific diagrams labeled Cat 1 and Cat 2 showing clusters of colored data points and curved gray lines representing muscle\u2011activity patterns during movement. Each diagram includes blue, green, and yellow point clusters and marked \u2018extensor onset\u2019 and \u2018extensor offset\u2019 angles.","file":{"fid":"264125","name":"Chethan-480x330.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Chethan-480x330.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Chethan-480x330.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":67950,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/Chethan-480x330.jpg?itok=RaB1s5Rq"}},"679906":{"id":"679906","type":"image","title":"new_figure-480x330.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECaption: This shows how mice behave differently when they are pursuing different goals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775746563","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 14:56:03","changed":"1775746563","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 14:56:03","alt":"Three maze-like diagrams labeled \u2018water,\u2019 \u2018home,\u2019 and \u2018explore,\u2019 each showing colored paths representing an animal\u2019s movement through the maze. The paths shift from dark purple at the start to bright yellow at the end, indicating progression over time according to the color scale on the right","file":{"fid":"264127","name":"new_figure-480x330.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/new_figure-480x330.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/new_figure-480x330.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":103865,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/new_figure-480x330.jpg?itok=wezz9ZzE"}},"679905":{"id":"679905","type":"image","title":"Brain-Data-Sponberg-480x330.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECaption:\u0026nbsp;This shows the spike patterns of a hawk moth. Motor systems use spike codes to control motor output.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775746508","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 14:55:08","changed":"1775746508","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 14:55:08","alt":"Diagram showing a hawk moth in the center surrounded by twelve circular charts. Each chart displays proportional black and blue segments representing spike count and spike timing data for left and right muscle groups. A legend explains the colors, and text below notes that the values show mutual information estimates for 10 muscles across seven moths","file":{"fid":"264126","name":"Brain-Data-Sponberg-480x330.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-Sponberg-480x330.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-Sponberg-480x330.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":81244,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/Brain-Data-Sponberg-480x330.jpg?itok=l_G56joM"}},"679907":{"id":"679907","type":"image","title":"GaTech_Brain-Data_Hannanh-Choi_480x330.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ECaption:\u0026nbsp;This shows how visual data from the retina is directed to the correct cognitive domain in the brain through a region of the visual cortex.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1775746605","gmt_created":"2026-04-09 14:56:45","changed":"1775746605","gmt_changed":"2026-04-09 14:56:45","alt":"Diagram showing neural connectivity between cortical layers in regions labeled V1 and LM. Arrows connect circular nodes representing layers L2\/3, L4, and L5, with green and orange arrows indicating directional pathways. A magnified inset on the right illustrates a simplified microcircuit with shapes labeled Pyr, Sst, and Vip connected by colored arrows.","file":{"fid":"264128","name":"GaTech_Brain-Data_Hannanh-Choi_480x330.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/GaTech_Brain-Data_Hannanh-Choi_480x330.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/09\/GaTech_Brain-Data_Hannanh-Choi_480x330.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":51645,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/09\/GaTech_Brain-Data_Hannanh-Choi_480x330.jpg?itok=MfeiKQbd"}}},"media_ids":["679908","679903","679904","679906","679905","679907"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-uses-computing-and-engineering-methods-shift-neuroscience-paradigms","title":"Georgia Tech Uses Computing and Engineering Methods to Shift Neuroscience Paradigms"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/head-toe-georgia-tech-researchers-treat-entire-human-body-through-neuroscience-research","title":"Head to Toe: Georgia Tech Researchers Treat the Entire Human Body Through Neuroscience Research"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/better-brain-machine-interfaces-could-allow-paralyzed-communicate-again","title":"Better Brain-Machine Interfaces Could Allow the Paralyzed to Communicate Again"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"173647","name":"_for_math_site_"},{"id":"193733","name":"_for_math_site_manual_feed_"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E George Spencer\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENews and Media Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690037":{"#nid":"690037","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Workshop Explores Policy Needs as Data Centers Surge in Georgia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech hosted an event on April 21 examining the rapid expansion of data centers and the social and policy issues emerging alongside the growth of AI infrastructure. The program, The Future of Data Centers: Shaping the Social and Policy Landscape of Our AI Infrastructure, was held at the Alumni House and co-sponsored by the Institute for People and Technology and the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia has become the world\u2019s second-largest data center market, a shift that has brought economic opportunity as well as concerns about water use, energy demand, land development, and impacts on host communities. One recurring theme throughout the event was the tendency for environmental and resource issues to overshadow other important policy questions about community impact, transparency, and long-term governan\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIntroductory remarks were made by Beril Toktay, executive director of the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, and Michael Best, executive director of the \u0026nbsp;Institute for People and Technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVerghese Jacob, senior vice president of technology at the DayOne corporation, delivered the keynote address. Jacob discussed how DayOne works with governments in Asia to plan data centers and said early policy development and consistent communication can help communities better understand the impact and manage growth for long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships between governments and communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event also included a BBISS Connect Workshop, led by Kristin Janacek, a senior extension professional with BBISS. The workshop built on BBISS\u2019s Sustainability for Data Centers Insights Series and asked participants to contribute to a collaborative \u201cblue paper\u201d intended to guide future research partnerships and responses to funding opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo panel discussions explored the social and political dimensions of data center development. The first, moderated by Cindy Lin, an assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing, focused on international perspectives. Panelists included Celine Benoit of the Atlanta Regional Commission, Matthew Wesley Williams of Groundswell, Kahlil Bostick of Ryan Companies, and Ding Wang of Google Research. They discussed global examples of community-centered planning and the need for transparency in negotiations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA second panel, moderated by Allen Hyde, an associate professor in the School of History and Sociology, examined collaboration between communities and government agencies. Panelists were Georgia Public Service Commissioner Peter Hubbard; Donnie Beamer, senior technology advisor for the City of Atlanta; \u003Cem\u003EAtlanta Journal-Constitution\u003C\/em\u003E reporter Zachary Hansen; and Michael Czajkowski, director of advocacy for Science for Georgia. The group highlighted the importance of proactive regulation and clear communication with residents as data center development accelerates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpeakers throughout the day emphasized that Atlanta\u2019s continued growth in the data center sector will require coordinated planning and meaningful engagement with affected communities. The event closed with a call for all stakeholders to be proactive about creating policies that balance the technological and economic promise of the data center building boom with environmental and community concerns.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech hosted an event on April 21 examining the rapid expansion of data centers and the social and policy issues emerging alongside the growth of AI infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech hosted an event on April 21 examining the rapid expansion of data centers and the social and policy issues emerging alongside the growth of AI infrastructure. "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-04-29 14:37:48","changed_gmt":"2026-04-29 15:09:40","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680095":{"id":"680095","type":"image","title":"Data Center Event April 21","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELeft: panelists Cindy Lin, Celine Benoit, Matthew Williams, Ding Wang, and Kahil Bostick. Center: Michael Best and Verghese Jacob. Right: panelists Allen Hyde, Michael Czajkowski, Zachary Hansen, and Donnie Beamer. Not pictured: Peter Hubbard who joined virtually.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777472884","gmt_created":"2026-04-29 14:28:04","changed":"1777473166","gmt_changed":"2026-04-29 14:32:46","alt":"Left: panelists Cindy Lin, Celine Benoit, Matthew Williams, Ding Wang, and Kahil Bostick. Center: Michael Best and Verghese Jacob. Right: panelists Allen Hyde, Michael Czajkowski, Zachary Hansen, and Donnie Beamer. Not pictured: Peter Hubbard who joined virtually.","file":{"fid":"264334","name":"3-picsvz.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/3-picsvz.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/3-picsvz.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":676457,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/29\/3-picsvz.jpg?itok=6Gg1IwE9"}},"680096":{"id":"680096","type":"image","title":"Beril Toktay","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBeril Toktay delivering the welcome and introductory remarks to the attendees.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777473185","gmt_created":"2026-04-29 14:33:05","changed":"1777473423","gmt_changed":"2026-04-29 14:37:03","alt":"Beril Toktay delivering the welcome and introductory remarks to the attendees. ","file":{"fid":"264335","name":"55223655864_8a2763107c_b.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/55223655864_8a2763107c_b.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/55223655864_8a2763107c_b.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":244664,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/29\/55223655864_8a2763107c_b.jpg?itok=x_7ZW6mN"}}},"media_ids":["680095","680096"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690036":{"#nid":"690036","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Aaron Stebner named associate director of Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)\u003C\/a\u003E has selected \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mse.gatech.edu%2Fpeople%2Faaron-stebner\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544421095%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=Ok7FfjOabmRUr7BCtE5k7T8ztKSo1Zg80AEnLrrPa9k%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mse.gatech.edu%2Fpeople%2Faaron-stebner\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544421095%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=Ok7FfjOabmRUr7BCtE5k7T8ztKSo1Zg80AEnLrrPa9k%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAaron P. Stebner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;as its new associate director, expanding the institute\u2019s leadership as it scales advanced manufacturing research, infrastructure, and industry engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStebner is the Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. Chair in Manufacturing\u0026nbsp;and a professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, with a joint appointment in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. He also serves as a James R. and Sarah R. Borders Faculty Fellow, founding director of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E (Georgia AIM), and executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s Professional Master\u2019s in Manufacturing Leadership\u0026nbsp;program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn his role as associate director, Stebner will lead operations, engagement and continued growth of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fampf.research.gatech.edu%2F\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544443590%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=GiDwnKgOmr8xhq%2BszJcr0OiPioj5O9GJAgOHGQqXC7U%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fampf.research.gatech.edu%2F\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544443590%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=GiDwnKgOmr8xhq%2BszJcr0OiPioj5O9GJAgOHGQqXC7U%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF)\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;a cornerstone of Georgia Tech\u2019s manufacturing ecosystem. The facility brings together artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing to accelerate materials discovery and manufacturing innovation at pilot scale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe AMPF is evolving into what Georgia Tech leaders describe as a national first: a university-based, self-driving manufacturing facility\u0026nbsp;that allows new technologies to be invented, tested and de-risked before they reach full-scale production. Backed by more than $80 million in federal, state, and private investment, the facility serves as a shared-use platform for industry, startups, researchers, and government partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAMPF is a national user facility and a\u0026nbsp;blended industry-academia, human-AI environment where new manufacturing discoveries are made ready for industry adoption,\u201d Stebner said. \u201cBy integrating AI-enabled systems, real-time automation and pilot-scale validation, we\u2019re helping shorten the timeline from discovery to deployment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStebner\u2019s research and leadership sit at the intersection of artificial intelligence, manufacturing, materials, and mechanics, with an emphasis on intelligent and adaptive manufacturing systems. His work spans advanced alloys, additive manufacturing, autonomous experimentation, and data-driven process design, with applications across aerospace, automotive, biomedical, energy and industrial sectors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder his leadership, the AMPF is expected to continue expanding as a national collaboration hub\u0026nbsp;for academia, industry, and government. The facility supports pilot-scale testing of emerging technologies, workforce development and applied research aimed at strengthening U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and economic resilience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStebner\u2019s appointment also strengthens the alignment between GTMI, Georgia AIM and Georgia Tech\u2019s broader research enterprise, integrating AI-driven research, translational infrastructure, and industry partnerships into a cohesive model for manufacturing innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith Aaron\u2019s experience building forward-looking manufacturing programs and leading large, interdisciplinary teams, GTMI is well positioned to accelerate the impact of the AMPF and related initiatives,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/thomas-kurfess\u0022\u003ETom Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of GTMI.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) has selected \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mse.gatech.edu%2Fpeople%2Faaron-stebner\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544421095%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=Ok7FfjOabmRUr7BCtE5k7T8ztKSo1Zg80AEnLrrPa9k%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mse.gatech.edu%2Fpeople%2Faaron-stebner\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C4c96a361c44540bd1a4808dea5f38848%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639130662544421095%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=Ok7FfjOabmRUr7BCtE5k7T8ztKSo1Zg80AEnLrrPa9k%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAaron P. Stebner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;as its new associate director, expanding the institute\u2019s leadership as it scales advanced manufacturing research, infrastructure, and industry engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI) has selected Aaron P. Stebner as its new associate director, expanding the institute\u2019s leadership as it scales advanced manufacturing research, infrastructure, and industry engagement."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-29 13:51:15","changed_gmt":"2026-04-29 14:48:02","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680098":{"id":"680098","type":"image","title":"headshot-aaron-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1777474057","gmt_created":"2026-04-29 14:47:37","changed":"1777474057","gmt_changed":"2026-04-29 14:47:37","alt":"Headshot of Aaron Stebner","file":{"fid":"264337","name":"headshot-aaron-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/headshot-aaron-2_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/headshot-aaron-2_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":108578,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/29\/headshot-aaron-2_0.jpg?itok=SWntWHvt"}}},"media_ids":["680098"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686876":{"#nid":"686876","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Manufacturing Consortium Helps Industry Close the Finish Gap","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom fighter jets to medical devices, today\u2019s most advanced machines depend on parts as intricate as their missions. These components aren\u2019t just geometrically complex \u2014 they\u2019re made from specialized metals engineered to withstand extreme heat, friction, and wear. But that strength comes with a challenge. How do you shape metals tough enough to survive the heat of a jet engine?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne solution is to start with a more moldable form of these super-metals: powder. In a specialized form of additive manufacturing (like 3D printing), manufacturers start with fine metal powders and fuse them, layer by layer, using focused energy. Known as powder bed fusion (PBF), this method enables highly complex shapes and reduces the amount of finishing work needed. Still, when a micron of extra material can make or break the final product, even near-perfect parts require precise finishing touches.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe introduction of new, exotic materials produced through additive manufacturing has brought unique challenges, especially for applications in space and missile systems,\u201d says David Antonuccio, business development director at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.halocarbon.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHalocarbon\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia-based company producing advanced chemical solutions used in manufacturing and other fields. \u201cWhile these materials offer distinct properties, they are notoriously difficult to machine.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s where the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) comes in. Through its Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium, GTMI connects industry manufacturers like Halocarbon with researchers and innovators to tackle real \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0007850625000319?via%3Dihub\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eproduction challenges\u003C\/a\u003E like this. Membership includes access to GTMI\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF), where companies can test ideas and collaborate on new solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHalocarbon recently teamed up with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/freemelt.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFreemelt\u003C\/a\u003E, a leader in producing PBF systems and a fellow consortium member, to address this bottleneck. Their goal: to determine whether Halocarbon\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.halocarbon.com\/machining-mission-critical-metals-the-halocarbon-advantage-in-aerospace-alloys\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Especialized metalworking fluids\u003C\/a\u003E could enhance the finishing process for PBF-manufactured parts made from tungsten and molybdenum, two high-temperature, hard-to-machine metals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe future of manufacturing depends on how well we integrate talent, technology, and collaboration,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, interim director of Research Operations at GTMI and managing director of the consortium. \u201cBy bringing companies together around shared challenges, we\u2019re closing critical gaps and strengthening the nation\u2019s advanced manufacturing capability.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESolving the Post-Processing Bottleneck\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEven with advanced methods like electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF), which uses an electron beam to fuse metal powders inside a vacuum chamber, finishing remains a critical hurdle. \u201cSurface finish in powder bed fusion is fundamentally tied to the particle size of the metal powder,\u201d says Ian Crawford, a materials and application engineer at Freemelt. \u201cPost-processing will almost always be part of the equation for high-performance components.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn traditional machining, coolants and cutting fluids used in these finishing steps are often overlooked, and the methods haven\u2019t changed much in decades. Halocarbon\u2019s metalworking fluid aims to bring these fluids into a new era, using innovative polymer chemistry to extend tool life, improve surface quality, and boost efficiency when machining these challenging alloys.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two companies initiated their joint project during their free AMPF equipment use time, which comes with the full level of consortium membership. From there, GTMI designed and executed controlled studies comparing the use of Halocarbon\u2019s fluids to two standard finishing methods, dry machining and EDM-based finishing. The results showed a 6% improvement in side milling and a 26% improvement in end milling versus dry machining, with even greater gains over EDM. These improvements translate into higher-quality parts, tighter specifications, lower scrap rates, extended tool life, and reduced downstream costs \u2014 exactly what aerospace and defense suppliers need to meet stringent requirements. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe findings were shared at the 2025 National Space \u0026amp; Missile Materials Symposium, reinforcing the value of industry-academic collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIndustry keeps pushing materials to handle more heat and stress, but that makes post-processing harder,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-carroll\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMatt Carroll\u003C\/a\u003E, one of the GTMI researchers on the project. \u201cBy bringing equipment makers and chemistry innovators into the same experiment, we were able to prove where the gains really are and give manufacturers data they can act on.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNo single manufacturing method solves every challenge,\u201d says Crawford. \u201cTo achieve the performance and cost targets that aerospace and defense applications demand, we need to bring together the right combination of technologies, and collaborations like this show what\u0027s possible when we do.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECollaborative research at GTMI is helping manufacturers overcome critical challenges in finishing advanced materials for aerospace and defense applications.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Collaborative research at GTMI is helping manufacturers overcome critical challenges in finishing advanced materials for aerospace and defense applications."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 18:59:54","changed_gmt":"2026-04-29 14:17:46","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680093":{"id":"680093","type":"image","title":"gap-1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHigh-performance parts used in aerospace and defense systems need to be precise and durable, even with complex geometries. Advanced manufacturing methods enable the production of complicated parts that traditional machining can\u0027t achieve, like those seen here at GTMI\u0027s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility. (Photo by Georgia Tech)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777472181","gmt_created":"2026-04-29 14:16:21","changed":"1777472181","gmt_changed":"2026-04-29 14:16:21","alt":"Small metal lattice and cylindrical components arranged on a flat surface in the foreground, with several people standing and talking in a laboratory or workshop space in the background.","file":{"fid":"264332","name":"gap-1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":61352,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-1.jpg?itok=hpkrY33J"}},"680094":{"id":"680094","type":"image","title":"gap-2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECollaborative research at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute teamed is working to improve the finishing processes for hard to machine metals like tungsten. (Photo via Halocarbon)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777472231","gmt_created":"2026-04-29 14:17:11","changed":"1777472231","gmt_changed":"2026-04-29 14:17:11","alt":"Close-up of a metal workpiece being cut by a rotating machining tool, with liquid coolant spraying around the cutting area.","file":{"fid":"264333","name":"gap-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":20940,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/29\/gap-2.jpg?itok=JQRGsDgl"}}},"media_ids":["680093","680094"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/engage\/manufacturing-40-consortium","title":"More about GTMI\u0027s Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium"},{"url":"https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu","title":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Audra Davidson\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bvogel30@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBelinda Vogel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Engagement Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["bvogel30@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690020":{"#nid":"690020","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia AIM Receives Research Program Impact Award from Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing, or Georgia AIM, has received one of the highest research awards at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award was announced March 25, 2026 and is one of six Institute Research Awards given by Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of the Executive Vice President for Research. The portfolio of awards honors achievements in research engagement, innovation, faculty advising, and impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia AIM is a statewide coalition led by the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (EI2) and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) to develop and deploy AI talent and innovation in manufacturing. The Georgia AIM coalition includes dozens of universities, technical colleges, nonprofits, and economic development organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is an incredible experience to collaborate with technology and economic development leaders around the state to lead the nation and the world in AI for manufacturing,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/stebner\u0022\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia AIM co-director and the Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. Chair in Manufacturing at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are truly honored to receive this recognition from our peers at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Tom Kurfess, GTMI Executive Director and HUSCO\/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia AIM was initiated in 2021 by Stebner, EI2\u0026nbsp;Vice President David Bridges, Kurfess, Georgia AIM managing director and GTMI deputy director Steven Ferguson, and Georgia Tech executive director for strategic partnerships George White. The coalition received an initial $500,000 planning grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), which was followed by $65 million in additional grants from EDA and with additional federal, state, and private sector support now totals more than $100 million to enact projects across the state.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia AIM coalition counts many achievements on and off campus, including:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESupporting collaborations for more than thirty-five faculty, fifty research faculty and professionals, ten post docs, eighty graduate research assistants, one hundred and fifty undergraduate research assistants, and dozens of staff at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETransforming the Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E into a national user facility for research and development to invent, test, derisk, and mature AI manufacturing and materials technologies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuilding a manufacturing commercialization pipeline that links faculty research, student innovation, startups, and corporate partners to introduce AI manufacturing innovations to regional and national economies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ELaunching workforce development programs that provide new opportunities and career paths thousands of students spanning K-12 engagement, technical apprenticeships and credentials, and professional education.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EProviding STEM experiences including AI coding camps, robotics competitions, and advanced manufacturing competitions to thousands of students across Georgia.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E21 peer reviewed journal articles, 5 peer reviewed conference proceedings, 5 National Academies workshop presentations,\u0026nbsp;5 keynote\/plenary presentations, more than 200 conference presentations and posters, 13 invention disclosures, 7 provisional patents, 2 full patents filed to date with dozens more in process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia AIM proves that innovation scales when built alongside workforce,\u201d said Ferguson. \u201cWe built a seamless pipeline from education to industry, ensuring talent is ready to deploy AI in real manufacturing environments on day one.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe impact of Georgia AIM is grounded in collaboration \u2014 universities, industry, nonprofits and communities working together to shape the future of advanced manufacturing in Georgia,\u201d said Bridges. \u201cThis recognition underscores what a coordinated statewide effort can accomplish.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause research covers a range of activities \u2014 from research and development to commercialization and public impacts \u2014 the annual awards recognize the many facets of work in this area. The peer-driven nomination process emphasizes measurable contributions and leadership across disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe strength of Georgia Tech\u2019s research enterprise begins with the talented people who push discovery forward every day,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2852\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E, executive vice president for Research. \u201cCongratulations to this year\u2019s honorees, who demonstrate what it means to turn bold ideas into real-world impact, advancing knowledge from fundamental science to commercial and community applications. With these awards, we celebrate their leadership, creativity, and dedication to serving the public good.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/2026-georgia-tech-research-awards\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERead more about this year\u2019s Institute Research Award winners.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing, or Georgia AIM, has received one of the highest research awards at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing, or Georgia AIM, has received one of the highest research awards at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Impact."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-26 22:37:43","changed_gmt":"2026-04-28 18:50:03","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680086":{"id":"680086","type":"image","title":"Image--1--1.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/aaron-stebner\u0022\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/david-bridges\u0022\u003EDavid Bridges\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/wps-members\/donna-ennis\/\u0022\u003EDonna Ennis\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/thomas-kurfess\u0022\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1777401708","gmt_created":"2026-04-28 18:41:48","changed":"1777401708","gmt_changed":"2026-04-28 18:41:48","alt":"Photo of Aaron Stebner, David Bridges, Donna Ennis, Thomas Kurfess, Steven Ferguson with their interdisciplinary research awards","file":{"fid":"264325","name":"Image--1--1.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/28\/Image--1--1.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/28\/Image--1--1.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":325441,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/28\/Image--1--1.jpeg?itok=qjAazKf-"}},"680087":{"id":"680087","type":"image","title":"image--7-.jpeg","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom left: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/kyle-saleeby\u0022\u003EKyle Saleeby,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/aaron-stebner\u0022\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/thomas-kurfess\u0022\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/people\/stephen-turano\u0022\u003EStephan Turano\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/weston-straka\u0022\u003EWeston Straka\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-carroll\u0022\u003EMatt Carrol\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1777402017","gmt_created":"2026-04-28 18:46:57","changed":"1777402017","gmt_changed":"2026-04-28 18:46:57","alt":"Steven Ferguson, Kyle Saleeby, Aaron Stebner, Thomas Kurfess, Stephan Turano, Weston Straka and Matt Carrol holding their interdisciplinary research awards","file":{"fid":"264326","name":"image--7-.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/28\/image--7-.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/28\/image--7-.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":380279,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/28\/image--7-.jpeg?itok=VqK3-FQD"}}},"media_ids":["680086","680087"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187190","name":"-go-gtmi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689952":{"#nid":"689952","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Communicating During a Crisis","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E- written by Seungho Lee\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe North American hurricane season is, for many on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, six months of vigilance, and among the resources most likely to be consulted during this time are storm tracking maps. If you learn that your home might be in the path of a storm, you probably actively search for the most current version of one of these maps. Bruce Walker, a professor in the schools of Psychology and Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, wants to ensure that storm-tracking maps and other emergency and environmental communication tools convey the most important information in the most understandable manner to the largest number of people possible. \u201cWeather and climate affect every single person on Earth,\u201d he said, \u201cso no one can be left behind when it comes to these critical communications.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWalker is director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cicc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Inclusive Climate Communication\u003C\/a\u003E (CICC) at Georgia Tech. CICC is a new and growing consortium of researchers, organizations, agencies, and companies whose goal is to ensure that climate information of all types is widely accessible. The center is housed in the School of Psychology but has affiliated faculty from all around campus, and several universities around the U.S. CICC is expanding internationally as well, developing sub-networks in Europe, Africa, and Australia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of its efforts, the CICC is working with the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia. Situated about 65 miles northeast of Jacksonville, Florida, Brunswick is no stranger to hurricanes and tropical storms. The city is working to develop a comprehensive Community-Based Emergency Warning System, which will include maps and other emergency communications that ensure language, culture, level of education, or other differences in lived experience are not barriers to residents understanding critical safety information. This work is supported by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) and the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sustainability\/seed-grants\u0022\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/a\u003E Seed Grant Program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHurricane maps and related information can come from many sources. Government agencies, municipal emergency management agencies, media outlets, and meteorological organizations all may have their own versions, which vary in how they visually display data. The information used to generate the maps is collected and distributed to the public domain by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) every few hours. The maps that the public sees show the important information that one would expect, but they may not do so with an eye for how different people might interpret, or misinterpret, that info.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOnce we determine the best way to present hurricane data to the most people, we will work with content providers to standardize the way they generate these resources,\u201d says Walker. \u201cReliable data and what we call inclusive communications lead to better decisions by the public.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CICC investigators\u2019 process aspires to the philosophy of Universal Design, but since no design can be 100% universal, they refer to what they create as \u201cinclusive designs.\u201d Inclusive design means adapting to the diverse needs of the broadest possible audience. Since the language skills, education, lived experience, and physical ability of the person in the storm\u2019s path can vary, these maps must present information in many alternative ways.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor those who can see the map, for example, improving the visual design (e.g., a better use of symbols and a clearer visual layout) can help. For those with vision impairment, adding audio layers (called \u201csonification\u201d) to the map can help. For many people, simply comprehending a map can itself be a challenge. In that case, adding more explanations about how to interpret a map, what different terms mean, and what the storm is likely to do can make it more understandable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll of these strategies provide multiple means of accessing, understanding, and acting on the data represented by the map. When studying how to design inclusive maps, soliciting input and suggestions from as many different potential users as possible helps the CICC team ensure that vital information is understandable and useful to the most people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of CICC\u2019s primary goals is to take lessons from their research projects, such as the inclusive hurricane map, and derive general principles for the effective design of emergency communications tools of all types. While every disaster, from floods and wildfires to tsunamis, tornadoes, and ice storms, will require the distribution of unique pieces of data, the CICC researchers and their community partners are identifying design strategies that will make these communications understandable and actionable to everyone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWalker and other CICC researchers engage students in this work. Isabella Martincic, a Ph.D. student in engineering psychology, shepherds many of the center\u2019s research and design efforts, including AccessCORPS, a team that makes educational materials more inclusive and accessible. Jessica Herring and Ishan Vepa, students in the M.S. program in human-computer interaction, have led the hurricane map project, including overhauling existing maps from recent storms by applying CICC design guidelines to them. And undergraduate student Cal Price has been the lead researcher on the Brunswick collaboration, engaging with both community members and civic officials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese efforts \u2014 adding more features, revamping existing maps, and consulting with weather experts and end users \u2014 demonstrate how seemingly simple changes can lead to significantly better interpretations of the data by the target audience. The research behind the inclusive hurricane maps will be presented at the 23rd International Web for All Conference, which takes place later this year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECICC researchers are also engaging in partnerships with companies that see the potential benefits of this approach. Data visualization company Highcharts, for example, is a supporter and collaborator. Since their business models revolve around distributing such information, they have a keen interest in the lessons learned from CICC research. CICC does not regard its findings as intellectual property; they prefer that good design guidelines proliferate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUltimately, our goal is for anyone to be able to look at a communication tool, quickly grasp critical pieces of information that may impact their lives and well-being, and take appropriate actions,\u201d Walker said, \u201cwhether that be for the daily weather or for an impending natural disaster.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe North American hurricane season is, for many on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, six months of vigilance, and among the resources most likely to be consulted during this time are storm tracking maps. If you learn that your home might be in the path of a storm, you probably actively search for the most current version of one of these maps.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Center for Inclusive Climate Communication (CICC) at Georgia Tech is a new and growing consortium of researchers, organizations, agencies, and companies whose goal is to ensure that climate and disaster information of all types is widely accessible."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-04-22 22:23:47","changed_gmt":"2026-04-24 19:26:17","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680036":{"id":"680036","type":"image","title":"SideBySide_Hurricane_Maps.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776896796","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 22:26:36","changed":"1776896882","gmt_changed":"2026-04-22 22:28:02","alt":"Side\u2011by\u2011side comparison graphic showing two hurricane forecast visualizations. The left panel, labeled \u2018Conventional Hurricane Map,\u2019 displays a white cone of uncertainty over the Atlantic Ocean and southeastern United States with dated forecast points for Hurricane Florence, while the right panel, labeled \u2018Inclusive Hurricane Map,\u2019 shows a red shaded impact corridor over Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina with a storm track line and icons indicating storm categories near cities such as Atlanta, T","file":{"fid":"264270","name":"SideBySide_Hurricane_Maps.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/SideBySide_Hurricane_Maps.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/SideBySide_Hurricane_Maps.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":811363,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/SideBySide_Hurricane_Maps.jpg?itok=K8l-PK_h"}}},"media_ids":["680036"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1937","name":"Bruce Walker"},{"id":"195054","name":"Center for Inclusive Climate Communications"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"10617","name":"resilience"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"690009":{"#nid":"690009","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Mark Prausnitz Receives 1934 Distinguished Professor Award","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Mark Prausnitz talks about his work as a professor, researcher, and entrepreneur, one theme comes through clearly: collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/drugdelivery.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrausnitz\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Regents\u2019 Professor, Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur, and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, is this year\u2019s recipient of the Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile I may be the focal point, it\u2019s not a recognition of me as an individual. It\u2019s a recognition of everything the team has done,\u201d Prausnitz said. \u201cI know how to do some things, but there are many things I don\u2019t know how to do. That\u2019s why working with others matters. You bring people together, fill in the gaps, and solve the whole problem.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201csome things\u201d Prausnitz knows how to do have led to revolutionary medical innovation over a 30-year career at Georgia Tech, where he has led transformative work in microneedle drug delivery, launching 10 companies in the process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring that time, Prausnitz published hundreds of peer-reviewed papers, was granted dozens of patents, and advanced his work from early laboratory studies into more than 20 human clinical trials. His research has produced multiple FDA\u2011approved or clinically tested technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding Prausnitz\u2019s success starts with his approach to engineering in practice. Science may begin with discovery, but engineering, as he describes it, focuses on taking something uncertain and making it work.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the things that really distinguishes engineering from science is the work of problem-solving to reach an answer,\u201d he said. \u201cYou start with something diffuse and figure out how to put all the pieces together. That to me is a hallmark of engineering.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat way of thinking took shape early in his life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2026\/04\/mark-prausnitz-receives-1934-distinguished-professor-award?utm_source=newsletter\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_content=Prausnitz%20Receives%201934%20Distinguished%20Professor%20Award%C2%A0\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20April%2024%2C%202026\u0022\u003ERead the full story.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/drugdelivery.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPrausnitz\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a Regents\u2019 Professor, Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur, and J. Erskine Love Jr. Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, is this year\u2019s recipient of the Class of 1934 Distinguished Professor Award.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Prausnitz is awarded the highest honor given to a Georgia Tech professor."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-24 16:47:54","changed_gmt":"2026-04-24 16:52:12","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680061":{"id":"680061","type":"image","title":"_0000_Prausnitz-1934-Award.jpg","body":null,"created":"1777049281","gmt_created":"2026-04-24 16:48:01","changed":"1777049281","gmt_changed":"2026-04-24 16:48:01","alt":"A man in a light blue lab coat standing at a laboratory bench with pipettes, containers, and scientific supplies on shelves behind him.","file":{"fid":"264295","name":"_0000_Prausnitz-1934-Award.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/24\/_0000_Prausnitz-1934-Award.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/24\/_0000_Prausnitz-1934-Award.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":152732,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/24\/_0000_Prausnitz-1934-Award.jpg?itok=30tRGEiv"}}},"media_ids":["680061"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187433","name":"go-ien"},{"id":"94981","name":"College of Engineering; School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJulian Hills | Executive Communications Specialist\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689951":{"#nid":"689951","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researcher \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/andres-j-garcia\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E has been elected to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amacad.org\/news\/new-member-announcement-2026\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, joining an honorary society that includes Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King Jr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Academy recognizes leaders across fields of study who have addressed humanity\u2019s greatest challenges while also gathering knowledge to advance learning and the public good. This year\u2019s class of 252 honorees was elected in academia, the arts, industry, journalism, philanthropy, policy, research, and science. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda is one of nine honorees in the \u201cEngineering and Technology\u201d division. His research \u2014 both in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E where he serves as Regents\u2019 Professor and in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioresearch.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E where he is the executive director \u2014 aligns with the Academy\u2019s service-minded mission. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am inspired to find engineering solutions to serious health conditions to help people,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a kid, I developed a musculoskeletal condition that required biomaterial devices to treat. Although imperfect, this treatment allowed me to lead a normal life.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoved by his personal experience, Garc\u00eda\u2019s research centers on cellular and tissue engineering, which integrate biological and engineering principles to restore organ function lost to injury or disease. By studying how cells interact with the materials around them, he and his team have engineered biomaterials for the controlled delivery of therapeutic proteins and cells that enhance tissue regeneration, which could speed the healing process for patients. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis future work will integrate biomaterials with lab\u2011grown replicas of human organs, known as organoids, that can be used to identify new therapies for a variety of human diseases. These organoids, though smaller and simpler than true organs, can mimic key functions that may help Garc\u00eda and his team to find better ways to repair damaged tissues.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda has spent the past 27 years at Georgia Tech and carries on the legacy of another Academy member \u2014 the Petit Institute\u2019s founding executive director Robert Nerem, who was inducted in 1998. Garc\u00eda credits his success to the support of his loved ones and the Yellow Jacket community. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am deeply honored and humbled,\u201d he said. \u201cThis award is only possible by the unending love and support of family, friends and mentors, my phenomenal past and present trainees, fantastic collaborators, and awesome ecosystem at Georgia Tech.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Academy was chartered in 1780 during the American Revolution by a group that included John Adams and John Hancock. It was established to recognize accomplished individuals and engage them in addressing the greatest challenges facing the young republic.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMembership has broadened over the years to celebrate excellence in a variety of fields. Honorees have included poet Robert Frost, musician John Legend, and chef Jos\u00e9 Andr\u00e9s, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/17\/chef-and-humanitarian-jose-andres-receives-ivan-allen-jr-prize-social-courage\u0022\u003Ewho was given this year\u2019s Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda and the rest of this year\u2019s class, which includes actor Jodie Foster, will be inducted in October. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researcher \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/andres-j-garcia\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E has been elected to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.amacad.org\/news\/new-member-announcement-2026\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, joining an honorary society that includes Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Albert Einstein, and Martin Luther King Jr. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The honorary society dates to the early days of the United States and honors excellence and contributions that advance society.  "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-22 18:35:45","changed_gmt":"2026-04-23 15:23:47","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680035":{"id":"680035","type":"image","title":"Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776882954","gmt_created":"2026-04-22 18:35:54","changed":"1776948169","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 12:42:49","alt":"A man with silver hair wears a white lab coat, white shirt, and gold tie will sitting behind a lab bench with research equipment on top of it.","file":{"fid":"264268","name":"ExecDirGarcia10-lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/ExecDirGarcia10-lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/22\/ExecDirGarcia10-lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2396467,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/22\/ExecDirGarcia10-lab.jpg?itok=1-GrI-YP"}}},"media_ids":["680035"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"14545","name":"George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"594","name":"college of engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ashlie.bowman@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAshlie Bowman\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:maderer@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJason Maderer\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689961":{"#nid":"689961","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Joint Workshop Highlights Emerging Research at the Intersection of Sustainability, Mobility, and Health\u202f ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents, faculty, and researchers from\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fand\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kennesaw.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EKennesaw State University\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fgathered on April 8 for\u202fa joint workshop between Georgia Tech\u0027s\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/nsf-susmed\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENSF Sustainable Development of Smart Medical Devices\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f(SUSMED) program and KSU\u0027s\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/campus.kennesaw.edu\/offices-services\/research\/centers-facilities\/move-center\/index.php\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMobility for Everyone (MOVE) Center\u003C\/a\u003E. The full-day\u202fevent explored\u202fhow sustainable design, mobility science, and health technologies are converging to shape the next generation of medical devices.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHosted in Georgia Tech\u2019s Marcus Nanotechnology Building, the workshop brought together trainees from the\u202fNSF SUSMED program\u202fand students from the MOVE Center for a day of presentations, posters, and hands\u2011on demonstrations.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event was co\u2011led by\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2943\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHong Yeo\u003C\/a\u003E, Peterson Professor in Pediatric Research in the\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fat Georgia Tech; Karam Kim, research faculty at the same school; and Ayse Tekes, associate professor in Mechanical Engineering at\u202fKSU.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am thrilled to have hosted this first joint event between the NSF NRT in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/wish\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWISH Center\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and the KSU MOVE Center. When I first envisioned it, I hoped it would spark meaningful conversations between students and researchers \u2014 but what unfolded far exceeded every expectation,\u201d Yeo said. \u201cThis was not just a gathering; it was a launchpad for exciting new collaborative projects, dynamic student exchange programs, and bold, ambitious bets on the future of our field. A heartfelt thank you to IMS Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/eric-vogel\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EEric Vogel\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/wish\/members\/wish-administration\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJosh Lee\u003C\/a\u003E, the WISH Center program manager, and Karam Kim, research faculty extraordinaire \u2014 none of this would have been possible without their support.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA central goal of the workshop was to give students meaningful opportunities to present their research and engage with peers across disciplines. According to Tekes, who is the director of the MOVE Center, events like this play a critical role in shaping early career researchers.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI think these events are very eye-opening,\u201d Tekes said. \u201cThey give students a real opportunity to\u202fshowcase\u202ftheir results, but also to collaborate and learn about research outside their own area. Seeing work across disciplines sparks new questions and helps them think differently.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThroughout the day, students presented projects on wearable devices, mobility technologies, digital health tools, sustainable engineering approaches, and more. Tekes emphasized how valuable it is for students to practice communicating their work to a broad audience.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey are getting the practice to present their outputs \u2014 the key outcomes of their research \u2014 and explain the significance and importance,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re also learning to answer questions from different perspectives, because in this room you\u2019re seeing engineers, computer scientists, and clinicians.\u201d\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDue to the strong turnout and enthusiastic participation throughout the day, organizers are already planning another session next semester.\u202fBy\u202fbringing together diverse\u202fexpertise\u202ffrom\u202fboth schools, the event highlighted the shared commitment to developing medical technologies that improve mobility, health, and quality of life.\u202f\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFunding sources: NSF NRT-FW-HTF: NSF Traineeship in the Sustainable Development of Smart Medical Devices (Award # 2345860) and WISH Center grant from the Institute for Matter and Systems\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents, faculty, and researchers from\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fand\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kennesaw.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EKennesaw State University\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fgathered on April 8 for\u202fa joint workshop between Georgia Tech\u0027s\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/nsf-susmed\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENSF Sustainable Development of Smart Medical Devices\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f(SUSMED) program and KSU\u0027s\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/campus.kennesaw.edu\/offices-services\/research\/centers-facilities\/move-center\/index.php\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMobility for Everyone (MOVE) Center\u003C\/a\u003E. The full-day\u202fevent explored\u202fhow sustainable design, mobility science, and health technologies are converging to shape the next generation of medical devices.\u202f\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Students, faculty, and researchers from\u202fGeorgia Tech\u202fand\u202fKennesaw State University\u202fgathered on April 8 for\u202fa joint workshop."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-23 12:03:37","changed_gmt":"2026-04-23 12:05:53","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680038":{"id":"680038","type":"image","title":"_0000_photo_NSF-copy.jpg","body":null,"created":"1776945848","gmt_created":"2026-04-23 12:04:08","changed":"1776945848","gmt_changed":"2026-04-23 12:04:08","alt":"Six workshop organizers stand in front of a projected slide reading \u201cGT NSF SUSMED x KSU MOVE Center Joint Workshop,\u201d with Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University banners visible on both sides.","file":{"fid":"264272","name":"_0000_photo_NSF-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/_0000_photo_NSF-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/23\/_0000_photo_NSF-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":141734,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/23\/_0000_photo_NSF-copy.jpg?itok=qQXapOTA"}}},"media_ids":["680038"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"14545","name":"George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"11726","name":"Institute for People and Technology"},{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"187433","name":"go-ien"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by Scarlett Smith\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689835":{"#nid":"689835","#data":{"type":"news","title":"AI is Reengineering Drug Discovery by Speeding Up Testing and Scanning Petabytes of Data for Connections Between\u00a0Diseases","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIn December, The Conversation hosted a webinar on AI\u2019s revolutionary role in drug discovery and development.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScience and technology editor \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/eric-smalley-944964\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEric Smalley\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E interviewed \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/jeffrey-skolnick\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EJeffrey Skolnick\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, eminent scholar in computational systems biology at Georgia Institute of Technology, and \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medschool.vanderbilt.edu\/pharmacology\/person\/ben-brown\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBenjamin P. Brown\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, assistant professor of pharmacology at Vanderbilt University.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESkolnick has developed AI-based approaches to predict protein structure and function that may help with drug discovery and finding off-label uses of existing drugs. Brown\u2019s lab works on creating new computer models that make drug discovery faster and more reliable. Below is a condensed and edited version of the interview.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELet\u2019s start with the big picture. How is AI changing biomedical research and drug discovery, and what is the potential we are talking about?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESkolnick:\u003C\/strong\u003E The upside, potentially, is very large. One of the frustrating things about drug discovery is that, in spite of the fact that the people doing it are extraordinarily intelligent and have done an extraordinarily good job, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.apsb.2022.02.002\u0022\u003Ethe success rate is very low\u003C\/a\u003E. About \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.apsb.2022.02.002\u0022\u003E1 in 5\u003C\/a\u003E drugs will have negative health effects that outweigh its benefits. Of the ones that pass, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.apsb.2022.02.002\u0022\u003Eroughly half don\u2019t work\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn drug development, there are several key issues: Can you predict which target is driving a particular disease? Once this target is identified, how can you guarantee the drug is going to work and isn\u2019t simultaneously going to kill you?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese are outstanding problems in drug discovery in which AI can play an important, though not 100% guaranteed, role. Unlike us, AI can look at basically \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nsr\/article\/12\/5\/nwaf050\/8029900\u0022\u003Eall available knowledge\u003C\/a\u003E. On a good day it makes strong and true connections called \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/bs.adcom.2023.02.001\u0022\u003Einsights\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d and on a bad day it does what is called \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-are-ai-hallucinations-why-ais-sometimes-make-things-up-242896\u0022\u003Ehallucinating\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d and sees things that are weak and probably false.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lHC_9x3IXZ0?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EEric Smalley interviews Jeffrey Skolnick and Benjamin P. Brown.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the end of the day, many diseases do not have a cure. Most diseases are maintained, such as high cholesterol or autoimmune conditions. A treatment for cancer might buy you five years, and now you\u2019re in Stage 4 and you\u2019ve exhausted all the standard care drugs. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ph16060891\u0022\u003EAI can play a role\u003C\/a\u003E to suggest alternatives where there are none.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELet\u2019s give some basic definitions here. When we use the word drug, we\u2019re talking about a wide range of therapies. Can you explain the range \u2013 we\u2019ve got small molecule drugs, biologics, gene therapies, cell therapies.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrown:\u003C\/strong\u003E We have fairly large molecules in our bodies called proteins. They are like machines that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK26911\/\u0022\u003Ecarry out specific functions\u003C\/a\u003E and interact with one another. Oftentimes, when we\u2019re trying to treat disease, we\u2019re trying to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/mco2.261\u0022\u003Ealter functions of specific proteins\u003C\/a\u003E. Many drugs, like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S0049-3848(03)00379-7\u0022\u003Easpirin\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1086\/317517\u0022\u003ETylenol\u003C\/a\u003E, are small molecules that can fit into a protein and change its function. Fundamentally, drugs don\u2019t have to just interact with proteins, but this is a major way in which our current repertoire of medications work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are also proteins that act like drugs, such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/imr.13387\u0022\u003Eantibodies\u003C\/a\u003E. When you receive a vaccine for a virus, your body is basically given \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-12-802174-3.00002-3\u0022\u003Einstructions on how to develop antibodies\u003C\/a\u003E. These antibodies will target some part of that virus. Your body is creating these big molecules, much bigger than aspirin, to go and interact with foreign proteins in a different way. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1590\/S1679-45082017RB4024\u0022\u003EGene therapy\u003C\/a\u003E is a larger step beyond that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo these modalities \u2013 molecule, protein, antibody or gene \u2013 are very different types of molecules. They have different scales and rules, so the way you approach designing and discovering them various widely.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you briefly explain artificial neural networks, and what the \u201cdeep\u201d in deep learning means?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESkolnick:\u003C\/strong\u003E AlphaFold, developed by DeepMind, involved understanding how neural networks worked. They built a network with a lot of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/diagnostics13152582\u0022\u003Einputs, which are stimuli, and outputs with different weights\u003C\/a\u003E, similar to how your brain actually works. These simple connections, or neurons, have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-reinforcement-learning-an-ai-researcher-explains-a-key-method-of-teaching-machines-and-how-it-relates-to-training-your-dog-251887\u0022\u003Ereinforcement learning\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey also created sophisticated neural networks, such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1073\/pnas.2219150120\u0022\u003Etransformers, which do specific things\u003C\/a\u003E like a special-purpose tool that can learn, and they added a mechanism called \u201cattention,\u201d which \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.inffus.2024.102417\u0022\u003Eamplifies critical details\u003C\/a\u003E. Super neural networks with transformers is what we call deep learning. These now have literally billions, if not trillions, of parameters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEssentially, these machines \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.52202\/079017-2495\u0022\u003Ecan learn higher order correlations between events\u003C\/a\u003E, meaning the patterns of conditional interactions that depend on the properties of multiple things simultaneously. In these higher order correlations, AI has the potential to see previously unknown things that are embedded in petabytes (a unit of data equivalent to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eecis.udel.edu\/%7Eamer\/Table-Kilo-Mega-Giga---YottaBytes.html\u0022\u003Ehalf of the contents of all U.S. academic research libraries\u003C\/a\u003E of biological data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlphaFold, which \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14789450.2025.2456046\u0022\u003Epredicts three-dimensional, bioactive forms of a protein\u003C\/a\u003E, has millions of sequences and a couple of hundred thousand structures. It can tell you, based on a particular pattern, what \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms26146807\u0022\u003Esmall molecule to design\u003C\/a\u003E that sticks to a protein to induce some kind of structural shift.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow is this technology being used in biomedical research to understand molecular dynamics or, essentially, the biological processes involved in health and disease?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrown:\u003C\/strong\u003E In 2013, there was a Nobel Prize for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.str.2013.11.005\u0022\u003Emolecular dynamics simulations\u003C\/a\u003E, computational tools that help you understand the motions of molecules as they move according to physics. There\u2019s a huge body of scientific research built around those ideas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAI and deep learning are large right now, but it\u2019s worth mentioning that for the last decade and a half, people have been \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nchembio.576\u0022\u003Eusing much smaller machine learning algorithms\u003C\/a\u003E to help design drugs. A lot of the ideas, such as [using machine learning for virtual screening], are not new and have been in practice for a while.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith AlphaFold\u2019s technologies to help people design proteins and predict their structure, we\u2019ve changed how we think about a lot of these problems. We have this \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.omtn.2024.102295\u0022\u003Enew repertoire of approaches\u003C\/a\u003E to build ideas around and to start thinking about drug discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom 20 years ago to now, what has today\u2019s AI technology done in terms of scale of change in this process?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESkolnick:\u003C\/strong\u003E A lot of diseases, like cancers, are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15430\/JCP.2018.23.4.153\u0022\u003Ecaused by a collection of malfunctioning proteins\u003C\/a\u003E. AI now allows us to start to think conceptually about how these diseases are organized and related to each other.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDiseases tend to co-occur. For example, if you have \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fendo.2024.1354372\u0022\u003Ehyperthyroidism, you\u2019re very likely to develop Alzheimer\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E. Kind of weird, right? We can look at pieces, but AI can look at all the information, integrate the collective behavior and then identify common drivers. This allows you to construct disease interrelationships which offer the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/adtp.202300332\u0022\u003Epossibility of broad spectrum treatments\u003C\/a\u003E that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/news-events\/nih-research-matters\/progress-toward-broad-spectrum-antiviral\u0022\u003Ecould treat whole collections of diseases\u003C\/a\u003E rather than narrow-spectrum treatments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERelatedly, AI also can help us \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/cpt.3153\u0022\u003Eunderstand disease trajectories\u003C\/a\u003E. Diseases that tend to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1146\/annurev-biodatasci-110123-041001\u0022\u003Eco-occur often present themselves consecutively\u003C\/a\u003E. You have disease 1, it gives you disease 2, then gives you disease 3. This suggests that if you go back to the root with disease 1, you may be able to stop a whole bunch of stuff. You can\u2019t analyze millions of trajectories and millions of data without a tool, so you couldn\u2019t do this before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis holds a lot of promise, but one also must be careful not to overpromise. It will help, it will accelerate, but \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scienceopen.com\/hosted-document?doi=10.15212\/bioi-2025-0188\u0022\u003Eit is not a substitute yet for real experiments\u003C\/a\u003E, real clinical validation and trials.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/274693\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ai-is-reengineering-drug-discovery-by-speeding-up-testing-and-scanning-petabytes-of-data-for-connections-between-diseases-274693\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAI and machine learning provide new tools for scientists to think about drug discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"AI and machine learning provide new tools for scientists to think about drug discovery."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-04-17 15:55:09","changed_gmt":"2026-04-21 00:35:09","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679992":{"id":"679992","type":"image","title":" AI and machine learning provide new tools for scientists to think about drug discovery. gorodenkoff\/iStock via Getty Images ","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;AI and machine learning provide new tools for scientists to think about drug discovery. gorodenkoff\/iStock via Getty Images\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776442339","gmt_created":"2026-04-17 16:12:19","changed":"1776442339","gmt_changed":"2026-04-17 16:12:19","alt":" AI and machine learning provide new tools for scientists to think about drug discovery. gorodenkoff\/iStock via Getty Images ","file":{"fid":"264222","name":"file-20260129-62-3xayw4-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260129-62-3xayw4-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260129-62-3xayw4-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2111750,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/17\/file-20260129-62-3xayw4-copy.jpg?itok=h8utD5AH"}}},"media_ids":["679992"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ai-is-reengineering-drug-discovery-by-speeding-up-testing-and-scanning-petabytes-of-data-for-connections-between-diseases-274693","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/jeffrey-skolnick-2581183\u0022\u003EJeffrey Skolnick\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u0027 Professor; Mary and Maisie Gibson Chair, and GRA Eminent Scholar in Computational Systems Biology, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/benjamin-p-brown-2581181\u0022\u003EBenjamin P. Brown\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/vanderbilt-university-1293\u0022\u003EVanderbilt University\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689800":{"#nid":"689800","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: John Xu Advances More Efficient, Sustainable Papermaking","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHanjiang (John) Xu\u003C\/a\u003E serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/multiphase-forming-lab\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMultiphase Forming Lab\u003C\/a\u003E is the only system of its kind in North America, designed to significantly reduce the amount of water required in the papermaking process. Lowering water usage\u2014by up to 70 percent\u2014the system also reduces the heat and energy needed for drying, one of the most energy-intensive stages in production. This work has direct implications for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and supporting more sustainable manufacturing practices across the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXu brings more than 20 years of experience in laboratory and pilot-scale papermaking systems, with expertise spanning fluid mechanics, materials science, instrumentation development, and process design. His work has consistently focused on bridging research and application, supporting both product development and process optimization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXu works with RBI members and industry partners to apply research insights to real-world manufacturing challenges, with a focus on reducing energy consumption and advancing next generation bioproducts.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/multiphase-forming-pilot-facility\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearn More\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/hanjiang-john-xu\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHanjiang (John) Xu\u003C\/a\u003E serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Hanjiang (John) Xu serves as director of the Multiphase Forming Lab at Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), where he leads efforts to advance more efficient and sustainable approaches to paper formation. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-16 19:35:41","changed_gmt":"2026-04-16 19:36:21","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679974":{"id":"679974","type":"image","title":"XU-2025-photo.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1776368149","gmt_created":"2026-04-16 19:35:49","changed":"1776368149","gmt_changed":"2026-04-16 19:35:49","alt":"Headshot of John Xu","file":{"fid":"264201","name":"XU-2025-photo.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1771850,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/16\/XU-2025-photo.jpeg?itok=ja66mJhA"}}},"media_ids":["679974"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689776":{"#nid":"689776","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Inside RBI\u2019s Labs: Rallming Yang\u2019s Work Supporting Industry and Biomass Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a Ph.D. in Environmental and Resource Engineering from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and earlier degrees in pulping and paper engineering from the South China University of Technology, Yang brings decades of experience in wood chemistry, chemical analysis, analytical method development, and lab management. He joined Georgia Tech in 2000 and has since taken on increasing leadership roles across RBI\u2019s lab operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYang\u2019s work sits at the intersection of research and industry. His team provides research, chemical testing and analysis for manufacturers working with biomass\u2014everything from pulp and paper mills to research groups developing new bio-based products. The goal is straightforward: understand what\u2019s in the material, how it behaves, and how to make processes more efficient and reliable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, he oversees research and testing services that support both industry partners and academic communities. These services range from chemical composition analysis to process troubleshooting, helping companies better understand materials derived from biomass and optimize their operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to leading lab operations, Yang also teaches the Pulp \u0026amp; Bleaching Lab course at Georgia Tech, giving students hands-on experience with the same analytical techniques used in industry. As industries continue to look for more efficient and environmentally responsible ways to use natural resources, Yang\u2019s work and his labs play a critical role in making that transition possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearn more about the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/chemical-analysis-testing\u0022\u003EChemical Analysis Lab\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi.gatech.edu\/services\/pulp-analysis-testing\u0022\u003EPulp Analysis Lab\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) supports industry and research partners through a range of testing and analysis services\u2014and much of that work runs through the labs led by Rallming Yang, a senior research scientist at the institute."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-04-15 19:40:17","changed_gmt":"2026-04-15 19:42:29","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679966":{"id":"679966","type":"image","title":"Rallming Yang.png","body":null,"created":"1776282028","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 19:40:28","changed":"1776282028","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 19:40:28","alt":"Photo of Rallming Yang in a lab holding a syringe ","file":{"fid":"264193","name":"Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":784983,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-3.39.13-PM.png?itok=6iDp64hy"}}},"media_ids":["679966"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689713":{"#nid":"689713","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Universities and U.K. Partners Strengthen Collaboration on Critical Minerals at GEMS\u20114 Symposium","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn February, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E, \u0026nbsp;together with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uga.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gsu.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia State University\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiamining.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Mining Association\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/world\/organisations\/british-consulate-general-atlanta\u0022\u003EBritish Consulate\u2011General Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E, hosted the fourth Growing Partnerships for Essential Minerals (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGEMs\u20114\u003C\/a\u003E) workshop in Atlanta. The workshop built on a growing transatlantic partnership dedicated to advancing innovation across the critical minerals value chain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;two\u2011day event took place Feb. 4 \u2013 5, coinciding with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/office-of-the-spokesperson\/2026\/02\/2026-critical-minerals-ministerial\u0022\u003ECritical Minerals Ministerial\u003C\/a\u003E hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, which brought together more than 50 nations to strengthen and diversify global critical mineral supply chains. During this ministerial, U.K. Minister Seema Malhotra and U.S. Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg signed a Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding, strengthening bilateral cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom on critical mineral supply chains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese broad efforts are supported by White House Executive Order 14363, which defines the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/genesis.energy.gov\/\u0022\u003EGenesis Mission\u003C\/a\u003E and aims to accelerate scientific discovery through AI. The order identifies critical minerals supply chain resilience as a national security imperative.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Atlanta, these themes were brought to life in real time. The GEMs-4 workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, national labs, industry leaders, and workforce organizations from both the U.S. and the U.K. to address shared challenges in technology translation, permitting, investment, and talent development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe state of Georgia\u2019s integrated ecosystem, linking research universities, legacy industries, technical colleges, national labs, and public\u2011private partnerships, served as a case study. Presenters highlighted how existing industrial assets in the Southeast are being incorporated into emerging clean energy and critical minerals supply chains, offering a model for other regions seeking to build capabilities around extraction, processing, and manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA U.K. member of Parliament representing Cornwall, where the U.K. has lithium reserves and deep critical mineral expertise, joined the convening, as well as representatives from the U.K. Critical Mineral Association, Camborne School of Mines, and the University of Kent. Together, they explored opportunities and challenges, from a fundamental science to a commercialization perspective grounded in real-world experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe alignment between the ministerial in Washington and the expertise present in Atlanta demonstrated the value of state-level engagement and how national agreements translate into practical collaboration on the ground.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Southeast has the research depth, industrial footprint, and collaborative spirit needed to lead in critical minerals innovation,\u201d\u0026nbsp;said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Power Professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, executive director of the Strategic Energy Institute, and founding director of the Center for Critical Mineral Solutions at Georgia Tech. \u201cGEMs\u20114 showed what\u2019s possible when universities, industry, and government partners align around shared priorities.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDay one featured strategic dialogue on critical mineral resources, innovation pathways, and partnership models. A recurring theme was the co-production of critical minerals alongside major mineral commodities. \u201cMany critical minerals are produced as byproducts of larger mining operations, making it essential to integrate recovery strategies into existing mineral industries rather than developing entirely new extraction systems,\u201d noted \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cas.gsu.edu\/profile\/w-crawford-elliott\/\u0022\u003ECrawford Elliott\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of geosciences at Georgia State University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDay two transitioned to field\u2011based learning, led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/geology.uga.edu\/directory\/people\/paul-schroeder\u0022\u003EPaul Schroeder\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of geology at the University of Georgia. Participants visited active operations to better understand how regional industrial strengths can support national and international supply chain goals. Schroeder said, \u201cConnecting people to the long-standing mineral extraction economy at the mining and plant sites, where the work gets done with an amazingly skilled workforce, underscores the unique role of Georgia\u2019s place\u2011based capacity in advancing national and transatlantic supply\u0026nbsp;chain goals.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrganizers emphasized that resilient supply chains rely on regional capabilities built over time through university collaboration, industry partnerships, and community engagement. With three years of inter\u2011university coordination now underpinning the GEMS platform, the 2026 workshop demonstrated how the Southeast is contributing actionable models for U.S.-U.K. cooperation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEcosystem-building at this scale requires participation from every part of the value chain, and we are encouraged by the model GEMs presents,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rachel-galloway-518014292\/\u0022\u003ERachel Galloway\u003C\/a\u003E, Consul General at British Consulate General Atlanta. \u201cThe collaboration across universities, industry, and government is exactly what enables long\u2011term impact on both sides of the Atlantic.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough focused dialogue and partnership-building, the symposium strengthened transatlantic collaboration, highlighted regional strengths, and accelerated innovation and translation across the critical minerals value chain, from resource characterization and processing to recycling, manufacturing, and deployment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about the GEMS initiative, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn February, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E, \u0026nbsp;together with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uga.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gsu.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia State University\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiamining.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Mining Association\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/world\/organisations\/british-consulate-general-atlanta\u0022\u003EBritish Consulate\u2011General Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E, hosted the fourth Growing Partnerships for Essential Minerals (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gems.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGEMs\u20114\u003C\/a\u003E) workshop in Atlanta. The workshop built on a growing transatlantic partnership dedicated to advancing innovation across the critical minerals value chain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In February, the Georgia Institute of Technology,  together with the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, the Georgia Mining Association, and the British Consulate\u2011General Atlanta, hosted the fourth GEMs workshop."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-04-13 17:45:13","changed_gmt":"2026-04-13 18:25:18","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-13T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679927":{"id":"679927","type":"image","title":"20260204_GEMs-IV-Group-Photo_LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGroup photo of the attendees of the GEMs-4 symposium.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776102371","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 17:46:11","changed":"1776102371","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 17:46:11","alt":"Attendees of the GEMs-4 symposium","file":{"fid":"264149","name":"20260204_GEMs-IV-Group-Photo_LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/20260204_GEMs-IV-Group-Photo_LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/20260204_GEMs-IV-Group-Photo_LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1521193,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/20260204_GEMs-IV-Group-Photo_LR.jpeg?itok=46uGjXAX"}},"679928":{"id":"679928","type":"image","title":"31932AB2-B646-4E29-9BEF-3FD7C6054815.JPG.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDay 2 of the symposium included a visit to a Georgia mining operation.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776102491","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 17:48:11","changed":"1776102491","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 17:48:11","alt":"Day 2 of the symposium included a visit to a Georgia mining operation","file":{"fid":"264150","name":"31932AB2-B646-4E29-9BEF-3FD7C6054815.JPG.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/31932AB2-B646-4E29-9BEF-3FD7C6054815.JPG.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/31932AB2-B646-4E29-9BEF-3FD7C6054815.JPG.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2766293,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/31932AB2-B646-4E29-9BEF-3FD7C6054815.JPG.jpeg?itok=6UE7bW0o"}},"679929":{"id":"679929","type":"image","title":"P1003694-Attendees-LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAttendees at the GEMs-4 workshop\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776103013","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","changed":"1776103013","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","alt":"Attendees at the GEMs-4 workshop","file":{"fid":"264151","name":"P1003694-Attendees-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003694-Attendees-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003694-Attendees-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":672603,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003694-Attendees-LR.jpeg?itok=WORRhc1_"}},"679930":{"id":"679930","type":"image","title":"P1003821-panel.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECritical Mineral Significance and Resources Panel at the GEMs-4 symposium\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776103013","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","changed":"1776103013","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","alt":"Panelists discussing at the GEMs-4 symposium","file":{"fid":"264152","name":"P1003821-panel.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003821-panel.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003821-panel.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":614552,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003821-panel.jpeg?itok=wPJagMbS"}},"679931":{"id":"679931","type":"image","title":"P1003941-AttendeeQuestions.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAttendee asking a question to the panel at the GEMS-4 Symposium\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776103013","gmt_created":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","changed":"1776103013","gmt_changed":"2026-04-13 17:56:53","alt":"Attendee asking a question to the panel at the GEMS-4 Symposium","file":{"fid":"264153","name":"P1003941-AttendeeQuestions.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003941-AttendeeQuestions.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003941-AttendeeQuestions.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":646826,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/13\/P1003941-AttendeeQuestions.jpeg?itok=tVXDFwY1"}}},"media_ids":["679927","679928","679929","679930","679931"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sydnie.hammond@fcdo.gov.uk\u0022\u003ESydnie Hammond\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBritish Consulate-Atlanta\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ahead13@gsu.edu\u0022\u003EAmanda Head\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGeorgia State University\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Kay.Torrance@uga.edu\u0022\u003EKay Alison Torrance\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:leelemke@georgiamining.org\u0022\u003ELee Lemke\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGeorgia Mining Association\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689605":{"#nid":"689605","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Use Light to Make Their Microscopic \u2018Muscle\u2019 Contract on Command","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineers interested in creating artificial cells to deliver drugs to unhealthy parts of the body face a key challenge: for a cell-like system to move, change shape, or divide, it needs a way to generate force on command.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBiological cells rely on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to move muscles, transport substances across membranes, and perform other functions.\u0026nbsp;Many cellular machines couple ATP hydrolysis (a process where chemical energy stored in ATP is released) directly to motion.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut some single-celled organisms called ciliates use a different strategy. A pulse of calcium triggers an ultrafast contraction, and ATP is used afterward to pump calcium back into storage and reset the system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-026-69651-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E study\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E led by Georgia Tech, researchers learned how to use a similar mechanism to control the movements of artificial protein networks without relying on ATP-powered motor proteins. Instead, they used calcium as a trigger to make the networks contract or relax.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf engineers want synthetic cells that can do cell-like things, they need a way to generate force on command,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/saad-bhamla\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaad Bhamla\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a co-author and an associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cCells have to move, change shape, and divide. We\u2019re trying to build a controllable engine from simple parts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the National Science Foundation-funded study, the team produced and purified \u003Cem\u003ETetrahymena thermophila\u003C\/em\u003E calcium-binding protein 2 (Tcb2), which is found in ciliates. The protein forms a fibrous network and contracts when exposed to calcium. The researchers reconstituted Tcb2 protein networks in the lab and then used a light-sensitive calcium chelator (a \u201ccage\u201d molecule that holds the calcium until illuminated) to control when and where calcium was released.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey projected light patterns of stars and circles to prompt the network to assemble and contract in matching shapes. Then, to continuously \u201crecharge\u201d the system, the multi-university team pulsed the light on the protein networks, repeatedly releasing calcium and driving cycles of assembly and contraction.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/researchers-use-light-make-their-microscopic-muscle-contract-command?utm_source=twitter\u0026amp;utm_medium=social\u0026amp;utm_campaign=news\u0022\u003ERead the full story.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-026-69651-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENature Communications\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E study\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E led by Georgia Tech, researchers learned how to use a similar mechanism to control the movements of artificial protein networks without relying on ATP-powered motor proteins. Instead, they used calcium as a trigger to make the networks contract or relax.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Engineers interested in creating artificial cells to deliver drugs to unhealthy parts of the body face a key challenge: for a cell-like system to move, change shape, or divide, it needs a way to generate force on command."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-10 12:47:50","changed_gmt":"2026-04-10 12:49:38","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679909":{"id":"679909","type":"image","title":"artificial-cells.jpg","body":null,"created":"1775825279","gmt_created":"2026-04-10 12:47:59","changed":"1775825279","gmt_changed":"2026-04-10 12:47:59","alt":"A yellow star shape is shown next to a microscope image of an artificial cell colony that has been directed to form the shape of a star.","file":{"fid":"264130","name":"artificial-cells.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/10\/artificial-cells.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/10\/artificial-cells.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17653,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/10\/artificial-cells.jpg?itok=XEcClJeF"}}},"media_ids":["679909"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/researchers-use-light-make-their-microscopic-muscle-contract-command?utm_source=twitter\u0026utm_medium=social\u0026utm_campaign=news","title":"Full Story"}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJason Maderer\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications | College of Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686633":{"#nid":"686633","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Community Spotlight - Iris Tien","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELast summer, when the City of Atlanta declared a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/06\/01\/us\/atlanta-ga-water-main-breaks\u0022\u003Estate of emergency\u003C\/a\u003E following multiple water main breaks that left parts of downtown without water, Iris Tien provided commentary to news outlets such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gpb.org\/news\/2024\/06\/03\/georgia-today-water-woes-continue-in-atl-georgia-opts-out-of-summer-ebt-atl-united\u0022\u003EGPB\u003C\/a\u003E. Tien, the Williams Family Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, said the aging infrastructure is \u201csomething we see in Atlanta and other cities across the U.S. Most water systems are designed for 50 to 100 years.\u201d Much of Atlanta is well past that mark.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow in her 11th year at Georgia Tech, Tien considers Atlanta an ideal environment for her work. \u201cBeing in a large metropolitan area has been great for collaborating with municipalities and utility providers,\u201d says Tien, who has worked with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the City of Atlanta\u2019s Department of Watershed Management, and Atlanta\u2019s Emergency Response Department.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETien considers resilience \u2014 withstanding and recovering from adverse events affecting communities \u2014 a key part of sustainability. Her research focuses on how to design better systems to meet community needs, especially under increasingly hazardous conditions where there is more strain on infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETien serves as principal investigator for a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sustainability\/seed-grants\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sustainability\/seed-grants\u0022\u003ESustainability Next Seed Grant\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;that is a collaborative effort between Georgia Tech and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to create a Climate Atlas for the southeastern U.S. The project integrates detailed climate data with critical infrastructure asset information, socioeconomic indicators, and stories of climate impacts on communities to support climate mitigation and adaptation. In addition, Tien has led projects to develop a framework to help communities identify the right kinds of flood-control infrastructure. Choosing the correct type of technology now is critical as sea levels and flood risk rise, especially in coastal areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETien says new technologies are leading to a better understanding and design of infrastructure systems, but have also exposed new vulnerabilities. Increasingly, she and her colleagues are considering potential cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, which represent a growing threat that could affect both utility providers and the people who rely on these essential services.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom a civil engineering standpoint, if you disrupt any one of these systems, it could have a very large impact,\u201d says the Berkeley engineering graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETien\u2019s expertise extends to Georgia\u2019s coast, where she is part of a team that hopes to increase community resilience in relation to flooding. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/recent-funding-sea-level-sensor-project-savannah-moves-new-phase\u0022\u003EOne project\u003C\/a\u003E involves installing sea-level sensors throughout Chatham County, the easternmost county in Georgia. The sensors monitor water levels in real time. A Georgia Tech tool helps coastal areas find ideal spots for water-level sensors based on flood risk and population vulnerability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve looked at green versus gray solutions,\u201d Tien said, explaining that green solutions could be ponds or basins to slow down water flow during flood events, while gray solutions might include new stormwater pipe systems to quickly move the water away.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeing connected to BBISS through the Sustainability Next Seed Grant program has enhanced Tien\u2019s ability to work cross-functionally. \u201cI definitely collaborate with social scientists, especially on the human and community engagement side of my work,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA recent project involved developing a new flood-risk curriculum for middle school students in coastal communities. \u201cThe program helped build disaster resilience while empowering young people to be better advocates for their communities,\u201d says Tien.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s an opportunity to engage with youth early on and help them better understand their communities. Empowering them in this way means that they can serve as strong advocates for improving their communities into the future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn her free time, Tien likes spending time outdoors, hiking, and playing an occasional pickup basketball game. \u201cBeing in nature gives you time to think and refresh yourself,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E-- written by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Civil Engineer Champions Infrastructure Monitoring and Community Resilience"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETien considers resilience \u2014 withstanding and recovering from adverse events affecting communities \u2014 a key part of sustainability. Her research focuses on how to design better systems to meet community needs, especially under increasingly hazardous conditions where there is more strain on infrastructure.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Tien considers resilience a key part of sustainability. She focuses on how to design better systems to meet community needs."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2025-11-26 15:45:31","changed_gmt":"2026-04-08 16:17:09","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678724":{"id":"678724","type":"image","title":"Iris-Tien.jpg","body":null,"created":"1764172104","gmt_created":"2025-11-26 15:48:24","changed":"1764172104","gmt_changed":"2025-11-26 15:48:24","alt":"Portrait of Iris Tien","file":{"fid":"262794","name":"Iris-Tien.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/26\/Iris-Tien.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/26\/Iris-Tien.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":275493,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/26\/Iris-Tien.jpg?itok=XYfbg9wN"}}},"media_ids":["678724"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@sustainable.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@sustainable.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689562":{"#nid":"689562","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 Suddath Symposium Showcases Biomedical Applications of Synthetic Biology","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 34th\u0026nbsp;annual\u0026nbsp;Suddath Symposium, hosted by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IBB)\u0026nbsp;on March 18-19,\u0026nbsp;brought together researchers, trainees, and invited speakers from across disciplines to discuss\u0026nbsp;cutting-edge\u0026nbsp;efforts to translate synthetic biology advances into human health-relevant technologies, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and clinical tools\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe topic of the Suddath Symposium changes every year, which allows the Georgia Tech research community to annually learn about recent advances on a specific topic from across the immense fields of\u0026nbsp;bioengineering and\u0026nbsp;bioscience,\u201d\u0026nbsp;said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3718\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENicholas Hud\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;Regents\u2019 Professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;Associate Director of IBB.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe symposium also included presentation of the\u0026nbsp;2026 Suddath Award, which recognizes outstanding graduate research. This year\u2019s award was presented to\u0026nbsp;Myeongsoo\u0026nbsp;Kim, a Ph.D. candidate in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBioengineering Graduate Program\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;for his work at the intersection of cell engineering,\u0026nbsp;cancer treatment, and biomedical imaging.\u0026nbsp;The award is presented each year by members of the Suddath family, including Vincent Suddath,\u0026nbsp;grandson of Bud and\u0026nbsp;a current\u0026nbsp;freshman\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech majoring in mathematics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe symposium and award\u0026nbsp;honor the legacy of\u0026nbsp;F. L. \u201cBud\u201d Suddath\u0026nbsp;and his lasting contributions to the Institute and the wider Georgia Tech research community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBud was influential in promoting the growth of bioscience research at Georgia Tech, efforts that helped establish\u0026nbsp;IBB\u0026nbsp;in the 1990s,\u201d Hud said. \u201cBud\u2019s\u0026nbsp;research interests were at the forefront of structural biology, a field that laid the foundation for much of what we know today about biology at the molecular level.\u0026nbsp;It\u2019s\u0026nbsp;fitting that we honor Bud\u2019s\u0026nbsp;contributions by annually providing the Georgia Tech community with the opportunity to learn about\u0026nbsp;research on a timely topic within the biological sciences.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESymposium co-chairs\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bio\/tara-l-deans\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETara Deans\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2915\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMark Styczynski\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;said that in addition to upholding the legacy of Bud Suddath, the event also\u0026nbsp;provides a unique setting and opportunity for both established researchers and trainees to interact over the course of the two day event.\u0026nbsp;The intimate format of the symposium, which is limited to approximately 100 attendees, and the annual selection of a different interdisciplinary topic\u0026nbsp;sets\u0026nbsp;it apart\u0026nbsp;from other\u0026nbsp;symposia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Suddath Symposium is an amazing opportunity to bring multiple world-class researchers right to our trainees\u2019 front door, to hear about their work and connect with them in a small setting that you can\u2019t really find at most conferences,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Styczynski,\u0026nbsp;who is a professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cWe are really grateful to IBB and the Suddath family for supporting this unique event.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeans, who is an associate professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;highlighted how this year\u2019s theme reflects a broader shift in the field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis year\u2019s focus on biomedical applications of synthetic biology highlights a major inflection point in the field: the transition from proof-of-concept systems to human health-relevant technologies,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cThe theme also reflects increasing convergence across disciplines; synthetic biology is no longer\u0026nbsp;operating\u0026nbsp;in isolation,\u0026nbsp;but it is deeply intertwined with immunology, machine learning, diagnostics, and clinical translation. Addressing real-world biomedical problems requires this kind of integration, and the symposium captured that shift very clearly.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Suddath Symposium annually serves as a cornerstone event for Georgia Tech\u2019s bioengineering and bioscience community\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;connecting researchers, honoring scientific legacy, and spotlighting the next generation of scientific innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 34th annual Suddath Symposium brought together researchers, trainees, and invited speakers from across disciplines to discuss cutting-edge efforts to translate synthetic biology advances into human health-relevant technologies. In addition to upholding the legacy of Bud Suddath, the event also\u0026nbsp;provides a unique setting and opportunity for both established researchers and trainees to interact\u0026nbsp;in a closer setting.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The 34th annual Suddath Symposium brought together researchers, trainees, and invited speakers from across disciplines to discuss cutting-edge efforts to translate synthetic biology advances into human health-relevant technologies."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-08 14:27:05","changed_gmt":"2026-04-08 14:30:37","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679893":{"id":"679893","type":"image","title":"2026-Suddath-Symposium.jpg","body":null,"created":"1775658434","gmt_created":"2026-04-08 14:27:14","changed":"1775658434","gmt_changed":"2026-04-08 14:27:14","alt":"A presenter stands at the front of a lecture room speaking to a seated audience while a projected slide titled \u201cSynthetic Biology: Engineered Gene Circuits\u201d illustrates the design\u2013build\u2013test cycle with diagrams and icons explaining gene circuit construction and testing.","file":{"fid":"264114","name":"2026-Suddath-Symposium.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/08\/2026-Suddath-Symposium.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/08\/2026-Suddath-Symposium.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1840500,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/08\/2026-Suddath-Symposium.jpg?itok=1yDWHq1D"}}},"media_ids":["679893"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687195":{"#nid":"687195","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Illness Is More Than Just Biological \u2013 Medical Sociology Shows How Social Factors Get Under the Skin and Cause\u00a0Disease","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHealth and medicine is more than just biological \u2013 societal forces can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1146\/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090852\u0022\u003Eget under your skin and cause illness\u003C\/a\u003E. Medical sociologists \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=HQtYrggAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Elike me study these forces\u003C\/a\u003E by treating society itself as our laboratory. Health and illness are our experiments in uncovering meaning, power and inequality, and how it affects all parts of a person\u2019s life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, why do low-income communities \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/read\/19015\u0022\u003Econtinue to have higher death rates\u003C\/a\u003E, despite improved social and environmental conditions across society? Foundational research in medical sociology reveals that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2307\/2626958\u0022\u003Eaccess to resources\u003C\/a\u003E like money, knowledge, power and social networks strongly affects a person\u2019s health. Medical sociologists have shown that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383498\u0022\u003Esocial class is linked to numerous diseases and mortality\u003C\/a\u003E, including risk factors that influence health and longevity. These include \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/secondhand-smoke-may-be-a-substantial-contributor-to-lead-levels-found-in-children-and-adolescents-new-study-finds-212256\u0022\u003Esmoking\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/fixing-the-global-childhood-obesity-epidemic-begins-with-making-healthy-choices-the-easier-choices-and-that-requires-new-laws-and-policies-207975\u0022\u003Eoverweight\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hispanics-live-longer-than-most-americans-but-will-the-us-obesity-epidemic-change-things-146006\u0022\u003Eobesity\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/black-mothers-trapped-in-unsafe-neighborhoods-signal-the-stressful-health-toll-of-gun-violence-in-the-u-s-203307\u0022\u003Estress\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/loneliness-is-making-us-physically-sick-but-social-prescribing-can-treat-it-podcast-199939\u0022\u003Esocial isolation\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/health-insurance-premiums-rose-nearly-3x-the-rate-of-worker-earnings-over-the-past-25-years-271450\u0022\u003Eaccess to health care\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/kids-neighborhoods-can-affect-their-developing-brains-a-new-study-finds-184035\u0022\u003Eliving in disadvantaged neighborhoods\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoreover, social class alone cannot explain such health inequalities. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/singh.hsoc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EMy own research\u003C\/a\u003E examines how inequalities related to social class, race and gender affect \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ssmqr.2023.100234\u0022\u003Eaccess to autism services\u003C\/a\u003E, particularly among single Black mothers who rely on public insurance. This work helps explain \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1542\/peds.2019-3629\u0022\u003Edelays in autism diagnosis\u003C\/a\u003E among Black children, who often wait three years after initial parent concerns before they are formally diagnosed. White children with private insurance typically \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18553\/jmcp.2023.29.4.378\u0022\u003Ewait from 9 to 22 months\u003C\/a\u003E depending on age of diagnosis. This is just one of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s40615-024-02280-x\u0022\u003Enumerous examples of inequalities\u003C\/a\u003E that are entrenched in and deepened by medical and educational systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedical sociologists like me investigate how all of these \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/WHO-IER-CSDH-08.1\u0022\u003Efactors interact to affect a person\u2019s health\u003C\/a\u003E. This \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781003569824\u0022\u003Esocial model of illness\u003C\/a\u003E sees sickness as shaped by social, cultural, political and economic factors. We examine both \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383496\u0022\u003Eindividual experiences and societal influences\u003C\/a\u003E to help address the health issues affecting vulnerable populations through large-scale reforms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy studying the way \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383496\u0022\u003Esocial forces shape health inequalities\u003C\/a\u003E, medical sociology helps address how health and illness extend beyond the body and into every aspect of people\u2019s lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Protesters standing in front of a federal building, holding signs in the shape of graves reading \u0026apos;16 MILLION LIVES\u0026apos; and \u0026apos;R.I.P. DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS,\u0026apos; wearing shirts that read \u0026apos;MEDICAID SAVES LIVES\u0026apos;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710832\/original\/file-20260105-62-evcc0s.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAccess to health insurance is a political issue that directly affects patients. Here, care workers gathered in June 2025 to protest Medicaid cuts.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/care-workers-with-the-service-employees-international-union-news-photo\/2221731651\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ETasos Katopodis\/Getty Images for SEIU\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EOrigins of Medical Sociology in the US\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedical sociology \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/9781444314786.ch1\u0022\u003Eformally began in the U.S after World War II\u003C\/a\u003E, when the National Institutes of Health started investing in joint medical and sociological research projects. Hospitals began hiring sociologists to address questions like how to improve patient compliance, doctor-patient interactions and medical treatments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, the focus of this early work was on issues specific to medicine, such as quality improvement or barriers to medication adherence. The goal was to study problems that could be directly applied in medical settings rather than challenging medical authority or existing inequalities. During that period, sociologists viewed illness mostly as a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/socialsystem00pars\/page\/n3\/mode\/2up\u0022\u003Edeviation from normal functioning\u003C\/a\u003E leading to impairments that require treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, the concept of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/socialsystem00pars\/page\/n3\/mode\/2up\u0022\u003Esick role\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 developed by medical sociologist Talcott Parsons in the 1950s \u2013 saw illness as a form of deviance from social roles and expectations. Under this idea, patients were solely responsible for seeking out medical care in order to return to normal functioning in society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the 1960s, sociologists began \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/stigmanotesonman0000goff\/page\/n5\/mode\/2up\u0022\u003Ecritiquing medical diagnoses and institutions\u003C\/a\u003E. Researchers criticized the idea of the sick role because it assumed illnesses were temporary and did not account for chronic conditions or disability, which can last for long periods of time and do not necessarily allow people to deviate from their life obligations. The sick role assumed that all people have access to medical care, and it did not take into account how social characteristics like race, class, gender and age can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1467-9566.1991.tb00522.x\u0022\u003Einfluence a person\u2019s experience of illness\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Patient wearing surgical mask sitting in chair of exam room, talking to a doctor\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=338\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710831\/original\/file-20260105-62-pk5w60.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=424\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EEarly models of illness in medical sociology discounted the experience of the patient.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/man-talks-with-dr-stela-kostova-at-families-together-of-news-photo\/1470350026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EPaul Bersebach\/MediaNews Group\/Orange County Register via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParsons\u2019 sick role concept also emphasized the expertise of the physician rather than the patient\u2019s experience of illness. For example, sociologist Erving Goffman showed that the way \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781351327763\u0022\u003Ecare is structured in asylums shaped how patients are treated\u003C\/a\u003E. He also examined how the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/stigmanotesonman0000goff\/page\/n5\/mode\/2up\u0022\u003Eexperience of stigma\u003C\/a\u003E is an interactive process that develops in response to social norms. This work influenced how researchers understood chronic illness and disability and laid the groundwork for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1467-9566.2009.01161.x\u0022\u003Elater debates on what counts as pathological or normal\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the 1970s, some researchers began to question the model of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1467-954X.1972.tb00220.x\u0022\u003Emedicine as an institution of social control\u003C\/a\u003E. They critiqued how medicine\u2019s jurisdiction expanded over many societal problems \u2013 such as old age and death \u2013 which were defined and treated as medical problems. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1146\/annurev.so.18.080192.001233\u0022\u003EResearchers were critical of the tendency to medicalize\u003C\/a\u003E and apply labels like \u201chealthy\u201d and \u201cill\u201d to increasing parts of human existence. This shift emphasized how a medical diagnosis can carry political weight and how medical authority can affect social inclusion or exclusion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe critical perspective aligns with critiques from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09687599.2013.818773\u0022\u003Edisability studies\u003C\/a\u003E. Unlike medical sociology, which emerged through the medical model of disease, disability studies emerged from \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/us\/new-politics-of-disablement-9780333945674\/\u0022\u003Edisability rights activism and scholarship\u003C\/a\u003E. Rather than viewing disability as pathological, this field sees disability as a variation of the human condition rooted in social barriers and exclusionary environments. Instead of seeking cures, researchers focus on increasing accessibility, human rights and autonomy for disabled people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA contemporary figure in this field was \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/disabilityvisibilityproject.com\/about\/\u0022\u003EAlice Wong\u003C\/a\u003E, a disability rights activist and medical sociologist who \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/obituaries\/2025\/11\/15\/disability-activist-alice-wong\/\u0022\u003Edied in November 2025\u003C\/a\u003E. Her work amplified disabled voices and helped shaped how the public understood disability justice and access to technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EStructural Forces Shape Health and Illness\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy focusing on social and structural influences on health, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383496\u0022\u003Emedical sociology has contributed significantly\u003C\/a\u003E to programs addressing issues like segregation, discrimination, poverty, unemployment and underfunded schools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, sociological research on racial health disparities invite \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383838\u0022\u003Eneighborhood interventions\u003C\/a\u003E that can help improve overall quality of life by increasing the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/free-school-meals-for-all-may-reduce-childhood-obesity-while-easing-financial-and-logistical-burdens-for-families-and-schools-223270\u0022\u003Eavailability of affordable nutritious foods\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-is-food-insecurity-152746\u0022\u003Ein underserved neighborhoods\u003C\/a\u003E or initiatives that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/socioeconomic-status-explains-most-of-the-racial-and-ethnic-achievement-gaps-in-elementary-school-237931\u0022\u003Eprioritize equal access to education\u003C\/a\u003E. At the societal level, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383496\u0022\u003Elarge-scale social policies\u003C\/a\u003E such as guaranteed minimum incomes or universal health care can dramatically reduce health inequalities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022People carrying boxes of food under a tent\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=360\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=360\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=360\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=452\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=452\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710822\/original\/file-20260105-70-3hpn4u.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=452\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAccess to nutritious food is critical to health.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/escondido-ca-juliana-ramos-of-interfaith-community-services-news-photo\/2243706444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EK.C. Alfred \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedical sociology has also expanded the understanding of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383496\u0022\u003Ehow health care policies affect health\u003C\/a\u003E, helping ensure that policy changes take into account the broader social context. For example, a key area of medical sociological research is the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022146510383504\u0022\u003Erising cost of and limited access to health care\u003C\/a\u003E. This body of work focuses on the complex social and organizational factors of delivering health services. It highlights the need for more state and federal regulatory control as well as investment in groups and communities that need care the most.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EModern medical sociology ultimately considers all societal issues to be health issues. Improving people\u2019s health and well-being requires improving education, employment, housing, transportation and other social, economic and political policies.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/270258\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/illness-is-more-than-just-biological-medical-sociology-shows-how-social-factors-get-under-the-skin-and-cause-disease-270258\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy studying the way social forces shape health inequalities, medical sociology helps address how health and illness extend beyond the body and into every aspect of people\u2019s lives.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By studying the way social forces shape health inequalities, medical sociology helps address how health and illness extend beyond the body and into every aspect of people\u2019s lives."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-01-08 15:37:58","changed_gmt":"2026-04-06 18:16:40","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-08T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-08T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678961":{"id":"678961","type":"image","title":"Lack of access to safe and affordable housing is harmful to health. Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELack of access to safe and affordable housing is harmful to health. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/los-angeles-ca-tuesday-may-31-2022-dana-vanderford-news-photo\/1242004141\u0022\u003ERobert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768232345","gmt_created":"2026-01-12 15:39:05","changed":"1768232345","gmt_changed":"2026-01-12 15:39:05","alt":"Lack of access to safe and affordable housing is harmful to health. Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"263064","name":"file-20260105-70-1qzwti.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/12\/file-20260105-70-1qzwti.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/12\/file-20260105-70-1qzwti.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":239539,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/12\/file-20260105-70-1qzwti.jpg?itok=J-V7i4lM"}}},"media_ids":["678961"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/illness-is-more-than-just-biological-medical-sociology-shows-how-social-factors-get-under-the-skin-and-cause-disease-270258","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"194974","name":"go-theconversation"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/jennifer-singh-2531279\u0022\u003EJennifer Singh\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor of Sociology, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689424":{"#nid":"689424","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech-led Research Team to Develop SHIELD Against Deadly Biological Threats","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe United States continues to face deadly infectious disease outbreaks, from emerging viruses to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, underscoring the nation\u2019s need for rapid, effective response systems. These threats extend beyond public health, disrupting daily life, straining health care systems, and impacting military readiness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA team of researchers led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/singh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the Carl Ring Family Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and professor in\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ethe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and Emory\u0026nbsp;University, has been awarded up to $6 million from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) of the U.S. Department of Defense to accelerate the development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) against deadly biological threats that endanger public health, national security, and warfighters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDTRA\u2019s mission is to provide solutions that enable the Department of Defense, the U.S. government, and international partners to deter strategic threats. A key priority is advancing new or improved MCMs that can be deployed before or after exposure to biological or chemical agents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh\u2019s multi-year project, Systematic Human Immune Engineering for Lethal Disease (SHIELD) Countermeasures, aims to create a threat-agnostic platform that transforms how respiratory pathogens and toxins are studied. The platform is designed to speed up the discovery, development, and production of immune-based countermeasures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh leads a collaborative team that includes Cornell University\u2019s Matthew DeLisa and Stanford University\u2019s Michael Jewett. Together, they will integrate immune-engineering technologies with advanced cell-free protein synthesis platforms to discover and manufacture protein-based MCMs. Cell-free protein synthesis is a laboratory technique that efficiently produces proteins without relying on living cells, which can be unpredictable and technically demanding when it comes to expressing complex or toxic proteins and scaling production quickly. The team expects the SHIELD Countermeasures platform to reduce the time and cost of MCM development by more than tenfold.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe foundational science and cutting-edge tools we develop will ignite future discoveries, ensuring a robust pipeline of advanced protein-based MCMs for chemical and biological defense,\u201d said Singh, who also directs the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cThis will significantly enhance national security and equip our warfighters with next-generation biodefense capabilities.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETraditional animal models often fail to accurately replicate human immune responses, and standard tissue cultures lack the complexity required to study how immune cells interact with pathogens. In contrast, human immune organoids and immune-competent devices \u2014 built from human cells \u2014 are emerging as groundbreaking research tools. These systems recreate key immune features, such as lymph nodes and mucosal environments, within three-dimensional or microengineered platforms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany organoid and engineering devices, often called organ-on-chip platforms, lack immune integration,\u201d Singh said. \u201cBecause immunity sits at the center of human health, these limitations have broad consequences. Immune-competent organ-on-chip platforms extend this concept by combining human cells with microfluidic engineering that simulates blood flow, tissue barriers, and chemical gradients.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh has previously published studies on a synthetic \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41563-024-02037-1\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehuman immune chip\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41551-025-01491-9\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eimmunocompetent lung on a chip\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and has also teamed up with DeLisa previously to use synthetic immune organoids for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acscentsci.2c01473\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eimmuno-profiling antibacterial MCMs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s about being able to test far larger numbers of candidate protein-based MCMs in a single experiment\u2014and to do it much faster,\u201d DeLisa said. \u201cCell-free systems allow us to produce MCMs at unprecedented speed and scale, but traditional evaluation methods can\u2019t keep up with those numbers. By combining cell-free MCM production with immune organoid technology, we can assess the potency of dozens or even hundreds of candidates at a time and characterize the resulting immune responses within just a few days.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy integrating immune cells with tissues such as lung, gut, skin, or vascular systems, these devices allow scientists to observe immune responses in real time, including cell migration, inflammation, and interactions with pathogens or therapeutics. As biological threats evolve, the development and deployment of immune-competent platforms will be critical for rapid, effective countermeasures.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDTRA\u2019s investment in Singh\u2019s work highlights the urgent national priority of strengthening U.S. biodefense capabilities. The SHIELD Countermeasures platform and its cutting-edge technologies promise to transform the nation\u2019s response to biological threats and help safeguard communities from biological and chemical attacks.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003ELed by Ankur Singh, the multi-institutional SHIELD (Systematic Human Immune Engineering for Lethal Disease) project aims to transform how scientists study and respond to dangerous respiratory pathogens and toxins. The effort brings together researchers from Georgia Tech, Cornell, and Stanford to enable faster and more cost-effective development of protein-based medical countermeasures. The team expects the platform to reduce the time and cost of developing these defenses by more than tenfold, strengthening the nation\u2019s preparedness against biological threats.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech-led research team has received up to $6 million to develop SHIELD, a new platform designed to rapidly create immune-based countermeasures against a wide range of deadly biological threats."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-02 19:06:48","changed_gmt":"2026-04-02 19:17:40","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679841":{"id":"679841","type":"image","title":"DTRA-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1775156814","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 19:06:54","changed":"1775156814","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 19:06:54","alt":"Ankur Singh, a man in a gray suit jacket with a dark pink button-up shirt stands in front of a work bench in a lab.","file":{"fid":"264047","name":"DTRA-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/DTRA-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/DTRA-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1541575,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/DTRA-2.jpg?itok=UsJZzTJB"}}},"media_ids":["679841"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"190256","name":"G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETracie Troha | Communications Officer, Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689408":{"#nid":"689408","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Singh Family Gift Funds High-Risk Research at Center for Immunoengineering","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA philanthropic gift from the family of J.P. Singh is helping researchers at Georgia Tech push the boundaries of biomedical innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Singh Family Research Awards were established as part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering\u003C\/a\u003E, creating a seed funding program supporting both faculty and students that is designed to accelerate early-stage ideas with the potential to transform medicine. The awards support interdisciplinary projects pursuing high-risk, high-reward research that could lead to new therapies for cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic illnesses.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe gift honors the legacy of J.P. Singh and reflects his family\u2019s commitment to advancing research that could lead to safer and more effective treatments for patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe gift is giving scientists the freedom to pursue bold ideas that might otherwise be too early or too unconventional for traditional funding,\u201d said Ankur Singh, Director of the Center for Immunoengineering and Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/schools\/biomedical-engineering\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and Emory (BME). \u201cIt allows Georgia Tech scientists to explore new frontiers in immunoengineering, from cancer to autoimmunity, and to build the scientific foundations that could ultimately lead to the next generation of transformative therapies.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe inaugural awards support four innovative projects that span multiple areas of biomedical research, including two Faculty Research Awards and two Student Fellowship Awards.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUsing AI to Guide the Immune System\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne Singh Family Faculty Research Award, given to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/17370\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndrew McShan\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E, will help develop AI\u2011guided tools to design synthetic immune\u2011like molecules that can detect lipids on cell surfaces. Most current immunotherapies are designed to recognize protein fragments presented on cells, leaving a largely untapped class of disease-associated targets \u2014 lipids \u2014 beyond the reach of modern immune engineering. By enabling programmable molecules that can detect lipids on cell surfaces, the work aims to expand immune targeting beyond traditional protein targets and open new diagnostic and treatment strategies for diseases such as leukemia, tuberculosis, and inflammatory skin disorders.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn AI-guided design framework for lipid-sensing immune receptors would create an entirely new class of programmable immune molecules capable of identifying disease signals that were previously inaccessible. Such tools could enable earlier disease detection, new immune-based therapeutics, and a broader ability to engineer immune systems to recognize complex biological threats, fundamentally expanding the scope of targets addressable by modern immunotherapy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDeveloping the Next Generation of Cancer Treatments\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second faculty award project, led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3702\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJohn Blazeck\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, focuses on engineering next-generation cancer immunotherapies using CAR-T cells, which are a patient\u2019s own immune cells that have been re\u2011engineered to recognize and attack specific cancer cells. The team is developing new receptors for CAR-T cells designed to improve safety while enabling immune cells to recognize multiple tumor targets simultaneously.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis approach addresses two major barriers that have limited the success of CAR-T therapies in solid tumors: the risk of attacking healthy tissues and the ability of tumors to evade treatment by changing or losing a single target antigen. If successful, the work could significantly expand the reach of CAR-T cell therapy, which has already transformed the treatment of certain blood cancers but has struggled to treat solid tumors such as breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy enabling immune cells to distinguish tumors more precisely and attack cancers that display multiple markers, the new receptor designs could make CAR-T therapies both safer and more effective. The technology could represent a major step toward translating cellular immunotherapies to the far larger population of patients with solid tumors, potentially opening the door to powerful new treatments for some of the most resistant cancers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImaging Heart Risk Early with Ultrasound\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe gift also established two Singh Family Fellow Awards, supporting graduate students pursuing innovative research in immunoengineering.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne fellowship was awarded to Yann Ferry, a graduate student advised by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/arvanitis\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECostas Arvanitis\u003C\/a\u003E in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (ME) and BME. Ferry\u2019s project aims to advance ultrasound imaging technologies designed to visualize immune activity inside Atherosclerosis plaques, the fatty deposits that accumulate in arteries and can trigger heart attacks or strokes when they rupture.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy tracking immune cells that drive plaque inflammation and instability (called macrophages), the team aims to develop a noninvasive imaging approach that can measure the immune state of plaques in real time. If successful, the technology could transform how cardiovascular disease is diagnosed and monitored.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, physicians can detect plaque buildup but cannot easily determine whether a plaque is actively inflamed and likely to rupture. Imaging immune activity could allow doctors to identify high-risk plaques earlier, monitor how patients respond to therapy, and intervene before a heart attack or stroke occurs. Given that cardiovascular disease remains the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/fastats\/leading-causes-of-death.htm\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eleading cause of death\u003C\/a\u003E in the United States, such a tool could significantly improve prevention and treatment strategies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWorking Toward a Cure for Type 1 Diabetes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second fellowship supports Alexander Kedzierski, a Ph.D. student in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3691\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s\u0026nbsp; lab within ME. Kedzierski\u2019s research focuses on improving stem-cell-based treatments for Type 1 Diabetes. The project aims to design degradable biomaterials that present that help control the immune response, protecting transplanted insulin\u2011producing cells from being attacked by the body.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrent experimental therapies using insulin-producing cells that are derived from stem cells have shown promise but are limited by the need for lifelong medications that suppress the immune system to prevent rejection. By engineering biomaterials that locally regulate immune responses around transplanted cells, the researchers hope to enable long-term graft survival without suppressing the entire immune system.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf successful, the approach could bring regenerative therapies for Type 1 diabetes closer to a practical cure, allowing patients to restore natural insulin production while avoiding the risks associated with chronic immunosuppressive treatment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, the projects illustrate the core mission of the Center for Immunoengineering and the Singh Family gift. By investing in bold, interdisciplinary research, the Singh family\u2019s gift is helping the Center for Immunoengineering accelerate innovations at the intersection of engineering, biology, and medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the years ahead, the program is expected to expand a pipeline of high-impact research, from next-generation immunotherapies to immune-guided diagnostics and regenerative medicine. For the scientists involved, the goal is not only to advance discovery but to translate new insights about the immune system into real-world solutions for patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Center for Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech has named the inaugural recipients of the Singh Family Research Awards, recognizing four interdisciplinary projects led by Andrew McShan, John Blazeck, Yann Ferry, and Alexander Kedzierski. Together, the awardees exemplify high\u2011risk, high\u2011reward research aimed at translating fundamental immune engineering advances into safer, more effective treatments for patients.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Center for Immunoengineering at Georgia Tech has awarded the inaugural Singh Family Research Awards to two faculty members and two students advancing innovative immunoengineering projects."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-04-02 18:09:35","changed_gmt":"2026-04-02 19:16:10","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679836":{"id":"679836","type":"image","title":"Singh-Award-Winners-2026.jpg","body":null,"created":"1775153384","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 18:09:44","changed":"1775153384","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 18:09:44","alt":"Four headshots of Singh Family Award winners: Andrew McShan, John Blazeck, Yann Ferry, and Alexander Kedzierski","file":{"fid":"264042","name":"Singh-Award-Winners-2026.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Singh-Award-Winners-2026.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Singh-Award-Winners-2026.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":160700,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/Singh-Award-Winners-2026.jpg?itok=6yTaA74y"}}},"media_ids":["679836"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"101691","name":"College of Engineering; School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineerin"},{"id":"166928","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"94321","name":"College of Engineering; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering"},{"id":"569","name":"bioengineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by: Ankur Singh, Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEdited by: Ashlie Bowman, Communications Manager, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689302":{"#nid":"689302","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ready for its Closeup: PIN-Supported Lamarr.AI Uses Technology to Make Buildings More Efficient and Occupants More Comfortable","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESavannah is built on history and hospitality, which makes the collaboration between \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lamarr.ai\/\u0022\u003ELamarr.AI\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 a company named after a historic inventor and actress \u2014 and the city a match made for the big screen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of Savannah\u2019s many old buildings are expensive to heat and cool, especially in Georgia\u2019s humid summers. They develop leaks. They need routine maintenance. But how does a building owner know where to begin with renovations or repairs? Enter Lamarr.AI, one of the first companies supported by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EPartnership for Innovation\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (PIN) new Community Investment program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Community Investment program is matching up faculty-led, faculty-spinoff startup companies that have technology that could be relevant to a community, a government, or to the civic space,\u201d said Katie O\u2019Connor, PIN\u2019s community investment manager. \u201cThe company\u2019s product is something that can help a community in a smart cities kind of way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lamarr.ai\/\u0022\u003ELamarr.AI\u003C\/a\u003E fits the bill to a T. Its technology and the company grew out of research at Georgia Tech. Lamarr.AI\u2019s technology uses drones, imaging, and artificial intelligence (AI) to assess a building\u2019s envelope and determine the best ways to make these structures more energy efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe technology is like giving a building an MRI using drones, infrared and regular images, and our own AI,\u201d said Tarek Rakha, Lamarr.AI\u2019s co-founder and CEO. The drones, he explained, detect missing insulation, water intrusion, air escaping, and physical damage. AI and machine learning translate that information into 3-D models that map the defects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/ready-for-its-closeup-pin-supported-lamarr-ai-uses-technology-to-make-buildings-more-efficient-and-occupants-more-comfortable\/\u0022\u003ERead more on EI2 Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EThrough PIN\u2019s new Community Investment program, Georgia Tech\u2013based Lamarr.AI is partnering with the city of Savannah to use drone\u2011 and AI\u2011driven building assessments to improve energy efficiency in historic municipal facilities.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Through PIN\u2019s new Community Investment program, Georgia Tech\u2013based Lamarr.AI is partnering with the city of Savannah to use drone\u2011 and AI\u2011driven building assessments to improve energy efficiency in historic municipal facilities."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 21:04:31","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 21:06:53","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679807":{"id":"679807","type":"image","title":"top.tarek-rakha-GT-300x187.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELamarr.AI Co-founder and CEO Tarek Rakha\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774991086","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 21:04:46","changed":"1774991086","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 21:04:46","alt":"Lamarr.AI Co-founder and CEO Tarek Rakha","file":{"fid":"264011","name":"top.tarek-rakha-GT-300x187.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/top.tarek-rakha-GT-300x187.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/top.tarek-rakha-GT-300x187.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":10774,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/top.tarek-rakha-GT-300x187.jpeg?itok=YzFGjLYH"}}},"media_ids":["679807"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/ready-for-its-closeup-pin-supported-lamarr-ai-uses-technology-to-make-buildings-more-efficient-and-occupants-more-comfortable\/","title":"Read Full Story on EI2 Website"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:karen.kirkpatrick@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKaren Kirkpatrick\u003C\/a\u003E | EI2\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["karen.kirkpatrick@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689285":{"#nid":"689285","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Temporal Stability of Consumer Preferences for Solar Energy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by EPIcenter affiliate \u003Cstrong\u003EJamal Mamkhezri\u003C\/strong\u003E examines how public preferences for solar\u2011energy policy have shifted over a six\u2011year period in New Mexico, offering one of the first long\u2011term repeated cross\u2011section analyses of willingness to pay (WTP) for renewable\u2011energy attributes. Using identical discrete choice experiment (DCE) tasks from surveys conducted in \u003Cstrong\u003E2017\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003E2023\u003C\/strong\u003E, Professor Mamkhezri evaluates how households value increases in Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), changes in rooftop versus utility\u2011scale solar shares, monthly credit\u2011banking rules, water usage in electricity generation, and smart\u2011meter information delivery options.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross more than \u003Cstrong\u003E1,100\u003C\/strong\u003E combined respondents, the study uncovers \u003Cstrong\u003Eselective temporal stability\u003C\/strong\u003E in energy preferences. Some attributes\u2014such as support for higher RPS targets, reductions in water use, and preferences for online smart\u2011meter information\u2014remain relatively stable over time. In contrast, others shift considerably: WTP for increasing the \u003Cstrong\u003Erooftop solar share\u003C\/strong\u003E declines by more than 40%, while WTP to \u003Cstrong\u003Eprotect monthly credit banking\u003C\/strong\u003E rises more than 200%, reflecting heightened awareness of net\u2011metering debates and rapid growth in rooftop solar adoption.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImportantly, the study reveals that \u003Cstrong\u003Eenvironmental attitudes\u003C\/strong\u003E, measured through New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scores, once strongly predicted preferences for rooftop solar and smart\u2011meter technologies in 2017, but these relationships fade or even reverse by 2023\u2014signaling a shift as these technologies transition from niche, identity\u2011driven goods to mainstream infrastructure. Meanwhile, environmental attitudes continue to robustly shape preferences for RPS increases and water\u2011use reductions in both survey waves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/11\/temporal-stability-of-consumer-preferences-for-solar-energy\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by EPIcenter affiliate \u003Cstrong\u003EJamal Mamkhezri\u003C\/strong\u003E examines how public preferences for solar\u2011energy policy have shifted over a six\u2011year period in New Mexico, offering one of the first long\u2011term repeated cross\u2011section analyses of willingness to pay (WTP) for renewable\u2011energy attributes. Using identical discrete choice experiment (DCE) tasks from surveys conducted in \u003Cstrong\u003E2017\u003C\/strong\u003E and \u003Cstrong\u003E2023\u003C\/strong\u003E, Professor Mamkhezri evaluates how households value increases in Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), changes in rooftop versus utility\u2011scale solar shares, monthly credit\u2011banking rules, water usage in electricity generation, and smart\u2011meter information delivery options.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new study by EPIcenter affiliate Jamal Mamkhezri examines how public preferences for solar\u2011energy policy have shifted over a six\u2011year period in New Mexico, offering one of the first long\u2011term repeated cross\u2011section analyses of willingness to pay (WTP) f"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:15:40","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:19:10","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679805":{"id":"679805","type":"image","title":"TemporalStabilityConsumerPreferenceSolar-AdobeStock_427357720-1024x683.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774984544","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 19:15:44","changed":"1774984544","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 19:15:44","alt":"A rural residence with solar panels installed outdoors, set among desert vegetation with mountains in the distance.","file":{"fid":"264009","name":"TemporalStabilityConsumerPreferenceSolar-AdobeStock_427357720-1024x683.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/TemporalStabilityConsumerPreferenceSolar-AdobeStock_427357720-1024x683.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/TemporalStabilityConsumerPreferenceSolar-AdobeStock_427357720-1024x683.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":175493,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/TemporalStabilityConsumerPreferenceSolar-AdobeStock_427357720-1024x683.jpeg?itok=Zb5DMaNf"}}},"media_ids":["679805"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/11\/temporal-stability-of-consumer-preferences-for-solar-energy\/","title":"Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ggonzalez68@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, EPIcenter.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689280":{"#nid":"689280","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Potential of Data Center Energy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/matthew-liska\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Liska\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology) explores the growing role of data centers in providing flexibility, the ability to shift or reduce electricity use in response to grid conditions, to the electric grid as renewable energy penetration and AI-driven computing demand surge. The authors highlight that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade, presenting both challenges and opportunities for grid stability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe paper examines various strategies for enhancing the flexibility of data center energy use. One approach is to use backup power systems, such as uninterruptible power supplies, to support the grid during emergencies. Another method involves rerouting computing jobs to different data centers in other locations to balance energy demand. The authors also discuss implementing smart scheduling techniques that shift workloads to off-peak hours, reducing strain on the grid. Additionally, they highlight adjusting processor speeds by lowering CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) clock rates to limit power consumption when needed. Finally, the paper suggests pre-cooling data center equipment to limit the energy required for cooling during peak demand periods. Notably, experimental evidence shows that underclocking GPUs can cut power consumption by 40% with only a 22% performance loss, suggesting technical feasibility for demand-response interventions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite these technical options, the authors find that real-world cost considerations and reliability concerns limit widespread adoption. Data center operators generally do not change their behavior in response to electricity prices, as job revenue far outweighs energy costs under normal conditions. For example, a GPU rented at $2 per hour consumes only $0.04 worth of electricity at average prices, making curtailment unattractive except during extreme price spikes. Surveys indicate that operators are reluctant to compromise reliability or deploy backup systems for ancillary services. Consequently, price-based incentives alone are unlikely to drive meaningful flexibility.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/\u0022\u003ERead more on the EPIcenter Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/\u0022\u003EListen to a podcast on the research here\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/matthew-liska\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Liska\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology) explores the growing role of data centers in providing flexibility, the ability to shift or reduce electricity use in response to grid conditions, to the electric grid as renewable energy penetration and AI-driven computing demand surge. The authors highlight that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade, presenting both challenges and opportunities for grid stability.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate highlights that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:00:21","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:08:59","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679804":{"id":"679804","type":"image","title":"PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774983673","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 19:01:13","changed":"1774983673","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 19:01:13","alt":"Adobe Stock image showing solar panels, wind mills and energy storage units in a desert-like landscape with the sun setting in the background","file":{"fid":"264008","name":"PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1531847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg?itok=VE5-39Gn"}}},"media_ids":["679804"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/","title":"Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ggonzalez68@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGilbert Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, EPIcenter\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689267":{"#nid":"689267","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Institute for People and Technology Announces Five Faculty Promotions","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) at Georgia Tech is proud to announce the promotion of five research faculty whose work continues to advance the institute\u2019s mission of shaping people\u2011centered innovation across disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKala Jordan\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted to \u003Cem\u003EResearch Scientist II\u003C\/em\u003E. With a background spanning biology, health informatics, and STEM education, Jordan brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. She plays a key role in AI\u2011CARING, leading studies that support the development of personalized collaborative AI systems designed to improve quality of life for older adults.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENoah Posner\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted to \u003Cem\u003ESenior Research Scientist\u003C\/em\u003E. As manager of the Interactive Product Design Lab, Posner focuses on interactive experiences grounded in physical interaction. His research spans CAD\u2011based prototyping, rapid fabrication, and STEAM education, and he teaches courses in physical prototyping and industrial design.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeter Presti\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted to \u003Cem\u003EPrincipal Research Scientist\u003C\/em\u003E. Over his 22\u2011year career at Georgia Tech, Presti has collaborated with major industry partners and federal agencies. His research spans sensor systems, biometrics, wearable computing, signal processing, embedded systems, and integrated hardware\u2011software prototyping.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERichard Starr\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted to \u003Cem\u003ESenior Research Scientist\u003C\/em\u003E. Starr oversees the IPaT Secure Data Enclave, developing and managing the institute\u2019s secure infrastructure for healthcare data. His work ensures campus\u2011wide compliance with HIPAA, IRB requirements, and partnership agreements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrew Zhao\u003C\/strong\u003E has been promoted to \u003Cem\u003EResearch Scientist II\u003C\/em\u003E. Zhao, a Georgia Tech alumnus with bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees in Computer Science, specializes in social computing. His work examines how social media facilitates information flow and connection, particularly around mental health and elections. He supports the CANDOR Portal and AI\u2011CARING projects, contributing full\u2011stack development, data pipelines, LLM fine\u2011tuning, and infrastructure management.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese promotions are wonderful and well deserved. Hearty congratulations to Andrew, Kala, Richard, Noah, and Peter!\u201d said Michael Best, executive director of IPaT.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese promotions are a testament to the outstanding capabilities and contributions of IPaT\u2019s research faculty community,\u201d added Maribeth Gandy Coleman, director of research for IPaT.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) at Georgia Tech is proud to announce the promotion of five research faculty whose work continues to advance the institute\u2019s mission of shaping people\u2011centered innovation across disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) at Georgia Tech is proud to announce the promotion of five research faculty whose work continues to advance the institute\u2019s mission of shaping people centered innovation across disciplines."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 17:35:58","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 17:36:30","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679802":{"id":"679802","type":"image","title":"Five IPaT research faculty","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPictured: Kala Jordan, Noah Posner, Peter Presti, Richard Starr, and Andrew Zhao.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774978414","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 17:33:34","changed":"1774978496","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 17:34:56","alt":"Pictured: Kala Jordan, Noah Posner, Peter Presti, Richard Starr, and Andrew Zhao.","file":{"fid":"264006","name":"5-people-v1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/5-people-v1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/5-people-v1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":284111,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/5-people-v1.jpg?itok=4nz7w0ba"}}},"media_ids":["679802"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689249":{"#nid":"689249","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EPIcenter Launches Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) at Georgia Tech has launched an interactive tool to help communities navigate the dynamic land-use and policy landscape surrounding data center development: the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/data-center\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Data Center Ordinance Hub\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs new data centers continue to be built and proposed in Georgia, counties and municipalities across the state are considering how to guide this growth. EPIcenter\u2019s data center dashboard provides policymakers, planners, researchers, and community stakeholders with a centralized resource to better understand how data center regulations are being developed and applied across Georgia and the U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur Data Center Hub provides Georgia communities with a one-stop shop to understand how their neighbors are managing land-use regulations for data centers,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter. \u201cIt brings together clear, accessible information to help jurisdictions\u0026nbsp;plan when data center growth occurs in their area.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dashboard is organized around five thematic areas commonly addressed in data center land-use regulations: \u003Cstrong\u003ESite Planning and Building Design, Infrastructure and Utilities, Environmental and Community Protections, Public Safety and Security, and Lifecycle Governance\u003C\/strong\u003E. Within each theme, users can explore specific regulatory topics and access the relevant ordinances enacted by Georgia communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo build the dashboard, EPIcenter researchers conducted a comprehensive review of municipal codes across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe reviewed municipal codes for about 180 cities and counties across Georgia and identified ordinances that specifically address data center development,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-yang-you\/\u0022\u003EYang You\u003C\/a\u003E, EPIcenter\u2019s research associate who developed the project. \u201cIn total, we found 19 data center-specific topics that ordinances tend to cover. We analyzed ordinances across jurisdictions and organized their ordinance provisions into topics such as building placement, setbacks, infrastructure, and environmental considerations to make it easier to compare how different jurisdictions regulate data centers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou added that the dashboard also incorporates examples from outside of Georgia. By gathering ordinances from other states and pairing them with Georgia-specific examples, EPIcenter aims to provide a clear framework to help communities efficiently address data center land-use regulation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub is available through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/initiatives-in-the-southeast\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Energy Policy and Innovation Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E) at Georgia Tech has launched an interactive tool to help communities navigate the dynamic land-use and policy landscape surrounding data center development: the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/data-center\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Data Center Ordinance Hub\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs new data centers continue to be built and proposed in Georgia, counties and municipalities across the state are considering how to guide this growth. EPIcenter\u2019s data center dashboard provides policymakers, planners, researchers, and community stakeholders with a centralized resource to better understand how data center regulations are being developed and applied across Georgia and the U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur Data Center Hub provides Georgia communities with a one-stop shop to understand how their neighbors are managing land-use regulations for data centers,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter. \u201cIt brings together clear, accessible information to help jurisdictions\u0026nbsp;plan when data center growth occurs in their area.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Energy Policy and Innovation Center (EPIcenter) at Georgia Tech has launched an interactive tool to help communities navigate the dynamic land-use and policy landscape surrounding data center development: the Georgia Data Center Ordinance Hub."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 02:42:32","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 13:54:10","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679785":{"id":"679785","type":"image","title":"Datacenter-Cooling-TopView.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774924962","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 02:42:42","changed":"1774924962","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 02:42:42","alt":"Aerial view of a datacenter with air conditioner compressor fans on the roof of the building","file":{"fid":"263987","name":"Datacenter-Cooling-TopView.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/30\/Datacenter-Cooling-TopView.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/30\/Datacenter-Cooling-TopView.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":936768,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/30\/Datacenter-Cooling-TopView.jpeg?itok=xBJaUq7j"}},"679793":{"id":"679793","type":"image","title":"DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774965063","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 13:51:03","changed":"1774965063","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 13:51:03","alt":"US Map showing States Represented in the Ordinance Hub and State of Georgia with Data Centers and Local Ordinances highlighted","file":{"fid":"263995","name":"DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":400200,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final.jpg?itok=q9cFpM_p"}},"679794":{"id":"679794","type":"image","title":"DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThematic Areas covered by EPIcenter\u0027s Datacenter Ordinance Hub\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774965063","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 13:51:03","changed":"1774965063","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 13:51:03","alt":"Thematic Areas covered by EPIcenter\u0027s Datacenter Ordinance Hub","file":{"fid":"263996","name":"DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":397163,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/DataCenterDashboard-HeaderImage-Final2.jpg?itok=iCDuFZ6-"}}},"media_ids":["679785","679793","679794"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/data-center\/","title":"EPIcenter Georgia Datacenter Ordinance Hub"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689193":{"#nid":"689193","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Atlanta Area Students Partner With Community Organizations for Research Projects","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Atlanta Community-Engaged Research Student Network launched this semester. The program is co-led by Nicole Kennard, assistant director for Community-Engaged Research with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainablesystems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EBrook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS)\u003C\/a\u003E, along with Associate Professor Richard Milligan and Associate Professor Sarah Ledford from Georgia State University, Associate Professor Emily Burchfield and Associate Teaching Professor Carolyn Keogh from Emory University, and Iesha Baldwin from Spelman College. The program also partners with several community-based organizations to co-develop strategic direction and provide training. They are\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scienceforgeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EScience for Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.historicwestsidegardens.org\/\u0022\u003EHistoric Westside Gardens\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hbcugreenfund.org\/\u0022\u003EHBCU Green Fund\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southriverga.org\/\u0022\u003ESouth River Watershed Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.foodwellalliance.org\/\u0022\u003EFood Well Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe primary aim of the Atlanta Student Community-Engaged Research (CER) Network is to use a peer learning approach to train graduate students with the skills to co-lead community-engaged and locally focused research, while at the same time building relationships with local community organizations. This approach will help address local sustainability and societal challenges, lay the foundation for community-engaged research programs, and enable young researchers interested in this work to thrive in the Atlanta area. Initial funding for the pilot program was provided by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlantaglobalstudies.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAtlanta Global Studies Center\u003C\/a\u003E and the Georgia Tech Provost\u0027s Excellence in Graduate Studies fund.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program received a total of 41 applications from graduate students from Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, and Emory University. Thirty-five master\u2019s and Ph.D. students were accepted into the cohort, spanning a wide range of disciplines, from the humanities, sciences, design,\u0026nbsp; public health, engineering, and computing. The program has additionally engaged eight senior-level undergraduates from Spelman College to learn about graduate school tracks with community-engaged research opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis program provides a unique opportunity to learn engagement and leadership skills not typically taught in graduate programs. Students are attending one training a month over the course of the Spring 2026 semester. Here, they learn about the diversity of sustainability-focused, community-based organizations in the area, develop skills to engage meaningfully with community partners in research projects, and improve the ways they communicate to the public about research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Provost\u0027s Excellence in Graduate Studies fund will provide a $2,500 stipend to five Georgia Tech students who will work on a research project with a community partner organization. These projects will take place over the spring and summer semesters this year, providing opportunities for graduate students to apply their newly acquired community-engagement skills to on-the-ground research, while also opening a new pathway for Georgia Tech\u2019s engagement with community partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFellows and projects include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIrene Jacob, M.S., city and regional planning, will work with the\u0026nbsp;Food Well Alliance to update the implementation strategy for their 10-year community garden survey.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEthan Zhao, M.S., human-computer interaction, will work with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.historicwestsidegardens.org\/\u0022\u003EHistoric Westside Gardens\u003C\/a\u003E to integrate new technologies into their community garden spaces and assess the benefits to the communities they serve.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVirginia Cason, M.S., sustainable energy and environmental management, will work with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scienceforgeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EScience for Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E to translate data gathering and analysis into community-centered narratives.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESharon Rachel, Ph.D., history and sociology of technology and science, will work with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hbcugreenfund.org\/\u0022\u003EHBCU Green Fund\u003C\/a\u003E to examine the environmental and community impacts of data center projects in Atlanta.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EElla Neumann, Ph.D., interactive computing, will work with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southriverga.org\/\u0022\u003ESouth River Watershed Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E to document and communicate the history and impact of the City of Atlanta\u0027s combined sewer consent decree, and assess if the intended results of the decree have been met.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EApplicants expressed their passion for community-engaged research projects and working directly with local community members and organizations:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLived experience is just as valuable as academic expertise, and meaningful change only occurs when both work together. I think that this takes approaching problems with a lot of humility, care, and a genuine desire to listen to communities and their needs.\u201d -Virginia Cason,\u0026nbsp;M.S.,\u0026nbsp;sustainable energy and environmental management\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI want to do research that stems from a theoretical question, but is feasible in reality and benefits the community. One of the most efficient ways to achieve this goal is through doing research WITH the community.\u201d -Keke Li, M.S., analytics\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCommunity-engaged research is not only a methodology, but a\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ecommitment to partnership, humility, and shared power.\u201d -Grace Fraser, M.S., city and regional planning\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo me, community-engaged research means working with people, not just for them. CER is not only a method but also a mindset. True impact comes when research and community experience grow together.\u201d -Bingjie Lu, Ph.D., civil engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe community partners involved in the program are equally enthusiastic about community-engaged research. As Fred Conrad of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.foodwellalliance.org\/\u0022\u003EFood Well Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E put it, \u201cFood Well has been intentional about engaging our constituents since we began, and this is not only a continuation of that effort, but a significant refinement of how we accomplish that. I think all of us have deepened our understanding of the CER process since we began this journey.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis program provides a unique opportunity to learn engagement and leadership skills not typically taught in graduate programs. Students are attending one training a month over the course of the Spring 2026 semester.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Atlanta Community-Engaged Research Student Network launched this semester to train graduate students to co-lead community-engaged and locally focused research along with community-based organizations."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-03-25 19:50:44","changed_gmt":"2026-03-25 20:23:43","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679739":{"id":"679739","type":"image","title":"ATL_CER_Student_Network_Group_Pic","body":null,"created":"1774468259","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 19:50:59","changed":"1774470176","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 20:22:56","alt":"Large group of people standing and seated in a bright industrial-style indoor space, gathered on and around a metal staircase and long tables. The setting includes exposed beams, railings, overhead lighting, and tables with notebooks, cups, and coats visible in the foreground.","file":{"fid":"263934","name":"ATL_CER_Student_Network_Group_Pic.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/ATL_CER_Student_Network_Group_Pic.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/ATL_CER_Student_Network_Group_Pic.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1459248,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/ATL_CER_Student_Network_Group_Pic.jpg?itok=XlFtG7z1"}}},"media_ids":["679739"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194972","name":"community engaged research"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689179":{"#nid":"689179","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Science of Saving Memories","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlmost everyone knows someone touched by Alzheimer\u0027s \u2014 a parent who no longer recognizes familiar faces, a grandparent whose stories have gone silent. It\u0027s a disease that doesn\u0027t just affect the person who has it; it takes something from everyone around them. At Georgia Tech, researchers in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering are working to change that \u2014 not with surgery or medication, but through light and sound.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2026\/03\/science-saving-memories?utm_source=newsletter\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_content=The%20Science%20of%20Saving%20Memories\u0026amp;utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20March%2025%2C%202026\u0022\u003ERead the full story \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAt Georgia Tech, we turn deep science into therapies that could give people back what matters most.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"At Georgia Tech, we turn deep science into therapies that could give people back what matters most."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-03-25 14:24:03","changed_gmt":"2026-03-25 15:04:49","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679735":{"id":"679735","type":"image","title":"f3b01b6c1ecbc90bfd1de201.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAnnabelle Singer, lead researcher on the project, standing in her lab smiling next to equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774448660","gmt_created":"2026-03-25 14:24:20","changed":"1774448660","gmt_changed":"2026-03-25 14:24:20","alt":"Annabelle Singer, lead researcher on the project, standing in her lab smiling next to equipment.","file":{"fid":"263930","name":"f3b01b6c1ecbc90bfd1de201.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/f3b01b6c1ecbc90bfd1de201.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/25\/f3b01b6c1ecbc90bfd1de201.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":127052,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/25\/f3b01b6c1ecbc90bfd1de201.jpg?itok=1gHDUJDp"}}},"media_ids":["679735"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/features\/2026\/03\/science-saving-memories?utm_source=newsletter\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=The%20Science%20of%20Saving%20Memories\u0026utm_campaign=Daily%20Digest%20-%20March%2025%2C%202026","title":"Read the Full Story"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689128":{"#nid":"689128","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Crystal Hanson: A Pillar of Service, Connection, and Excellence at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECrystal Hanson is a quiet but powerful force within the Georgia Institute of Technology \u2014 an individual whose influence has shaped programs, strengthened communities, and supported leaders across campus.\u0026nbsp;Her career reflects the profound impact a dedicated staff member can have on an institution, not only through operational excellence but through relationships, mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to service.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Career Built on Service and Adaptability\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson\u2019s journey in higher education began immediately after high school when she joined Purdue University and discovered her passion for supporting students, faculty, and academic communities. She carried that passion across multiple institutions before landing at Tech, building a career grounded in adaptability, resilience, and people-centered service.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer Georgia Tech chapter began in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), where she supported the Water Resources Engineering group. There, she became a trusted resource for students and faculty alike \u2014 a steady presence who celebrated their successes, listened during challenges, and helped build a sense of community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson credits Lisa Tuttle in CEE with helping her navigate the Georgia Tech landscape. With Tuttle\u2019s help, she also discovered a talent for event planning and administrative leadership, eventually serving as administration manager and supporting the CEE chair with meetings, alumni engagement, and major departmental initiatives. One of her most memorable experiences was coordinating a trip to NATO headquarters in Belgium, an opportunity that deepened her appreciation for global collaboration and institutional history.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cCrystal was an extraordinary contributor throughout her time in CEE, first in the Water Resources Engineering group and later as the trusted manager of the entire administrative support team,\u201d said Donald Webster, Karen and John Huff School Chair in CEE. \u201cIn every role, she brought dedication, professionalism, and genuine care for others. Crystal consistently went above and beyond to support the people of CEE \u2014 not only through professional challenges, but also during moments of personal crisis \u2014 always with compassion, steadiness, and grace. Her presence made our community stronger, more resilient, and more humane.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Trusted Partner in Research Leadership\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson later transitioned to the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR) office, where she worked under leaders including Stephen Cross, Christopher Jones, Giselle Bennett, Raheem Beyah, and Julia Kubanek. Her time in this environment was formative. She absorbed the complexities of research administration, budgeting, and strategic planning, all while contributing to a culture where staff felt valued and included.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I joined the EVPR office, and it had only three or four people, it seemed everyone was doing two or three jobs,\u201d said Christopher Jones, who joined the office in 2013 and is now the John F. Brock III School Chair in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. \u201cCrystal was an immediate fit, bringing with her organizational and management skills, a sense of humor, and an appreciation of our mission.\u0026nbsp; She is someone whom I always look forward to seeing, both then and now.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter Beyah left the EVPR office to become the dean and Southern Company Chair in the College of Engineering, Kubanek became the new vice president for Interdisciplinary Research (VPIR). Together, Kubanek and Hanson built and expanded the VPIR team, helping to shape its operations and identity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong her many contributions, Hanson initiated the Interdisciplinary Research Spotlight Awards, recognizing staff and research faculty who go above and beyond in the Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs). She also shepherded the Research Faculty Teaching Fellows program, ensuring that research faculty across Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute had opportunities to develop teaching skills in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Connector at the Heart of the VPIR Office\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECrystal describes herself as someone who prefers to work behind the scenes: cleaning up after events, coordinating logistics, and taking on nearly any task that needs to be done.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCrystal is the ultimate behind-the-scenes master organizer and people connector,\u201d said Kubanek. \u201cShe develops individual relationships that enable her to organize, in short order, a meeting of numerous campus leaders whose calendars should be impossible to align. She comes bearing snacks and a smile and is the heart of our operation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson\u2019s deep institutional knowledge and extensive network positioned her to navigate Georgia Tech\u2019s complex landscape. She serves as a bridge between the VPIR office, the IRIs, GTRI, and campus partners, ensuring that communication flows smoothly and people feel supported, informed, and connected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHer deep institutional knowledge and strong networks across campus meant she almost always knew the right person to connect with or the best way to move something forward,\u201d said Punya Mardhanan, a former colleague in VPIR and now assistant director of business operations for the Space Research Institute. \u201cCrystal works incredibly efficiently and often completes things before anyone asks. She never seeks recognition for the many ways she supports her team.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Colleague, Advisor, and Steady Source of Wisdom\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson\u2019s colleagues consistently describe her as someone who not only gets things done but also makes everyone around her better.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cShe\u2019s like a mother hen to the VPIR team,\u201d said Rob Kadel, executive director of research program administration. \u201cI can always go to Crystal and say, \u2018Who should I talk to about this?\u2019 and she will know exactly who to talk to. She is never afraid to speak her mind. She\u2019s a trusted advisor.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer leadership has also extended beyond formal responsibilities. She played a key role in designing the VPIR workspace during renovations, coordinated team retreats and bonding activities, and infused every gathering with energy and warmth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cShe cares so much about the Georgia Tech community,\u201d said Colly Mitchell, director of events and engagement for the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience. \u201cCrystal is incredibly responsive, helpful, and friendly. She brings a big burst of energy to every gathering.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWords that immediately come to mind when I think of Crystal are collaborative, dependable, responsive, and a true breadth of knowledge,\u201d adds Cynthia Moore, director of operations for the Institute for People and Technology, who worked alongside Hanson for nearly a decade. \u201cCrystal will truly be missed, along with her knowledge of all things Georgia Tech and research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Legacy of Generosity and Excellence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter nearly 14 years at Georgia Tech, Hanson will retire on April 1. She will be remembered as someone who connected people, solved problems, and always went above and beyond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, \u201cCrystal was simply exceptional. She was a creative thought partner who provided outstanding support and strategic advice, and she became a dear friend. I am a better leader after working with Crystal, and Georgia Tech is a better place because of her. I can\u2019t think of many people who deserve a wonderful retirement more than she does.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHanson looks forward to spending more time with her family, including her two daughters and two granddaughters, whose busy schedules she is eager to be part of. She and her husband have plans for travel, concerts \u2014 including those of her son-in-law\u2019s band, Grouplove \u2014 and perhaps even a cruise around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech extends its deepest gratitude to Crystal Hanson for her years of exceptional service, leadership, and dedication. Her impact will continue to resonate across the VPIR office, the IRIs, and the broader research community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe wish her joy, adventure, and well-deserved rest in the next chapter of her life.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECrystal Hanson is a quiet but powerful force within the Georgia Institute of Technology \u2014 an individual whose influence has shaped programs, strengthened communities, and supported leaders across campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Crystal Hanson is a quiet but powerful force within the Georgia Institute of Technology \u2014 an individual whose influence has shaped programs, strengthened communities, and supported leaders across campus. "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-03-23 13:49:21","changed_gmt":"2026-03-23 13:50:47","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679708":{"id":"679708","type":"image","title":"Crystal Hanson","body":null,"created":"1774273214","gmt_created":"2026-03-23 13:40:14","changed":"1774273266","gmt_changed":"2026-03-23 13:41:06","alt":"Crystal Hanson with Lisa Tuttle","file":{"fid":"263899","name":"Crystal_at_GT_with_Lisa-edited-v4-WR-withText-cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/Crystal_at_GT_with_Lisa-edited-v4-WR-withText-cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/23\/Crystal_at_GT_with_Lisa-edited-v4-WR-withText-cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2054104,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/23\/Crystal_at_GT_with_Lisa-edited-v4-WR-withText-cropped.jpg?itok=v_8NMVPV"}}},"media_ids":["679708"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688801":{"#nid":"688801","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Energy Day: Meeting AI\u2019s Growing Energy Demands","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022\u003EEnergy Day\u003C\/a\u003E returns this year on March 19 with an expanded focus and a new collaborative momentum. Cohosted by the Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and\u0026nbsp;Systems\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IMS) and the \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SEI) \u003C\/strong\u003Ewith plenary session support from the\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Day 2026 convenes leaders from academia, industry, government, and students to address the challenges associated with meeting the rapidly growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESet in the heart of Tech Square on the Georgia Tech campus, this year\u2019s event explores how energy systems, materials, technologies, supply chains, and policy must evolve in response to AI\u2019s accelerating impact. As digital infrastructure expands and computation intensifies, the need for reliable, resilient, and sustainable power has never been more urgent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnergy Day reflects Georgia Tech\u2019s strength in connecting world-class research in materials and components with the infrastructure and partnerships needed to translate discovery into scalable energy technologies that serve industry, society, and the future economy,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/people\/eric-vogel\u0022\u003EEric Vogel\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the IMS and the Hightower Professor in Materials Science and Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Day 2026 also marks an important milestone with the introduction of its first group of corporate sponsors:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gevernova.com\/\u0022\u003EGE Vernova\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southerncompany.com\/\u0022\u003ESouthern Company\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiapower.com\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Power\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/corporate.exxonmobil.com\/\u0022\u003EExxonMobil\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southwirespark.com\/\u0022\u003ESouthwire Spark\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gems-setra\/\u0022\u003EGems Setra\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tek.com\/en\u0022\u003ETektronix\u003C\/a\u003E. Their support reflects a shared commitment to advancing energy solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTektronix is excited to be part of Energy Day because advancing the future of energy starts with precise measurement and trusted insights,\u201d said Christopher Bohn, president of Tektronix. \u201cFrom power electronics and high voltage systems to grid scale renewables and AI driven control technologies, the breakthroughs discussed here directly align with the innovations we support through our products and solutions. Collaborating with Georgia Tech allows us to engage early with emerging research and the next generation of engineers\u2014critical collaborators in building a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe keynote address will be delivered by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vanessazchan\/\u0022\u003EVanessa Z. Chan\u003C\/a\u003E, a nationally recognized leader at the intersection of\u0026nbsp;innovation, commercialization, and emerging technologies. Chan will provide insights on accelerating technological discovery, emphasizing how AI is transforming energy and materials design. She will discuss how commercialization strategies must rapidly evolve across multidisciplinary energy domains from grid modernization to advanced batteries and clean manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuilding on the themes introduced in the keynote, the program transitions into a fireside chat with Georgia Tech EVPR\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/leadership\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E featuring\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kulkarniam\/\u0022\u003EAmit Kulkarni\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/james-jim-walsh\/\u0022\u003EJim Walsh\u003C\/a\u003E. Kulkarni is vice president of Product Management and Strategy for the Gas Power business within GE Vernova, where he oversees the world\u2019s largest portfolio of power generation equipment. Walsh, vice president of GE Vernova\u2019s Consulting Services, leads teams providing innovative solutions across the full spectrum of power generation, delivery, and utilization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext comes a policy-focused panel that will explore the surge in power demand driven by AI, how the United States is addressing today\u2019s most urgent energy challenges, and the long-term implications of today\u2019s decisions for a sustainable energy future. Bringing together leading voices in U.S. environmental and energy policy, the panel features\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joseph-aldy-0794942\/\u0022\u003EJoe Aldy\u003C\/a\u003E of Harvard University and former special assistant to the president for Energy and Environment;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/al-mcgartland-161689a\/\u0022\u003EAl McGartland\u003C\/a\u003E of New York University\u2019s Institute for Policy Integrity and former Environmental Protection Agency lead economist and director of the National Center for Environmental Economics; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kevinrennert\/\u0022\u003EKevin Rennert\u003C\/a\u003E, fellow and director of the Comprehensive Climate Strategies Program at Resources for the Future and former staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second panel focuses on critical materials \u2014 the foundation of advanced energy systems and digital technologies. As AI, data centers, and advanced energy technologies drive demand for critical materials, securing them now requires integration and coordination across the entire value chain. Panelists include \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/people\/rachel-galloway\u0022 id=\u0022menur1su2\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/people\/rachel-galloway\u0022\u003ERachel Galloway\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;British consul general in Atlanta;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vijaymurugesan\/\u0022\u003EVijay Murugesan\u003C\/a\u003E, head of Materials Intelligence and Digital Innovation at Amazon; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/colinspellmeyer\/?utm_source=share_via\u0026amp;utm_content=profile\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_ios\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/colinspellmeyer\/?utm_source=share_via\u0026amp;utm_content=profile\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_ios\u0022\u003EColin Spellmeyer\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;executive strategic sourcing leader at GE Vernova; \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haslam.utk.edu\/people\/profile\/charles-sims\/\u0022\u003ECharles Sims\u003C\/a\u003E, Tennessee Valley Authority Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nnnyeboah\/\u0022 id=\u0022menur1sua\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nnnyeboah\/\u0022\u003ENortey Yeboah\u003C\/a\u003E, principal engineer at Southern Company. Together, they will offer perspectives on the policy and economic frameworks shaping the energy supply chain, from developing raw resources to manufacturing the technologies essential to future energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the afternoon, participants can dive deeper into specialized topics through three focused technical tracks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track1_meet_demand_for_power\u0022\u003EMeeting the Demand for Power\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will examine how emerging technologies, advanced nuclear systems, and renewable integration can work together to deliver reliable, resilient electricity.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track2-data-center-infrastructure-and-resources\u0022\u003EData Center Infrastructure and Resources\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will explore innovations in thermal management technologies, energy-efficient computing, and the broader resource impacts of expanding digital infrastructure.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track3-grid-technologies-and-markets\u0022\u003EGrid Technologies and Markets\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will highlight strategies for strengthening grid capacity, incorporating demand-side management, and optimizing carbon performance as energy systems evolve.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMeeting the rapidly rising electricity demand driven by AI requires bold ideas, coordinated action, and research that moves at the speed of innovation,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the SEI. \u201cEnergy Day 2026 brings together the people and expertise needed to shape resilient, sustainable energy systems for the future. At Georgia Tech, we see this event as a catalyst for new partnerships, new solutions, and a shared commitment to strengthening the nation\u2019s energy foundation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Day 2026 is designed for researchers advancing emerging energy technologies, policymakers navigating shifting regulatory and geopolitical landscapes, industry professionals seeking insight into emerging tools and supply chains, and students preparing to enter one of the most consequential sectors of the decade. It also welcomes anyone interested in AI, sustainability, electrification, and critical materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin us to explore the future of energy. To learn more and register, visit:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022 target=\u0022_new\u0022\u003EEnergy Day 2026\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022\u003EEnergy Day\u003C\/a\u003E returns this year on March 19 with an expanded focus and a new collaborative momentum. Cohosted by the Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and\u0026nbsp;Systems\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IMS) and the \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SEI) with plenary session support from the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Day 2026 convenes leaders from academia, industry, government, and students to address the challenges associated with meeting the rapidly growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Join us on March 19 as we explore one of the most urgent questions facing the nation: How do we power an AI\u2011driven future?"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-06 20:46:52","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 16:57:12","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679541":{"id":"679541","type":"image","title":"EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772830025","gmt_created":"2026-03-06 20:47:05","changed":"1772830025","gmt_changed":"2026-03-06 20:47:05","alt":"Georgia Tech Energy Day 2026 Header Image with three boxes showing an image of a datacenter, an electric bulb with energy sources around it and a multi-colored critical mineral ","file":{"fid":"263714","name":"EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":147447,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg?itok=i6baP0eA"}}},"media_ids":["679541"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"194607","name":"Batteries"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688798":{"#nid":"688798","#data":{"type":"news","title":"$8.9 Million Approved for Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u2019s forest industry has long been a pillar of the state\u2019s rural economy. But in recent years, mill closures and shifting markets have put pressure on landowners, workers, and entire communities, particularly in south Georgia. A recently approved $8.9 million \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Forestry-Task-Force-Report-FINAL.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Innovation Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E will help chart a new path forward, creating more value from Georgia\u2019s abundant forest resources and expanding opportunities for the people and regions depending on them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. This effort aims to transform low-value wood and mill byproducts into high-value materials, strengthening Georgia\u2019s forest-based economy and supporting new commercial opportunities across the state. The initiative will establish pilot facilities and accelerate technology to business transfer in partnership with industry, with the long-term goal of enabling multiple manufacturing sites across Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe appreciate the state\u2019s investment in helping move these innovations from the lab to Georgia businesses,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2863\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI). \u201cWe also acknowledge the critical support of industry collaborators and partners like the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gfagrow.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Association\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gffgrow.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe work builds on collaborative interdisciplinary research at Georgia Tech involving \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E Professors \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/andreas-bommarius\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAndreas Bommarius\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/christopher-luettgen\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E and Meredith; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/stefan-france\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStefan France\u003C\/a\u003E and Professor of the Practice \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-j-bo-arduengo\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EA.J. \u201cBo\u201d Arduengo\u003C\/a\u003E; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial Systems and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/valerie-thomas\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E. Gary Black, RBI program manager, has also contributed to this effort. It is led by RBI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rbi1.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-Based Economy from Wood\u003C\/a\u003E (ReWOOD.) The effort reflects years of cross-disciplinary collaboration among faculty and staff committed to advancing sustainable, wood-based technologies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. This effort aims to transform low-value wood and mill byproducts into high-value materials, strengthening Georgia\u2019s forest-based economy and supporting new commercial opportunities across the state.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech is pleased to partner with the Georgia Forestry Commission on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-06 17:18:30","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 13:02:58","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679569":{"id":"679569","type":"image","title":"georgia-forest.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is pleased to partner with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatrees.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Forestry Commission\u003C\/a\u003E on the approved $8.9 million Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative included in Gov. Brian Kemp\u2019s amended FY 2026 budget.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773166846","gmt_created":"2026-03-10 18:20:46","changed":"1773166846","gmt_changed":"2026-03-10 18:20:46","alt":"Tall pine trees in a sunlit forest with dense green grasses and undergrowth covering the forest floor.","file":{"fid":"263745","name":"georgia-forest.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1769985,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/10\/georgia-forest.jpeg?itok=tKeLvrC4"}}},"media_ids":["679569"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EJennifer Martin\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ejennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689055":{"#nid":"689055","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Hundreds of Hungry Mosquitoes, a Student Volunteer and a Mesh Suit","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFour minutes is too long.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Man\u0026apos;s arm with multiple pink raised welts\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=827\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=827\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=827\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1040\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1040\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724202\/original\/file-20260316-57-8quhxt.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1040\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ESome of Chris Zuo\u2019s itchy results after his session with the mosquitoes.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDavid L. Hu\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s the note undergraduate Chris Zuo sent me along with photos of countless mosquito bites on his bare skin. This full-body massacre wasn\u2019t the result of a camping trip gone awry. He\u2019d spent that limited amount of time in a room with 100 hungry mosquitoes while wearing nothing but a mesh suit we thought would have protected him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThus began our three-year journey trying to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adz7063\u0022\u003Eunderstand the behavior\u003C\/a\u003E of a deceivingly simple insect, the mosquito. It may sound like a professor\u2019s sadistic plan, but, really, we did everything by the book. Our university\u2019s institutional review board approved our procedures, making sure Chris was safe and not coerced in any way. The mosquitoes were disease-free and native to our home state of Georgia. And this session resulted in the first and last bites anyone received during the study.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBesides my role as torturer of students, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=pydtIvYAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003EI\u003C\/a\u003E am an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/our-authors\/hu-david\u0022\u003Eauthor\u003C\/a\u003E and professor at Georgia Tech with over 20 years of experience studying the movement of animals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMosquitoes are the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/deadliest-animals\u0022\u003Eworld\u2019s most dangerous animal\u003C\/a\u003E. The diseases they carry, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/malaria\u0022\u003Efrom malaria\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/dengue-and-severe-dengue\u0022\u003Eto dengue\u003C\/a\u003E, cause over \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/vector-borne-diseases\u0022\u003E700,000 deaths per year\u003C\/a\u003E. More people have died from mosquitoes than wars.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe world \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/09\/29\/health\/mosquitoes-malaria-strategies-house.html\u0022\u003Espends US$22 billion per year\u003C\/a\u003E on billions of liters of insecticides, millions of pounds of larvicides, and millions of insecticide-treated bed nets \u2013 all to fight a tiny insect that weighs 10 times less than a grain of rice and has only \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0250381\u0022\u003E200,000 neurons\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet, people are losing the war on mosquitoes. These insects are evolving to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aam8327\u0022\u003Ethrive in cities\u003C\/a\u003E and spreading disease \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pt.2017.11.006\u0022\u003Emore rapidly with climate change\u003C\/a\u003E. How can such simple animals find us so easily?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScientists know mosquitoes have terrible eyesight and depend on chemical cues to make up for it. Knowing what attracts a mosquito, though, isn\u2019t enough to predict its behavior. You can know a heat-seeking missile is drawn to heat, but you still won\u2019t know how a missile works.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnter Chris and his self-sacrifice in the mosquito room. By tracking the flight of many mosquitoes around him, we hoped to determine how they made decisions in response to his presence. Understanding how mosquitoes respond to humans is a first step to controlling them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow Mosquitoes Zero In On Their Meal\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOut of 3,500 species of mosquitoes, over 100 species are classified as anthropophilic, meaning they prefer humans for lunch. Certain species of mosquitoes will find the one person among a whole herd of cattle in order to suck human blood.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is quite a feat considering mosquitoes are weak flyers. They stop flying in a slight \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1242\/jeb.178905\u0022\u003E2-3 mph breeze\u003C\/a\u003E, the same air speed generated by a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1242\/jeb.178905\u0022\u003Ehorse\u2019s swinging tail\u003C\/a\u003E. In calmer conditions, mosquitoes use their minuscule brains to follow \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10905-022-09796-2\u0022\u003Ehuman heat, moisture and odors\u003C\/a\u003E that are carried downwind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECarbon dioxide, the byproduct of respiration of all living animals, is particularly attractive. Mosquitoes notice carbon dioxide as well as you notice the stink of a full dumpster, detecting it up to 30 feet (9 meters) away from a host, where concentrations dip to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jmedent\/44.4.617\u0022\u003Efew parts per million\u003C\/a\u003E, like a few cups of dye in an Olympic-size pool.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Black outline of a G and T in left panel, in right panel black squiggles showing flight paths of mosquitoes around the letters\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=320\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=320\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=320\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=402\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=402\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724198\/original\/file-20260316-57-vumrcy.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=402\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ELike superfans, mosquitoes are drawn to the dark outline of the Georgia Tech logo.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDavid L. Hu, Georgia Tech\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMosquitoes\u2019 vision isn\u2019t much help as they hunt for their next blood meal. Their two compound eyes have several hundred individual lenses called ommatidia, each about the width of a human hair. They produce a somewhat blurry mosaic or pixelated image. Due to the laws of optics, mosquitoes can discern an adult-size human only at a few meters away. With their vision alone, they cannot distinguish a human from a small tree. They inspect every dark object.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EGathering the Flight-Path Data\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe challenge with studying mosquito flight is that, like trash-talking teenagers, most of what they do is meaningless noise. Mosquitoes flying in an empty room are largely making random changes in flight speed and direction. We needed many flight trajectories to cut through the noise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A man lying on the ground, and shown in two images on a laptop screen in the foreground\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=326\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724200\/original\/file-20260316-57-z0f39m.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=410\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EIn a mesh suit, Chris Zuo awaits the mosquitoes while questioning his life choices.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDavid L. Hu, Georgia Tech\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of our collaborators, University of California, Riverside, biologist \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=XOveQssAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003ERing Card\u00e9\u003C\/a\u003E, told us that back in the 1980s, scientists conducted \u201cbite studies\u201d by stripping down to their underwear and slapping the mosquitoes that landed on their naked bodies. He said nudity prevented confounding variables, such as the color of a shirt\u2019s fabric.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChris and I looked at each other. Sit naked and wait to become mosquito prey? Instead, we designed the mesh suit that Chris originally wore into the mosquito room. But after seeing Chris\u2019 bites, we needed a better way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead, Chris washed long-sleeved clothes in unscented detergent and wore gloves and a face mask. Fully protected, Chris only had to stand and wait, while a cloud of mosquitoes swarmed him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced us to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/photonicsentry.com\/\u0022\u003EPhotonic Sentry\u003C\/a\u003E, a camera that simultaneously tracks hundreds of flying insects in a room. It records 100 frames per second at 5 mm resolution for a space like a large studio apartment. In just a few hours, Chris and another graduate student, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=pJLlOo8AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=sra\u0022\u003ESoohwan Kim\u003C\/a\u003E, generated more mosquito flight data than had previously been measured in human history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A4WUw-ZCoFk?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003E100 mosquitoes flying around Chris Zuo for 10 minutes. Only a fraction of tracks are shown.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YJlkBuAAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=ao\u0022\u003EJ\u00f6rn Dunkel\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=3V6dgsoAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=sra\u0022\u003EChenyi Fei\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=89drxM4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;oi=sra\u0022\u003EAlex Cohen\u003C\/a\u003E, our mathematician collaborators at MIT, told us that the geometry of Chris\u2019 body was still too complicated to study the mosquitoes\u2019 reactions. Mathematicians excel at simplifying complex problems to their essence. Chenyi suggested we go easy on Chris \u2013 why not replace him with a simple dummy: a black Styrofoam ball on a stick combined with a canister of carbon dioxide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the next two years, Chris filmed the mosquitoes circling the Styrofoam dummies mercilessly. Then he vacuumed up the mosquitoes, trying not to get bitten.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EDeciphering the Trajectories\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA mosquito flies like you would an airplane: it turns left or right, accelerates or hits the brakes. We determined a mosquito\u2019s flight behavior as a function of its speed, location and direction with respect to the target as the first step in creating our model of their behavior.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur confidence in our behavioral rules increased as we read more trajectories, ultimately using 20 million mosquito positions and speeds. This idea of incorporating observations to support a mathematical hypothesis is a 200-year-old idea called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medium.com\/@chonghankhai\/bayesian-thinking-in-everyday-life-bf82fe2ab0af\u0022\u003EBayesian inference\u003C\/a\u003E. We illustrated the mosquito behavior we\u2019d observed in a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/acoh64.github.io\/mosquito_app\/\u0022\u003Eweb application\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u00224 panels showing trajectory of a mosquito in the presence of no target, visual target, CO2 target or both.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=169\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=169\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=169\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=212\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=212\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/724564\/original\/file-20260318-57-2aq2gy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=212\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EA mosquito\u2019s flight changes with the kind of target presented.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDavid L. Hu\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing our model, we showed how different targets cause mosquitoes to fly differently. Visual targets cause fly-bys, where mosquitoes fly past the target. Carbon dioxide causes double takes, where mosquitoes slow down near the target. The combination of a visual cue and carbon dioxide creates high-speed orbiting patterns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUp until now, we had used only experiments with Styrofoam spheres to train our model. The true test was whether it could predict mosquito flights around a human. Chris returned to the chamber, this time wearing all white clothes and a black hat, turning himself into a bull\u2019s-eye. Our model successfully predicted the distribution of mosquitoes around him. We identified zones of danger, where there was a high chance of a mosquito circling around him.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPredicting mosquito behavior is a first step toward outsmarting them. In mosquito-prone areas, people design \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1404493\u0022\u003Ehouses with features to prevent mosquitoes\u003C\/a\u003E from following human cues and entering. Similarly, mosquito traps suck in mosquitoes when they get too close but still allow between \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/jme\/tjz243\u0022\u003E50% and 90% of mosquitoes to escape\u003C\/a\u003E. Many of these designs are based on trial and error. We hope that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adz7063\u0022\u003Eour study provides a more precise tool\u003C\/a\u003E for designing methods for mosquito capture or deterrence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen Chris\u2019 mother attended his master\u2019s degree defense, I asked her how she felt about her son using himself as bait for mosquitoes. She said she was very proud. So am I \u2013 and not just because I\u2019m relieved Chris didn\u2019t ask me to take his place in the mosquito chamber.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/278486\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hundreds-of-hungry-mosquitoes-a-student-volunteer-and-a-mesh-suit-helped-us-figure-out-how-these-deadly-insects-reach-their-targets-278486\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy tracking the flight of many mosquitoes around a student volunteer, we hoped to determine how they made decisions in response to his presence. Understanding how mosquitoes respond to humans is a first step to controlling them.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By tracking the flight of many mosquitoes around a student volunteer, we hoped to determine how they made decisions in response to his presence. Understanding how mosquitoes respond to humans is a first step to controlling them."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-18 16:52:12","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 16:57:10","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679694":{"id":"679694","type":"image","title":"Trajectories of mosquitoes flying around a human target. David L. Hu, Georgia Tech","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETrajectories of mosquitoes flying around a human target. David L. Hu, Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773939193","gmt_created":"2026-03-19 16:53:13","changed":"1773939193","gmt_changed":"2026-03-19 16:53:13","alt":"Trajectories of mosquitoes flying around a human target. David L. Hu, Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"263886","name":"file-20260317-57-gbcbz7.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260317-57-gbcbz7.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260317-57-gbcbz7.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2835625,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260317-57-gbcbz7.png?itok=JyAHkg79"}}},"media_ids":["679694"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/hundreds-of-hungry-mosquitoes-a-student-volunteer-and-a-mesh-suit-helped-us-figure-out-how-these-deadly-insects-reach-their-targets-278486","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"108731","name":"School of Mechanical Engineering"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/david-hu-204122\u0022\u003EDavid Hu\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Biology, Adjunct Professor of Physics, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689054":{"#nid":"689054","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Develop Biodegradable, Plant\u2011Based Packaging From Natural Fibers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=YpxchNkAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EJie Wu\u003C\/a\u003E, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJie and I had been hoping to identify naturally occurring whitening pigments that could be used in paper and paints. The beetle\u2019s white exoskeleton is made from a compound called chitin, which is a type of carbohydrate \u2013 one that is also commonly found in crab and lobster shells.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst, Jie extracted chitin nanofibers from crab shells obtained from food waste that are chemically the same as those found in the white beetles. But instead of creating a white material as intended, Jie produced dense, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/bm501416q\u0022\u003Etransparent films\u003C\/a\u003E. The nanofibers more readily assembled in tightly packed films than in the porous structures Jie desired.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-right zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Two white beetles\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=237\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=882\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/721546\/original\/file-20260303-57-g7dkdj.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=1109\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAn attempt to mimic the striking white color of \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ECyphochilus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003E beetles led researchers to a unique discovery.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cyphochilus#\/media\/File:Cyphochilus_beetles.jpg\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EOlimpia1lli\/Wikimedia Commons\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003E, \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca class=\u0022license\u0022 href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003ECC BY-NC-ND\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn a whim, Jie measured the rate at which oxygen passed through the film. The result was astonishing: The barrier allowed less oxygen through than many existing packaging plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat serendipitous finding in 2014 shifted \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=3qOG6PUAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003Emy team\u003C\/a\u003E of engineering students\u2019 focus from color to packaging. We asked whether natural materials could rival the performance of common plastics. In the years since, our team has used this discovery to create biodegradable films that offer a more sustainable and effective alternative to plastic packaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EChallenges of Plastic Packaging\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlastic packaging is commonly used to protect food, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. These plastics keep out moisture and oxygen from the air, so products stay \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/C2012-0-00246-3\u0022\u003Efresh and safe\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost packaging has several layers that work together to keep air out, but these layers hinder reuse and recycling efforts. As a result, most of this plastic barrier packaging is discarded to landfills as single-use materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany researchers have sought alternatives that are renewable, biodegradable or recyclable, yet just as effective. At Georgia Tech, my team of students and post-docs has spent more than a decade tackling this problem. This journey began with that beetle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBuilding a Better Barrier\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/chitin\u0022\u003EChitin\u003C\/a\u003E is widely available in food waste and mushrooms, and it is used in products such as water filters and wound dressing. However, our early attempts to scale up the film technology based on the beetle-inspired experiment failed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2018, the team made an important leap forward by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.8b01536\u0022\u003Eusing spray coating to create layers\u003C\/a\u003E of chitin and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/health\/topics\/agents\/sya-nano\u0022\u003Ecellulose nanomaterials\u003C\/a\u003E. Cellulose, like chitin, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/cellulose\u0022\u003Eis a carbohydrate polymer\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 a chain of repeating carbohydrate units \u2013 and it is obtained from plants. These abundant natural materials have opposite electric charges, which led to better barrier performance when we combined them than either material alone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this approach, the team sprayed down a layer of chitin, followed by a layer of cellulose. The opposite charges between the chitin and cellulose created a long-range attraction between them that binds the layers to create a dense interface.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater, in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=BrXwtO4AAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E, a materials scientist, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/harris\u0022\u003ETequila Harris\u003C\/a\u003E, a mechanical engineer, other students showed these coatings could be applied with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsami.2c09925\u0022\u003Escalable, roll-to-roll techniques\u003C\/a\u003E. Roll-to-roll coating methods are preferred in industry because the coatings are applied continuously to large rolls of a substrate material, such as paper or other biodegradable plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe width=\u0022440\u0022 height=\u0022260\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EBNyjJFB8Zc?wmode=transparent\u0026amp;start=0\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ERoll-to-roll coating allows manufacturers to easily apply thin layers of coating to a base material, called a substrate.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, humidity posed a major challenge, limiting any real-world applications. Moisture swelled the film, allowing more oxygen to sneak through.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen came another breakthrough. In 2024, another collaborator, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=ZILIcOwAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003ENatalie Stingelin\u003C\/a\u003E, and I discovered that two common food components resisted water vapor when combined: carboxymethylcellulose \u2013 which is found in ice cream, for example \u2013 and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/Citric-Acid\u0022\u003Ecitric acid\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result was a film that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1039\/D4SU00425F\u0022\u003Ehindered the transmission of moisture\u003C\/a\u003E. The citric acid reacted with the cellulose to form cross-links, which are chemical junctions that bind the cellulose molecules. Once bound, they reduced the film\u2019s moisture uptake.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe integrated this new discovery with the prior work by combining the citric acid and cellulose, and then casting this mixture as a freestanding film by coating it onto a substrate, such as chitin.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, that formulation did not have strong oxygen barrier properties because it did not contain the highly crystalline cellulose nanomaterials from our first film. Our team\u2019s most \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsapm.5c02909\u0022\u003Erecent achievement\u003C\/a\u003E, from October 2025, combines the above innovations. As a result, we\u2019ve created a bio-based film that is an excellent barrier to both oxygen and moisture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A diagram showing a rectangle representing a biodegradable film, with an arrow deflecting off of it showing how it keeps out water vapor and oxygen. On the right is the film.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=300\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/710006\/original\/file-20251220-56-gcunhe.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=377\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EAn oxygen and water vapor barrier film composed of blended cellulose and chitin.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EJ. Carson Meredith\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EScaling Up Production\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen cast into thin films, these components self-organize into a dense structure that resists swelling with water vapor. Tests showed that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsapm.5c02909\u0022\u003Eeven at 80% humidity\u003C\/a\u003E the film matched or outperformed common packaging plastics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe materials are renewable, biodegradable and compostable. Our team has filed several patent applications, and we are working with industry partners to develop specific packaging uses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne challenge that applications face is a limited supply of the bio-based components compared to the high volume of conventional plastics. Like any new material, it would take time for manufacturers to develop supply chains as the films begin to be used.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, the market demand for purified chitin is small right now, as it is used in niche applications, such as wound dressings and water filtration. Due to its variety of uses, packaging could increase that market demand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next challenge is scaling up from experimental films to industrial production, which would likely take several years. The team is exploring roll-to-roll coating techniques and working with industry partners to integrate these materials into existing packaging lines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolicy and consumer demand will also play a role. As governments push for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-stop-at-plastic-bags-and-straws-the-case-for-a-global-treaty-banning-most-single-use-plastics-109857\u0022\u003Ebans on single-use plastics\u003C\/a\u003E and companies set sustainability targets, bio-based films could become part of the solution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe story of this breakthrough reminds me that science often advances through unexpected results. From a failed attempt to mimic a beetle\u2019s color to a promising alternative to plastic, this research shows how curiosity can lead to solutions for some of our biggest challenges.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/271262\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2026-03-17 16:36:23","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 16:43:18","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679693":{"id":"679693","type":"image","title":"Plastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. tuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPlastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/white-plastic-bag-on-black-background-royalty-free-image\/1211742906?phrase=plastic%2Bwrap\u0022\u003Etuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773938347","gmt_created":"2026-03-19 16:39:07","changed":"1773938347","gmt_changed":"2026-03-19 16:39:07","alt":"Plastic packaging fills up landfills \u2013 engineers are working on a bio-based alternative that could replace the kind shown here. tuk69tuk\/iStock via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"263885","name":"file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":128914,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/19\/file-20260303-57-8ad4eq.jpg?itok=MPEKR6lv"}}},"media_ids":["679693"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/researchers-develop-biodegradable-plant-based-packaging-from-natural-fibers-new-research-271262","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1237","name":"College of Engineering"},{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"117301","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute"},{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1240","name":"School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/j-carson-meredith-2540164\u0022\u003EJ. Carson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685455":{"#nid":"685455","#data":{"type":"news","title":"What Happens When AI Comes to the Cotton\u00a0Fields","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrecision agriculture uses tools and technologies such as GPS and sensors to monitor, measure and respond to changes within a farm field in real time. This includes \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/3-ways-ai-can-help-farmers-tackle-the-challenges-of-modern-agriculture-213210\u0022\u003Eusing artificial intelligence\u003C\/a\u003E technologies for tasks such as helping farmers apply pesticides only where and when they are needed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, precision agriculture has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/870\/865822.pdf\u0022\u003Enot been widely implemented\u003C\/a\u003E in many rural areas of the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe study \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=Smg8NicAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Esmart communities\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?hl=en\u0026amp;user=bRCOhqUAAAAJ\u0026amp;view_op=list_works\u0026amp;sortby=pubdate\u0022\u003Eenvironmental health sciences\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholars.georgiasouthern.edu\/en\/persons\/james-e-thomas-2\u0022\u003Ehealth policy and community health\u003C\/a\u003E, and we participated in a research project on AI and pesticide use in a rural Georgia agricultural community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur team, led by Georgia Southern University and the City of Millen, with support from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, local high schools and agriculture technology company \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.farmsense.io\/\u0022\u003EFarmSense\u003C\/a\u003E, is piloting AI-powered sensors to help cotton farmers optimize pesticide use. Georgia is one of the top cotton-producing states in the U.S., with cotton \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.farm-monitor.com\/georgia-cotton-growers-face-challenges-change-in-2025\/\u0022\u003Econtributing nearly US$1 billion\u003C\/a\u003E to the state\u2019s economy in 2024. But \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/870\/865822.pdf\u0022\u003Eonly 13%\u003C\/a\u003E of Georgia farmers use precision agriculture practices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EPublic-Private-Academic Partnership\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInnovation drives economic growth, but access to it often stops at major city limits. Smaller and rural communities are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jrurstud.2020.08.042\u0022\u003Efrequently left out\u003C\/a\u003E, lacking the funding, partnerships and technical resources that fuel progress elsewhere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same time, 75% of generative AI\u2019s projected economic impact is concentrated in customer operations, marketing, software engineering and research and development, according to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/capabilities\/mckinsey-digital\/our-insights\/the-economic-potential-of-generative-ai-the-next-productivity-frontier\u0022\u003E2023 McKinsey report\u003C\/a\u003E. In contrast, applications of AI that improve infrastructure, food systems, safety and health remain underexplored.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet smaller and rural communities are rich in potential \u2014 home to anchor institutions like small businesses, civic groups and schools that are deeply invested in their communities. And that potential could be tapped to develop AI applications that fall outside of traditional corporate domains.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EPartnership for Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E, a coalition of people and organizations from academia, government and industry, helps bridge that gap. Since its launch almost five years ago, the Partnership for Innovation has supported \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/all_projects\/\u0022\u003E220 projects\u003C\/a\u003E across Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and Alabama, partnering with more than 300 communities on challenges from energy poverty to river safety.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022ulmi5\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/ulmi5\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne Partnership for Innovation program provides seed funding and technical support for community research teams. This support enables local problem-solving that strengthens both research scholarship and community outcomes. The program has recently focused on the role of civic artificial intelligence \u2013 AI that supports communities and local governments. Our project on cotton field pesticide use is part of this program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECotton Pests and Pesticides\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur project in Jenkins County, Georgia, is testing that potential. Jenkins County, with a population of around 8,700, is among the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nass.usda.gov\/Statistics_by_State\/Georgia\/Publications\/County_Estimates\/2023\/GACotton2023.pdf\u0022\u003Etop 25 cotton-growing counties\u003C\/a\u003E in the state. In 2024, approximately \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gfb.org\/news\/ag-news\/post\/georgia-farmers-increase-acreage-for-peanuts-hay-and-oats\u0022\u003E1.1 million acres\u003C\/a\u003E of land in Georgia were planted with cotton, and based on the 2022 agricultural county profiles census, Jenkins County \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nass.usda.gov\/Publications\/AgCensus\/2022\/Online_Resources\/County_Profiles\/Georgia\/cp13165.pdf\u0022\u003Eranked 173rd\u003C\/a\u003E out of the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.fcr.2024.109483\u0022\u003E765 counties\u003C\/a\u003E producing cotton in the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022a hand holding a white puffy object with leafy plants in the background\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690986\/original\/file-20250915-56-uruwf9.JPEG?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003ECotton is a major part of Georgia\u2019s agriculture industry.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDaeshjea Mcgee\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe state benefits from fertile soils, a subtropical-to-temperate climate, and abundant natural resources, all of which support a thriving agricultural industry. But these same conditions also foster pests and diseases.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFarmers in Jenkins County, like many farmers, face numerous insect infestations, including stink bugs, cotton bollworms, corn earworms, tarnished plant bugs and aphids. Farmers make heavy use of pesticides. Without precise data on the bugs, farmers end up using more pesticides than they likely need, risking residents\u2019 health and adding costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile there are some existing tools for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/safepestcontrol\/integrated-pest-management-ipm-principles\u0022\u003Eintegrated pest management\u003C\/a\u003E, such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apps.bugwood.org\/apps\/gacottoninsectadv\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Cotton Insect Advisor\u003C\/a\u003E app, they are not widely adopted and are limited to certain bugs. Other methods, such as traditional manual scouting and using sticky traps, are labor-intensive and time-consuming, particularly in the hot summer climate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur research team set out to combine AI-based early pest detection methods with existing integrated pest management practices and the insect advisor app. The goal was to significantly improve pest detection, decrease pesticide exposure levels and reduce insecticide use on cotton farms in Jenkins County. The work compares different insect monitoring methods and assesses pesticide levels in both the fields and nearby semi-urban areas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe selected eight large cotton fields operated by local farmers in Millen, four active and four control sites, to collect environmental samples before farmers began planting cotton and applying pesticides.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022a triangular open-sided structure\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=450\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/690987\/original\/file-20250915-56-h06lha.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=566\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EPest insects are identified by AI as they fly through a light sensor inside this trap.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution source\u0022\u003EDaeshjea Mcgee\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team was aided by a new AI-based insect monitoring system called the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.farmsense.io\/our-product-farmsense-flightsensor\/\u0022\u003EFlightSensor\u003C\/a\u003E by FarmSense. The system uses a machine learning algorithm that was trained to recognize the unique wingbeats of each pest insect species. The specialized trap is equipped with infrared optical sensors that project an invisible infrared light beam \u2013 called a light curtain \u2013 across the entrance of a triangular tunnel. A sensor monitors the light curtain and uses the machine learning algorithm to identify each pest species as insects fly into the trap.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFlightSensor provides information on the prevalence of targeted insects, giving farmers an alternative to traditional manual insect scouting. The information enables the farmers to adjust their pesticide-spraying frequency to match the need.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat We\u2019ve Learned\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere are three things we have learned so far:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. Predictive pest control potential\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 AI tools can help farmers pinpoint exactly where pest outbreaks are likely \u2013 before they happen. That means they can treat only the areas that need it, saving time, labor and pesticide costs. It\u2019s a shift from blanket spraying to precision farming \u2013 and it\u2019s a skill farmers can use season after season.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. Stronger decision-making for farmers\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 The preliminary results indicate that the proposed sensors can effectively monitor insect populations specific to cotton farms. Even after the sensors are gone, farmers who used them get better at spotting pests. That\u2019s because the AI dashboards and mobile apps help them see how pest populations grow over time and respond to different field conditions. Researchers also have the ability to access this data remotely through satellite-based monitoring platforms on their computers, further enhancing the collaboration and learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3. Building local agtech talent\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Training students and farmers on AI pest detection is doing more than protecting cotton crops. It\u2019s building digital literacy, opening doors to agtech careers and preparing communities for future innovation. The same tools could help local governments manage mosquitoes and ticks and open up more agtech innovations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EBlueprint for Rural Innovation\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy using AI to detect pests early and reduce pesticide use, the project aims to lower harmful residues in local soil and air while supporting more sustainable farming. This pilot project could be a blueprint for how rural communities use AI generally to boost agriculture, reduce public health risks and build local expertise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust as important, this work encourages more civic AI applications \u2013 grounded in real community needs \u2013 that others can adopt and adapt elsewhere. AI and innovation do not need to be urban or corporate to have a significant effect, nor do you need advanced technology degrees to be innovative. With the right partnerships, small towns, too, can harness innovations for economic and community growth.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/261526\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-happens-when-ai-comes-to-the-cotton-fields-261526\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech team is piloting AI-powered sensors to help cotton farmers optimize pesticide use.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech team is piloting AI-powered sensors to help cotton farmers optimize pesticide use."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-10-02 14:24:54","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:11:47","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-23T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678243":{"id":"678243","type":"image","title":"A researcher works in a cotton field in Jenkins County, Georgia, as part of a project on AI and pesticide use. Dorothy Seybold","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA researcher works in a cotton field in Jenkins County, Georgia, as part of a project on AI and pesticide use. Dorothy Seybold\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1759415309","gmt_created":"2025-10-02 14:28:29","changed":"1759415309","gmt_changed":"2025-10-02 14:28:29","alt":"A researcher works in a cotton field in Jenkins County, Georgia, as part of a project on AI and pesticide use. Dorothy Seybold","file":{"fid":"262245","name":"file-20250915-56-jv2dth1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/02\/file-20250915-56-jv2dth1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/02\/file-20250915-56-jv2dth1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1517991,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/02\/file-20250915-56-jv2dth1.jpg?itok=V8ZMFMfm"}}},"media_ids":["678243"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-happens-when-ai-comes-to-the-cotton-fields-261526","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660368","name":"Tech AI (Artificial Intelligence)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthors:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/debra-lam-2212654\u0022\u003EDebra Lam\u003C\/a\u003E, founding director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/atin-adhikari-2437419\u0022\u003EAtin Adhikari\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Georgia Southern University\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/james-e-thomas-2437420\u0022\u003EJames E. Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E, senior lecturer in Health Policy and Community Health, Georgia Southern University\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688956":{"#nid":"688956","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Future Focused: The 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference at Georgia Tech ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyexpo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESoutheastern Energy Conference\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference, took place on Feb. 18. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, the conference welcomed more than 150 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, featuring dynamic discussions on the future of energy. The theme, \u0022Future Focused: Advancing the Energy of Tomorrow,\u0022 highlighted the industry\u2019s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration as participants explored emerging technologies, evolving policies, and strategies shaping the energy landscape of tomorrow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event kicked off with a keynote address from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/ceser\/person\/alex-fitzsimmons\u0022\u003EAlex Fitzsimmons\u003C\/a\u003E, acting undersecretary of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at the U.S. Department of Energy. He shared insights into the administration\u2019s work at the intersection of cybersecurity and the rapidly evolving U.S. energy sector. The first panel of the day, \u201cEnergy Innovation,\u201d explored leaders\u2019 perspectives on organizational innovation within the industry. With Tech undergraduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/neil-ansu-ghosh\/\u0022\u003ENeil Ghosh\u003C\/a\u003E moderating the panel,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/roderick-jackson-b1a3381\/\u0022\u003ERoderick Jackson\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jamie-barber-0686599\/\u0022\u003EJamie Barber\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mark-tozzi\/\u0022\u003EMark Tozzi\u003C\/a\u003E discussed emerging energy technologies and their potential impact on the industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater, the Industry Showcase featured representatives from energy companies such as GE Vernova, Cherry Street Energy, Orion, GTA, Kimley Horn, and E4E Solutions, providing valuable networking and career development opportunities for students and professionals. A panel on \u201cOvercoming Growing Pains\u201d followed, with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/josh-stallings-a942b91a2\/\u0022\u003EJosh Stallings\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of Power Delivery Strategy and Support at Georgia Power;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dan-molzahn-26001aa\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Molzahn\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE); and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lisawichmannberry\/\u0022\u003ELisa Berry\u003C\/a\u003E, GE Vernova\u2019s technical director for Decarbonization and Data Centers for the Americas region. The discussion was moderated by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/a\u003E, co-president of the Energy Club and a graduate student in ECE, and focused on current challenges facing the rapidly growing energy industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the standout moments of the conference was the Student Symposium, where 16 student researchers presented their work while competing for $1,000 in prize money sponsored by Cobb EMC. Projects ranged from residential demand management optimization studies to the challenges and viability of hydrogen combustion engines.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/erik-barbosa-45758416b\/\u0022\u003EErik Barbosa\u003C\/a\u003E earned first place for his research on a multiscale approach to thermochemical energy storage within buildings.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/daksh-adhikari\/\u0022\u003EDaksh Adhikari\u003C\/a\u003E received second place for examining the mitigation of flow boiling instabilities with active flow control, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/william-schertzer\/\u0022\u003EWilliam Schertzer\u003C\/a\u003E placed third for work using machine learning and neural networks to model anion exchange membrane degradation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe final event of the day, \u201cScaling Emergent Energy Technologies,\u201d focused on growing the newest energy technologies within the industry. Moderated by Georgia Tech undergraduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/james-lovely-aa5753288\/\u0022\u003EJames Lovely\u003C\/a\u003E, the panel included\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ldb\/\u0022\u003ELuke Bockewitz\u003C\/a\u003E, director of business development at Kinetics;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nian-liu-68740b7a\/\u0022\u003ENian Liu\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor and Robert G. Miller Faculty Fellow in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tomcuthbertiii\/\u0022\u003EThomas Cuthbert\u003C\/a\u003E, chief technology officer at Emrgy. The conference closed with a keynote speech from James Marlow, president and CEO of Southface Institute, who provided a framework for thinking through innovation and tactical advice for aspiring energy innovators and leaders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The level of organization and vision demonstrated by the students was outstanding,\u201d Molzahn said. \u201cBy focusing on the evolving energy landscape and inviting experts from across the field, they created an event that sparked important conversations for our campus.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was an honor to serve as the Energy Club\u2019s 2026 conference chair and work alongside the strong energy community at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Jonathan Acree. \u201cMeaningful innovation in energy depends on collaboration, and it was truly encouraging to see such an interdisciplinary group of talented students, researchers, and industry leaders come together around the shared goal of advancing our energy future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe conference also highlighted Georgia Tech\u2019s role as a hub for forward-thinking dialogue on global energy challenges \u2014 and the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the evolving energy landscape and fostering the next generation of leaders in the field.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWritten by Georgia Tech students:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bradenqueen\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBraden Queen\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/orit-endalk\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOrit\u0026nbsp;Endalk,\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/maxzhang32\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEli Acree\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyexpo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESoutheastern Energy Conference\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference, took place on Feb. 18. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech, the conference welcomed more than 150 attendees, including industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and students, featuring dynamic discussions on the future of energy. The theme, \u0022Future Focused: Advancing the Energy of Tomorrow,\u0022 highlighted the industry\u2019s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration as participants explored emerging technologies, evolving policies, and strategies shaping the energy landscape of tomorrow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The 2026\u00a0Southeastern Energy Conference, Georgia Tech\u2019s annual student-led energy and sustainability conference welcomed more than 150 attendees and featured dynamic discussions on the future of energy."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-16 16:17:05","changed_gmt":"2026-03-16 17:03:33","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679644":{"id":"679644","type":"image","title":"DSC02443-LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Energy Club student members with Alex Fitzsimmons (middle), Under Secretary of Energy (Acting) at U.S. Department of Energy\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Energy Club members with Alex Fitzsimmons (middle), Under Secretary of Energy (Acting) at U.S. Department of Energy","file":{"fid":"263825","name":"DSC02443-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1287697,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/16\/DSC02443-LR.jpeg?itok=ebJf-6fl"}},"679648":{"id":"679648","type":"image","title":"IMG_9700-LR.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPoster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Poster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy 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2026.","file":{"fid":"263826","name":"IMG_9706-LR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9706-LR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9706-LR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":621893,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9706-LR.jpg?itok=aEwHVw9u"}},"679646":{"id":"679646","type":"image","title":"IMG_9691-LR.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPoster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Poster Session at the 2026 Southeastern Energy Conference","file":{"fid":"263827","name":"IMG_9691-LR.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9691-LR.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9691-LR.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":834148,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9691-LR.jpeg?itok=AT-4yTt9"}},"679647":{"id":"679647","type":"image","title":"IMG_9702-LR.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Club Team at the Southeastern Energy Conference\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773677896","gmt_created":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","changed":"1773677896","gmt_changed":"2026-03-16 16:18:16","alt":"Energy Club Team at the Southeastern Energy Conference","file":{"fid":"263828","name":"IMG_9702-LR.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9702-LR.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9702-LR.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":843253,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/16\/IMG_9702-LR.jpg?itok=j844Jh3G"}}},"media_ids":["679644","679648","679645","679646","679647"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/energyexpo.gatech.edu\/","title":"2026 Southeastern Energy Conference Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || Communications Program Manager, Strategic Energy Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688755":{"#nid":"688755","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Engineers Week Brings Georgia Tech Research to Classrooms Across the State","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMore than 6,200 high school students across Georgia tuned in for Engineers Week 2026. Through a series of online talks, Georgia Tech researchers shared a glimpse of the technologies shaping the future. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA national initiative held February 23\u201327, the event highlighted research spanning cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, robotics, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The program virtually brought engineers into classrooms statewide, who offered online learning experiences centered on inquiry, problem solving, and design.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a great collaborative effort between the College of Engineering, the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI), and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI),\u201d said Sean Mulvanity, program lead at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/outreach\/stem-at-gtri\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESTEM@GTRI.\u003C\/a\u003E \u201cWe provided students from across the state the opportunity to interact with leaders in a variety of engineering fields.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach day featured a different engineer discussing the real-world challenges driving their work. Cybersecurity professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/17433\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESaman Zonouz\u003C\/a\u003E began the week with a talk on protecting critical digital systems that power modern life. Aerospace engineer professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/adam-m-steinberg\u0022\u003EAdam Steinberg\u003C\/a\u003E followed with insights into developing faster, cleaner engines for next-generation supersonic aircraft. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/juergen-rauleder\u0022\u003EJuergen Rauleder\u003C\/a\u003E, also an aerospace engineer professor, then introduced students to aerodynamics research conducted in Georgia Tech\u0027s wind tunnel \u2014 one of the largest in the United States.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELater sessions expanded the conversation across disciplines. Civil and environmental engineering professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/lauren-stewart\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELauren Stewart\u003C\/a\u003E discussed designing buildings and infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme loads, while mechanical engineer professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/aaron-stebner\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/a\u003E closed the week with his talk, \u003Cem\u003E\u201c3D Printing Titanium: Realizing the Superhero Powers of Ironman,\u201d\u003C\/em\u003E exploring advances in additive manufacturing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese talks show engineering isn\u2019t just theory,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, GTMI principal research scientist. \u201cStudents are hearing directly about the kinds of problems people are working on right now.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne session featured \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Faparna-srinidhi-jagannathan-10655823b%2F\u0026amp;data=05%7C02%7Cychernet3%40gatech.edu%7C5b33de3205984ef8f05408de7aeea5b4%7C482198bbae7b4b258b7a6d7f32faa083%7C1%7C0%7C639083362547434014%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C\u0026amp;sdata=MvM%2F5DS3783hgYAvqDD3Uj00PvsQot9Q1afZ3ldx1s0%3D\u0026amp;reserved=0\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAparna Srinidhi Jagannathan\u003C\/a\u003E, a third-year biomedical engineering student and undergraduate researcher at Georgia Tech, who spoke about her research in the Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls (EPIC) Lab. Jagannathan is developing a wearable biofeedback system designed to help patients with gait disorders\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eimprove balance and coordination while walking. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the things I value about being an engineer is the ability to turn abstract ideas and theories into tangible devices and technologies through research and design,\u201d Jagannathan said. \u201cEngineers Week empowers students with the knowledge that they, too, can meaningfully contribute to engineering. It reminds them that they can lead projects that benefit the communities around them.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineers Week at Georgia Tech was presented by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"A week of virtual talks opened a window into the research shaping everything from supersonic flight to wearable biofeedback devices."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMore than 6,200 high school students across Georgia tuned in for Engineers Week 2026, joining a series of online talks hosted by Georgia Tech that offered a glimpse into the technologies shaping the future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"More than 6,200 high school students across Georgia tuned in for Engineers Week 2026, joining a series of online talks hosted by Georgia Tech that offered a glimpse into the technologies shaping the future. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-05 21:55:51","changed_gmt":"2026-03-12 20:24:43","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688825":{"#nid":"688825","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Charles Nimo Receives Roland Ewubare Fellowship in Societal Engagement and Impact","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech doctoral student Charles Nimo has been selected as the newest recipient of the Roland Ewubare Fellowship in Societal Engagement and Impact, a philanthropic program supporting underrepresented graduate students whose research advances community focused, socially relevant scholarship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by Roland Ewubare, a distinguished Nigerian lawyer and corporate executive, the fellowship recognizes emerging scholars whose master\u2019s or doctoral work meaningfully connects with societal engagement and impact.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program expands opportunities for graduate researchers committed to addressing real world challenges through innovative, community centered inquiry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENimo is a third year Ph.D. student in computer science and a graduate research assistant in the Technologies and International Development Lab led by Michael L. Best, executive director of the Institute for People and Technology and professor in both the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing. He is co-advised by Irfan Essa, professor in the School of Interactive Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENimo\u2019s research explores human centered natural language processing for healthcare, as well as multilingual AI systems in low resource contexts. Nimo develops tools to evaluate and improve the safety, robustness, and global inclusion of language technologies. His broader goal is to build AI systems that are fair, reliable, and effective across diverse languages and cultures, helping ensure that technological advances benefit communities often overlooked in mainstream AI development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m very grateful to receive this fellowship for societal impact,\u201d Nimo said. \u201cThank you for this support and believing in the work, and I\u2019m excited to keep building research that translates into real world benefit.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENimo earned his B.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, and his M.S. in computer science from the University of Texas at Austin.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech doctoral student Charles Nimo has been selected as the newest recipient of the Roland Ewubare Fellowship in Societal Engagement and Impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech doctoral student Charles Nimo has been selected as the newest recipient of the Roland Ewubare Fellowship in Societal Engagement and Impact."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-03-10 15:34:49","changed_gmt":"2026-03-10 19:50:43","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679558":{"id":"679558","type":"image","title":"Charles Nimo ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECharles Nimo is a third year Ph.D. student in computer science.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1773156769","gmt_created":"2026-03-10 15:32:49","changed":"1773156840","gmt_changed":"2026-03-10 15:34:00","alt":"Charles Nimo","file":{"fid":"263733","name":"Charles-Nimo-copy-cropped-Smaller-FINAL.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/Charles-Nimo-copy-cropped-Smaller-FINAL.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/10\/Charles-Nimo-copy-cropped-Smaller-FINAL.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":456125,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/10\/Charles-Nimo-copy-cropped-Smaller-FINAL.jpg?itok=qogb7bPV"}}},"media_ids":["679558"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688513":{"#nid":"688513","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Proving the Hypothesis: Kendreze Holland Becomes First Project ENGAGES Scholar to Earn Doctorate ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbstract\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was a hypothesis. I was the experiment, and the hypothesis was proven true.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECan an\u0026nbsp;inner-city student who grew up below the poverty line\u0026nbsp;earn a Ph.D. and make a career in research?\u0026nbsp;In theory, yes.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe barriers are many.\u0026nbsp;But\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2451929424001888\u0022\u003Eliterature\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;suggests that early exposure to\u0026nbsp;STEM and research opportunities\u0026nbsp;can increase the odds\u0026nbsp;for students in need.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor\u0026nbsp;Kendreze\u0026nbsp;Holland,\u0026nbsp;the idea of\u0026nbsp;making it to college\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;earning an advanced degree\u0026nbsp;was a hypothesis.\u0026nbsp;Sure, theoretically\u0026nbsp;it could be done\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;but\u0026nbsp;in his\u0026nbsp;own home, not\u0026nbsp;everyone\u0026nbsp;had\u0026nbsp;even\u0026nbsp;made it past high school.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOften,\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;first\u0026nbsp;question\u0026nbsp;on the way to\u0026nbsp;scientific discovery\u0026nbsp;is:\u0026nbsp;What if? What if a student like Holland received the right help at the right time?\u0026nbsp;What if he\u0026nbsp;was guided\u0026nbsp;along the way by\u0026nbsp;mentors\u0026nbsp;who were leaders in their fields? What if\u0026nbsp;he was given the opportunity to develop professional skills\u0026nbsp;and make valuable connections?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHolland asked himself: What if he could be the one to\u0026nbsp;prove the hypothesis true?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntroduction\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHolland grew up\u0026nbsp;in northwest\u0026nbsp;Atlanta,\u0026nbsp;one of seven children\u0026nbsp;raised by a single mother.\u0026nbsp;Being\u0026nbsp;one of so many children, most would struggle to stand out. But Holland always\u0026nbsp;sought\u0026nbsp;to be different.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy perpetual intention was to be less of a burden to my mother,\u201d he said. \u201cSince my mother\u2019s education limited her abilities to help with my schoolwork, I went above the call of duty to stand out in academics.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis mother\u2019s education was cut short in ninth grade so she could raise her first child,\u0026nbsp;Holland\u2019s older sister,\u0026nbsp;and no one in his family had gone to college.\u0026nbsp;In his mind, he had\u0026nbsp;three career paths\u0026nbsp;to choose from: football, hip hop, or retail.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStanding at a solid 5 foot 8,\u0026nbsp;the first\u0026nbsp;would have been difficult,\u201d he joked. \u201cAnd the latter two were not my calling.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust like his mother, the course of his life changed in his ninth-grade year. For\u0026nbsp;Holland,\u0026nbsp;it began an academic journey\u0026nbsp;he never expected.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2012, he was attending\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/best.atlantapublicschools.us\/\u0022\u003EB.E.S.T.\u0026nbsp;Academy\u003C\/a\u003E, an all-boys\u0026nbsp;public\u0026nbsp;school for grades six through\u0026nbsp;12\u0026nbsp;focused on\u0026nbsp;business and STEM.\u0026nbsp;Biology\u0026nbsp;class\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;just another hour\u0026nbsp;waiting to pass\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;15-year-old\u0026nbsp;Holland,\u0026nbsp;until the day\u0026nbsp;two guest speakers from\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;walked into the room with \u201csome weird\u0026nbsp;apparatuses and mechanical chopsticks.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two guests\u0026nbsp;used the equipment\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;gel electrophoresis systems and pipettes\u0026nbsp;\u2014 to show the boys\u0026nbsp;what research can look like in real life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis experience sparked within me a drive for science, and it was the first time I realized that I wanted to, and could,\u0026nbsp;attain\u0026nbsp;an advanced scientific degree,\u201d Holland said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two speakers were\u0026nbsp;Manu Platt, a professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/schools\/biomedical-engineering\u0022\u003EWallace H.\u0026nbsp;Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and Jerald Dumas, a postdoctoral researcher.\u0026nbsp;Platt and Dumas\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;there\u0026nbsp;to recruit students for a new program\u0026nbsp;called\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/projectengages.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EProject ENGAGES\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;within the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IBB).\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program was co-founded by Platt and the late Robert M. Nerem, IBB\u2019s founding executive director, to give\u0026nbsp;students\u0026nbsp;like Holland an opportunity\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;participate\u0026nbsp;in real research projects\u0026nbsp;that would hopefully\u0026nbsp;plant a seed\u0026nbsp;in the next generation of scientists.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents\u0026nbsp;come from\u0026nbsp;one of eight partner schools in Atlanta. Once\u0026nbsp;accepted, they\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;connected\u0026nbsp;to a Georgia Tech graduate\u0026nbsp;student who\u0026nbsp;mentors them and\u0026nbsp;supervises their work, and\u0026nbsp;they\u0026nbsp;get paid to\u0026nbsp;work in\u0026nbsp;their assigned\u0026nbsp;lab\u0026nbsp;for\u0026nbsp;one year.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProject ENGAGES\u0026nbsp;does more than\u0026nbsp;expose students to STEM concepts and ideas. It\u0026nbsp;equips them with the skills and knowledge to carry out their own independent research projects.\u0026nbsp;They also\u0026nbsp;have\u0026nbsp;opportunities to\u0026nbsp;establish\u0026nbsp;connections with university faculty and industry representatives who can provide career guidance and support.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMethods\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough Holland\u0026nbsp;didn\u2019t\u0026nbsp;meet the program\u2019s age requirement\u0026nbsp;in 2012, he applied again\u0026nbsp;the next year and\u0026nbsp;was accepted.\u0026nbsp;During his junior and senior years of high\u0026nbsp;school,\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;worked\u0026nbsp;in Platt\u2019s lab, where he aided with\u0026nbsp;projects\u0026nbsp;involving proteins, cell cultures, and\u0026nbsp;antibodies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOver the course of those two years, the growth I saw scientifically, professionally, and in maturity, all corroborated my belief that\u0026nbsp;Kendreze\u0026nbsp;was going far, and able to push past whatever goals and obstacles he comes up against,\u201d\u0026nbsp;said Platt,\u0026nbsp;now the\u0026nbsp;director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nibib.nih.gov\/labs-at-nibib\/center-for-biomedical-engineering-technology-acceleration-beta\u0022\u003ECenter for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration\u003C\/a\u003E housed within the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nibib.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Institute of\u0026nbsp;Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHolland\u0027s experience sparked\u0026nbsp;a love for science\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;a career-long connection with Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;After high school, he\u0026nbsp;graduated summa cum laude\u0026nbsp;with a degree in chemistry\u0026nbsp;from Georgia State University.\u0026nbsp;As an undergraduate, he stayed connected with Tech and with IBB as a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\/petit-undergraduate-research-scholars-program\u0022\u003EPetit Scholar\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;a yearlong mentorship program and research experience for top students around Atlanta.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI really wanted to stay close to home, and I felt like everything was in my backyard,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are many people who come\u0026nbsp;here\u0026nbsp;from other places\u0026nbsp;to Tech because of the great\u0026nbsp;science that is going on.\u0026nbsp;There\u2019s\u0026nbsp;something special about Atlanta, and\u0026nbsp;I\u2019m\u0026nbsp;just getting the best of what I can from it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe credits his\u0026nbsp;time\u0026nbsp;in Project ENGAGES\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;giving him the confidence and resilience\u0026nbsp;to continue toward his goals.\u0026nbsp;Like many others in the program, he was a first-generation college student\u0026nbsp;with little to no\u0026nbsp;guidance\u0026nbsp;for his academic career.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;holistic approach\u0026nbsp;of Project ENGAGES\u0026nbsp;provided\u0026nbsp;professional development opportunities and standardized test preparation\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;ready\u0026nbsp;him\u0026nbsp;for life in college and beyond.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI knew I\u0026nbsp;wanted to go to grad school, but I didn\u2019t know I was going to do all these things,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cHaving that one goal sprouted a lot of side quests that just grew into something bigger.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter graduating from\u0026nbsp;Georgia State\u0026nbsp;in 2020, Holland was accepted into Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EBioengineering Graduate Program\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;as a doctoral student.\u0026nbsp;In December\u0026nbsp;2025, he became the first Project ENGAGES\u0026nbsp;alumnus\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;successfully defend his dissertation,\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;he\u0026nbsp;is expected to graduate\u0026nbsp;this spring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/lakeita-servance\u0022\u003ELakeita\u0026nbsp;Servance\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;assistant\u0026nbsp;director of Outreach Initiatives at IBB, was\u0026nbsp;the program manager for Project ENGAGES when Holland was accepted\u0026nbsp;and cheered him on\u0026nbsp;more than 10 years later as he\u0026nbsp;presented his\u0026nbsp;doctoral\u0026nbsp;research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs I sat in that room while he was defending his dissertation and\u0026nbsp;sharing his research with all of us, I still reflected on that boy\u0026nbsp;I saw at 16 years old,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was\u0026nbsp;this full circle moment to see him make it all the way back here.\u0026nbsp;The investment\u0026nbsp;we made over a decade ago has paid off in such a large way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResults\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to being the first in his family to go to college and earn an advanced degree, Holland\u0026nbsp;received financial support from the National Science Foundation\u2019s Graduate Research Fellowship Program;\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;awarded\u0026nbsp;multiple\u0026nbsp;prestigious\u0026nbsp;fellowships, including FORD,\u0026nbsp;GEM, and Herbert P. Haley;\u0026nbsp;landed an internship\u0026nbsp;with 3M Corporate Research Materials Laboratory;\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;served as a\u0026nbsp;mentor\u0026nbsp;in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/nakatani-ries\/\u0022\u003ENakatani Research and International Experience for Students\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;He has\u0026nbsp;published papers, led panel discussions,\u0026nbsp;applied\u0026nbsp;for patents, and\u0026nbsp;presented his research at national conferences.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAll that stemmed from Project ENGAGES,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd more importantly, I applied\u0026nbsp;to be a mentor for the ENGAGES program.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHolland said some of\u0026nbsp;his\u0026nbsp;most\u0026nbsp;meaningful experiences have come from\u0026nbsp;being able to give back.\u0026nbsp;He has served as a mentor, both formally and informally,\u0026nbsp;to more than half a dozen students,\u0026nbsp;some\u0026nbsp;who\u0026nbsp;come\u0026nbsp;from backgrounds\u0026nbsp;much like his own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0026nbsp;wanted to\u0026nbsp;give\u0026nbsp;back to the program because it poured so much into me. They were able to get me all the way to the Ph.D. level, so I knew that I could use my grind to help other students.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConclusion\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving proved the hypothesis true, Holland is turning his focus to the future, considering his options in academia and corporate research while he continues to work as a postdoc at Georgia Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis research in John\u0026nbsp;Blazeck\u2019s\u0026nbsp;lab\u0026nbsp;focuses on cellular engineering using CRISPR gene editing technology\u0026nbsp;to regulate gene profiles, meaning he and other researchers can turn certain genes up and others down to affect\u0026nbsp;the way cells respond.\u0026nbsp;Though he is currently working with yeast cells, he hopes that his research will translate into mammalian cells that could have more clinical applications.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn terms of diseases and disorders, you can use it to tune genes to help someone experiencing cancer\u0026nbsp;by helping immune cells or stopping cancer cells from dividing rapidly,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can also help other cells to survive longer, and longer cell viability means potentially a patient can survive longer.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat began as a presentation in\u0026nbsp;a\u0026nbsp;high school science class has led Holland\u0026nbsp;to a future he never expected.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2815\u0022\u003ETequila Harris\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W.\u0026nbsp;Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;co-director of Project ENGAGES, said\u0026nbsp;his story shows others that they can do the same.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI believe his achievements will inspire and motivate generations of students to pursue dreams that they may not have known they had.\u0026nbsp;Kendreze\u0026nbsp;Holland has fundamentally shown others that there are multiple pathways to engage in STEM and that opportunities and access to advanced degrees can\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;attained\u0026nbsp;by those willing to do the work.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHolland\u0027s story is symbolic of the ultimate goal for Project ENGAGES:\u0026nbsp;to change the lives of talented young people who may never have had the opportunity to succeed.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat\u2019s why I was so adamant about getting my Ph.D.,\u201d he said,\u0026nbsp;\u201cto show\u0026nbsp;that one could potentially overcome what they were going through to do something extraordinary.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EProject ENGAGES is possible thanks to philanthropic support from our generous community: \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/giving.gatech.edu\/campaigns\/60129\/donations\/new?designation_id=55a493\u0026amp;\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonate here\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor Kendreze Holland, the idea of making it to college and earning an advanced degree was a hypothesis. Holland asked himself: What if he could be the one to prove the hypothesis true?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat began as a presentation in a high school science class has led Holland to a future he never expected \u2013 planning to graduate from Georgia Tech with a Ph.D. in bioengineering this spring. His story is symbolic of the ultimate goal for the Project ENGAGES program: to change the lives of talented young people who may never have had the opportunity to succeed.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In December 2025, he became the first Project ENGAGES alumnus to successfully defend his dissertation, and he is expected to graduate this spring. "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 13:55:09","changed_gmt":"2026-03-09 17:59:22","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679431":{"id":"679431","type":"image","title":"Holland-Lab.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772045667","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 18:54:27","changed":"1772045667","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 18:54:27","alt":"A man in a lab coat wearing safety goggles and gloves puts samples into a machine in a scientific lab","file":{"fid":"263594","name":"Holland-Lab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Holland-Lab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Holland-Lab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1197473,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/Holland-Lab.jpg?itok=3WyFADtX"}}},"media_ids":["679431"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"188776","name":"go-research"},{"id":"172056","name":"go-BioE"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ashlie.bowman@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688800":{"#nid":"688800","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Personal Resilience as a Path to Meaningful Sustainability Work","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPeople engaged in purpose-driven work can get worn down. At Georgia Tech\u2019s 2026 Sustainability Showcase, three faculty leaders urged attendees to stop trying to do everything and instead focus on the convergence where their strengths, satisfaction, and the most urgent climate needs intersect.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat idea anchored \u201cFinding Joy and Building Resilience in Climate Action,\u201d an interactive session on day two of the showcase, hosted Feb. 9 \u2013 10 by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS). Each spring, the event brings together Georgia Tech researchers, students, staff, and partners to share their work with the sustainability community. This session turned the spotlight inward, asking how people doing sustainability work can sustain themselves over the long haul. Facilitated by Rebecca Watts Hull, the session drew on an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/ayana_elizabeth_johnson_how_to_find_joy_in_climate_action\u0022\u003EApril 2022 TED Talk\u003C\/a\u003E by marine biologist and policy expert Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, who lays out a practical way to \u201clean into your superpowers\u201d for being effective in purpose-driven work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWatts Hull, assistant director of Faculty Development for Sustainability Education Initiatives in Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Teaching and Learning, opened the discussion by explaining why she proposed the session. Many showcase events, she noted, focused on social, community, and ecological resilience. This one examined individual capacity \u2014 how people stay engaged in work that can feel frustrating, slow-moving, and emotionally draining.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohnson\u2019s TED Talk framed the problem, describing the climate challenge as \u201cgargantuan,\u201d spanning energy, transportation, agriculture, buildings, industry, ecosystems, and culture. Rather than dwelling on dire projections, she urges people to pivot to solutions and to contribute not just as generic volunteers, but by using their particular talents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg 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\u0022\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer tool is a Venn diagram that asks three questions:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhat are you good at \u2014 your skills, expertise, resources, and networks?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhat work needs doing \u2014 high-impact sustainability solutions, especially at the systems level?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhat brings you joy or satisfaction \u2014 work that energizes rather than depletes you?\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJohnson warns against choosing work that leads to burnout and against merely validating what one is already doing, pushing instead for a fresh look at where each person can have the greatest impact. She also emphasizes implementation and argues for a \u201cleaderful\u201d movement in which many people step into leadership in different ways.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMatthew Realff, professor and David I.J. Wang Faculty Fellow in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, connected Johnson\u2019s framework to resilience and his 33 years at Georgia Tech. He traced the word \u201cresilience\u201d back to its Latin root, meaning \u201cto bounce back,\u201d and defined it as the ability to absorb shocks and return to an original or improved state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Realff, that ability depends heavily on relationships. \u201cI think of personal resiliency as coming from the networks of people I interact with \u2014 the social bonds that stretch and are strained,\u201d he said, and \u201chelp me bring myself back to my center when I\u0027m finding that life is difficult with respect to things like sustainability.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe then walked through his own Venn diagram across teaching, research, and service. In teaching, he uses senior design courses to give engineering students real-world sustainability problems, from hydrogen liquefaction to biofuels and biochemicals. \u201cWatching students grapple with those challenges brings me joy,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn research, he focuses on carbon capture, including capturing CO\u2082 from flue gases and from the air. In service, he has stepped into roles he didn\u2019t initially seek, such as board chair of GreenBlue, the nonprofit behind the \u201cHow2Recycle\u201d label found on consumer packaging, and chair of standards committees that shape the environmental profile of electronics purchased by major institutions. Those roles, he acknowledged, pulled him out of his comfort zone but delivered tangible, systems-level impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChristie Stewart, senior academic professional in the School of Biological Sciences, added a perspective grounded in well-being and resilience education. She oversees Georgia Tech\u2019s undergraduate wellness requirement and teaches a class called Flourishing: Strategies for Well-Being and Resilience. For years, her students designed wellness and sustainability projects, but rarely had time to carry them out within a semester.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat frustration pushed her toward community-based service learning, linking personal wellness to broader community resilience. Stewart highlighted three strengths she brings to her own Venn diagram: using well-being frameworks; taking a strengths-based approach that helps students identify what they do best; and creating psychologically safe environments where students can discuss values, disagreements, and the emotional strain of large-scale problems like climate change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor her, the work that needs doing includes building capacity for community partners and helping students recognize that they must protect their own mental and physical health if they want to stay in the work. Her greatest satisfaction comes from seeing students discover a sense of purpose and begin to imagine themselves as future leaders who can \u201cchange culture and advocate\u201d for sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWatts Hull described how Johnson\u2019s Venn diagram helped her reconcile what she wasn\u2019t doing with what she could do best. A sociologist by training who studies social movements and change, she supports the integration of sustainability across the curriculum and teaches one course each year. In her personal life, she attends climate demonstrations, but as an introvert who dislikes large crowds, she rarely stays long and feels guilty about not doing more public-facing activism.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompleting the diagram, she said, gave her permission to focus on teaching and movement-building \u2014 her core strengths and sources of joy. She recently led a four-week climate action course at her church and used Johnson\u2019s Venn diagram as an exercise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWatts Hull closed the session by asking participants to sketch their own diagrams, reflect quietly for several minutes, and then share with others at their tables \u2014 a step toward aligning Georgia Tech\u2019s diverse sustainability community around the personal \u201csuperpowers\u201d that can sustain climate action over a lifetime.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is an opportunity to get away from what I call self-immersion,\u201d said audience member Jay Bassett, a 1985 Georgia Tech graduate and retired EPA Opportunity Zone and Smart Sector Advisor. \u201cWe have a tendency to get so isolated in what we do,\u201d and \u201cthis offers an opportunity to think beyond that and get past those boundaries and see opportunities that we don\u2019t see before because we\u2019re so self-immersed. That\u2019s an actual skill that we all ought to learn \u2014 to see the bigger picture because it may be the best part of the path forward.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPeople engaged in purpose-driven work can get worn\u0026nbsp;down. At Georgia Tech\u2019s 2026 Sustainability Showcase, three faculty leaders urged attendees to stop trying to do everything and instead focus on the convergence where their strengths, satisfaction, and the most urgent needs intersect.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech faculty invite the campus sustainability community to find the intersection of what they do best, what they love, and where they can make the biggest climate impact."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-03-06 19:14:31","changed_gmt":"2026-03-09 17:43:03","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679540":{"id":"679540","type":"image","title":"Showcase_Joy_Resilience_Session","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERuthie Yow introduces (L to R) Christie Stewart, Matthew Realff, and Rebecca Watts Hull at the 2026 Sustainability Showcase.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772824592","gmt_created":"2026-03-06 19:16:32","changed":"1772824777","gmt_changed":"2026-03-06 19:19:37","alt":"\u0022A group of people stand near large windows in a bright indoor space, with one person holding a microphone and reading from a sheet of paper. Three individuals stand together near a lectern, some holding notes or drinks. In the foreground, a table holds laptops, papers, and a drink cup. The room has light-colored floors and tall window shades that diffuse the natural light.\u0022","file":{"fid":"263713","name":"Showcase_Joy_Resilience_Session.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/Showcase_Joy_Resilience_Session.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/Showcase_Joy_Resilience_Session.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1011879,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/06\/Showcase_Joy_Resilience_Session.jpg?itok=8La2p7m-"}}},"media_ids":["679540"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688746":{"#nid":"688746","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Students Stretch the Future of Assistive Robotics","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENow in its fourth year, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/techsage.ahs.illinois.edu\/2025-stretch-robot-pitch-competition-2\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStretch Robot Pitch Competition\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E continues to evolve into one of Georgia Tech\u2019s most imaginative and human\u2011centered design challenges. Hosted by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/techsage.ahs.illinois.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETechSAge Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cidi.gatech.edu\/research\/rerctechsage\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epart of which\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is located in CIDI), the competition brings together students from across the Institute to create innovative applications for Stretch \u2013 \u0026nbsp;a lightweight, open source mobile manipulator robot with reaching, sensing, and grasping capabilities. Stretch was developed by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hello-robot.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHello Robot\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E which was co\u2011founded by former Georgia Tech professor Charlie Kemp.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith its compact form factor, capable arm, and relatively affordable price, Stretch has already become a favorite among researchers looking to push the boundaries of assistive robotics. The pitch competition invites Georgia Tech students to imagine not just what the robot can do, but what it should do to meaningfully improve daily life for people aging with disabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, teams across several disciplines\u2014from engineering, to business, to computing, and the sciences\u2014submitted video pitches outlining how their technology concept tackles real-world problems users face. The winning team earned $1,000 and, more importantly, the chance to spend a semester working with Stretch in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/awarehome.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAware Home\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E turning their pitch into a working prototype. Sponsors included TechSAge, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ai-caring.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI-CARING\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInstitute for People and Technology (IPaT)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and Hello Robot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst place was awarded to \u201cChef Stretch,\u201d a concept aimed at helping older adults with disabilities determine whether food has spoiled so they can prepare and consume food safely. The five-student team included Caitlin Woodward and Elizabeth Thompson (College of Engineering), Aditi Ashok (Scheller College of Business), and Michelle Gu and Vedita Sawhney (College of Sciences).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile Chef Stretch took the top prize, the judges awarded an honorable mention to Ali Vafaeian (College of Computing) for \u201cBimanual Clothes Manipulation and Assisted Dressing\u201d with a $500 cash prize. His proposal tackles another essential activity of daily living, dressing, which can be challenging task for many individuals with mobility impairments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cidi.gatech.edu\/feature\/stretching-future-assistive-robotics\u0022\u003ERead more about this competition and watch the winning students pitches \u0026gt;\u0026gt;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENow in its fourth year, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/techsage.ahs.illinois.edu\/2025-stretch-robot-pitch-competition-2\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStretch Robot Pitch Competition\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E continues to evolve into one of Georgia Tech\u2019s most imaginative and human\u2011centered design challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Now in its fourth year, the Stretch Robot Pitch Competition continues to evolve into one of Georgia Tech\u2019s most imaginative and human\u2011centered design challenges. "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-03-05 18:18:47","changed_gmt":"2026-03-05 18:19:11","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679531":{"id":"679531","type":"image","title":"Chef Stretch","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Gu, Aditi Ashok, Caitlin Woodward, Elizabeth Thompson, and Vedita Sawhney pose with Stretch and their award certificates. They won $1000 and the opportunity to develop their concept in the Aware Home.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772734436","gmt_created":"2026-03-05 18:13:56","changed":"1772734469","gmt_changed":"2026-03-05 18:14:29","alt":"Michelle Gu, Aditi Ashok, Caitlin Woodward, Elizabeth Thompson, and Vedita Sawhney pose with Stretch and their award certificates. They won $1000 and the opportunity to develop their concept in the Aware Home. ","file":{"fid":"263704","name":"chef-stretch.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/05\/chef-stretch.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/05\/chef-stretch.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1558640,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/05\/chef-stretch.png?itok=5yT5NAMp"}}},"media_ids":["679531"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688606":{"#nid":"688606","#data":{"type":"news","title":"IPaT Research Scientists Supporting Pediatric Research","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022\u003EInstitute for People and Technology\u003C\/a\u003E (IPaT) is deeply engaged in advancing pediatric research and clinical innovation through a partnership with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ptc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EChildren\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E (PTC). The center brings clinical experts from Children\u2019s together with Georgia Tech scientists and engineers to develop technological solutions to problems in the health and care of children. The PTC provides opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to create breakthrough discoveries that enhance the lives of children and young adults in Georgia and beyond.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIPaT is supporting research within two of PTC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pedsresearch.org\/centers\/pediatric-technology-center\/pillar-leadership\u0022\u003Ethree core research pillars\u003C\/a\u003E: data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence; and patient\u2011centered care delivery. PTC\u2019s third research pillar is focused on technologies and devices. With the expertise of IPaT\u2019s research scientists, these joint efforts combine scientific expertise, clinical insight, and shared funding that are helping to transform research innovations into operational tools that directly support pediatric patient care at Children\u2019s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIPaT is bringing two core competencies to both of these research pillars,\u201d said Maribeth Gandy Coleman, IPaT\u2019s director of research. \u201cFirst, we\u2019re advocating for and supporting the use of people-centered techniques to inform the research and co-designing the resulting system with all the stakeholders. Second, we\u2019re also making sure we can translate this research into a real return on investment for Children\u2019s. We are ensuring that what we design can be deployed in the hospital, and that it can be integrated with their existing systems and merge as seamlessly as possible with their existing workflows.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupporting Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence (Pillar 1)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPillar 1 focuses on harnessing artificial intelligence to enable more personalized and predictive pediatric care. The work aims to improve data collection infrastructure, support equitable AI practices, and build a Children\u2019s-Georgia Tech pediatric AI collaboration that integrates advanced AI tools into clinical workflows.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClinical Deterioration Prediction\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne of the flagship projects within Pillar 1 involves developing machine learning models that can detect clinical deterioration in hospitalized children. The goal is to identify when a patient needs urgent escalation to the intensive care unit \u2014 faster and more accurately than traditional monitoring.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo achieve this, IPaT research scientists are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExtracting and securely transferring electronic health record (EHR) data from Children\u2019s clinical systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETraining predictive models using that real\u2011world data.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuilding the software infrastructure required to deploy these models inside Children\u2019s.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIntegrating model outputs directly into the EHR using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources\u0026nbsp;communication protocols. (FHIR is an international standard for the electronic exchange of healthcare information.)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis infrastructure is intentionally designed not just for this single project but as a repeatable, scalable framework for future AI\u2011enabled clinical tools developed through the Children\u2019s-Georgia Tech partnership.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI-Enhanced Decision-Making for Hospital Operations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA second emerging project under Pillar 1 aims to address one of healthcare\u2019s most persistent operational challenges: ICU capacity management. Seasonal fluctuations, such as surges in flu or Covid\u201119 cases, can create sudden ICU demand surges and staff illnesses, which can make scheduling and staffing decisions challenging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIPaT is building models that incorporate historical hospital activity, seasonal variation, and real\u2011time census and staffing levels to predict scheduling needs and help Children\u2019s optimize resource allocation. This research is just beginning, but holds the potential for improving both care delivery and staff well\u2011being. More importantly, IPaT is applying user-centered design and research techniques along with the engineering work to engage with Children\u2019s people and processes to ensure that these prediction and resource allocation models actually work, and that they will actually be used and useful in the Children\u2019s clinical environment.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupporting Patient\u2011Centered Care Delivery (Pillar 2)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPillar 2 seeks to improve pediatric outcomes by focusing on the \u201cwhole child\u201d \u2014 physical, psychological, social, and emotional well\u2011being \u2014 while accounting for the needs of families, caregivers, and community environments. Particular emphasis is placed on behavioral health, rural healthcare access, and chronic illness in underserved populations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIPaT contributes to this work on two fronts:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUser Experience and Workflow Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIPaT\u2019s user experience (UX) researchers conduct interviews, workflow studies, and design evaluations with Children\u2019s clinicians and staff. This human\u2011centered research helps shape the interfaces, processes, and technologies needed to deliver patient\u2011centered care in practical, usable ways. These contributions ensure that tools created through the partnership align with the realities of clinical practice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EData Integration for Behavioral and Social Insights\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor Pillar 2 research,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\/sde\u0022\u003EIPaT\u2019s secure data enclave\u003C\/a\u003E enables Children\u2019s EHR data to be transferred, stored, and analyzed in a HIPAA\u2011compliant environment. Researchers are using this infrastructure to combine clinical data with voluntarily contributed social media information from consenting participants. The aim is to explore indicators of psychological well\u2011being, behavioral health trends, and early warnings related to self\u2011harm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Secure, Scalable Data Infrastructure to Support Both Pillars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe IPaT secure data enclave provides a protected, secure environment for storing and analyzing sensitive patient information. It serves as the backbone connecting Georgia Tech researchers with Children\u2019s clinical systems. Both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 research initiatives rely on this Georgia Tech IPaT-managed secure infrastructure to safely enable:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEHR data transfer and storage.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMachine learning model development.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETesting and validation workflows.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEventual operational deployment back into Children\u2019s systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis secure, scalable architecture is central to the shared goal of translating research into actionable clinical tools.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAccelerating Pediatric Discovery\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s partnership with Children\u2019s represents a powerful model for cross\u2011institutional innovation. By aligning IPaT\u2019s strengths in human\u2011centered design, machine learning, and secure data systems with Children\u2019s clinical expertise, IPaT is helping to build solutions that move quickly from concept to bedside.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs these projects grow, especially with the ongoing expansion of the clinical deterioration system and the launch of the AI-enhanced operations initiative, IPaT research scientists anticipate even greater opportunities to support Children\u2019s mission and improve pediatric health outcomes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThank you to Richard Starr for providing insight about these research projects.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) is deeply engaged in advancing pediatric research and clinical innovation through a partnership with the Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) is deeply engaged in advancing pediatric research and clinical innovation through a partnership with the Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center at Georgia Tech (PTC). "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-02-27 19:40:01","changed_gmt":"2026-03-05 15:05:05","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679477":{"id":"679477","type":"image","title":"Photo of the joint Children\u0027s and Georgia Tech Pillar 1 team taken September 2025.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA photo of the joint Children\u0027s and Georgia Tech Pillar 1 research team taken September 2025. Six research faculty members from IPaT are in the picture: Peter Presti, Maribeth Gandy Coleman, Clint Zeagler, Jeremy Johnson, Richard Starr, Kala Jordan and Christine Taylor, a graduate research assistant in IPaT.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772215469","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 18:04:29","changed":"1772222909","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 20:08:29","alt":"Photo of the joint Children\u0027s and Georgia Tech Pillar 1 team taken September 2025.","file":{"fid":"263644","name":"IMG_2185-copy3-smaller-cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/IMG_2185-copy3-smaller-cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/IMG_2185-copy3-smaller-cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1659699,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/IMG_2185-copy3-smaller-cropped.jpg?itok=S6xXxovw"}}},"media_ids":["679477"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688680":{"#nid":"688680","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute Names Strategic Initiative Leaders to Advance Microbial Innovation and Business Integration ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2842\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21500\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitiksha Fernandes\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESILs serve on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/about\/people?role=62\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERBI\u2019s leadership team\u003C\/a\u003E and play a strategic role in expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthening Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in the bioeconomy, and catalyzing new research and education initiatives across campus.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u201cRBI\u2019s work has always been about connecting strong science and engineering to the needs of Georgia\u2019s forestry and renewable materials industries,\u201d said Carson Meredith, director of RBI. \u201cJoel and Titiksha bring leadership that strengthens both sides of that work \u2014 advancing the biological foundations of renewable systems while building the business and entrepreneurship capacity needed to translate discovery into durable impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing Microbial Biotechnology for the Forest Bioeconomy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/people\/joel-kostka\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJoel Kostka,\u003C\/a\u003E Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the School of Biological Sciences, will lead a strategic initiative focused on microbial biotechnology in renewable bioproducts. His initiative leverages microbiology and microbiome engineering in a systems approach to address woody biomass utilization, biorefining, microbial contamination in pulp and paper processing, and the development of forest and plant feedstocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe effort complements RBI\u2019s existing strengths in chemistry and engineering, including initiatives such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022\u003ECenter for a Renewables-Based Economy from Wood (ReWOOD)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/research\/center-for-renewables-based-economy-from-wood\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E by bringing cutting-edge microbial science into the modernization of the forest industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative centers on two core areas: improving biomass deconstruction and bioconversion, and engineering plant and soil microbiomes to support the development of climate-resilient biomass feedstocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNatural microbiomes, those microbes that are intimately associated with plants and soils, already drive the natural cycles that break down organic matter, recycle nutrients, and help plants to grow better,\u201d said Kostka. \u201cIf we understand and engineer those systems more intentionally, we can unlock more efficient bioconversion pathways and help build a forest bioeconomy that is both productive and climate resilient.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKostka\u2019s research studies the role of microbes in the functioning of ecosystems ranging from oceans to terrestrial subsurface environments. Through this initiative, he aims to connect that foundational microbial science to use-inspired solutions in renewable bioproducts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBridging Business and Bioproducts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/renewablebioproducts.gatech.edu\/people\/titiksha-fernandes\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitiksha Fernandes\u003C\/a\u003E will lead RBI\u2019s initiative to develop structured collaboration with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E. Her effort will establish a strategic framework for exploring deeper RBI\u2013Scheller engagement across research, education, and entrepreneurship.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative will explore integrating business training into RBI fellowship programs, engaging business graduate students in RBI research, strengthening industry partnerships, and advancing joint entrepreneurship activities that translate scientific discoveries into ventures.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cScientific innovation alone doesn\u2019t create impact,\u201d said Fernandes. \u201cWe need the strategy, entrepreneurship, and systems thinking that allow discoveries to move from the lab into markets and communities. This initiative is about building those pathways intentionally.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFernandes currently serves as extension professional for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/drawdown\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDrawdown Georgia Business Compact,\u003C\/a\u003E an initiative of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/a\u003E. In this role, she advances initiatives in materials circularity and food and agriculture. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and is a Certified Circular Economy Manager, with experience designing sustainability and resource efficiency policy at national and state levels, including work on e-waste reform in India and circular economy implementation in the U.S.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003ERBI\u2019s Strategic Initiative Leaders are appointed for renewable 12-month terms and are expected to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations that extend beyond their home units. Leaders participate in shaping research directions, reviewing fellowship proposals, developing workshops and symposia, and connecting faculty, students, industry, and national laboratories.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI) has appointed two additional Strategic Initiative Leaders (SILs) to help shape the next phase of its research and engagement strategy: Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes. "}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-03-03 19:26:26","changed_gmt":"2026-03-04 18:22:00","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679510":{"id":"679510","type":"image","title":"2sded.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772565994","gmt_created":"2026-03-03 19:26:34","changed":"1772565994","gmt_changed":"2026-03-03 19:26:34","alt":"Side-by-side photos of Joel Kostka and Titiksha Fernandes","file":{"fid":"263682","name":"2sded.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1008966,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/03\/2sded.jpg?itok=5hmBs1l4"}}},"media_ids":["679510"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: ychernet3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYanet Chernet\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer I\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688531":{"#nid":"688531","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Utility Structure, Pricing, and Energy Incentive Programs","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent study by EPIcenter affiliates Brian An and John Kim and researchers at Georgia Tech, Iowa State University, and Clemson University examines how utility-level characteristics\u2014such as ownership structure, electricity pricing, and incentive programs\u2014shape residential electricity consumption in the Southeastern U.S. Using data from 105 electric utilities in Georgia and North Carolina, the authors analyze how governance models (investor-owned, municipal, cooperative), demographic factors, and program offerings interact to influence household energy use.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study finds that higher electricity rates and greater shares of college-educated residents are associated with lower household consumption, while larger homes, electric heating, and higher incomes drive usage upward. Notably, electric vehicle (EV) incentive programs correlate with increased household electricity demand\u2014even after controlling for public charging infrastructure\u2014suggesting these programs effectively promote EV adoption and at-home charging. In contrast, energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) programs show no clear relationship with consumption in multivariate models.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/24\/utility-structure-pricing-and-energy-incentive-programs\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story and listen to a related podcast on the EPIcenter Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent study by EPIcenter affiliates Brian An and John Kim and researchers at Georgia Tech, Iowa State University, and Clemson University examines how utility-level characteristics\u2014such as ownership structure, electricity pricing, and incentive programs\u2014shape residential electricity consumption in the Southeastern U.S. Using data from 105 electric utilities in Georgia and North Carolina, the authors analyze how governance models (investor-owned, municipal, cooperative), demographic factors, and program offerings interact to influence household energy use.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent study by EPIcenter affiliates Brian An and John Kim and researchers at Georgia Tech, Iowa State University, and Clemson University examines how utility-level characteristics shape residential electricity consumption in the Southeastern U.S."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 20:16:46","changed_gmt":"2026-02-25 20:24:02","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679438":{"id":"679438","type":"image","title":"UtilityStructure--Pricing-EPIcenter-02242026-AdobeStock_559085927-1024x684.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1772050633","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 20:17:13","changed":"1772050633","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 20:17:13","alt":"Stacks of coins topped with green icons representing clean energy and sustainability.","file":{"fid":"263601","name":"UtilityStructure--Pricing-EPIcenter-02242026-AdobeStock_559085927-1024x684.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/UtilityStructure--Pricing-EPIcenter-02242026-AdobeStock_559085927-1024x684.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/UtilityStructure--Pricing-EPIcenter-02242026-AdobeStock_559085927-1024x684.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":76977,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/UtilityStructure--Pricing-EPIcenter-02242026-AdobeStock_559085927-1024x684.jpeg?itok=_PkMnlJG"}}},"media_ids":["679438"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/24\/utility-structure-pricing-and-energy-incentive-programs\/","title":"Read Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ggonzalez68@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688526":{"#nid":"688526","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Beyond the Cost of EV Ownership and Adoption","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent study by EPIcenter faculty affiliates Joe F. Bozeman III (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and Daniel C. Matisoff (Carter School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology), along with John D. Kim (Carter School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology) and co-authors Sanya Carley, David M. Konisky, Jeremy J. Michalek, and Destenie Nock, examines U.S. household electric vehicle (EV) ownership and adoption intent beyond upfront costs, focusing on charging access, travel behavior, housing, and demographics. The study utilizes a nationally representative survey of 2,870 households to examine how these factors shape both current EV ownership rates and consumers\u2019 intentions to purchase or lease an EV in the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study finds that EV ownership remains relatively low among households with \u201cmedian\u201d characteristics \u2014 approximately 1% of household vehicles are electric \u2014 but increases substantially when households report access to community charging infrastructure. In contrast, single\u2011vehicle households and households located in states without Tesla dealerships exhibit significantly lower EV ownership rates. When examining adoption intent, the authors find that access to community and workplace charging, trust in the federal government, more liberal political ideology, younger age, and urban residence are consistently associated with higher stated interest in EV adoption. Notably, single\u2011vehicle households express significantly greater intent to adopt one in the future, despite being less likely to own an EV today. The analysis also reveals that public transit users show elevated EV adoption intent at earlier stages of consideration, suggesting potential complementarities between transit use and personal vehicle electrification.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/10\/beyond-the-cost-of-ev-ownership-and-adoption\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story and listen to a related podcast on the EPIcenter Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent study by EPIcenter faculty affiliates Joe F. Bozeman III (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and Daniel C. Matisoff (Carter School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology), along with John D. Kim (Carter School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology) and co-authors Sanya Carley, David M. Konisky, Jeremy J. Michalek, and Destenie Nock, examines U.S. household electric vehicle (EV) ownership and adoption intent beyond upfront costs, focusing on charging access, travel behavior, housing, and demographics. The study utilizes a nationally representative survey of 2,870 households to examine how these factors shape both current EV ownership rates and consumers\u2019 intentions to purchase or lease an EV in the future.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent Georgia Tech study examines U.S. household electric vehicle (EV) ownership and adoption intent beyond upfront costs, focusing on charging access, travel behavior, housing, and demographics."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 20:07:56","changed_gmt":"2026-02-25 20:23:27","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679436":{"id":"679436","type":"image","title":"EPIcenterEV_Study-Feb102026AdobeStock_125980820.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1772050115","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 20:08:35","changed":"1772050115","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 20:08:35","alt":"Row of electric vehicles parked on a street and charging from charging poles","file":{"fid":"263599","name":"EPIcenterEV_Study-Feb102026AdobeStock_125980820.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/EPIcenterEV_Study-Feb102026AdobeStock_125980820.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/EPIcenterEV_Study-Feb102026AdobeStock_125980820.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":295742,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/EPIcenterEV_Study-Feb102026AdobeStock_125980820.jpeg?itok=yU9f7DgC"}}},"media_ids":["679436"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/10\/beyond-the-cost-of-ev-ownership-and-adoption\/","title":"Read Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"194607","name":"Batteries"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ggonzalez68@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688502":{"#nid":"688502","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Understanding the Data Center Building Boom ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs artificial intelligence (AI) drives explosive growth in data centers, communities across the U.S. are facing rising electricity costs, new industrial development, and mounting strain on an aging power grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, several faculty members are approaching these sustainability challenges from different but complementary angles: examining how data center policy affects local communities, modeling how AI-driven demand reshapes regional energy systems, and building tools that help the public understand the tradeoffs embedded in grid planning. Together, their work highlights how better data, thoughtful policy, and public engagement can guide more resilient and equitable decisions in an AI-powered future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI\u2019s Hidden Footprint: How Data Centers Reshape Communities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAhmed Saeed studies the infrastructure most people never see. An assistant professor in the School of Computer Science and a Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Faculty Fellow, Saeed focuses on how data centers \u2014 the backbone of modern AI \u2014 are built, operated, and regulated, and what their growth means for host communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cData centers are the infrastructure for our digital life, so more of them are necessary to keep doing what we\u2019re doing,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData center energy consumption could double or triple by 2028, accounting for up to 12% of U.S. electricity use, according to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/escholarship.org\/uc\/item\/32d6m0d1\u0022\u003Ereport by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E. U.S. spending on data center construction jumped nearly 70% between May 2023 and May 2024, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-AI-Surge-Powering-Growth-in-Every-State.pdf\u0022\u003EAmerican Edge Project\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia is an AI data center hub, ranked fourth globally, with $4.6 billion in AI-related venture capital invested across 368 deals, the American Edge Project reported. At a recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/sustainability-fellowship-supports-professors-data-center-research\u0022\u003Etown hall in DeKalb County, Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, Saeed helped residents connect AI\u2019s promise to its local consequences. Training large AI models can require tens of thousands of graphics processing units (GPUs) running for days or weeks, driving an unprecedented wave of data center construction. AI-focused chips, he noted, can consume 10 to 14 times more power than traditional processors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat demand often shows up as pressure on local infrastructure. Communities are increasingly concerned about electricity and water use, grid upgrades, and who ultimately pays. In Virginia, Saeed pointed to a legal dispute in which consumer advocates warned that data centers could raise electricity bills by 5% in the short term and up to 50% over time, while utilities argued those investments were inevitable and could benefit customers in the long run.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnvironmental concerns add another layer. Saeed cited controversies over water use and backup diesel generators in states, including Georgia and Tennessee, alongside a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that tightened generator regulations. While diesel generators are clearly harmful, he cautioned that long-term, rigorous evidence linking data centers to regional health impacts remains limited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaeed\u2019s research aims to reduce those impacts directly. By optimizing how workloads are scheduled across large server fleets, his team has demonstrated power savings of 4 \u2013 12%, a meaningful gain if U.S. data centers approach projected levels of up to 12% of national electricity use by 2028.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Saeed, data centers are akin to highways: essential to modern life, disruptive to nearby communities, and shaped by policy choices. The question, he argues, is not whether AI infrastructure should exist, but how transparently and fairly it is built.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEconomist Probes the Energy Costs of the AI Boom\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile headlines often frame AI as an energy crisis, Georgia Tech environmental and energy economist and BBISS Faculty Fellow Tony Harding is focused on measuring its real \u2014 and uneven \u2014 impacts. Harding, an assistant professor in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, uses economic modeling to examine how AI adoption affects energy use, emissions, and local communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/ae0e3b\u0022\u003Erecent work\u003C\/a\u003E published in \u003Cem\u003EEnvironmental Research Letters\u003C\/em\u003E, Harding and his co-author analyzed how productivity gains from AI could influence national energy demand. Their findings suggest that, at a macro level, AI-related activity may increase annual U.S. energy use by about 0.03% and CO\u2082 emissions by roughly 0.02%.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThose numbers are small in the context of the overall economy,\u201d Harding said. \u201cBut the impacts are highly uneven.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat unevenness is evident in where data centers are built. While Northern Virginia remains the country\u2019s top data center hub, with 343 operational data centers, states like Georgia, which currently has 94 operational data centers, are rapidly attracting facilities due to reliable power and favorable tax policies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHarding\u2019s latest research focuses on local effects, asking why data centers cluster in urban areas, how they influence housing markets, what happens to electricity prices, and whether they exacerbate water stress. Early evidence suggests large facilities can increase local electricity rates, contributing to public backlash and regulatory response. In Georgia, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psc.ga.gov\/site\/assets\/files\/8617\/media_advisory_data_centers_rule_1-23-2025.pdf\u0022\u003EPublic Service Commission\u003C\/a\u003E has begun requiring new, high power draw customers (like data centers) to cover more of the costs associated with grid expansion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHarding\u2019s goal is to give policymakers better evidence to design incentives and guardrails. \u201cTo manage these technologies responsibly,\u201d he said, \u201cwe need a clear picture of their intended and unintended consequences.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGamifying a Strained and Aging Power Grid\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDaniel Molzahn is tackling another side of the problem: how to modernize an aging power grid under growing demand. Electricity demand is expected to rise about 25% by 2030, driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and broadscale electrification. At the same time, much of the U.S. electricity grid is nearing the end of its lifespan, with many transformers being decades old.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo make these challenges tangible, Molzahn, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, developed a browser-based game with a group of students through Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/frm_display\/team-listings\/entry\/1303\/\u0022\u003EVertically Integrated Projects\u003C\/a\u003E program called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/currentcrisis.itch.io\/current-crisis\u0022\u003ECurrent Crisis\u003C\/a\u003E. Players take on the role of a utility decision-maker, balancing reliability, wildfire risk, renewable integration, and affordability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe game grew out of Molzahn\u2019s National Science Foundation CAREER award and reflects his belief that complex systems are best understood experientially. Its initial focus is wildfire resilience, modeling how grid infrastructure can both spark and suffer damage from fires.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut resilience comes at a cost. Burying power lines, for example, reduces wildfire risk but dramatically increases expenses. Players must confront the same tradeoffs utilities face: improve reliability or keep rates low.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMolzahn hopes the game will help students and the public grapple with the realities of planning future power systems. \u201cThese choices aren\u2019t abstract,\u201d he said. \u201cThey shape affordability, resilience, and our path toward a cleaner grid.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project now involves nearly 40 students from across campus, supported by Sustainability NEXT funding and a collaboration with Jessica Roberts, former BBISS Faculty Fellow and director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tiles.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ETechnology-Integrated Learning Environments (TILES) Lab\u003C\/a\u003E in the School of Interactive Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a learning scientist, I look at how to engage people with science and scientific data and get people having conversations they might not otherwise have,\u201d says Roberts, who hopes the seed grant helps the team determine first that they are going in the right direction and, second, how to broaden the impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne student, Stella Quinto Lima, a graduate research assistant in Human-Centered Computing, has made the game the focus of her doctoral thesis. Through the game, she wants players to notice their misconceptions about the power grid, energy use, and AI, and to use critical thinking to identify, question, and possibly undo those misconceptions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cI hope that we can really engage adults and help them see it\u2019s not black and white. The game is not only about power grids, but how AI affects the grid, how it affects our lives, and how it will impact our future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team plans to expand the game\u2019s features, use it in outreach programs, and analyze player decisions as a source of data to study energy-system decision-making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to change the conversation about power and power grid stability, reliability, and sustainability, Roberts said, \u201cand find a way to get this message to a larger public.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs artificial intelligence (AI) drives explosive growth in data centers, communities across the U.S. are facing rising electricity costs, new industrial development, and mounting strain on an aging power grid.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Explosive data center growth requires research to inform policies which manage the building of this critical infrastructure."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-02-24 20:29:10","changed_gmt":"2026-02-25 16:43:42","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679428":{"id":"679428","type":"image","title":"Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized","body":null,"created":"1772037433","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 16:37:13","changed":"1772037615","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 16:40:15","alt":"Three men\u0027s individual portrait-style photos are arranged side by side, each showing a person from the shoulders up. The individuals wear collared shirts and appear in different lighting settings, including a dark background, a neutral studio backdrop, and a bright white background.","file":{"fid":"263591","name":"Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":872348,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg?itok=TPizgOZr"}}},"media_ids":["679428"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688378":{"#nid":"688378","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 BBISS Sustainability Showcase Recap: Resilience Is About Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by: Shweta Ram and Seungho Lee\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat does it mean to design systems that endure even after major disruptions? This question framed the 2026 Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Sustainability Showcase, where conversations over two days spanned the Georgia coast, wildfire modeling, AI data centers, infrastructure, community engagement, and the joy of working for a more sustainable and resilient world. Across disciplines and scales, a unifying theme emerged: resilience is not a single solution. It is a systems-level challenge requiring integration across science and technology, policy, communities, and human experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Coastlines to Communities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe showcase opened with a keynote from President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough on wildlife management and resiliency along Georgia\u2019s coast. The conversation that followed between Clough and BBISS Executive Director Beril Toktay highlighted the interconnection between public policy, wilderness conservation, community leadership, and scientific research. The session highlighted not only the urgency of protecting fragile ecosystems, but also that resilience works best when it is community-focused and community-driven.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESubsequent panels continued this systemic perspective. Sessions on community engagement, biotechnology-derived, climate-resilient plants, the flood resilience of Georgia coastal communities, wildfire prediction and prevention, and infrastructure resilience analytics all emphasized that resilience depends on the synthesis of many disciplines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcross sessions, researchers emphasized that infrastructure resilience must include governance frameworks informed by good science, community engagement based on trust, and sustained collaboration that seeks to constantly improve the science, policy, and stakeholder relationships. The researchers demonstrated that they understand their role to be greater than merely modeling risk, but as collaborators who translate research into practical solutions that communities can adopt, maintain, and trust.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI Data Centers: A New Resilience Frontier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDay two shifted attention to data centers, which are emerging as a critical resilience frontier.\u0026nbsp;As artificial intelligence systems scale rapidly, so does the infrastructure that powers them, as well as the growing realization that digital systems are physical systems. Conversations examined the feedback loops that play a significant role in determining environmental impacts, such as chip architecture, AI workloads, data center sustainability, appropriate AI usage, and who makes the decisions on data center infrastructure development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most fascinating sessions came from Alexandria Smith, assistant professor in the School of Music at Georgia Tech. She presented an artistic yet algorithmic composition that sonified data from AI data centers. Through translating kilowatt-hour usage and interconnection data into immersive soundscapes, she reframed data centers not as static input-output machines, but as adaptive, living systems. Drawing inspiration from \u003Cem\u003EPhysarum polycephalum\u003C\/em\u003E, a slime mold without a brain or nervous system known for its innate problem-solving abilities, she invites the listener to imagine infrastructure that senses, adapts, and self-optimizes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECampus as a Living Laboratory\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn her session, Professor Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability, highlighted Georgia Tech\u2019s 2024 Climate Action Plan, focusing on building energy efficiency, renewable integration, materials management, and mobility transitions. The plan frames the Georgia Tech campus as a test bed for resilience strategies \u2014 an ecosystem where research, operations, and policy intersect. Chirico highlighted several examples where the alignment between research and implementation was essential in moving projects from modeling to pilot projects to sustained institutional change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFinding Joy in Climate Action\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERebecca Watts Hull, Matthew Realff, and Christie Stewart led an interactive discussion inspired by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson\u2019s framework for accelerating long-term climate action. Participants were asked three simple questions: What are you good at? What work needs doing? What brings you joy? Sustainability and climate research are fields often defined by serious urgency, crisis narratives, and burnout. This session offered a personal framework for resilience where emotional sustainability, professional fulfillment, and joy matter just as much as the motivation to drive a mission ever forward.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a Shared Vision\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Sustainability Showcase concluded with a facilitated visioning session led by Kristin Janacek, associate director for Interdisciplinary Research Impact, and Beril Toktay. In small groups, leaders, researchers, and community members worked to define what resilience looks like for them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter the conversations, several themes emerged:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EResilience must move from research to practical and community-based solutions to sustained action.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENetworks create opportunity but require long-term stewardship to endure.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EChoosing the right metrics to measure resilience will galvanize efforts to strengthen it.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECommunity capacity is at least as important as built infrastructure.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver two days, it became clear that Georgia Tech is not approaching resilience as a narrow technical problem. It is approaching it as a systems challenge \u2014 one that spans coastlines, campuses, disciplines, data centers, the Appalachian Mountains, data models, the arts, and human relationships. Designing systems that endure requires more than innovation. It requires collaboration, stewardship, and a shared commitment to long-term impact. The conversations launched at this year\u2019s BBISS Sustainability Showcase laid the foundation for continued coordination and ambitious action in the months ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2026 Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Sustainability Showcase was held recently in the Scholars Event Theater in the Price Gilbert Library. Two days of conversations spanned the Georgia coast, wildfire modeling, AI data centers, infrastructure, community engagement, and the joy of working for a more sustainable and resilient world.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Across disciplines and scales, a unifying theme emerged: resilience is not a single solution. It is a systems-level challenge requiring integration across science and technology, policy, communities, and human experience."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-02-18 22:33:59","changed_gmt":"2026-02-18 22:38:36","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679363":{"id":"679363","type":"image","title":"Showcase_cropped.jpg","body":null,"created":"1771454051","gmt_created":"2026-02-18 22:34:11","changed":"1771454051","gmt_changed":"2026-02-18 22:34:11","alt":"A view inside the Scholars Event Theater of a session of the Sustainability Showcase. A man speaks to a crowd while presenting slides on a large projection screen.","file":{"fid":"263513","name":"Showcase_cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/Showcase_cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/Showcase_cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":915573,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/18\/Showcase_cropped.jpg?itok=JyP4R8WN"}}},"media_ids":["679363"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688369":{"#nid":"688369","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Future of Healing: Smart Bandage Could Transform Diabetic Wound Care and Beyond","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile most people don\u2019t think twice about a cut or scrape, for those with diabetes, every wound is a potential threat that requires vigilant care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDiabetic foot ulcers, for example, are slow to heal and can increase the risk of infection, hospitalization, and even amputation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this critical challenge, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a sensor designed to monitor chronic wounds in real-time. Embedded directly into a bandage, this flexible, low-cost device could transform wound management for diabetic patients and other critical applications \u2014 such as providing direct treatment to soldiers on the battlefield or managing chronic wounds in elderly populations and patients with limited healthcare access \u2014 by reducing invasive bandage changes and ensuring timely medical intervention.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor diabetic patients with foot ulcers, long-term monitoring and care are essential,\u201d said GTRI Principal Research Engineer and Project Lead Judy Song. \u201cWe were inspired by the success of wearable glucose monitors to develop a compact, affordable sensor tailored to wound care.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis project was supported by GTRI\u2019s Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program between 2022-2025 and reflects the strength of interdisciplinary collaboration across Georgia Tech. Researchers from three out of GTRI\u2019s eight laboratories developed the sensor with experts from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tech and Emory University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbout \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/diabetes\/foot-ulcers\u0022\u003Eone in four\u003C\/a\u003E people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer at some point in their lives, making it one of the leading causes of foot amputations. For these patients, nerve damage and poor blood flow hinder the body\u2019s natural healing process and allow wounds to linger and worsen.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the initial phases of their research, the team noted that nitric oxide (NO) had been previously identified as a key biomarker for wound health due to its central role in the healing process. Nitric oxide improves blood flow, reduces inflammation, promotes tissue growth and fights infection. By tracking nitric oxide levels in wounds, clinicians could determine whether a wound is improving or detect early signs of trouble.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Nitric oxide plays a fascinating, almost paradoxical, role in wound healing,\u201d said GTRI Senior Research Engineer Victoria Razin, who is co-leading the project. \u201cIt\u2019s essential for processes like blood flow and tissue repair, but can also signal when something is going wrong.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the core of the smart bandage is a flexible sensor powered by a three-electrode system capable of detecting changes in nitric oxide. The team used advanced Aerosol Jet\u00ae printing techniques to fabricate the sensor, significantly reducing production costs from thousands of dollars to just a few dollars per unit and making the design more affordable and scalable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTypically, prototyping these sensors can cost thousands of dollars, but our approach brought costs down dramatically,\u201d said Chuck Zhang, the Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. Chair and Professor in ISYE and a program director at the National Science Foundation (NSF), who oversaw sensor fabrication for this project. \u201cLower costs let us iterate quickly and deliver something that could have real healthcare impact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo test the sensor\u2019s accuracy, the team conducted extensive laboratory studies in both biological and simulated wound conditions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn one set of experiments, endothelial cell cultures were used to create \u201cwounds\u201d by scraping the cell layers. As the cells migrated to repair the gap, nitric oxide production increased, and the sensor successfully tracked these changes in real-time. Additional fluid tests using blood plasma and red blood cells demonstrated that the sensor could reliably detect nitric oxide in a variety of conditions that closely mimic real-world wound environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese experiments confirmed that the sensor can identify the fluctuations in nitric oxide associated with different phases of wound healing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELab testing was led by Dr. Wilbur Lam, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and at Emory University School of Medicine, with support from Kirby Fibben, a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student at Tech.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022There\u2019s a significant clinical need for real time, minimally invasive sensor technologies that detect nitric oxide,\u201d said Dr. Lam. \u201cWhile we\u2019re starting with wound healing, there\u2019s multiple other applications for vascular, hematologic, and pulmonary diseases as well.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe next step in the project is integrating the sensor into a functional wearable device. The team is combining the sensor with a miniaturized potentiostat (MicroPS) \u2013 a small electronic device that measures chemical signals \u2013 along with flexible electronic components and a system to transmit data to a mobile app.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe MicroPS, designed by the GTRI research team, led by GTRI Research Engineer Curtis Mulady, enables compact electrochemical measurements and the wireless platform transmits nitric oxide readings from the bandage to a mobile app via Bluetooth. The app uploads the data to a cloud platform, giving clinicians the ability to remotely monitor wound progress in real time. This system could reduce the need for frequent in-person checkups, enabling earlier interventions and improving outcomes for patients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFuture iterations of the bandage aim to include \u201cclosed-loop\u201d systems capable of both monitoring and treating wounds, said GTRI\u2019s Song. For example, sensors could trigger a response, like releasing therapeutic agents or antimicrobials directly to the wound, when abnormalities are detected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers are also exploring commercialization pathways, including partnerships with medical device companies or the formation of a startup.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis sensor meets a real need for early detection of infection and to evaluate wound healing, and I believe it could have significant commercial success,\u201d said Peter Hesketh, a professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering who led sensor design and performance testing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther contributors to this project from GTRI include Mulady, Cora Weidner, Maxwell Blanchard, Rachel Erbrick and Christopher Heist. Zhaonan \u201cZeke\u201d Liu, a postdoctoral fellow in ISYE, assisted with sensor fabrication, while Rizky Ilhamsyah, a graduate research assistant in the School of Mechanical Engineering, contributed to sensor design and performance testing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Anna Akins\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPhotos: Sean McNeil\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia USA\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about GTRI, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute | GTRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI and Georgia Tech have developed a smart bandage that could transform wound care for diabetic patients, battlefield soldiers, and others by enabling real-time insights and reducing invasive bandage changes for timely treatment.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GTRI and Georgia Tech have developed a smart bandage that could transform wound care for diabetic patients, battlefield soldiers, and others by enabling real-time insights and reducing invasive bandage changes for timely treatment."}],"uid":"35874","created_gmt":"2026-02-18 19:06:21","changed_gmt":"2026-02-18 19:18:25","author":"Anna Akins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679351":{"id":"679351","type":"image","title":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_23.JPG","body":null,"created":"1771439806","gmt_created":"2026-02-18 18:36:46","changed":"1771439806","gmt_changed":"2026-02-18 18:36:46","alt":"A photo of some of the researchers leading the project written about. ","file":{"fid":"263501","name":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_23.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_23.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_23.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":14672403,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_23.JPG?itok=oXM8Z-Ko"}},"679350":{"id":"679350","type":"image","title":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_30.JPG","body":null,"created":"1771439636","gmt_created":"2026-02-18 18:33:56","changed":"1771439636","gmt_changed":"2026-02-18 18:33:56","alt":"A photo of some of the researchers leading the project written about. ","file":{"fid":"263500","name":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_30.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_30_0.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_30_0.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":15655217,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_30_0.JPG?itok=IMk9L6R1"}},"679348":{"id":"679348","type":"image","title":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_13.JPG","body":null,"created":"1771439373","gmt_created":"2026-02-18 18:29:33","changed":"1771439373","gmt_changed":"2026-02-18 18:29:33","alt":"A photo of a Georgia Tech graduate student operating the Aerosol Jet\u00ae printer to fabricate the sensor. ","file":{"fid":"263498","name":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_13.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_13.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_13.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":16282934,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_13.JPG?itok=1OcSDjG3"}},"679347":{"id":"679347","type":"image","title":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_04.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI and Georgia Tech\u0027s smart bandage could revolutionize wound care by enabling real-time insights on healing and reducing invasive bandage changes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771439244","gmt_created":"2026-02-18 18:27:24","changed":"1771439244","gmt_changed":"2026-02-18 18:27:24","alt":"A close-up of the Aerosol Jet printer as it designs a sensor prototype. ","file":{"fid":"263497","name":"2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_04.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_04_1.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_04_1.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":10790154,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/18\/2026_0108_image_ATAS_wound-healing-sensor_04_1.JPG?itok=LJKojKRi"}}},"media_ids":["679351","679350","679348","679347"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"194610","name":"National Interests\/National Security"}],"keywords":[{"id":"179693","name":"biomedical sensors"},{"id":"192132","name":"improving human condition"},{"id":"543","name":"National Security"},{"id":"94241","name":"diabetes treatments"},{"id":"12463","name":"Wound Healing"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWriter: Anna Akins (anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688066":{"#nid":"688066","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Leanne West Named 2026 Innovator of the Year in Pediatric Health","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2937\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELeanne West\u003C\/a\u003E, chief engineer of pediatric technologies at Georgia Tech and a national leader in pediatric health innovation, has been honored as a 2026 Innovator of the Year in Pediatric Health by\u202fthe \u003Cem\u003EAtlanta Business Chronicle\u003C\/em\u003E\u202fand selected as one of\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.titan100.biz\/2026-georgia-titan-100\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitan CEO\u2019s 2026 Georgia Titan 100 Honorees\u003C\/a\u003E. These recognitions celebrate West\u2019s leadership and impact in pediatric health innovation at both the local and national level.\u202fIn January, West was also named chief research and innovation officer at Shriners Children\u2019s, a role that expands her longstanding commitment to pediatric innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more than a decade, West has been instrumental in the partnership between Georgia Tech and Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta, working through the Pediatric Technology Center (PTC) to translate clinical needs into engineered solutions for children. In this role, she has worked alongside Children\u2019s clinicians, nurses, and researchers to identify unmet needs, form multidisciplinary teams, and guide projects from early concepts through prototyping, validation, funding, and regulatory pathways. The Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta PTC established Atlanta as a nationally recognized hub for pediatric technology innovation enabling clinician-driven research, accelerating translational projects, and fostering a culture in which engineering solutions are shaped directly by real clinical experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2019,\u202fWest began building a relationship with Shriners, working to understand their most pressing clinical needs. She then connected clinicians with researchers at Georgia Tech, Emory University, and Kennesaw State University to foster collaborations focused on real-world clinical challenges. She also supported teams with promising prototypes by helping them navigate national funding opportunities and pathways at the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), accelerating the transition from lab discoveries to patient care.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver time, this steady engagement evolved into a strong research partnership. In June 2025, Shriners announced they are joining the robust pediatric innovation ecosystem in Atlanta by establishing the\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/07\/03\/shriners-childrens-establish-research-institute-science-square\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EShriners Children\u2019s Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u202f(SCRI). SCRI will be co-located with Georgia Tech as the anchor tenant at Science Square. This investment will be transformational for the future of pediatric research and innovation in the state of Georgia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat excites me most is what we can accomplish together when we combine our strengths to align around a children-first mindset to improve the healthcare of children everywhere,\u201d said West. \u201cKids will benefit in ways no one organization could achieve alone.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWest\u2019s leadership in pediatric innovation doesn\u2019t stop there. In November 2025, she consolidated three major gatherings into the first International Pediatric Healthcare Innovation Summit,\u202fcombining the Pediatric Innovation Day, the International Society for Pediatric Innovation\u2019s (iSPI) biennial PEDS2040 event, and the joint meeting of the FDA-funded Pediatric Device Consortia. The Summit highlighted the work of Children\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta, bringing together more than 150 representatives from children\u2019s hospitals, startups, venture capitalists, clinicians, patients, and leaders from across the Georgia innovation ecosystem, strengthening the region\u2019s global presence in pediatric health innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs president of the International Children\u2019s Advisory Network (iCAN), West continues to elevate the voices of young people with chronic and rare conditions and their caregivers. Under her leadership, iCAN partners with industry, regulators, and the FDA to ensure pediatric patients are included in device and drug development, clinical trials, healthcare education, and regulatory conversations. She also champions opportunities that train and inspire youth and early career professionals to pursue roles across healthcare and life sciences \u2014 from clinicians and innovators to public health leaders and patient advocates.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWest served as an invited speaker at the 2025 World Health Organization\u2019s World Children\u2019s Health Day on the Importance of Clinical Trials for the Safety of Children, and at the FDA\u2019s meeting on the Implementation of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and Pediatric Research Equity Act. She continues to contribute nationally through service on the Medical Device Innovation Consortium\u2019s (MDIC) NEST executive committee to advance use of real-world evidence in regulatory submissions, particularly for pediatric devices, and the MDIC Patient Value committee. In addition, she serves on the iSPI executive team, the Patient Focused Medicines Development board, the Pediatric Trials Network steering committee, and as a judge for MedTech Innovator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWest\u2019s awards and new role reflect the cumulative impact of more than a decade of leadership, partnership-building, and translational work across the worldwide pediatric ecosystem. West and her fellow honorees will be officially recognized at the 2026 Health Care Champion Awards on March 19 and at the Titan 100 Awards on May 7.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis recognition celebrates West\u2019s leadership and impact in pediatric health innovation at both the local and national level.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"This recognition celebrates West\u2019s leadership and impact in pediatric health innovation at both the local and national level."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2026-02-06 13:07:47","changed_gmt":"2026-02-18 19:04:26","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679212":{"id":"679212","type":"image","title":"Leanne West","body":null,"created":"1770398827","gmt_created":"2026-02-06 17:27:07","changed":"1770398857","gmt_changed":"2026-02-06 17:27:37","alt":"Leanne West","file":{"fid":"263344","name":"Leanne-West-Article.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/06\/Leanne-West-Article.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/06\/Leanne-West-Article.png","mime":"image\/png","size":614238,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/06\/Leanne-West-Article.png?itok=e73deBxO"}}},"media_ids":["679212"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688362":{"#nid":"688362","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Partners with RMS Aerospace to Advance Autonomous UAV Technology","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rotorcraft.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVertical Lift Research Center of Excellence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (VLRCOE) and RMS Aerospace have entered into a strategic partnership to develop an AI-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the U.S. Army and federal government. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERMS is an engineering firm highly specialized in aerial and maritime combat systems, with offices in Texas and Georgia. This partnership combines VLRCOE\u2019s strengths in rotorcraft aeromechanics and advanced configurations with RMS\u2019 operational defense and applied systems engineering expertise to address a critical need for the U.S. Army.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe military has phased out or retired other drone vehicles, including the MQ-1 Gray Eagle, RQ-7 Shadow, and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. Deploying a new AI-powered UAV can take over the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions typically flown by those older UAVs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/georgia-tech-partners-rms-aerospace-advance-autonomous-uav-technology\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the AE Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rotorcraft.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVertical Lift Research Center of Excellence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (VLRCOE) and RMS Aerospace have entered into a strategic partnership to develop an AI-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for the U.S. Army and federal government. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"e-Scout, is a first-of-its-kind AI-enabled tactical drone designed to address critical gaps in U.S. military support. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-18 16:45:43","changed_gmt":"2026-02-18 16:45:43","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/georgia-tech-partners-rms-aerospace-advance-autonomous-uav-technology","title":"Read Full Story on the AE Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKelsey Gulledge || AE Communications Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688283":{"#nid":"688283","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Concept to Prototype: How Georgia Tech Students Are Shaping a Sustainable Energy Future","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hack.energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergyHack@GT\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23 \u2013 25, 2026. Organized by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, the hackathon\u2019s mission was to unite passionate students, tackle critical challenges in the energy industry, and foster innovation and collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of 36 hours, participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm, design, and prototype projects that promote sustainable practices based on diverse problem statements, addressing this year\u2019s tracks: \u003Cstrong\u003Erenewables; electrification \u0026amp; mobility; and smart grid.\u003C\/strong\u003E These themes targeted urgent issues, from balancing renewable energy supply and demand to safeguarding infrastructure against cyber threats and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the arrival of a winter storm and the hackathon shifting to a fully virtual format, students persevered and produced top-tier projects, which were evaluated by a panel of judges.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event kicked off with an engaging opening ceremony featuring inspiring keynote speeches that set the tone for the hackathon\u2019s ambitious objectives. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/spotlight-ann-dunkin-sei-distinguished-external-fellow\u0022\u003EAnn Dunkin\u003C\/a\u003E, Distinguished External Fellow at Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), served as the first of these keynotes, presenting her experiences as chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Energy. She gave participants, whether newcomers or veterans in the energy space, diverse problems to tackle, ranging from cybersecurity risks in substations to climate concerns in the age of artificial intelligence. Dunkin emphasized that no matter the challenge, a strong team can always develop innovative solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was impressed by the quality and completeness of the solutions that the students created over about 40 hours,\u201d said Dunkin. \u0022Students created real solutions that meet market needs, and they conveyed an incredible amount of information in the three minutes they had to present their solutions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the switch to a virtual format, participants could still talk to mentors throughout the event. These mentors included a Google lead, startup CEOs, Ph.D. researchers, and other professionals with decades of experience in the energy industry. Mentors provided feedback on participants\u2019 ideas and guided them to think more deeply about the problems they chose. The various workshops also provided participants with a chance to dig deep into specific topics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/michaelklevy\/\u0022\u003EMichael Levy\u003C\/a\u003E, U.S. utilities lead at global consulting firm \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.baringa.com\/en\/\u0022\u003EBaringa\u003C\/a\u003E, presented his workshop on using data and modeling to shape utility decisions, policy, and regulatory strategy. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gevernova.com\/\u0022\u003EGE Vernova\u003C\/a\u003E representatives presented \u201cThe Energy of Change,\u201d an interactive workshop featuring climate simulations and team challenges to explore the trade-offs between cost, grid capacity, and carbon impact in the real world. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mlh.io\/\u0022\u003EMajor League Hacking\u003C\/a\u003E provided guides on GitHub Copilot and Google AI Studio. The final workshop, \u201cOrg Efficiency in Early Startups,\u201d was led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rhunterharris\/\u0022\u003EHunter Harris\u003C\/a\u003E from the technology incubator complex \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlantatechvillage.com\/\u0022\u003EAtlanta Tech Village\u003C\/a\u003E. Harris taught participants what to prioritize in an early startup, including how to build a management structure and find the right strategy for attracting customers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/troy-rice\/\u0022\u003ETroy Rice\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president and general manager of Florida Power and Light under NextEra Energy, gave a keynote speech on utility business models and how to set yourself apart in a large industry. Rice discussed his experience, which began as a Tech graduate from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. After learning about NextEra\u2019s business model, he eventually created and taught an internal class called \u201cHow NextEra Makes Money.\u201d Rice used this story to explain the importance of becoming an expert in knowledge that others in your company overlook. He also discussed the future of energy generation, emphasizing the growth of renewable energy in utility portfolios and often-overlooked potential career opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe energy and creativity culminated in the Project Expo, where 22 innovative solutions were showcased. Representatives from the Strategic Energy Institute, Microsoft, NextEra Energy, GE Vernova, and Georgia Tech professors judged projects, offering insights and feedback.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe closing ceremony celebrated the participants\u2019 achievements and the event highlights, featuring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/emily-a-morris\/\u0022\u003EEmily Morris\u003C\/a\u003E, founder and CEO of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emrgy.com\/\u0022\u003EEmrgy\u003C\/a\u003E, as the final keynote speaker. Morris shared insights from her experience as a technology startup founder in the energy sector, discussing the unique challenges of navigating a risk-averse industry. She encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to start by envisioning their future press release to clarify their end goal and avoid getting lost in immediate challenges. Morris emphasized the importance of leveraging your network, whether your Georgia Tech connections or hometown community, regardless of whether you pursue academia, industry, or the startup world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith more than 110 registered participants, 22 project submissions, and leaders from some of the biggest energy and tech companies, EnergyHack@GT served as a platform for innovation and learning, showcasing the potential of student-led initiatives in shaping the future of energy and sustainability. Awards were presented to the top three projects for their creativity and impact, with the winning teams receiving cash prizes provided by the startup \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tractian.com\/en\u0022\u003ETractian\u003C\/a\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBest Overall Hack: AppliScan\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESecond Place: TeraWatt\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThird Place: WattsUp\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETake a look at all the projects submitted: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyhack-gt-26.devpost.com\/project-gallery.\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/energyhack-gt-26.devpost.com\/project-gallery\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Georgia Tech students: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bradenqueen\/\u0022\u003EBraden Queen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/orit-endalk-725b61325\u0022\u003EOrit Endalk\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hack.energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergyHack@GT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23\u0026nbsp;\u2013 25, 2026. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, the hackathon\u2019s mission was to unite passionate students, tackle critical challenges in the energy industry, and foster innovation and collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of 36 hours, participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm, design, and prototype projects that promote sustainable practices based on diverse problem statements, addressing this year\u2019s tracks: \u003Cstrong\u003Erenewables\u003C\/strong\u003E; \u003Cstrong\u003Eelectrification \u0026amp; mobility\u003C\/strong\u003E; and \u003Cstrong\u003Esmart grid\u003C\/strong\u003E. These themes targeted urgent issues, from balancing renewable energy supply and demand to safeguarding infrastructure against cyber threats and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the arrival of a winter storm and the hackathon shifting to a fully virtual format, students persevered and produced top-tier projects, which were evaluated by a panel of judges.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"EnergyHack@GT, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23 \u2013 25, 2026. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-16 19:47:39","changed_gmt":"2026-02-18 00:53:20","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679297":{"id":"679297","type":"image","title":"EnergyClubLeadershipTeam.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Club Team\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771271270","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:47:50","changed":"1771271270","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:47:50","alt":"Energy Club Team on the Hackathon Day","file":{"fid":"263439","name":"EnergyClubLeadershipTeam.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/EnergyClubLeadershipTeam.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/EnergyClubLeadershipTeam.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3141261,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/EnergyClubLeadershipTeam.jpeg?itok=MyWYw0tD"}},"679299":{"id":"679299","type":"image","title":"TeamsWorking.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"Hackathon Team Members Busy at Work","file":{"fid":"263441","name":"TeamsWorking.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":349906,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg?itok=S0Kc6yj-"}},"679298":{"id":"679298","type":"image","title":"Judges.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"EnergyHack@GT 2026 Judges","file":{"fid":"263440","name":"Judges.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":106682,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg?itok=vzc63_Eu"}},"679300":{"id":"679300","type":"image","title":"Teamsworking2.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"EnergyHack@GT Teams at work","file":{"fid":"263442","name":"Teamsworking2.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":358794,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg?itok=1lj-KMSl"}},"679301":{"id":"679301","type":"image","title":"WinningTeam.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergyHack@GT 2026 Winning Team\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"Winners of EnergyHack@GT 2026","file":{"fid":"263443","name":"WinningTeam.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":77205,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg?itok=05BjMDDP"}}},"media_ids":["679297","679299","679298","679300","679301"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Georgia Tech students: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bradenqueen\/\u0022\u003EBraden Queen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/orit-endalk-725b61325\u0022\u003EOrit Endalk\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688211":{"#nid":"688211","#data":{"type":"news","title":"2026 Awardees Announced for Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center Collaborative Seed Grant ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdvancing the frontiers of regenerative medicine means more than pushing scientific boundaries \u2014 it means improving and extending human life. The Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.regenerativeengineeringandmedicine.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EREM\u003C\/a\u003E) is a partnership with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.emory.edu\/home\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EEmory University\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uga.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E (UGA) that supports this mission through inter-institutional collaborations in research in regenerative medicine.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2010, competitive peer-reviewed seed grants have been awarded annually to interdisciplinary teams with representation from at least two of the three institutions, leading to clinical trials, licensed technologies, start-up companies, and external funding for additional research. The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EIBB\u003C\/a\u003E) is excited to announce the 2026 REM Collaborative Seed Grant awardees: Melissa Kemp (Georgia Tech) and Rabindra Tirouvanziam (Emory); Yang Liu (UGA) and Yong Teng (Emory); and Steven Stice (UGA) and Zhexing Wen (Emory).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKemp and Tirouvanziam were awarded funding for their proposal, \u201cPredicting Personalized Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Responses for Directed Myeloid\u2011Targeted Immunotherapy.\u201d Their project combines computer modeling and lab\u2011grown lung tissue to better understand how immune cells communicate during lung infections and inflammation in different people. This research could help scientists design more precise, patient\u2011specific therapies for respiratory diseases, potentially improving treatments for conditions ranging from viral infections to chronic inflammation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We are grateful for the support from REM that allows us to extend our labs into new, interdisciplinary research,\u201d Kemp said. \u201cThis pilot project will allow us to develop and experimentally validate multicellular models of the lung environment. Our goal is to use our platforms to test potential therapeutics that operate by controlling communication between cell types.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is wonderful to be supported by REM for this collaboration between Georgia Tech and Emory labs,\u201d Tirouvanziam agreed. \u201cWe hope to turn this pilot into a large extramural project with a focus on novel immunotherapy.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiu and Teng were awarded funding for their proposal, \u201cAI\u2011Guided Profiling of Migratory Cancer Stem Cell Communication in Head and Neck Cancer.\u201d\u0026nbsp; Their project aims to uncover how the most aggressive cancer stem cells move and \u201ctalk\u201d to nearby immune and tissue cells, using advanced microfluidic tools and artificial intelligence to study how these cells help cancer spread and resist treatment.\u0026nbsp; Understanding these hidden communication pathways could lead to earlier detection of dangerous cancer cell types and inspire new therapies that prevent recurrence and improve survival for patients with head and neck cancer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe combine microfluidic tools with artificial intelligence to monitor individual cancer cells in action and study how they interact with the immune microenvironment \u2014 capturing behaviors that are missed in bulk experiments and shedding light on how aggressive cancer cells escape therapy,\u201d Liu said of the project.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStice and Wen were awarded funding for their application, \u201cUse of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Organoids to Assess Mesenchymal Stromal Cell\u2013Derived Extracellular Vesicles Mechanism of Action.\u201d\u0026nbsp; Their project uses lab\u2011grown human brain organoids to study how tiny therapeutic particles called extracellular vesicles that are released by stem cells might reduce brain inflammation and protect neurons affected by Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u0026nbsp; Revealing how these vesicles work at a molecular level could help advance new treatments that go beyond symptom management and move toward slowing or preventing Alzheimer\u2019s progression.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are used in the body to communicate with cells around an injury and are known to repair brain tissue in Alzheimer\u2019s animal models,\u201d Stice said.\u0026nbsp; \u201cUnderstanding the signaling mechanisms used by EVs in Alzheimer\u2019s brain organoids will directly lead to better EV manufacturing processes and potency for neurodegenerative diseases, and ultimately better therapies.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year\u2019s funded work illustrates how collaboration across institutions accelerates discoveries. Together, these teams are pushing healing technologies closer to real\u2011world impact, where they can make a tangible difference for patients affected by serious illness.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EThe 2026 Regenerative Engineering and Medicine (REM) Collaborative Seed Grants have been awarded to three interdisciplinary research teams from Georgia Tech, Emory University, and the University of Georgia, supporting innovative projects in personalized immunotherapy, cancer metastasis, and Alzheimer\u2019s disease. Together, these collaborations advance the frontiers of regenerative medicine and accelerate the development of next\u2011generation therapies with the potential to transform patient care.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The 2026 awards support three cross\u2011institutional teams advancing innovative research in personalized immunotherapy, cancer stem cell communication, and therapies for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. "}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2026-02-11 21:18:14","changed_gmt":"2026-02-11 21:26:17","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679264":{"id":"679264","type":"image","title":"cancer-technologies.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1770845087","gmt_created":"2026-02-11 21:24:47","changed":"1770845087","gmt_changed":"2026-02-11 21:24:47","alt":"Illustration of cancer cells, with a highlighted tumor cell in the center targeted by a digital crosshair.","file":{"fid":"263397","name":"cancer-technologies.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/11\/cancer-technologies.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/11\/cancer-technologies.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8956181,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/11\/cancer-technologies.jpeg?itok=SCsWPN9q"}}},"media_ids":["679264"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman | Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ashlie.bowman@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686337":{"#nid":"686337","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Hosts Annual Summit Devoted to Pediatric Health Innovation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EImagine a world where pediatric gastrointestinal disease could be diagnosed by swallowing a capsule-sized camera, where heart defects could be corrected by biodegradable implants, and where ADHD could be diagnosed through virtual reality. Georgia Tech and its partners are helping bring these world-changing ideas to life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Nov. 5 \u2013 6, Georgia Tech hosted the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ispi4kids.org\/phis2025\/\u0022\u003EPediatric Healthcare Innovation Summit 2025\u003C\/a\u003E (PHIS), a one-of-a-kind event that brought champions of children\u2019s health together to share knowledge, facilitate collaborative initiatives, and accelerate medical innovation. The summit was co-presented by the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pediatrics.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPediatric Innovation Network\u003C\/a\u003E (PIN), the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ispi4kids.org\/about\/\u0022\u003EInternational Society for Pediatric Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E (ISPI), and the FDA-funded \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/industry\/medical-products-rare-diseases-and-conditions\/pediatric-device-consortia-grants-program\u0022\u003EPediatric Device Consortia\u003C\/a\u003E (PDC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event included a tour of the new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.choa.org\/locations\/arthur-m-blank-hospital\u0022\u003EArthur M. Blank Hospital\u003C\/a\u003E, technology showcases, workshops, panel discussions, a poster session, and a pitch competition where companies were awarded funding from the Pediatric Device Consortia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech is committed to advancing medicine, but in particular pediatric medicine, which is normally underfunded compared to adult healthcare,\u201d Georgia Tech President \u00c1ngel Cabrera said. \u201cWe are committed to playing our part, and we\u0027re doing that in partnership with the best organizations, combining our engineering skills with clinical partners who understand the most important needs of children.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECabrera was a guest speaker for the event, which took place at two locations across campus: the newly opened \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/realestate.gatech.edu\/science-square\u0022\u003EScience Square\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/studentcenter.gatech.edu\/historic-academy-medicine\u0022\u003EHistoric Academy of Medicine\u003C\/a\u003E. He emphasized that championing causes such as pediatric healthcare innovation not only aligns with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/strategicplan.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s mission\u003C\/a\u003E, but also with the vision surrounding the new infrastructure being built across campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027re committed to turning our city and our neighborhood into a hub of innovation, and the area of life sciences is one of those areas that we are supporting \u2014 including our new Science Square neighborhood, which is devoted to precisely this,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough industry events happen every year, what makes PHIS unique is its goal of uniting not only clinicians and healthcare administrators, but also researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs. \u0026nbsp;Attendees are united around a shared goal of solving systemic problems and, ultimately, saving and improving the lives of children. Julia Kubanek, Georgia Tech\u2019s Vice President for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/interdisciplinary-research\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Research\u003C\/a\u003E, said that this collaborative approach provides a unique opportunity to progress ideas and technologies that impact the industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cParticularly in the pediatric space, the market is relatively small. When you have a specialized pediatric technology, it\u0027s sometimes difficult to get the resources to advance that into clinical trials and into products that can go to market,\u201d she said. \u201cThis environment that the summit creates is a supportive one for solving those problems and advancing life-saving research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile this was the third year that the event featured a pitch competition, it was the first year that winners were awarded monetary prizes. By bringing startups and investors together, the PHIS plays a vital role in getting impactful research from conceptual to consumer ready. This year\u2019s winners included: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/luminoah.com\/\u0022\u003ELuminoah\u003C\/a\u003E in first place, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rhaeos.com\/\u0022\u003ERhaeos\u003C\/a\u003E in second, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.acqumenmedical.com\/\u0022\u003EAcQumen Medical\u003C\/a\u003E in third.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough the event does encourage friendly competition, the ultimate goal remains to improve the lives of children and their families through collaboration, thought leadership, and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur north star is taking care of children,\u201d Anthony Chang, founder of ISPI, said in his opening remarks. \u201cI think we underestimate how much we learn together. I look at our jobs not as jobs but as a special calling \u2014 taking care of children.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to PIN, ISPI, and PDC, the event was sponsored by Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/corporate.gatech.edu\/?utm_source=research\u0026amp;utm_medium=website\u0026amp;utm_id=092023\u0022\u003EOffice of Corporate Engagement\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.shrinerschildrens.org\/en\u0022\u003EShriner\u2019s Children\u2019s Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.choa.org\/\u0022\u003EChildren\u2019s Healthcare of Atlanta\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgia.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Department of Economic Development\u003C\/a\u003E, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gra.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Research Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E, and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.icanresearch.org\/\u0022\u003EInternational Children\u2019s Advisory Network\u003C\/a\u003E, among others.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Nov. 5 \u2013 6, Georgia Tech hosted the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ispi4kids.org\/phis2025\/\u0022\u003EPediatric Healthcare Innovation Summit 2025\u003C\/a\u003E (PHIS), a one-of-a-kind event that brought champions of children\u2019s health together to share knowledge, facilitate collaborative initiatives, and accelerate medical innovation. The summit was co-presented by the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pediatrics.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EPediatric Innovation Network\u003C\/a\u003E (PIN), the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ispi4kids.org\/about\/\u0022\u003EInternational Society for Pediatric Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E (ISPI), and the FDA-funded \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/industry\/medical-products-rare-diseases-and-conditions\/pediatric-device-consortia-grants-program\u0022\u003EPediatric Device Consortia\u003C\/a\u003E (PDC).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Pediatric Healthcare Innovation Summit 2025 convened experts, entrepreneurs, and clinicians to accelerate breakthrough technologies and collaborative solutions aimed at transforming pediatric care."}],"uid":"36479","created_gmt":"2025-11-10 23:39:49","changed_gmt":"2026-02-11 19:33:13","author":"abowman41","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678590":{"id":"678590","type":"image","title":"20251106_Healthcare-Summit-Event_Social-Media-13.jpg","body":null,"created":"1762818046","gmt_created":"2025-11-10 23:40:46","changed":"1762818046","gmt_changed":"2025-11-10 23:40:46","alt":"President \u00c1ngel Cabrera of Georgia Tech stands at a podium and delivers a speech.","file":{"fid":"262645","name":"20251106_Healthcare-Summit-Event_Social-Media-13.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/10\/20251106_Healthcare-Summit-Event_Social-Media-13.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/10\/20251106_Healthcare-Summit-Event_Social-Media-13.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1306762,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/10\/20251106_Healthcare-Summit-Event_Social-Media-13.jpg?itok=GllnmzPt"}}},"media_ids":["678590"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAshlie Bowman\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ashlie.bowman@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688055":{"#nid":"688055","#data":{"type":"news","title":"SEI Initiative Lead Profile: Jennifer Chirico","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-chirico\u0022\u003EJennifer Chirico\u003C\/a\u003E leads the energy and infrastructure initiative at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. She is a longtime Yellow Jacket, bringing more than 25 years of sustainability experience as the inaugural associate vice president of Sustainability at Georgia Tech. In this role, she oversees the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Sustainability\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and works across the Institute on emissions reductions, clean energy, water management, circular economy, sustainable technology, and strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChirico led the development and publication of the Institute\u2019s first\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/climate-action-plan\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClimate Action Plan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and co-led Tech\u2019s sustainability plan,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainability-next-plan\/\u0022\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/a\u003E. She is LEED Green Associate (Leed GA) accredited and holds certifications in the Carbon Disclosure Project, the Global Reporting Initiative, WaterSense, climate action planning, and Home Energy Survey Professional.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe holds a Ph.D. in public policy from Georgia Tech, a master\u2019s in public health with a major in environmental health, and a bachelor\u2019s degree in management from Georgia Tech. She has published books and written numerous chapters on sustainability related to systems thinking, net zero strategies, adaptive management, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on leadership for the collective well-being.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBelow is a brief Q\u0026amp;A with Chirico in which she discusses her focus areas and how her work at Georgia Tech influences the energy and infrastructure initiative here.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your field of expertise, and at what point in your life did you first become interested in this area?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy field of expertise is sustainability, with a focus on the intersection of environmental, social, and economic systems. Although I began my career in finance, I discovered my passion for sustainability during a year I spent working abroad in New Zealand in 2000. That experience opened my eyes to the importance of balancing economic development with environmental stewardship and social responsibility. When I returned to the United States, I pursued a master\u2019s degree in environmental health, followed by a Ph.D. in environmental policy. Over the past 25 years, I\u2019ve dedicated my career to advancing sustainability and creating meaningful impacts. I continue to be inspired by the tangible, positive results that emerge when organizations integrate sustainability principles into their decision-making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat questions or challenges sparked your current work at Georgia Tech? What are the big issues facing the campus infrastructure right now as it relates to energy?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the most pressing challenges today is strengthening resilience for our infrastructure, well-being, and natural resources. As our environment continues to change, the ability to both mitigate impacts and adapt effectively is essential to our success. In my work, I am committed to advancing a healthier, safer, and more sustainable campus. Much of my work focuses on planning, reporting, and guiding efforts to build a stable, reliable, and clean energy infrastructure. A major part of this involves balancing firm energy sources with intermittent renewable sources in a way that ensures both reliability and sustainability. Georgia Tech has already made meaningful progress by installing over 1 megawatt of solar capacity and piloting the Stryten battery storage system. These projects demonstrate what is possible. We still have a long way to go to reduce our emissions and scale clean energy solutions across campus. Continuing to strengthen our energy resilience and expand renewable integration will be critical to meeting our long\u2011term goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat interests you the most about leading the energy and infrastructure initiative? Why is your initiative important to Georgia Tech\u2019s energy goals?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat interests me most is the opportunity to collaborate with some of the nation\u2019s top energy researchers to identify the most resilient, scalable, and forward\u2011thinking energy solutions for our campus. I\u2019m particularly passionate about bridging the gap between research and operations to support turning innovative work into tangible, real\u2011world applications that strengthen Georgia Tech\u2019s infrastructure. Building strong partnerships across academics, operations, and industry is central to this effort. When these groups work together, we can accelerate progress, pilot new technologies, and create a living-learning campus that demonstrates what a resilient, low\u2011carbon future can look like.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are the broader regional, global, and social benefits of the energy and infrastructure initiative at Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt creates benefits that reach far beyond our campus. By implementing clean, resilient energy systems, we contribute to regional progress in the Southeast. Our campus can serve as a model and test bed, demonstrating scalable solutions and sharing best practices with peer institutions, local governments, and industry partners. Globally, our research and operational innovations support the broader transition to cleaner, more reliable energy systems. And socially, these efforts promote healthier communities, reduce environmental burdens, and help prepare a skilled workforce for the rapidly growing energy sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your hobbies?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy favorite hobbies are hiking, reading, yoga, and paddleboarding. I also love spending time in nature and with family and friends.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-chirico\u0022\u003EJennifer Chirico\u003C\/a\u003E leads the energy and infrastructure initiative at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. She is a longtime Yellow Jacket, bringing more than 25 years of sustainability experience as the inaugural associate vice president of Sustainability at Georgia Tech. In this role, she oversees the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Sustainability\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and works across the Institute on emissions reductions, clean energy, water management, circular economy, sustainable technology, and strategy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a brief Q\u0026amp;A with Chirico in which she discusses her focus areas and how her work at Georgia Tech influences the energy and infrastructure initiative here.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A brief Q\u0026A with Jennifer Chirico, who leads the energy and infrastructure initiative at Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Energy Institute. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-05 20:54:20","changed_gmt":"2026-02-05 20:55:40","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679201":{"id":"679201","type":"image","title":"Jennifer Chirico","body":null,"created":"1770324628","gmt_created":"2026-02-05 20:50:28","changed":"1770324677","gmt_changed":"2026-02-05 20:51:17","alt":"Jennifer Chirico","file":{"fid":"263332","name":"JenniferChirico23-R10406-P45-006.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/05\/JenniferChirico23-R10406-P45-006.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/05\/JenniferChirico23-R10406-P45-006.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":805166,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/05\/JenniferChirico23-R10406-P45-006.jpeg?itok=ls1dH7Fk"}}},"media_ids":["679201"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688002":{"#nid":"688002","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet the Expert: Marilyn Brown","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EModeling how the U.S. can meet changing energy needs \u2014 today and tomorrow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn illustrious career focused on understanding the nuances of energy policy through analytics has shaped the career of Marilyn Brown, the Regents \u0026amp; Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe oil shortages of the 1970s galvanized Marilyn Brown to focus her graduate research on ways to improve energy security and affordability. This focus launched an impactful career for Brown, currently a Regents \u0026amp; Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong the way she was an Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Illinois, a two-term Presidentially appointed regulator of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Energy Engineering Division Director and Program Manager of Oak Ridge National Laboratory\u2019s research on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the electric grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the years, Brown has authored seven books, 350 publications, and contributed to the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports for which the IPCC shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeading local climate impact efforts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInterested in the physical sciences and mathematics early on, Brown worked on understanding the \u201cdiffusion\u201d of innovation: how advances propagate in the energy field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer current projects focus on both local and national climate-related challenges. This research has been enriched by surveys of energy service providers, utility regulators, manufacturers, consumers, and low-income households.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding the role of influencers and perceived risks and paybacks, helps optimize energy policies and programs. With this premise in mind, Brown has explored the consequences of high energy bills on households living on the edge. She led the first nationwide evaluation of the world\u2019s largest low-income energy efficiency initiative, the Weatherization Assistance Program. The results documented the magnitude of the problem of inefficient housing nationwide, and the particularly high energy burden of low-income households in the South.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/02\/03\/meet-the-expert-marilyn-brown\/\u0022\u003EFull Story on the EPIcenter Newspage.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn illustrious career focused on understanding the nuances of energy policy through analytics has shaped the career of Marilyn Brown, the Regents \u0026amp; Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe oil shortages of the 1970s galvanized Marilyn Brown to focus her graduate research on ways to improve energy security and affordability. This focus launched an impactful career for Brown, currently a Regents \u0026amp; Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"An illustrious career focused on understanding the nuances of energy policy through analytics has shaped the career of Marilyn Brown, the Regents \u0026 Brook Byers Professor of Sustainable Systems at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-03 19:13:46","changed_gmt":"2026-02-03 19:30:27","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679180":{"id":"679180","type":"image","title":"Marilyn-A-Brown-DSC_2963-copy300px.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMarilyn Brown\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1770146898","gmt_created":"2026-02-03 19:28:18","changed":"1770146898","gmt_changed":"2026-02-03 19:28:18","alt":"Marilyn Brown","file":{"fid":"263309","name":"Marilyn-A-Brown-DSC_2963-copy300px.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/Marilyn-A-Brown-DSC_2963-copy300px.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/Marilyn-A-Brown-DSC_2963-copy300px.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":79664,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/03\/Marilyn-A-Brown-DSC_2963-copy300px.jpg?itok=JC_qH5RF"}}},"media_ids":["679180"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:epicenter@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E || EPIcenter Program Coordinator\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["epicenter@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688000":{"#nid":"688000","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Small Modular Reactors and Smart Energy Cities","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by Georgia Tech researchers Brian An, Daein Kang, John Kim, and Moe Kyaw Thu analyzes how national governments describe Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in official energy policy documents. Using natural language processing (NLP) on more than 800,000 words extracted from 66 national and international energy plans, the authors assess whether SMRs are framed as narrowly technical innovations or as contributors to broader urban energy transitions. Their findings show that SMR discourse remains dominated by references to reactor design, regulation, and safety, while themes central to modern energy planning\u2014such as resilience, urban\u2013rural equity, cogeneration, and diversified energy services\u2014appear inconsistently and with low prominence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerhaps most notably, governance\u2011related concepts such as community engagement, siting justice, and public trust are largely absent from the dominant keyword clusters revealed through TF\u2011IDF and LDA analysis. This pattern contrasts with long\u2011standing evidence that nuclear deployment outcomes hinge on procedural fairness, transparency, and risk communication. As cities face rising electricity demand, climate\u2011driven outages, growing data center loads, and new siting pressures, the lack of urban\u2011relevant framing in national SMR strategies may limit the technology\u2019s ability to support equitable and resilient energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe authors conclude that viewing SMRs chiefly as engineering solutions risks missing their potential contributions to multi\u2011service energy portfolios and resilience planning. They argue that meaningful integration of SMRs into smart energy cities will require a broader policy architecture\u2014one that explicitly addresses governance, cross\u2011sectoral applications, spatial justice, and local participation. Expanding future analyses to include state, provincial, and municipal policies will also be essential, given that these levels of government oversee land use, community engagement, and emergency management\u2014factors central to nuclear siting and energy justice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more and listen to a podcast on the paper, please \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/01\/27\/small-modular-reactors-and-smart-energy-cities\/\u0022\u003Evisit the EPIcenter Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new study by Georgia Tech researchers Brian An, Daein Kang, John Kim, and Moe Kyaw Thu analyzes how national governments describe Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in official energy policy documents. Using natural language processing (NLP) on more than 800,000 words extracted from 66 national and international energy plans, the authors assess whether SMRs are framed as narrowly technical innovations or as contributors to broader urban energy transitions. Their findings show that SMR discourse remains dominated by references to reactor design, regulation, and safety, while themes central to modern energy planning\u2014such as resilience, urban\u2013rural equity, cogeneration, and diversified energy services\u2014appear inconsistently and with low prominence.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new study by Georgia Tech researchers Brian An, Daein Kang, John Kim, and Moe Kyaw Thu analyzes how national governments describe Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in official energy policy documents. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-03 18:46:45","changed_gmt":"2026-02-03 18:49:20","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679179":{"id":"679179","type":"image","title":"SMR-AdobeStock_1360249117.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1770144411","gmt_created":"2026-02-03 18:46:51","changed":"1770144411","gmt_changed":"2026-02-03 18:46:51","alt":"Stock Image: Showing SMRs stored.","file":{"fid":"263308","name":"SMR-AdobeStock_1360249117.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/SMR-AdobeStock_1360249117.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/SMR-AdobeStock_1360249117.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":245059,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/03\/SMR-AdobeStock_1360249117.jpeg?itok=0IEEHyUu"}}},"media_ids":["679179"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:epicenter@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E || EPIcenter Program Coordinator\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["epicenter@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687994":{"#nid":"687994","#data":{"type":"news","title":"EPIcenter Student Affiliate Wins School of Economics Paper Prize","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfi Ramadhani, a graduate student in economics and a student affiliate of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Energy Policy Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, has won a prize for the best research paper from the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Economics\u003C\/a\u003E. The research developed in the paper was supported by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/students\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s Graduate Student Summer Research Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe prize recognizes outstanding student research produced within the School and highlights the value of EPIcenter\u2019s sustained research support and professional development for graduate students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/maghfira-ramadhani\u0022\u003ERamadhani\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E award-winning paper, titled \u201cBattery Storage and Natural Gas Generator Market Power,\u201d was developed during his participation in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/epicenter-announces-selection-six-students-inaugural-summer-research-program\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s Summer Research Program\u003C\/a\u003E for graduate and doctoral students pursuing energy policy research at Georgia Tech. Through the program, he received research mentoring and communications coaching that strengthened his work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis award reflects what can happen when students have the time, mentorship, and support to fully develop their ideas,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of EPIcenter. \u201cOur Summer Research Program is designed to help graduate students advance rigorous energy policy research while also building the skills needed to communicate that work effectively.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupporting Graduate Research in Energy Policy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program supports graduate students whose work contributes to energy policy and innovation. Student affiliates receive funding, mentorship, and access to EPIcenter\u2019s research and communications resources, helping them build their academic profiles and translate complex research for broader audiences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, they gain valuable opportunities to present their work, participate in EPIcenter programs and events, share their research through EPIcenter\u2019s communications platforms, and build their skills through tailored collaboration and training with EPIcenter staff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the summer, Ramadhani worked closely with EPIcenter staff and mentors. The program\u2019s stipend allowed him to spend those months fully focused on his research, rather than taking on teaching or other responsibilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Participating in the program really made my summer productive. I got a lot of good feedback on how to shape the idea into a paper,\u0022 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdvancing Emerging Scholars\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERamadhani\u2019s recognition reflects EPIcenter\u2019s broader commitment to supporting graduate students whose research addresses critical energy and policy challenges. By pairing research support with mentorship and communications training, the center helps students develop work that earns recognition well beyond the program itself.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfi Ramadhani, a graduate student in economics and a student affiliate of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Energy Policy Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, has won a prize for the best research paper from the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Economics\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;The research developed in the paper was supported by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/students\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s Graduate Student Summer Research Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Afi Ramadhani, a graduate student in economics and a student affiliate of Georgia Tech\u2019s Energy Policy Innovation Center, has won a prize for the best research paper from the School of Economics. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-02-03 17:05:04","changed_gmt":"2026-02-03 17:08:30","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679177":{"id":"679177","type":"image","title":"Afi_headshot.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAfi Ramadhani, Ph.D. student at the School of Economics and EPIcenter Student Affiliate\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1770138316","gmt_created":"2026-02-03 17:05:16","changed":"1770138316","gmt_changed":"2026-02-03 17:05:16","alt":"Afi Ramadhani","file":{"fid":"263305","name":"Afi_headshot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/Afi_headshot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/03\/Afi_headshot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":87641,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/03\/Afi_headshot.jpg?itok=ytJ1qzbp"}}},"media_ids":["679177"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687390":{"#nid":"687390","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Researchers Discover How Worms Clean Their Environment Without a Brain","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen centimeter-long aquatic worms, such as \u003Cem\u003ET. tubifex\u003C\/em\u003E or \u003Cem\u003ELumbriculus variegatus\u003C\/em\u003E, are placed in a Petri dish filled with sub-millimeter sized sand particles, something surprising happens. Over time, the worms begin to spontaneously clean up their surroundings. They sweep particles into compact clusters, gradually reshaping and organizing their environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/journals.aps.org\/prx\/abstract\/10.1103\/yxp1-t43g\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E recently published in \u003Cem\u003EPhysical Review X,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003Ea team of researchers show that this remarkable sweeping behavior does not require a brain, or any kind of complex interaction between the worms and the particles. Instead, it emerges from the natural undulating motion and flexibility that the worms possess.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study was co-led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bhamla.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaad Bhamla\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Antoine Deblais of the University of Amsterdam.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeblais said: \u201cIt is fascinating to see how living worms can organize their surroundings just by moving.\u201d Bhamla added: \u201cTheir activity and flexibility alone are enough to collect particles and reshape their environment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy building simple robotic and computer models that mimic the living worms, the researchers discovered that only these two ingredients \u2013 activity and flexibility \u2013 are sufficient to reproduce the sweeping and collecting effects. The result is a self-organized, dynamic form of environmental restructuring driven purely by motion and shape.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOrder emerges\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe results do not just teach us a surprising lesson about worms. Understanding how these organisms spontaneously collect particles has much broader implications. On the technological side, what the researchers have learned could inspire the design of soft robots that clean or sort materials without needing sensors or pre-programmed intelligence.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch robots, like the worms, would simply move and let order emerge from motion. \u201cBrainless\u201d machines of this sort could perhaps one day help remove microplastics or sediments from aquatic environments, or perform complex tasks in unpredictable terrains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a biological perspective, the results also offer insights into how elongated living organisms \u2013 not just worms, but also filamentous bacteria, or cytoskeletal filaments \u2013 can structure and modify their own habitats through simple physical interactions. Understanding this structuring and modifying behaviour has been a central question for, e.g., earthworms in their role in soil aeration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a biological perspective, the results also offer insights into how elongated living organisms \u2013 not just worms, but also filamentous bacteria, or cytoskeletal filaments \u2013 can structure and modify their own habitats through simple physical interactions. Understanding this structuring and modifying behaviour has been a central question for, e.g., earthworms in their role in soil aeration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeam effort\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis project grew out of curiosity about how living systems shape their environment without centralized control. Initial experiments with worms, conducted by Harry Tuazon (Bioengineering PhD 2024) at Georgia Tech, showed the unexpected particle collection patterns. This led the team to attempt to reproduce the behavior using robotic and simulated counterparts \u2013 something that worked surprisingly well. In the project, experimentalists and theorists worked side by side, allowing the team to uncover the physical principles behind this seemingly purposeful behavior.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-first author Rosa Sinaasappel conducted the robot experiments at the University of Amsterdam. \u201cBy mimicking the worms\u2019 motion with simple brainless robots connected by flexible rubber links, we could pinpoint the two ingredients that are essential for the sweeping mechanism,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECo-first author Prathyusha Kokkoorakunnel Ramankutty, a research scientist in the Bhamla Lab at Georgia Tech, performed the computer simulations of the behavior. \u201cOur computational model, built on simple ingredients like propulsion and flexibility, shows that this principle works across different scales and can be adapted for new designs, as demonstrated by a soft robotic sweeper that autonomously \u2018cleans\u2019 and reorganizes particles without programmed intelligence,\u201d she explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers will continue to investigate this type of behaviour in the future. While a mathematical model of active sweeping is now presented in a simple form, many challenging questions raised by this complex system remain open for theoreticians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultiple groups of students helped greatly with the robot experiments, doing projects in the lab. Their efforts ranged from performing the experiments to replacing the in total about 200 batteries, after perhaps one of the most difficult tasks: wrestling them free from the child-proof packaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/journals.aps.org\/prx\/abstract\/10.1103\/yxp1-t43g\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParticle Sweeping and Collection by Active and Living Filaments\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Sinaasappel, R., Prathyusha, K. R., Tuazon, Harry, Mirzahossein, E., Illien, P., Bhamla, Saad, and A. Deblais.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EPhysical Review X\u003C\/em\u003E (2026)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETiny worms, big surprises! When placed in sand-filled Petri dishes, centimeter-long aquatic worms like T. tubifex spontaneously sweep up particles and reorganize their environment \u2014 all without a brain. Researchers discovered that this surprising behavior emerges purely from the worms\u2019 motion and flexibility.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" When placed in sand-filled Petri dishes, centimeter-long aquatic worms like T. tubifex spontaneously sweep up particles and reorganize their environment \u2014 all without a brain."}],"uid":"27271","created_gmt":"2026-01-16 17:53:26","changed_gmt":"2026-01-30 16:43:16","author":"Brad Dixon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679027":{"id":"679027","type":"image","title":"worms1.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA real worm in a Petri dish (top left) and a robot worm (bottom right) clean their environments of tiny particles in a very similar manner.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768586012","gmt_created":"2026-01-16 17:53:32","changed":"1768586012","gmt_changed":"2026-01-16 17:53:32","alt":"A real worm in a Petri dish (top left) and a robot worm (bottom right) clean their environments of tiny particles in a very similar manner.","file":{"fid":"263138","name":"worms1.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/16\/worms1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/16\/worms1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1129149,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/16\/worms1.png?itok=xCfPAW8e"}},"679028":{"id":"679028","type":"video","title":" Two types of worms clean and organize their environment","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETwo types of worms clean and organize their environment\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768586293","gmt_created":"2026-01-16 17:58:13","changed":"1768586293","gmt_changed":"2026-01-16 17:58:13","video":{"youtube_id":"H2I8IxNG4vA","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H2I8IxNG4vA"}},"679029":{"id":"679029","type":"video","title":"Different types of robots lead to different types of cleaning behavior","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDifferent types of robots lead to different types of cleaning behavior\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768586384","gmt_created":"2026-01-16 17:59:44","changed":"1768586384","gmt_changed":"2026-01-16 17:59:44","video":{"youtube_id":"h2k9pcmZ_ck","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h2k9pcmZ_ck\u0026t=2s"}}},"media_ids":["679027","679028","679029"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194900","name":"worms"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon, braddixon@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["braddixon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687234":{"#nid":"687234","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Chelsea Ekwegh Honored as Millennium Fellow for Work in Urban Sustainability","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EChelsea Ekwegh, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has made it her mission to reshape how cities think about energy. After being selected for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/undergraduate.gatech.edu\/38-georgia-tech-students-selected-as-2025-millennium-fellows\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Millennium Fellowship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a prestigious leadership development program that supports student-led projects advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, she is tackling the challenge of helping cities transition toward clean, efficient, and equitable energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship, a joint initiative of the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network, empowers undergraduates around the world to design and lead social impact projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEkwegh\u2019s project,\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003Etitled Bridging Energy Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Development\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003Eexplores ways to connect new and old technologies so cities can evolve without leaving people or infrastructure behind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer inspiration for the project comes from her experience growing up in Nigeria, where power outages and generator pollution were a daily challenge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/chelsea-ekwegh-honored-millennium-fellow-work-urban-sustainability\u0022\u003ERead more on the ME School Page\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EChelsea Ekwegh, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, has made it her mission to reshape how cities think about energy. After being selected for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/undergraduate.gatech.edu\/38-georgia-tech-students-selected-as-2025-millennium-fellows\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Millennium Fellowship\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a prestigious leadership development program that supports student-led projects advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, she is tackling the challenge of helping cities transition toward clean, efficient, and equitable energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fellowship, a joint initiative of the United Nations Academic Impact and the Millennium Campus Network, empowers undergraduates around the world to design and lead social impact projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEkwegh\u2019s project,\u003Cem\u003E \u003C\/em\u003Etitled Bridging Energy Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Development\u003Cem\u003E, \u003C\/em\u003Eexplores ways to connect new and old technologies so cities can evolve without leaving people or infrastructure behind.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ekwegh\u2019s project, titled Bridging Energy Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Development, explores ways to connect new and old technologies so cities can evolve without leaving people or infrastructure behind."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-01-13 14:04:34","changed_gmt":"2026-01-28 18:56:34","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678967":{"id":"678967","type":"image","title":"Chelsea-Ekwegh-headshot_web.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChelsea Ekwegh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768313232","gmt_created":"2026-01-13 14:07:12","changed":"1769626524","gmt_changed":"2026-01-28 18:55:24","alt":"Chelsea Ekwegh 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Infrastructure"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687712":{"#nid":"687712","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Lights, Camera, Memory!","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECan flickering light and sound help fight Alzheimer\u2019s disease?\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOn this episode of \u003Cem\u003EHoly Shift!\u003C\/em\u003E, host Angela Gill Nelms chats with Dr. Annabelle Singer from Georgia Tech and Emory University, whose groundbreaking research explores how carefully timed lights and sounds may help \u201ctune\u201d the brain, boost memory, and change the course of Alzheimer\u2019s disease. \u0026nbsp;From building theater lights as a kid to decoding how brain waves shape memory, Dr. Singer is proving that sometimes the brightest ideas come from unexpected places.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/holyshiftresearch.transistor.fm\/5\u0022\u003ETune in to hear how groundbreaking science is lighting the way toward healthier brains and brighter futures.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECan flickering light and sound help fight Alzheimer\u2019s disease?\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Can flickering light and sound help fight Alzheimer\u2019s disease?"}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-01-27 15:58:34","changed_gmt":"2026-01-27 16:00:16","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-19T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679105":{"id":"679105","type":"image","title":"Annabelle-Singer-Holy-Shift-INNS.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAnnabelle Singer\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769529538","gmt_created":"2026-01-27 15:58:58","changed":"1769529538","gmt_changed":"2026-01-27 15:58:58","alt":"Annabelle Singer","file":{"fid":"263224","name":"Annabelle-Singer-Holy-Shift-INNS.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/27\/Annabelle-Singer-Holy-Shift-INNS.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/27\/Annabelle-Singer-Holy-Shift-INNS.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":109140,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/27\/Annabelle-Singer-Holy-Shift-INNS.jpeg?itok=fQ30Icm-"}}},"media_ids":["679105"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/holyshiftresearch.transistor.fm\/5","title":"Listen to the full podcast"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kelly.petty@bme.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKelly Petty\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kelly.petty@bme.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686983":{"#nid":"686983","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Gazing Into the Mind\u2019s Eye With Mice \u2013 How Neuroscientists Are Seeing Human Vision More\u00a0Clearly","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the nursery rhyme about three blind mice, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7554\/eLife.31209\u0022\u003Emouse eyesight is surprisingly sensitive\u003C\/a\u003E. Studying how mice see has helped researchers discover unprecedented details about how individual brain cells communicate and work together to create a mental picture of the visual world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=P5IKL5UAAAAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\u0022\u003EI am a neuroscientist\u003C\/a\u003E who studies how brain cells drive visual perception and how these processes can fail in conditions \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/cercor\/bhab025\u0022\u003Esuch as autism\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haider.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EMy lab\u003C\/a\u003E \u201clistens\u201d to the electrical activity of neurons in the outermost part of the brain called the cerebral cortex, a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.17-18-07079.1997\u0022\u003Elarge portion of which\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7551\/mitpress\/7131.003.0038\u0022\u003Eprocesses visual information\u003C\/a\u003E. Injuries to the visual cortex can lead to blindness and other visual deficits, even when the eyes themselves are unhurt.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding the activity of individual neurons \u2013 and how they work together while the brain is actively using and processing information \u2013 is a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/mapping-how-the-100-billion-cells-in-the-brain-all-fit-together-is-the-brave-new-world-of-neuroscience-170182\u0022\u003Elong-standing goal of neuroscience\u003C\/a\u003E. Researchers have moved much closer to achieving this goal thanks to new technologies aimed at the mouse visual system. And these findings will help scientists better see how the visual systems of people work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Mind in the Blink of an Eye\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers long thought that vision in mice appeared \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/s0042-6989(00)00081-x\u0022\u003Esluggish with low clarity\u003C\/a\u003E. But it turns out visual cortex neurons in mice \u2013 just like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.pneurobio.2024.102656\u0022\u003Ethose in humans, monkeys, cats and ferrets\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 require \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.0623-08.2008\u0022\u003Especific visual features to trigger activity\u003C\/a\u003E and are particularly \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/nature11665\u0022\u003Eselective in alert and awake conditions\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy colleagues and I and others have found that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-021-24311-5\u0022\u003Emice are especially sensitive to\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-021-24311-5\u0022\u003Evisual stimuli directly in front of them\u003C\/a\u003E. This is surprising, because mouse eyes face outward rather than forward. Forward-facing eyes, like those of cats and primates, naturally have a larger area of focus straight ahead compared to outward-facing eyes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2048%2C1787\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Microscopy image of stacks of neurons\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;rect=0%2C0%2C2048%2C1787\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=524\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=524\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=524\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=658\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=658\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708514\/original\/file-20251212-56-z8h8ny.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=658\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EThis image shows neurons in the mouse retina: cone photoreceptors (red), bipolar neurons (magenta), and a subtype of bipolar neuron (green).\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nihgov\/35882593476\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EBrian Liu and Melanie Samuel\/Baylor College of Medicine\/NIH via Flickr\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis finding suggests that the specialization of the visual system to highlight the frontal visual field appears to be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/361719a0\u0022\u003Eshared between mice and humans\u003C\/a\u003E. For mice, a visual focus on what\u2019s straight ahead may help them be more \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cub.2021.06.094\u0022\u003Eresponsive to shadows or edges\u003C\/a\u003E in front of them, helping them avoid looming predators or better \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuron.2021.03.010\u0022\u003Ehunt and capture insects for food\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImportantly, the center of view is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm14155266\u0022\u003Emost affected in aging and many visual diseases\u003C\/a\u003E in people. Since mice also rely heavily on this part of the visual field, they may be particularly useful models to study and treat visual impairment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EA Thousand Voices Drive Complicated Choices\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdvances in technology have greatly accelerated scientific understanding of vision and the brain. Researchers can now routinely record the activity of thousands of neurons at the same time and pair this data with real-time video of a mouse\u2019s face, pupil and body movements. This method can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aav7893\u0022\u003Eshow how behavior interacts with brain activity\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s like spending years listening to a grainy recording of a symphony with one featured soloist, but now you have a pristine recording where you can hear every single musician with a note-by-note readout of every single finger movement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing these improved methods, researchers like me are studying how specific types of neurons work together during complex visual behaviors. This involves analyzing how factors such as movement, alertness and the environment influence visual activity in the brain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, my lab and I found that the speed of visual signaling is \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cub.2025.02.009\u0022\u003Ehighly sensitive to what actions are possible\u003C\/a\u003E in the physical environment. If a mouse rests on a disc that permits running, visual signals travel to the cortex faster than if the mouse views the same images while resting in a stationary tube \u2013 even when the mouse is totally still in both conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn order to connect electrical activity to visual perception, researchers also have to ask a mouse what it thinks it sees. How have we done this?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe last decade has seen researchers debunking long-standing \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnsys.2014.00173\u0022\u003Emyths about mouse learning and behavior\u003C\/a\u003E. Like other rodents, mice are also \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/im-a-neuroscientist-who-taught-rats-to-drive-their-joy-suggests-how-anticipating-fun-can-enrich-human-life-239029\u0022\u003Esurprisingly clever\u003C\/a\u003E and can learn how to \u201ctell\u201d researchers about the visual events they perceive through their behavior.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, mice can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1523\/jneurosci.3560-13.2013\u0022\u003Elearn to release a lever\u003C\/a\u003E to indicate they have detected that a pattern has brightened or tilted. They can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.celrep.2017.08.047\u0022\u003Erotate a Lego wheel left or right\u003C\/a\u003E to move a visual stimulus to the center of a screen like a video game, and they can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7554\/eLife.50340\u0022\u003Estop running on a wheel\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fnbeh.2020.00104\u0022\u003Eand lick a water spout\u003C\/a\u003E when they detect the visual scene has suddenly changed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Mouse drinking from a metal water spout\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/708526\/original\/file-20251212-56-ccqnav.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EMice can be trained to drink water as a way to \u2018tell\u2019 researchers they see something.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/mouse-drinking-from-a-spout-royalty-free-image\/178825439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003Efelixmizioznikov\/iStock via Getty Images Plus\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMice can also use visual cues to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cub.2018.01.038\u0022\u003Efocus their visual processing\u003C\/a\u003E to specific parts of the visual field. As a result, they can more quickly and accurately respond to visual stimuli that appear in those regions. For example, my team and I found that a faint visual image in the peripheral visual field is difficult for mice to detect. But once they do notice it \u2013 and tell us by licking a water spout \u2013 their subsequent responses are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41467-020-14355-4\u0022\u003Efaster and more accurate\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese improvements come at a cost: If the image unexpectedly appears in a different location, the mice are slower and less likely to respond to it. These findings resemble those found in studies on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/00335558008248231\u0022\u003Espatial attention in people\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy lab has also found that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41593-025-01888-4\u0022\u003Eparticular types of inhibitory neurons\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 brain cells that prevent activity from spreading \u2013 strongly control the strength of visual signals. When we activated certain inhibitory neurons in the visual cortex of mice, we could effectively \u201cerase\u201d their perception of an image.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese kinds of experiments are also revealing that the boundaries between perception and action in the brain are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41593-025-02114-x\u0022\u003Emuch less separate than once thought\u003C\/a\u003E. This means that visual neurons will respond differently to the same image in ways that depend on behavioral circumstances \u2013 for example, visual responses differ if the image will be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41586-019-1787-x\u0022\u003Esuccessfully detected\u003C\/a\u003E, if it appears \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.neuron.2025.06.001\u0022\u003Ewhile the mouse is moving\u003C\/a\u003E, or if it appears \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/science.aav3932\u0022\u003Ewhen the mouse is thirsty or hydrated\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderstanding how different factors shape how cortical neurons rapidly respond to visual images will require advances in computational tools that can separate the contribution of these behavioral signals from the visual ones. Researchers also need technologies that can isolate how specific types of brain cells carry and communicate these signals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EData Clouds Encircling the Globe\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis surge of research on the mouse visual system has led to a significant increase in the amount of data that scientists can not only gather in a single experiment but also publicly share among each other.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMajor national and international research centers focused on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/brain-map.org\/\u0022\u003Eunraveling the circuitry of the mouse visual system\u003C\/a\u003E have been leading the charge in ushering in new optical, electrical and biological \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.internationalbrainlab.com\/\u0022\u003Etools to measure large numbers of visual neurons\u003C\/a\u003E in action. Moreover, they make \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/brain-map.org\/atlases#mouse\u0022\u003Eall the data publicly available\u003C\/a\u003E, inspiring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mouse.digital-brain.cn\/projectome\/pfc\u0022\u003Esimilar efforts around the globe\u003C\/a\u003E. This collaboration accelerates the ability of researchers to analyze data, replicate findings and make new discoveries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETechnological advances in data collection and sharing can make the culture of scientific discovery more efficient and transparent \u2013 a major \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fninf.2023.1276407\u0022\u003Edata informatics goal\u003C\/a\u003E of neuroscience in the years ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf the past 10 years are anything to go by, I believe such discoveries are just the tip of the iceberg, and the mighty and not-so-blind mouse will play a leading role in the continuing quest to understand the mysteries of the human brain.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/268334\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/gazing-into-the-minds-eye-with-mice-how-neuroscientists-are-seeing-human-vision-more-clearly-268334\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStudying how mice see has helped researchers discover unprecedented details about how individual brain cells communicate and work together to create a mental picture of the visual world.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Studying how mice see has helped researchers discover unprecedented details about how individual brain cells communicate and work together to create a mental picture of the visual world."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-12-16 13:42:12","changed_gmt":"2026-01-21 19:21:40","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678887":{"id":"678887","type":"image","title":" Mice have complex visual systems that can clarify how vision works in people. Westend61\/Getty Images","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMice have complex visual systems that can clarify how vision works in people. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/germany-research-laboratory-mouse-climbing-out-of-royalty-free-image\/544546223\u0022\u003EWestend61\/Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1766065654","gmt_created":"2025-12-18 13:47:34","changed":"1766065654","gmt_changed":"2025-12-18 13:47:34","alt":" Mice have complex visual systems that can clarify how vision works in people. Westend61\/Getty Images","file":{"fid":"262977","name":"file-20251213-56-fdaib6.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/file-20251213-56-fdaib6.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/file-20251213-56-fdaib6.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":80137,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/18\/file-20251213-56-fdaib6.jpg?itok=21uzzcB5"}}},"media_ids":["678887"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/gazing-into-the-minds-eye-with-mice-how-neuroscientists-are-seeing-human-vision-more-clearly-268334","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/bilal-haider-2512267\u0022\u003EBilal Haider\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687561":{"#nid":"687561","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Insurance Claims Database Provides Health Care Cost Comparisons","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a searchable \u201cshop for care\u201d resource launched as part of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database (GA APCD).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia APCD Cost Comparison Tool (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apcd.georgia.gov\/cost-comparison-tool\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022external\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eapcd.georgia.gov\/cost-comparison-tool\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E) contains information on more than 200 different medical procedures ranging from cardiac stress tests and childbirth to knee replacement and colonoscopies. The resource provides information on the median cost paid for the procedures statewide, along with information on what individual medical facilities and professional providers have been paid for each type of procedure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor each procedure, the tool identifies medical facility providers nearest to the consumer and includes facility ratings collected by the Centers for Medicare \u0026amp; Medicaid Services (CMS). For each facility providing a specific service, the comparison data includes the median cost for the procedure and the range of costs that were paid. Costs can be filtered by payer category, including commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid. While that data is understandably incomplete and includes caveats, developers of the new service say it provides a much-needed resource for Georgians facing a decision on a costly medical procedure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn health care, there are a lot of factors that can drive cost and it\u2019s not always a straightforward equation, so it\u2019s worth doing the research,\u201d said Dr. Jon Duke, an M.D. and principal research scientist in the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u2019s (GTRI) \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/focus-areas\/health-emerging-and-advanced-technologies\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022external\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHealth Emerging and Advanced Technologies Division\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which administers the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/apcd.georgia.gov\/\u0022 data-entity-type=\u0022external\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAPCD\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E for the state of Georgia. \u201cThis is really just one part of health care decision-making, and it will help patients be more proactive advocates for themselves when considering potential options for care.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr. Duke is also a faculty member in Georgia Tech\u0027s Institute for People and Technology. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/georgia-insurance-claims-database-provides-health-care-cost-comparisons\u0022\u003EYou can read the full article published by the Georgia Tech Research Institute here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a searchable \u201cshop for care\u201d resource launched as part of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database (GA APCD).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a searchable \u201cshop for care\u201d resource launched as part of the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database (GA APCD)."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-01-21 18:31:32","changed_gmt":"2026-01-21 18:33:04","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679048":{"id":"679048","type":"image","title":"Georgia Claims Database","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a resource created by the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. (iStock photo)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1769020002","gmt_created":"2026-01-21 18:26:42","changed":"1769020033","gmt_changed":"2026-01-21 18:27:13","alt":"Georgia residents now have a new way to compare the estimated costs paid for a large variety of health care services in the state, thanks to a resource created by the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. (iStock photo)","file":{"fid":"263160","name":"corridor-iStock-482858629.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/21\/corridor-iStock-482858629.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/21\/corridor-iStock-482858629.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":673017,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/21\/corridor-iStock-482858629.jpg?itok=t4t856n0"}}},"media_ids":["679048"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687279":{"#nid":"687279","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet the Expert: Daniel Matisoff","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Daniel Matisoff was intrigued by the ability of economic markets to help solve environmental problems. \u201cLearning about the regulatory role of governments in cap-and-trade markets for reducing carbon emissions shaped my career path,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EMatisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy and EPIcenter\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-faculty-affiliates\/\u0022\u003Efaculty affiliate\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt helped me decide to enter academia after earning my PhD in public policy at Indiana University, where I compared voluntary and mandatory emission reduction policies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Matisoff continues research activities in this space and also directs a professional\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/masters\/mseem\u0022\u003Emaster\u2019s program\u003C\/a\u003E whose graduates help implement environmental policies in the public and private sector. Soon after joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 2009, he began to focus on market transformation through regulation, government subsidies and other financial incentives.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis led to an award-winning 2023\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/01\/19\/ecolabels-innovation-and-green-market-transformation-learning-leed\u0022\u003Ebook\u003C\/a\u003E about the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. It sparked the construction industry\u2019s green building movement and incentivized early adopters of sustainable technology to create new supply chains. For Matisoff, LEED is a perfect example of using governance as a lever for environmental change.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/epicenter\/2026\/01\/20\/meet-the-expert-dan-matisoff\/\u0022\u003ERead Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Policies for greening the grid: rooftop solar panels and community solar programs "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolicies for greening the grid: rooftop solar panels and community solar programs\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, Daniel Matisoff was intrigued by the ability of economic markets to help solve environmental problems. \u201cLearning about the regulatory role of governments in cap-and-trade markets for reducing carbon emissions shaped my career path,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EMatisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy and EPIcenter\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-faculty-affiliates\/\u0022\u003Efaculty affiliate\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cIt helped me decide to enter academia after earning my PhD in public policy at Indiana University, where I compared voluntary and mandatory emission reduction policies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, Matisoff continues research activities in this space and also directs a professional\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/masters\/mseem\u0022\u003Emaster\u2019s program\u003C\/a\u003E whose graduates help implement environmental policies in the public and private sector. Soon after joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 2009, he began to focus on market transformation through regulation, government subsidies and other financial incentives.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Meet Daniel Matisoff: Professor of Public Policy and EPIcenter affiliate"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-01-14 13:30:25","changed_gmt":"2026-01-20 18:02:00","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-14T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-14T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679041":{"id":"679041","type":"image","title":"Dan-Matisoff-High-Res-Photo-1-768x1151.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDan Matisoff\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768932077","gmt_created":"2026-01-20 18:01:17","changed":"1768932077","gmt_changed":"2026-01-20 18:01:17","alt":"Dan Matisoff","file":{"fid":"263152","name":"Dan-Matisoff-High-Res-Photo-1-768x1151.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/20\/Dan-Matisoff-High-Res-Photo-1-768x1151.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/20\/Dan-Matisoff-High-Res-Photo-1-768x1151.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":82427,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/20\/Dan-Matisoff-High-Res-Photo-1-768x1151.jpg?itok=8lCKiuuO"}}},"media_ids":["679041"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ggonzalez68@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGil Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EProgram Coordinator\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by: Silke Schmidt\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["ggonzalez68@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687342":{"#nid":"687342","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Rusty Roberts Receives Top Test and Evaluation Award","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERussell L. (Rusty) Roberts, director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u0027s (GTRI) Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems (ATAS) Laboratory, was awarded the International Test and Evaluation Association\u0027s (ITEA) 2025 Allen R. Matthews Award, the association\u0027s highest honor for lifetime achievement in test and evaluation (T\u0026amp;E).\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ENamed for ITEA\u0027s founder, the Allen R. Matthews Award recognizes individuals whose careers have produced lasting and significant contributions to the T\u0026amp;E community. It is reserved for those whose impact is measured not only in technical achievements, but also in sustained leadership and service to the profession.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ERoberts is a nationally recognized expert in T\u0026amp;E. He has spent decades helping the Department of Defense modernize how it evaluates complex systems. This includes work in electronic warfare and threat radar environments. He leads ATAS at GTRI, where he has launched and continues to guide a cross-Institute T\u0026amp;E initiative that brings together GTRI\u0027s technical resources to support the Office of the Secretary of Defense\u0027s Test Resource Management Center and the network of Department of Defense test and training ranges.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUnder Roberts\u0027 leadership, GTRI has delivered multiple high-impact test assets. These include sophisticated threat radar systems that allow United States forces to evaluate sensors and electronic countermeasures against realistic representations of adversary surface-to-air missile threats.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERoberts began his path into T\u0026amp;E in the United States Army. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in electrical engineering, he served as a Signal Corps officer with assignments at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and in Kaiserslautern, Germany. As a platoon leader and company commander, he led an operational test of the Tactical Automated Switching System. This was his first exposure to formal operational testing and the realities of fielding new communications technology for soldiers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Army later sent Roberts to graduate school at Georgia Tech for advanced study in electrical engineering. This was followed by a teaching tour at West Point. As an Associate Professor and later course director for a senior-level two-semester electronics sequence, he strengthened both his technical depth and his ability to communicate complex concepts to the next generation of Army officers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen his active-duty commitment ended, Roberts transitioned to the Army Reserve. He attended a Georgia Tech alumni job fair in Atlanta. That event led him to GTRI, where he joined as an associate project director on what was then the largest project ever awarded to the Institute. This project involved a threat radar system intended as a test asset for the T\u0026amp;E community. The role immersed him in the operations and needs of major ranges such as China Lake, the Nevada Test and Training Range, and Eglin Air Force Base. It also set the course for a career spent designing and delivering advanced test capabilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERoberts helped guide a broader shift in how threat systems are developed for T\u0026amp;E. Early in his GTRI career, teams focused on highly specialized single-threat \u0022point solutions\u0022 that were extremely accurate but time-consuming and expensive to build. Today, he advocates and leads work toward modular and open architecture radar systems. These can be reconfigured to emulate multiple threats using shared hardware and powerful software-defined back ends. This approach improves agility and helps keep pace with rapid advances in adversary systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond his technical leadership, Roberts has been a central figure in ITEA. He is a past president of the association and has been actively involved since the early 1990s. Over the decades, he has championed the importance of professional societies in helping T\u0026amp;E practitioners share lessons learned, grow their networks, and advance their careers. He has also been a vocal advocate for bringing more early-career engineers and scientists into the T\u0026amp;E profession. He continues to encourage embedding systems engineering and T\u0026amp;E thinking throughout the system development lifecycle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn its statement on the award, ITEA said \u201cWith nearly five decades of dedicated service to our Nation, including over 30 years of continuous and influential involvement in test and evaluation, Rusty Roberts stands as a national asset to the T\u0026amp;E profession and a treasured member of the ITEA family.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERoberts\u0027 career highlights Georgia Tech and GTRI\u0027s long-standing role in advancing the science and practice of test and evaluation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Weems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).\u202fFounded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 3,000 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $919 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.\u202fGTRI\u0027s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERussell L. (Rusty) Roberts, director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u0027s (GTRI) Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems (ATAS) Laboratory, was awarded the International Test and Evaluation Association\u0027s (ITEA) 2025 Allen R. Matthews Award, the association\u0027s highest honor for lifetime achievement in test and evaluation (T\u0026amp;E).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Russell L. (Rusty) Roberts, director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute\u0027s (GTRI) Aerospace, Transportation and Advanced Systems (ATAS) Laboratory, was awarded the International Test and Evaluation Association\u0027s (ITEA) 2025 Allen R. Matthews Award."}],"uid":"35875","created_gmt":"2026-01-15 14:21:09","changed_gmt":"2026-01-15 14:25:42","author":"cweems8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679004":{"id":"679004","type":"image","title":"IMG_5735.JPG","body":null,"created":"1768486927","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 14:22:07","changed":"1768486927","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 14:22:07","alt":"Rusty Roberts (r.) accepts  the International Test and Evaluation Association\u0027s (ITEA) 2025 Allen R. Matthews Award.","file":{"fid":"263114","name":"IMG_5735.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5735.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5735.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":687531,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5735.JPG?itok=6i7Ckur7"}},"679005":{"id":"679005","type":"image","title":"IMG_5745.JPG","body":null,"created":"1768486927","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 14:22:07","changed":"1768486927","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 14:22:07","alt":"Rusty Roberts speaks at a podium to a gathering of the International Test and Evaluation Association.","file":{"fid":"263115","name":"IMG_5745.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5745.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5745.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2551467,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/IMG_5745.JPG?itok=L9D4QSi8"}}},"media_ids":["679004","679005"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["christopher.weems@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687340":{"#nid":"687340","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GTRI Researcher Joseph Greene Receives IEEE-USA McClure Citation of Honor","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Research Engineer Joseph Greene has received the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ieeeusa.org\/volunteers\/awards-recognition\/professionalism\/mcclure\/#:~:text=Past%20Recipients-,Purpose,activities%20in%20the%20United%20States.\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIEEE-USA George F. McClure Citation of Honor\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. This national award\u0026nbsp;recognizes exemplary contributions to advancing professional activities for engineers in the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGreene, of GTRI\u2019s Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL), said his first reaction to the award was shaped by the very security awareness culture he supports at work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are in training season for phishing emails at GTRI,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cSo, my first reaction was almost disbelief. I thought, \u2018There has to be something going on here.\u2019 I went and confirmed it before I let myself believe it was real.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce he verified the message was legitimate, the significance of the honor began to sink in.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeyond the recognition itself, what really mattered to me was the reflection of impact,\u201d Greene said. \u201cIEEE is really my home away from home. A lot of my time outside of GTRI is dedicated to IEEE and its programming, so to see that work recognized in this way was incredibly meaningful.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe McClure Citation of Honor is focused on professional activities. For Greene, that focus aligns directly with how he has chosen to invest his time in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hkn.ieee.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIEEE and in IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the organization\u2019s honor society for electrical and computer engineers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGreene\u2019s involvement with IEEE-HKN began as an undergraduate at Boston University, and continued through graduate school and into his professional career. Over time, he moved from chapter-level activities into roles that support the wider society, particularly in areas such as data management, AI-enabled tools, and mentoring programs that connect students with alumni and professionals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe describes IEEE and IEEE-HKN as a kind of infrastructure for the profession, giving students and early-career engineers a place to test their leadership skills, build networks, and learn how to work across disciplines. In the interview, Greene emphasized how much of his volunteer work focuses on creating systems that make those experiences easier to access and more sustainable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather than focusing only on one-time events, he has helped build programs that can be replicated and scaled, from virtual mentoring and career panels to tools that help chapters track engagement and connect with each other. Those efforts support the kind of professional development that the McClure Citation seeks to highlight, including career readiness, leadership, and the ability to engage with broader policy and societal issues that affect engineers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGreene said that one of the most rewarding aspects of his IEEE-HKN work is seeing students and young professionals realize how much they have to offer, even early in their careers. Through mentoring and leadership opportunities, he has watched them gain confidence, find their communities, and begin to shape the profession they are entering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat same systems-focused mindset carries over to Greene\u2019s research at GTRI, where he works at the intersection of optics, algorithms, and emerging sensing technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is basically optical design meets deep learning to push what is possible with physical systems,\u201d he said, describing his work in computational imaging. \u201cI find myself interfacing across a wide range of projects where I either inspire next-generation algorithms or next-generation optical design to meet key needs in our primarily Department of Defense portfolio.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn that role, Greene often thinks about how to integrate new concepts into real-world systems in a way that advances capability without introducing unacceptable levels of risk.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe major drive I have at the Institute is to balance risk with innovation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want designs that are truly new and push forward what our sponsors can do, but we cannot demand an incredible amount of risk that would prohibit us from achieving those successes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA significant portion of his recent work focuses on neuromorphic imaging, or event-based vision, a sensing approach that operates differently from traditional cameras.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe goal of these cameras is to redo the paradigm in which we interrogate the world,\u201d Greene explained. \u201cYou are more interested in motion and change than in static walls around you. Event-based cameras respond to action. They suppress a lot of static information and can pull out minute changes in the world around you, even with very faint contrast.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause these devices are relatively new and not yet standardized, Greene said there is still foundational work to do.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese are new and largely unstandardized devices,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we take one off the shelf and try to relate it back to theory, there are gaps. We want to calibrate and characterize practical devices so we can provide real guarantees to our sponsors about how they will perform in the real world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the same time, he is helping explore mission-focused applications where the technology\u2019s strengths, such as high dynamic range and performance in ultra\u2013low light, can make a meaningful difference.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are very particular use cases where this technology can have a big impact,\u201d Greene said. \u201cIt has already generated excitement in areas like autonomous vehicles because of its performance across a wide range of lighting conditions, including ultra\u2013low light.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhether he is helping a student chapter modernize its data systems, advising early-career engineers through IEEE-HKN programs, or designing a new imaging approach for a sponsor, Greene sees a common thread running through his volunteer service and his work at GTRI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth, he said, are about building structures that help people see more clearly, make better decisions, and respond more effectively to complex problems. The McClure Citation of Honor recognizes that broad kind of impact, one that spans technical leadership, professional development, and community building across the engineering profession.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoseph Greene is an exemplar of GTRI\u2019s mission to \u201cserve national security\u201d and \u201ceducate future technology leaders\u201d as one of \u201cthe foremost innovators\u0026nbsp;creating a secure nation, a prosperous Georgia, and a sustainable world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Weems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhotos:\u003Cstrong\u003E Christopher J. Moore\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).\u202fFounded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 3,000 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $919 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.\u202fGTRI\u0027s renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Research Engineer Joseph Greene, Ph.D. has received the IEEE-USA George F. McClure Citation of Honor. This national award recognizes exemplary contributions to advancing professional activities for engineers in the United States. Greene is a member of GTRI\u2019s Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL).\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Research Engineer Joseph Greene, of GTRI\u2019s Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory (EOSL), was recognized recognized for the student-centric initiatives he has developed"}],"uid":"35875","created_gmt":"2026-01-15 14:11:26","changed_gmt":"2026-01-15 14:17:26","author":"cweems8","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679000":{"id":"679000","type":"image","title":"Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped.jpg","body":null,"created":"1768486305","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","changed":"1768486305","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","alt":"Joseph Greene, seated with hands clasped.","file":{"fid":"263110","name":"Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":11986834,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped.jpg?itok=SaWZfA3q"}},"679001":{"id":"679001","type":"image","title":"Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped-standing.jpg","body":null,"created":"1768486305","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","changed":"1768486305","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","alt":"Joseph Greene poses in an office suite.","file":{"fid":"263111","name":"Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped-standing.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped-standing.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped-standing.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5682139,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--hands-clasped-standing.jpg?itok=TM1zgZ8R"}},"679002":{"id":"679002","type":"image","title":"Joseph-Greene--looking-upward-stairwell.jpg","body":null,"created":"1768486305","gmt_created":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","changed":"1768486305","gmt_changed":"2026-01-15 14:11:45","alt":"Joseph Greene poses looking upward while standing in a stairway.","file":{"fid":"263112","name":"Joseph-Greene--looking-upward-stairwell.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--looking-upward-stairwell.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--looking-upward-stairwell.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5628802,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/15\/Joseph-Greene--looking-upward-stairwell.jpg?itok=aLpqj_Ts"}}},"media_ids":["679000","679001","679002"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["christopher.weems@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687332":{"#nid":"687332","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating a Decade of Impact: The Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) Marks 10 Years of Community-Engaged Sustainability at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVisionary Beginnings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2015 as Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS), SCoRE aimed to integrate sustainability and community engagement into Georgia Tech\u2019s undergraduate curriculum across all of its colleges. The program came about through a campuswide Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), required for Georgia Tech to retain its accreditation. The designation comes once every 10 years from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSLS was ahead of its time, bringing together sustainability and community engagement to change the culture at Georgia Tech,\u201d observes Ellen Zegura, a three-decade veteran of Georgia Tech who co-founded SLS with Beril Toktay, now executive director of the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS).\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3250\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of transformative work that has bridged campus and community to advance sustainability across Atlanta and beyond."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2026-01-14 21:29:52","changed_gmt":"2026-01-14 21:31:01","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678994":{"id":"678994","type":"image","title":"vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Building for Equity and Sustainability undergraduate research class celebrates the opening of the outdoor classroom that they designed and built with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance in Bush Mountain (April 14, 2025). \u0026nbsp;Credit: SCoRE\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768426201","gmt_created":"2026-01-14 21:30:01","changed":"1768426201","gmt_changed":"2026-01-14 21:30:01","alt":"The Building for Equity and Sustainability undergraduate research class celebrates the opening of the outdoor classroom that they designed and built with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance in Bush Mountain (April 14, 2025). ","file":{"fid":"263103","name":"vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":16687967,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/14\/vipwawaclassroom--5.jpg?itok=hm3gbnly"}}},"media_ids":["678994"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686521":{"#nid":"686521","#data":{"type":"news","title":"LIDAR Lab-mates Moving Humanoid Robots Closer to Adaptability in the Real World","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EViral videos abound with humanoid robots performing amazing feats of acrobatics and dance but finding videos of a humanoid robot performing a common household task or traversing a new multi-terrain environment easily, and without human control, are much rarer. This is because training humanoid robots to perform these seemingly simple functions involves the need for simulation training data that lack the complex\u0026nbsp;dynamics and degrees of freedom of motion that are inherent in humanoid robots.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo achieve better training outcomes with faster\u0026nbsp;deployment results, Fukang Liu and Feiyang Wu, graduate students under Professor Ye Zhao from the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and faculty member of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, have published a duo of papers in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.\u0026nbsp;This is a collaborative work with three other IRIM affiliated faculties, Profs. Danfei Xu, Yue Chen, and Sehoon Ha, as well as Prof. Anqi Wu from School of Computational Science and Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo\u0026nbsp;develop more reliable motion learning for humanoid robots and enable humanoid robots to perform complex whole-body movements in the real world,\u0026nbsp;Fukang led a team and developed Opt2Skill, a hybrid robot learning framework that combines model-based trajectory optimization with reinforcement learning. \u0026nbsp;Their framework integrates dynamics and contacts into the trajectory planning process and generates high-quality, dynamically feasible datasets, which result in more reliable motion learning for humanoid robots and improved position tracking and task success rates. This approach shows a promising way to augment the performance and generalization of humanoid RL policies using dynamically feasible motion datasets. Incorporating torque data also improved motion stability and force tracking in contact-rich scenarios, demonstrating that torque information plays a key role in learning physically consistent and contact-rich humanoid behaviors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile other datasets, such as inverse kinematics or human demonstrations, are valuable, they don\u2019t always capture the dynamics needed for reliable whole-body humanoid control.\u201d said by Fukang Liu. \u201cWith our Opt2Skill framework, we combine trajectory optimization with reinforcement learning to generate and leverage high-quality, dynamically feasible motion data. This integrated approach gives robots a richer and more physically grounded training process, enabling them to learn these complex tasks more reliably and safely for real-world deployment. - Fukang Liu\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn another line of humanoid research,\u0026nbsp;Feiyang established a one-stage training framework that allows humanoid robots to learn locomotion more efficiently and with greater environmental adaptability. Their framework, Learn-to-Teach (L2T), unlike traditional two-stage \u201cteacher-student\u201d approaches, which first train an expert in simulation and then retrain a limited-perception student, teaches both simultaneously, sharing knowledge and experiences in real time. The result of this two-way training is a 50% reduction in training data and time, while maintaining or surpassing state-of-the-art performance in humanoid locomotion. The lightweight policy learned through this process enables the lab\u2019s humanoid robot to traverse more than a dozen real-world terrains\u2014grass, gravel, sand, stairs, and slopes\u2014without retraining or depth sensors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy training an expert and a deployable controller together, we can turn rich simulation feedback into a lightweight policy that runs on real hardware, letting our humanoid adapt to uneven, unstructured terrain with far less data and hand-tuning than traditional methods. - Feiyang Wu\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy the application of these training processes, the team hopes to speed the development of deployable humanoid robots for home use, manufacturing, defense, and search and rescue assistance in dangerous environments. These methods also support advances in embodied intelligence, enabling robots to learn richer, more context-aware behaviors.Additionally, the training data process can be applied to research to improve the functionality and adaptability of human assistive devices for medical and therapeutic uses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs humanoid robots move from controlled labs into messy, unpredictable real-world environments, the key is developing embodied intelligence\u2014the ability for robots to sense, adapt, and act through their physical bodies,\u201d said Professor Ye Zhao. \u201cThe innovations from our students push us closer to robots that can learn robust skills, navigate diverse terrains, and ultimately operate safely and reliably alongside people. - Prof. Ye Zhao\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAuthor - Christa M. Ernst\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitations\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiu F, Gu Z, Cai Y, Zhou Z, Jung H, Jang J, Zhao S, Ha S, Chen Y, Xu D, Zhao Y. Opt2skill: Imitating dynamically-feasible whole-body trajectories for versatile humanoid loco-manipulation. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. 2025 Oct 13.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWu F, Nal X, Jang J, Zhu W, Gu Z, Wu A, Zhao Y. Learn to teach: Sample-efficient privileged learning for humanoid locomotion over real-world uneven terrain. IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. 2025 Jul 23.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Dual publications on learning methods that improve agility and versatility in complex task completion"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETo achieve better training outcomes with faster\u0026nbsp;deployment results, Fukang Liu and Feiyang Wu, graduate students under Professor Ye Zhao from the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and faculty member of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, have published a duo of papers in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters.\u0026nbsp;This is a collaborative work with three other IRIM affiliated faculties, Profs. Danfei Xu, Yue Chen, and Sehoon Ha, as well as Prof. Anqi Wu from School of Computational Science and Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"To achieve better training outcomes with faster deployment results, Fukang Liu and Feiyang Wu have published a duo of papers in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters."}],"uid":"27863","created_gmt":"2025-11-18 20:40:13","changed_gmt":"2026-01-14 15:00:51","author":"Christa Ernst","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678666":{"id":"678666","type":"image","title":"Digit-Team-6-11_8_25-CME-for-Nov-LIDAR-News.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMembers of the LIDAR Lab involved with the research with the DIGIT robot used in the trainings.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763498422","gmt_created":"2025-11-18 20:40:22","changed":"1763498422","gmt_changed":"2025-11-18 20:40:22","alt":"The LIDAR Research Team with Digit Robot","file":{"fid":"262724","name":"Digit-Team-6-11_8_25-CME-for-Nov-LIDAR-News.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/Digit-Team-6-11_8_25-CME-for-Nov-LIDAR-News.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/18\/Digit-Team-6-11_8_25-CME-for-Nov-LIDAR-News.png","mime":"image\/png","size":5426313,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/18\/Digit-Team-6-11_8_25-CME-for-Nov-LIDAR-News.png?itok=FmwisY4a"}}},"media_ids":["678666"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/opt2skill.github.io\/","title":" Opt2Skill on GitHub"},{"url":"https:\/\/lidar-learn-to-teach.github.io\/","title":"Learn-to-Teach (L2T) on GitHub"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"98751","name":"College of Engineering; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChrista M. Ernst\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EKlaus Advance Computing Building 1120E | 266 Ferst Drive | Atlanta GA | 30332\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["christa.ernst@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687242":{"#nid":"687242","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Energy Policy and Innovation Center Launches Interactive Dashboard ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (EPIcenter) has collaborated with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EDan Matisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EJimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E and EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Data Dashboard\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E designed to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe interactive dashboard compiles and visualizes data gathered by\u0026nbsp;Matisoff, along with\u0026nbsp;Program and Operations Manager\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/2af53a9b-d638-574a-a72e-567d586c3cef\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichael Morley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;offering a comprehensive view of SAF production, feedstock availability, and policy trends.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEPIcenter Research Associate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-yang-you\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYang You\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has designed the dashboard to translate complex datasets into policy-relevant insights for decision-makers. By organizing key metrics into interactive visuals, the dashboard helps stakeholders assess market readiness and identify regulatory actions that could accelerate SAF adoption.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEmphasizing the importance of data-driven insights, Matisoff said, \u201cThe Department of Energy has a Grand Challenge to produce 3 billion gallons a year of Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030, and 35 billion gallons a year by 2050. By compiling and visualizing SAF data, we can help policymakers and researchers understand progress towards these goals, where the key opportunities and bottlenecks are \u2013 and how to move forward effectively\u201d.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy SAF Matters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile aviation only accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is a rapidly growing share, and decarbonizing this sector is considered one of the most challenging aspects of the energy transition. Produced from renewable feedstocks, sustainable aviation fuel offers a pathway to reduce lifecycle emissions from air travel without requiring major changes to aircraft or infrastructure. However, SAF production and deployment face hurdles related to cost, supply chain development, and policy support.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E highlighted the dashboard\u2019s role in addressing these challenges:\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cSustainable aviation fuel is a cornerstone of decarbonizing air travel, but the market is complex and rapidly evolving. The dashboard provides clarity by organizing the relevant data in a way that\u2019s accessible and actionable for decision-makers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis tool is meant to bridge analysis and action,\u201d said You. \u201cBy visualizing SAF production, capacity, and offtake dynamics, the dashboard allows policymakers and stakeholders to see where the market is moving, where gaps remain, and how targeted infrastructure investments or supportive policies could unlock scale.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EPIcenter SAF Dashboard is intended as a resource for industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers working to accelerate SAF adoption. By providing transparent, data-driven insights, Georgia Tech aims to support informed decisions that advance innovation and sustainability in aviation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo explore the dashboard and learn more about Georgia Tech\u2019s work on sustainable aviation fuel, visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s SAF page\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (EPIcenter) has collaborated with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EDan Matisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EJimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E and EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Data Dashboard\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E designed to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Energy Policy and Innovation Center has collaborated with Dan Matisoff, EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Data Dashboard to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-01-13 17:04:00","changed_gmt":"2026-01-13 17:10:35","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678970":{"id":"678970","type":"image","title":"SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1768324007","gmt_created":"2026-01-13 17:06:47","changed":"1768324007","gmt_changed":"2026-01-13 17:06:47","alt":"Fuel Truck carrying Sustainable Aviation Fuel near an airplane","file":{"fid":"263073","name":"SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":831898,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg?itok=bJdX1-Z0"}}},"media_ids":["678970"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/","title":"EPIcenter SAF Dashboard"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687042":{"#nid":"687042","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Climbs to No. 2 University in Federally Sponsored Research Expenditures","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUniversity research drives U.S. innovation, and Georgia Institute of Technology is leading the way.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe latest \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ncses.nsf.gov\/surveys\/higher-education-research-development\/2024#data\u0022\u003EHigher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey\u003C\/a\u003E from the National Science Foundation (NSF) places Georgia Tech as No. 2 nationally for federally sponsored research expenditures in 2024. This is Georgia Tech\u2019s highest-ever ranking from the NSF HERD survey and a 70% increase over the Institute\u0027s 2019 numbers.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn total expenditures from all externally funded dollars (including the federal government, foundations, industry, etc.), Georgia Tech is ranked at No. 6.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETech remains ranked No. 1 among universities without a medical school \u2014 a major accomplishment, as medical schools account for a quarter of all research expenditures nationally.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech\u2019s rise to No. 2 in federally sponsored research expenditures reflects the extraordinary talent and commitment of our faculty, staff, students, and partners. This achievement demonstrates the confidence federal agencies have in our ability to deliver transformative research that addresses the nation\u2019s most critical challenges,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOverall, the state of Georgia maintained its No. 8 position in university research and development, and for the first time, the state topped the $4 billion mark in research expenditures. Georgia Tech provides $1.5 billion, the largest state university contribution. In the last five years, federal funding for higher education research in the state of Georgia has grown an astounding 46% \u2014 10 points higher than the U.S. rate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELieuwen said, \u201cGeorgia Tech is proud to lead the state in research contributions, helping Georgia surpass the $4 billion mark for the first time. Our work doesn\u2019t just advance knowledge \u2014 it saves lives, creates jobs, and strengthens national security. This growth reflects our commitment to drive innovation that benefits Georgia, our country, and the world.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the NSF HERD Survey\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NSF HERD Survey is an annual census of U.S. colleges and universities that expended at least $150,000 in separately accounted for research and development (R\u0026amp;D) in the fiscal year. The survey collects information on R\u0026amp;D expenditures by field of research and source of funds and also gathers information on types of research, expenses, and headcounts of R\u0026amp;D personnel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia Tech\u0027s Research Enterprise\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research enterprise at Georgia Tech is led by the Executive Vice President for Research, Tim Lieuwen, and directs a portfolio of research, development, and sponsored activities. This includes leadership of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), the Enterprise Innovation Institute, 11 interdisciplinary research institutes (IRIs), Office of Commercialization, Office of Corporate Engagement, plus research centers, and related research administrative support units. Georgia Tech routinely ranks among the top U.S. universities in volume of research conducted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"This is the Institute\u2019s best ranking in the National Science Foundation\u2019s annual survey."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EUniversity research drives U.S. innovation, and Georgia Institute of Technology is leading the way. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"This is the Institute\u2019s best ranking in the National Science Foundation\u2019s annual survey."}],"uid":"27561","created_gmt":"2026-01-02 15:18:43","changed_gmt":"2026-01-08 20:52:49","author":"Angela Ayers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678906":{"id":"678906","type":"image","title":"20250911_IBB_ChipLung-08.jpg","body":null,"created":"1767367131","gmt_created":"2026-01-02 15:18:51","changed":"1767367131","gmt_changed":"2026-01-02 15:18:51","alt":"Two Georgia Tech researchers looking at a biomedical chip.","file":{"fid":"263002","name":"20250911_IBB_ChipLung-08.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/02\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-08_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/02\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-08_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":89262,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/02\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-08_0.jpg?itok=65G0LzgZ"}}},"media_ids":["678906"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39451","name":"Electronics and Nanotechnology"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:angela.ayers@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAngela Ayers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Vice President of Research Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687094":{"#nid":"687094","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Solar-powered Fa\u00e7ade Panel System Wins Seed Grant Award","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and the College of Design (CoD) awarded a seed grant to Christian Coles, lecturer in the School of Architecture; Moinak Choudhury, Ph.D., lecturer in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC); and Janelle Wright, environmental justice programs manager, at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA). Coles will serve as the principal investigator with Choudhury and Wright serving as the co-principal investigators.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir project, \u201cDesigning Futures: Afrofuturist Co-Creation with AI for Community-Led Facade Design\u201d will be realized during a 16-week design studio (ARCH 4016) class that will take place during fall 2026 and serve senior undergraduate architecture students. Participants from diverse majors will join through the Building for Equity and Sustainability Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) team, in partnership with the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE). Pre-planning tasks will occur spring semester in preparation for the fall studio class.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe studio class will collaborate with Moinak Choudhury and students in LMC 3403, who bring expertise in technical communication, responsible AI use, and community-based learning to co-create engagement materials and public-facing documentation that strengthen the project\u2019s interdisciplinary links between design, sustainability, and communication.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe final result of the project encompasses students who will design and install a modular, solar-powered fa\u00e7ade panel system for the outdoor classroom on WAWA\u2019s campus. This project \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/saportareport.com\/touching-grass\/sections\/reports\/mark-lannaman\/\u0022\u003Eextends work done by a previous Georgia Tech VIP team\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe panels will serve multiple functions: participatory community engagement, artistic expression, and climate regulation. This project will advance the classroom toward its intended vision as an Afrofuturist learning space with technological nods to the Keneda Building on Georgia Tech\u2019s campus. With the help of this seed grant, interdisciplinary team members will delve into design, engineering, computing, communication, and community partnership.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and the College of Design (CoD) awarded a seed grant to Christian Coles, lecturer in the School of Architecture; Moinak Choudhury, Ph.D., lecturer in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC); and Janelle Wright, environmental justice programs manager, at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) and the College of Design (CoD) awarded a seed grant to Christian Coles, lecturer in the School of Architecture; Moinak Choudhury, Ph.D., lecturer in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication (LMC); "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-01-06 19:06:48","changed_gmt":"2026-01-06 19:07:43","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678930":{"id":"678930","type":"image","title":"Pictured are Christian Coles (left) and Moinak Choudhury (right).","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPictured are Christian Coles (left) and Moinak Choudhury (right).\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1767726318","gmt_created":"2026-01-06 19:05:18","changed":"1767726358","gmt_changed":"2026-01-06 19:05:58","alt":"Pictured are Christian Coles (left) and Moinak Choudhury (right).","file":{"fid":"263027","name":"2-researchers-side-by-side.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/06\/2-researchers-side-by-side.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/06\/2-researchers-side-by-side.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":690854,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/06\/2-researchers-side-by-side.jpg?itok=a-3433Mi"}}},"media_ids":["678930"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686920":{"#nid":"686920","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Energy Insecurity Linked to Higher Rates of Anxiety and Depression, School of Public Policy Study Finds","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2840540\u0022 title=\u0022null\u0022\u003Estudy\u003C\/a\u003E from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy identifies energy insecurity \u2014 the inability to meet basic household energy needs \u2014 as a critical, yet often overlooked, social determinant of health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhile we often talk about food and housing insecurity, fewer people recognize energy as a basic necessity that shapes not only comfort, but also safety and stress,\u201d said Assistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/f276dd8a-0e13-5b66-b4cf-3d2960e01b2d\u0022 title=\u0022null\u0022\u003EMichelle Graff\u003C\/a\u003E, who co-authored the paper published in \u003Cem\u003EJAMA Network Open\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnalyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Household Pulse Survey, the researchers found that 43% of households experienced energy insecurity in the past year. Among respondents who reduced spending on necessities to cover energy bills, nearly 39% reported symptoms of anxiety and 32% reported symptoms of depression \u2014 more than twice the incidence among respondents who didn\u2019t need to make that tradeoff.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBeing able to afford your home does not guarantee you can afford to safely heat, cool, or power it,\u201d Graff said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuch instability disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic households, renters, and families dependent on electronic medical devices, Graff said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd while the study was not designed to explain whether energy insecurity causes mental health issues or some other dynamic is at work, Graff said it\u2019s incontrovertible that these groups face compounding stressors. Living in inefficient housing can lead to higher bills and unsafe temperatures, disrupting sleep and health. When combined with the financial anxiety of potential utility shutoffs and the need to sacrifice food or medicine to pay bills, these trade-offs create a cycle of chronic stress, she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAmong other recommendations, Graff said healthcare providers should start screening for energy insecurity just as they do for food insecurity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe view this primarily as a data-collection initiative designed to generate the evidence needed to inform future policy recommendations and program improvements,\u201d Graff said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraff is continuing to explore these issues with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=spp.gatech.edu\u0022 title=\u0022null\u0022\u003ECarter School\u003C\/a\u003E graduate students, including recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S1040619025000661?via%3Dihub\u0022\u003Ework\u003C\/a\u003E on state-level aid implementation with Ph.D. student Ryan Anthony and upcoming research with other students on how energy insecurity impacts eviction rates.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe article, \u201cEnergy Insecurity and Mental Health Symptoms in US Adults,\u201d was published Oct. 27, 2025, in JAMA Network Open. It is available at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi:10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2025.39479\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi:10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2025.39479\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe study links energy insecurity to significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression in U.S. households.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The study links energy insecurity to significantly higher rates of anxiety and depression in U.S. households."}],"uid":"34600","created_gmt":"2025-12-16 20:44:16","changed_gmt":"2026-01-06 14:02:04","author":"mpearson34","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678862":{"id":"678862","type":"image","title":"energy-insecurity-mental-health.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy insecurity is a significant financial problem, and potentially a major mental health issue, for millions of Americans.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765917961","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 20:46:01","changed":"1765917961","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 20:46:01","alt":"A woman wearing a hat and warm clothing prepares food in her kitchen.","file":{"fid":"262952","name":"energy-insecurity-mental-health.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/energy-insecurity-mental-health.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/energy-insecurity-mental-health.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":979742,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/energy-insecurity-mental-health.jpg?itok=FVTsWXlA"}},"678864":{"id":"678864","type":"image","title":"Michelle Graff","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAssistant Professor Michelle Graff.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765918275","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 20:51:15","changed":"1765918275","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 20:51:15","alt":"\u0022\u0022","file":{"fid":"262954","name":"fb50e65939f4bc3d6cdd1f16.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/fb50e65939f4bc3d6cdd1f16.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/fb50e65939f4bc3d6cdd1f16.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":15260,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/fb50e65939f4bc3d6cdd1f16.jpg?itok=MqO7ho_j"}}},"media_ids":["678862","678864"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMichael Pearson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["michael.pearson@iac.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679305":{"#nid":"679305","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Finalists Chosen in Georgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President for Research Search","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President for Research search committee has selected three finalists. Each candidate will visit campus and present a seminar sharing their broad vision for the Institute\u0027s research enterprise. The seminars are open to all faculty, students, and staff across the campus community. Interested individuals can attend in person or register to participate via Zoom (pre-registration is required).\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/finalists-chosen-georgia-techs-executive-vice-president-research-search\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President for Research search committee has selected three finalists. Each candidate will visit campus and present a seminar sharing their broad vision for the Institute\u0027s research enterprise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Executive Vice President for Research search committee has selected three finalists."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-01-08 16:27:57","changed_gmt":"2026-01-01 18:36:45","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-07T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-07T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675965":{"id":"675965","type":"image","title":"19C10400-P19-001-Web Use - 1,000px Wide.jpg","body":null,"created":"1736299056","gmt_created":"2025-01-08 01:17:36","changed":"1736299056","gmt_changed":"2025-01-08 01:17:36","alt":"Historical sign depicting information about Tech Tower","file":{"fid":"259654","name":"19C10400-P19-001-Web Use - 1,000px Wide.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/07\/19C10400-P19-001-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/07\/19C10400-P19-001-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":396225,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/07\/19C10400-P19-001-Web%20Use%20-%201%2C000px%20Wide.jpg?itok=xSqO86Zk"}}},"media_ids":["675965"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679709":{"#nid":"679709","#data":{"type":"news","title":" 2024\u2019s Extreme Ocean Heat Breaks Records Again, Leaving 2 Mysteries to Solve","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe oceans are heating up as the planet warms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis past year, 2024, was the warmest ever measured for the global ocean, following a record-breaking 2023. In fact, every decade since 1984, when satellite recordkeeping of ocean temperatures started, has been \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/climatereanalyzer.org\/clim\/sst_daily\/?dm_id=world2\u0022\u003Ewarmer than the previous one\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA warmer ocean means increased evaporation, which in turn results in heavier rains in some areas and droughts in others. It can power hurricanes and downpours. It can also harm the health of coastal marine areas and sea life \u2013 coral reefs suffered their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/environment\/global-coral-bleaching-event-expands-now-largest-record-2024-10-17\/\u0022\u003Emost extensive bleaching event on record in 2024\u003C\/a\u003E, with damage in many parts of the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWarming ocean water also affects temperatures on land by changing weather patterns. The EU\u2019s Copernicus Climate Change Service announced on Jan. 10 that data showed 2024 had also broken the record for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/climate.copernicus.eu\/global-climate-highlights-2024\u0022\u003Ewarmest year globally\u003C\/a\u003E, with global temperatures about 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 Celsius) above pre-industrial times. That would mark the first full calendar year with average \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/climate-issues\/degrees-matter\u0022\u003Ewarming above 1.5 C\u003C\/a\u003E, a level countries had \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/after-cop27-all-signs-point-to-world-blowing-past-the-1-5-degrees-global-warming-limit-heres-what-we-can-still-do-about-it-195080\u0022\u003Eagreed to try to avoid\u003C\/a\u003E passing long-term.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClimate change, by and large, takes the blame. Greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere trap heat, and about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/understanding-climate\/climate-change-ocean-heat-content\u0022\u003E90% of the excess heat caused by emissions\u003C\/a\u003E from burning fossil fuels and other human activities is absorbed by the ocean.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut while it\u2019s clear that the ocean has been warming for quite some time, its temperatures over the past two years have been far above the previous decades. That leaves two mysteries for scientists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EIt\u2019s Not Just El Ni\u00f1o\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe cyclic climate pattern of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/blogs\/enso\/what-el-ni%C3%B1o%E2%80%93southern-oscillation-enso-nutshell\u0022\u003EEl Ni\u00f1o Southern Oscillation\u003C\/a\u003E can explain part of the warmth over the past two years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/el-nino-is-starting-to-lose-strength-after-fueling-a-hot-stormy-year-but-its-still-powerful-an-atmospheric-scientist-explains-whats-ahead-for-2024-223013\u0022\u003EEl Ni\u00f1o periods\u003C\/a\u003E, warm waters that usually accumulate in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean move eastward toward the coastlines of Peru and Chile, leaving the Earth slightly warmer overall. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/el-nino-is-back-thats-good-news-or-bad-news-depending-on-where-you-live-205974\u0022\u003Elatest El Ni\u00f1o began in 2023\u003C\/a\u003E and caused global average temperatures to rise well \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.climate.gov\/news-features\/blogs\/enso\/july-2024-enso-update-summer-vacation\u0022\u003Einto early 2024\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the oceans have been even warmer than scientists expected. For example, global temperatures in 2023-2024 followed a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/climatereanalyzer.org\/clim\/sst_daily\/?dm_id=world2\u0022\u003Esimilar growth and decline pattern\u003C\/a\u003E across the seasons as the previous El Ni\u00f1o event, in 2015-2016, but they were about 0.36 degrees Fahrenheit (0.2 Celsius) higher at all times in 2023-2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScientists are puzzled and left with two problems to solve. They must figure out whether something else contributed to the unexpected warming and whether the past two years have been a sign of a sudden acceleration in global warming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Role of Aerosols\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn intriguing idea, tested using climate models, is that a swift \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-023-42891-2\u0022\u003Ereduction in aerosols\u003C\/a\u003E over the past decade may be one of the culprits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAerosols are solid and liquid particles emitted by human and natural sources into the atmosphere. Some of them have been shown to partially counteract the impact of greenhouse gases by reflecting solar radiation back into space. However, they also are responsible for poor air quality and air pollution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of these particles with cooling properties are generated in the process of burning fossil fuels. For example, sulfur aerosols are emitted by ship engines and power plants. In 2020, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.imo.org\/en\/MediaCentre\/PressBriefings\/pages\/34-IMO-2020-sulphur-limit-.aspx\u0022\u003Eshipping industry implemented\u003C\/a\u003E a nearly \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2024GL109077\u0022\u003E80% cut in sulfur emissions\u003C\/a\u003E, and many companies shifted to low-sulfur fuels. But the larger impact has come from power plants reducing their emissions, including a big shift in this direction in China. So, while technologies have cut these harmful emissions, that means a brake slowing the pace of warming is weakened.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EIs This a Warming Surge?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second puzzle is whether the planet is seeing a warming surge or not.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETemperatures are clearly rising, but the past two years have not been warm enough to support the notion that we may be seeing an acceleration in the rate of global warming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnalysis of four temperature datasets covering the 1850-2023 period has shown that the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43247-024-01711-1\u0022\u003Erate of warming has not shown a significant change\u003C\/a\u003E since around the 1970s. The same authors, however, noted that only a rate increase of at least 55% \u2013 about half a degree Celsius and nearly a full degree Fahrenheit over one year \u2013 would make the warming acceleration detectable in a statistical sense.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a statistical standpoint, then, scientists cannot exclude the possibility that the 2023-2024 record ocean warming resulted simply from the \u201cusual\u201d warming trend that humans have set the planet on for the past 50 years. A very strong El Ni\u00f1o contributed some natural variability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom a practical standpoint, however, the extraordinary impacts the planet has witnessed \u2013 including extreme weather, heat waves, wildfires, coral bleaching and ecosystem destruction \u2013 point to a need to swiftly reduce carbon dioxide emissions to limit ocean warming, regardless of whether this is a continuation of an ongoing trend or an acceleration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article has been updated with Copernicus Climate Change Service\u2019s global 2024 temperature data.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/246843\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/2024s-extreme-ocean-heat-breaks-records-again-leaving-2-mysteries-to-solve-246843\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn fact, every decade since 1984, when satellite recordkeeping of ocean temperatures started, has been warmer than the previous one.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In fact, every decade since 1984, when satellite recordkeeping of ocean temperatures started, has been warmer than the previous one."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-01-17 16:27:48","changed_gmt":"2026-01-01 18:35:52","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-09T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-09T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676055":{"id":"676055","type":"image","title":" The global ocean\u2019s surface temperature was still well above average going into 2025. Meaghan Skinner Photography\/Moment via Getty Images","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;The global ocean\u2019s surface temperature was still well above average going into 2025. Meaghan Skinner Photography\/Moment via Getty Images\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737131416","gmt_created":"2025-01-17 16:30:16","changed":"1737131416","gmt_changed":"2025-01-17 16:30:16","alt":" The global ocean\u2019s surface temperature was still well above average going into 2025. Meaghan Skinner Photography\/Moment via Getty Images","file":{"fid":"259762","name":"file-20250109-19-4cps5m.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250109-19-4cps5m_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250109-19-4cps5m_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":240626,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/17\/file-20250109-19-4cps5m_0.jpg?itok=tEB_EbXq"}}},"media_ids":["676055"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/2024s-extreme-ocean-heat-breaks-records-again-leaving-2-mysteries-to-solve-246843","title":"Read This Story on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"479","name":"Green Buzz"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/annalisa-bracco-1447820\u0022\u003EAnnalisa Bracco\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Ocean and Climate Dynamics, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679640":{"#nid":"679640","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Year in Photos","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom the physics of knitting to highlighting how batteries work, Georgia Tech photographers captured the impact and breadth of the Institute\u2019s research enterprise. See our best shots and discover unseen gems in this collection.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/2024-photos\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Georgia Tech Research looks back at 2024."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom the physics of knitting to highlighting how batteries work, Georgia Tech photographers captured the impact and breadth of the Institute\u2019s research enterprise.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" See our photographers\u2019 best shots and discover unseen gems in this collection. "}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-01-15 18:13:52","changed_gmt":"2026-01-01 18:32:23","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676028":{"id":"676028","type":"image","title":"Krishma Singal sitting at a knitting machine","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKrishma Singal operates a knitting machine to create fabric samples for a study.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1736964926","gmt_created":"2025-01-15 18:15:26","changed":"1736965094","gmt_changed":"2025-01-15 18:18:14","alt":"A female student operating a knitting machine in a research lab at Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"259730","name":"knitting.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/15\/knitting.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/15\/knitting.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3850176,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/15\/knitting.png?itok=EHjp-uWb"}}},"media_ids":["676028"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679801":{"#nid":"679801","#data":{"type":"news","title":"At the Intersection of Climate and AI, Machine Learning is Revolutionizing Climate Science","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EExponential growth in big data and computing power is transforming climate science, where machine learning is playing a critical role in mapping the physics of our changing climate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cWhat is happening within the field is revolutionary,\u201d\u0026nbsp;says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EAssociate Chair and Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/annalisabracco\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnnalisa Bracco\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, adding that because many climate-related processes\u0026nbsp;\u2014 from ocean currents to melting glaciers and weather patterns\u0026nbsp;\u2014 can be described with physical equations, these advancements have the potential to help us understand and predict climate in critically important ways.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBracco is the lead author of a new review paper providing a comprehensive look at the intersection of AI and climate physics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe result of an international collaboration between Georgia Tech\u2019s Bracco,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJulien Brajard\u003C\/strong\u003E (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHenk A. Dijkstra\u003C\/strong\u003E (Utrecht University),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPedram Hassanzadeh\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Chicago),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChristian Lessig\u003C\/strong\u003E (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EClaire Monteleoni\u003C\/strong\u003E (University of Colorado Boulder), the paper, \u2018\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42254-024-00776-3\u0022\u003EMachine learning for the physics of climate\u003C\/a\u003E,\u2019\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;recently published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Reviews Physics\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOne of our team\u2019s goals was to help people think deeply on how climate science and AI intersect,\u201d Bracco shares. \u201cMachine learning is allowing us to study the physics of climate in a way that was previously impossible. Coupled with increasing amounts of data and observations, we can now investigate climate at scales and resolutions we\u2019ve never been able to before.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConnecting hidden dots\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe team showed that ML is driving change in three key areas: accounting for missing observational data, creating more robust climate models, and enhancing predictions, especially in weather forecasting. However, the research also underscores the limits of AI \u2014 and how researchers can work to fill those gaps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMachine learning has been fantastic in allowing us to expand the time and the spatial scales for which we have measurements,\u201d says Bracco, explaining that ML could help fill in missing data points \u2014 creating a more robust record for researchers to reference. However, like patching a hole in a shirt, this works best when the rest of the material is intact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMachine learning can extrapolate from past conditions when observations are abundant, but it can\u2019t yet predict future trends or collect the data we need,\u201d Bracco adds. \u201cTo keep advancing, we need scientists who can determine what data we need, collect that data, and solve problems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EModeling climate, predicting weather\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMachine learning is often used when improving climate models that can simulate changing systems like our atmosphere, oceans, land, biochemistry, and ice. \u201cThese models are limited because of our computing power, and are run on a three-dimensional grid,\u201d Bracco explains: below the grid resolution, researchers need to approximate complex physics with simpler equations that computers can solve quickly, a process called \u2018parameterization\u2019.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMachine learning is changing that, offering new ways to improve parameterizations, she says. \u201cWe can run a model at extremely high resolutions for a short time, so that we don\u2019t need to parameterize as many physical processes \u2014 using machine learning to derive the equations that best approximate what is happening at small scales,\u201d she explains. \u201cThen we can use those equations in a coarser model that we can run for hundreds of years.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhile a full climate model based solely on machine learning may remain out of reach, the team found that ML is advancing our ability to accurately predict weather systems and some climate phenomena like El Ni\u00f1o.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPreviously, weather prediction was based on knowing the starting conditions \u2014 like temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure \u2014 and running a model based on physics equations to predict what might happen next. Now, machine learning is giving researchers the opportunity to learn from the past. \u201cWe can use information on what has happened when there were similar starting conditions in previous situations to predict the future without solving the underlying governing equations,\u201d Bracco says. \u201cAnd all while using orders-of-magnitude less computing resources.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe human connection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBracco emphasizes that while AI and ML play a critical role in accelerating research, humans are at the core of progress. \u201cI think the in-person collaboration that led to this paper is, in itself, a testament to the importance of human interaction,\u201d she says, recalling that the research was the result of a workshop organized at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kitp.ucsb.edu\/\u0022\u003EKavli Institute for Theoretical Physics\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 one of the team\u2019s first in-person discussions after the Covid-19 pandemic.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMachine learning is a fantastic tool \u2014 but it\u0027s not the solution to everything,\u201d she adds. \u201cThere is also a real need for human researchers collecting high-quality data, and for interdisciplinary collaboration across fields.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EI see this as a big challenge, but a great opportunity for computer scientists and physicists, mathematicians, biologists, and chemists to work together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: National Science Foundation, European Research Council, Office of Naval Research, US Department of Energy, European Space Agency, Choose France Chair in AI.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s42254-024-00776-3\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s42254-024-00776-3\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA Georgia Tech-led review paper recently published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Reviews Physics\u003C\/em\u003E is exploring the ways machine learning is revolutionizing the field of climate physics \u2014 and the role human scientists might play.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Georgia Tech-led review paper recently published in\u00a0Nature Reviews Physics is exploring the ways machine learning is revolutionizing the field of climate physics \u2014 and the role human scientists might play."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2025-01-22 17:43:30","changed_gmt":"2026-01-01 18:31:44","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676086":{"id":"676086","type":"image","title":"Researchers launch a a lightweight, balloon-borne instrument to collect data. \u0022To keep advancing, we need scientists who can determine what data we need, collect that data, and solve problems,\u0022 Bracco says. (NOAA)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers launch a a lightweight, balloon-borne instrument to collect data. \u0022To keep advancing, we need scientists who can determine what data we need, collect that data, and solve problems,\u0022 Bracco says. (NOAA)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737567826","gmt_created":"2025-01-22 17:43:46","changed":"1737567826","gmt_changed":"2025-01-22 17:43:46","alt":"Researchers launch a a lightweight, balloon-borne instrument to collect data. \u0022To keep advancing, we need scientists who can determine what data we need, collect that data, and solve problems,\u0022 Bracco says. (NOAA)","file":{"fid":"259801","name":"noaa-5hZJVGPG6vo-unsplash.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/22\/noaa-5hZJVGPG6vo-unsplash.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/22\/noaa-5hZJVGPG6vo-unsplash.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2094496,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/22\/noaa-5hZJVGPG6vo-unsplash.jpg?itok=KR8SZhoH"}}},"media_ids":["676086"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192258","name":"cos-data"},{"id":"192254","name":"cos-climate"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680086":{"#nid":"680086","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Andrei Fedorov Selected as Part of Major International Research Initiative in Big Data and AI for Energy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/fedorov\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrei Fedorov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, will represent Georgia Tech in a new international research initiative. The program, Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) for Top Scientists, is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. It will receive approximately $3.2 million in funding over five years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award will support a broad spectrum of multidisciplinary research activities by the multinational teams and intermediate to long-term (three months to one year) collaborative visits to global research sites in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. A total of 46 proposals were submitted to ASPIRE for Top Scientists, out of which 14 were selected by expert evaluation. Each project is an international collaboration and the initiative\u0027s key focus is advancing science and technology on an international level.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFedorov will lead a project titled \u0022Construction of International Data and Analysis Platform for Inorganic Power-storage Materials Informatics with Nano\/Micro-Structur\u003Cem\u003Ee\u0022 \u003C\/em\u003Ethat will explore the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Informatics, and Energy. He will represent Georgia Tech as a principal investigator. The planned research will also involve faculty members and graduate students from College of Engineering schools involved in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/news\/andrei-fedorov-selected-part-major-international-research-initiative-big-data-and-ai-energy\u0022\u003ERead the full story on the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/fedorov\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrei Fedorov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair, and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, will represent Georgia Tech in a new international research initiative. The program, Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) for Top Scientists, is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. It will receive approximately $3.2 million in funding over five years.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The program, Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE) for Top Scientists, is funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. It will receive approximately $3.2 million in funding over five years."}],"uid":"35851","created_gmt":"2025-01-30 23:47:24","changed_gmt":"2026-01-01 18:30:05","author":"aritchie6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676172":{"id":"676172","type":"image","title":"Andrei_FEdorov_2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1738280919","gmt_created":"2025-01-30 23:48:39","changed":"1738280919","gmt_changed":"2025-01-30 23:48:39","alt":"Andrei Fedorov","file":{"fid":"259901","name":"Andrei_FEdorov_2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/30\/Andrei_FEdorov_2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/30\/Andrei_FEdorov_2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":544740,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/30\/Andrei_FEdorov_2.jpg?itok=bediVLWH"}}},"media_ids":["676172"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:chloe.arrington@me.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EChloe Arrington\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680930":{"#nid":"680930","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating the Remarkable Career of Robert Butera","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECelebrating the Remarkable Career of Robert Butera\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBill Dracos Appointed Interim Chief Research Operations Officer as Rob Butera Announces His Retirement\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is with immense gratitude and admiration that we \u003Cstrong\u003Eannounce the retirement of Robert Butera\u003C\/strong\u003E, who has served Georgia Tech with the highest dedication and excellence. As the chief research operations officer (CROO), Butera has facilitated the Institute\u2019s research activities, overseeing research integrity assurance, research administration, research operations\/infrastructure, and research development. His leadership and vision have left an indelible mark on Georgia Tech\u0027s research enterprise.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EButera\u2019s journey at Georgia Tech began long before his role as CROO. He received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech in 1991. He joined the Institute\u2019s faculty in 1999, after earning his Ph.D. from Rice University and spending several years as a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health. Over the years, Butera has held numerous pivotal roles, including vice president for research development and operations, associate dean for research in the College of Engineering, and director of the Neural Engineering Center. Prior to joining Georgia Tech\u2019s research leadership, Butera directed the interdisciplinary bioengineering graduate program, then co-founded the Grand Challenges Living Learning Community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a professor, Butera graduated 15 Ph.D. students and mentored over 100 undergraduates, for which he received Georgia Tech\u2019s Senior Faculty Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award in 2016. He also mentored several postdocs and master\u2019s students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EButera\u2019s accolades are numerous, including the prestigious Georgia Tech ANAK award and election as a Fellow to both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. He held significant leadership roles within the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. These honors reflect his impact on the field of biomedical engineering and his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond his professional achievements, Butera\u2019s personal passions have also enriched the larger Georgia Tech community. His love for whitewater kayaking, which he discovered through Outdoor Recreation Georgia Tech (ORGT), led to a decade of volunteering as an instructor and trip leader. This commitment to adventure and leadership development has inspired many students and colleagues alike.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Rob\u0027s unwavering commitment to excellence and his visionary leadership have been instrumental in advancing Georgia Tech\u0027s research mission. His contributions have not only elevated our institution but have also profoundly impacted the broader scientific community. We are deeply grateful for his service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, executive director of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, shared these heartfelt words: \u0022Rob, the ultimate Yellow Jacket, has been a tireless champion to improve research, educational, and operational processes at Georgia Tech. He has had tremendous positive impact in Georgia Tech, the state, and the nation. We will miss his deep knowledge and expertise, exceptional problem solving, practical perspective, and genuine care for faculty, staff, and students, and we wish him continued success in his next chapter.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELena Ting, McCamish Foundation Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering in the Walter H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, said, \u201cRob\u2019s heart\u0026nbsp;has a huge \u2018GT\u2019 stamped on it: He has always been engaged in all aspects of Georgia Tech life. I\u2019m always amazed to hear about his undergrad teaching and mentoring, kayaking with ORGT, and advising his fraternity. At the same time, he worked tirelessly to enhance interdisciplinary research and solve challenges affecting faculty research, all while conducting his own innovative research. Rob is a GT nexus, always in the know about what is going on around campus and \u2013 more importantly \u2013 how and why it got to be that way. He is a great friend and colleague who is always available for a beer, and I\u2019ll miss him dearly.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs we bid farewell to Rob, we also extend a warm welcome to \u003Cstrong\u003EBill Dracos, who will serve as the interim chief research operations officer, effective immediately.\u003C\/strong\u003E Bill brings a wealth of experience from his role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and his previous leadership positions at George Mason University, Emory University, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. We are confident Bill will continue to build on Rob\u0027s legacy of excellence and innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThank you, Rob, for your years of service, your unwavering commitment to Georgia Tech, and your inspiring leadership.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EWe wish you all the best in your retirement and look forward to seeing the new adventures you will undoubtedly embark upon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Tech is conducting a national search for the next Chief Research Operations Officer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/career\/croo\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELearn more\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E about the open position.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Bill Dracos Appointed Interim Chief Research Operations Officer as Rob Butera Announces His Retirement  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECelebrating the Remarkable Career of Robert Butera\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBill Dracos Appointed Interim Chief Research Operations Officer as Rob Butera Announces His Retirement\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Celebrating the Remarkable Career of Robert Butera"}],"uid":"27561","created_gmt":"2025-03-05 16:13:18","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 18:36:47","author":"Angela Ayers","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-03-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676470":{"id":"676470","type":"image","title":"Rob Butera 2025","body":null,"created":"1741192845","gmt_created":"2025-03-05 16:40:45","changed":"1741193046","gmt_changed":"2025-03-05 16:44:06","alt":"Headshot of Rob Butera.","file":{"fid":"260266","name":"Butera.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/Butera.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/Butera.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2794169,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/05\/Butera.jpg?itok=L5by1dTE"}},"676469":{"id":"676469","type":"image","title":"Rob Butera Lab","body":null,"created":"1741192797","gmt_created":"2025-03-05 16:39:57","changed":"1741192831","gmt_changed":"2025-03-05 16:40:31","alt":"Rob Butera in the lab.","file":{"fid":"260265","name":"RobButeraLab.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/RobButeraLab.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/RobButeraLab.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":318423,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/05\/RobButeraLab.jpg?itok=yY3lxOSp"}},"676468":{"id":"676468","type":"image","title":"Rob Butera ANAK award","body":null,"created":"1741192700","gmt_created":"2025-03-05 16:38:20","changed":"1741192774","gmt_changed":"2025-03-05 16:39:34","alt":"Robert Butera receives the Georgia Tech ANAK award in 2019.","file":{"fid":"260264","name":"Rob-Butera-ANAK-presentation_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/Rob-Butera-ANAK-presentation_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/Rob-Butera-ANAK-presentation_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":415794,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/05\/Rob-Butera-ANAK-presentation_0.jpg?itok=wZ45hzhn"}},"676477":{"id":"676477","type":"image","title":"Butera White Water Rafting","body":null,"created":"1741212651","gmt_created":"2025-03-05 22:10:51","changed":"1741212712","gmt_changed":"2025-03-05 22:11:52","alt":"Rob Butera in a kayak white water rafting.","file":{"fid":"260273","name":"ButeraWhiteWaterRafting.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/ButeraWhiteWaterRafting.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/05\/ButeraWhiteWaterRafting.png","mime":"image\/png","size":727696,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/05\/ButeraWhiteWaterRafting.png?itok=a-vt3vna"}}},"media_ids":["676470","676469","676468","676477"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681273":{"#nid":"681273","#data":{"type":"news","title":"School Presents Research in Weather Prediction, Carbon Storage, Nuclear Fusion, and More at Computing Conference","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMany communities rely on insights from computer-based models and simulations. This week, a nest of Georgia Tech experts are swarming an international conference to present their latest advancements in these tools, which offer solutions to pressing challenges in science and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents and faculty from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) are leading the Georgia Tech contingent at the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/conferences-events\/siam-conferences\/cse25\/\u0022\u003ECSE25\u003C\/a\u003E). The Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/\u0022\u003ESIAM\u003C\/a\u003E) organizes CSE25, occurring March 3-7 in Fort Worth, Texas.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt CSE25, the School of CSE researchers are presenting papers that apply computing approaches to varying fields, including: \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EExperiment designs to accelerate the discovery of material properties\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMachine learning approaches to model and predict weather forecasting and coastal flooding\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVirtual models that replicate subsurface geological formations used to store captured carbon dioxide\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOptimizing systems for imaging and optical chemistry\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPlasma physics during nuclear fusion reactions\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[Related:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/app\/profile\/joshpreston\/viz\/SIAMCSE2025\/dash-long\u0022\u003EGT CSE at SIAM CSE25 Interactive Graphic\u003C\/a\u003E]\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn CSE, researchers from different disciplines work together to develop new computational methods that we could not have developed alone,\u201d said School of CSE Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/people\/edmond-chow\u0022\u003EEdmond Chow\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese methods enable new science and engineering to be performed using computation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECSE is a discipline dedicated to advancing computational techniques to study and analyze scientific and engineering systems. CSE complements theory and experimentation as modes of scientific discovery.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHeld every other year, CSE25 is the primary conference for the SIAM Activity Group on Computational Science and Engineering (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/get-involved\/connect-with-a-community\/activity-groups\/computational-science-and-engineering\/\u0022\u003ESIAG CSE\u003C\/a\u003E). School of CSE faculty serve in key roles in leading the group and preparing for the conference.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn December, SIAG CSE members elected Chow to a two-year term as the group\u2019s vice chair. This election comes after Chow completed a term as the SIAG CSE program director.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchool of CSE Associate Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/people\/elizabeth-cherry\u0022\u003EElizabeth Cherry\u003C\/a\u003E has co-chaired the CSE25 organizing committee since the last conference in 2023. Later that year, SIAM members\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/publications\/siam-news\/articles\/siam-introduces-its-newly-elected-leadership\/\u0022\u003Ereelected Cherry to a second, three-year term as a council member at large\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, Chow serves as the associate chair of the School of CSE. Cherry, who recently became the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-team-associate-deans-ready-advance-college-initiatives\u0022\u003E associate dean for graduate education of the College of Computing, continues as the director of CSE programs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith our strong emphasis on developing and applying computational tools and techniques to solve real-world problems, researchers in the School of CSE are well positioned to serve as leaders in computational science and engineering both within Georgia Tech and in the broader professional community,\u201d Cherry said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s School of CSE was\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/founding-school\u0022\u003Efirst organized as a division in 2005\u003C\/a\u003E, becoming one of the world\u2019s first academic departments devoted to the discipline. The division reorganized as a school in 2010 after establishing the flagship CSE Ph.D. and M.S. programs, hiring nine faculty members, and attaining substantial research funding.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETen School of CSE faculty members are presenting research at CSE25, representing one-third of the School\u2019s faculty body. Of the 23 accepted papers written by Georgia Tech researchers, 15 originate from School of CSE authors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe list of School of CSE researchers, paper titles, and abstracts includes:\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBayesian Optimal Design Accelerates Discovery of Material Properties from Bubble Dynamics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPostdoctoral Fellow\u003Cstrong\u003E Tianyi Chu\u003C\/strong\u003E, Joseph Beckett, Bachir Abeid, and Jonathan Estrada (University of Michigan), Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ESpencer Bryngelson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=143459\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELatent-EnSF: A Latent Ensemble Score Filter for High-Dimensional Data Assimilation with Sparse Observation Data\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. student\u003Cstrong\u003E Phillip Si\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EPeng Chen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=141182\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA Goal-Oriented Quadratic Latent Dynamic Network Surrogate Model for Parameterized Systems\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EYuhang Li, Stefan Henneking, Omar Ghattas (University of Texas at Austin), Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EPeng Chen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=149331\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EPosterior Covariance Structures in Gaussian Processes\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EYuanzhe Xi (Emory University), Difeng Cai (Southern Methodist University), Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EEdmond Chow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=142554\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERobust Digital Twin for Geological Carbon Storage\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EProfessor\u003Cstrong\u003E Felix Herrmann\u003C\/strong\u003E, Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EAbhinav Gahlot\u003C\/strong\u003E, alumnus \u003Cstrong\u003ERafael Orozco\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2024), alumnus \u003Cstrong\u003EZiyi (Francis) Yin\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2024), and Ph.D. candidate \u003Cstrong\u003EGrant Bruer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=142843\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIndustry-Scale Uncertainty-Aware Full Waveform Inference with Generative Models\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERafael Orozco\u003C\/strong\u003E, Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003ETuna Erdinc\u003C\/strong\u003E, alumnus \u003Cstrong\u003EMathias Louboutin\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Ph.D. CS-CSE 2020), and Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFelix Herrmann\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=143101\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EOptimizing Coupled Systems: Insights from Co-Design Imaging and Optical Chemistry\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003ERapha\u00ebl Pestourie\u003C\/strong\u003E, Wenchao Ma and Steven Johnson (MIT), Lu Lu (Yale University), Zin Lin (Virginia Tech)\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_programsess.cfm?SESSIONCODE=82425\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMultifidelity Linear Regression for Scientific Machine Learning from Scarce Data\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Professor\u003Cstrong\u003E Elizabeth Qian\u003C\/strong\u003E, Ph.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EDayoung Kang\u003C\/strong\u003E, Vignesh Sella, Anirban Chaudhuri and Anirban Chaudhuri (University of Texas at Austin)\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=141115\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELyapInf: Data-Driven Estimation of Stability Guarantees for Nonlinear Dynamical Systems\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. candidate \u003Cstrong\u003ETomoki Koike\u003C\/strong\u003E and Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EElizabeth Qian\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=142603\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Information Geometric Regularization of the Euler Equation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAlumnus \u003Cstrong\u003ERuijia Cao\u003C\/strong\u003E (B.S. CS 2024), Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFlorian Sch\u00e4fer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_programsess.cfm?SESSIONCODE=80995\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMaximum Likelihood Discretization of the Transport Equation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EBrook Eyob\u003C\/strong\u003E, Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EFlorian Sch\u00e4fer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=149340\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EIntelligent Attractors for Singularly Perturbed Dynamical Systems\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDaniel A. Serino (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Allen Alvarez Loya (University of Colorado Boulder), Joshua W. Burby, Ioannis G. Kevrekidis (Johns Hopkins University), Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EQi Tang\u003C\/strong\u003E (Session Co-Organizer)\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=140821\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAccurate Discretizations and Efficient AMG Solvers for Extremely Anisotropic Diffusion Via Hyperbolic Operators\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGolo Wimmer, Ben Southworth, Xianzhu Tang (LANL), Assistant Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EQi Tang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=141012\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ERandomized Linear Algebra for Problems in Graph Analytics\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EProfessor \u003Cstrong\u003ERich Vuduc\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=140989\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EImproving Spgemm Performance Through Reordering and Cluster-Wise Computation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Professor\u003Cstrong\u003E Helen Xu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/meetings.siam.org\/sess\/dsp_talk.cfm?p=141133\u0022\u003EAbstract\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMany communities rely on insights from computer-based models and simulations. This week, a nest of Georgia Tech experts are swarming an international conference to present their latest advancements in these tools, which offer solutions to pressing challenges in science and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents and faculty from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) are leading the Georgia Tech contingent at the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/conferences-events\/siam-conferences\/cse25\/\u0022\u003ECSE25\u003C\/a\u003E). The Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.siam.org\/\u0022\u003ESIAM\u003C\/a\u003E) organizes CSE25, occurring March 3-7 in Fort Worth, Texas.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Students and faculty from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) are leading the Georgia Tech contingent at the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering (CSE25). The Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) o"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-03-21 12:53:27","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 18:03:29","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676493":{"id":"676493","type":"image","title":"CSE25-Head-Image-v3.1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1741290615","gmt_created":"2025-03-06 19:50:15","changed":"1741290615","gmt_changed":"2025-03-06 19:50:15","alt":"GT CSE at SIAM CSE25","file":{"fid":"260290","name":"CSE25-Head-Image-v3.1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Head-Image-v3.1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Head-Image-v3.1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":159289,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Head-Image-v3.1.jpg?itok=Mr30PYKB"}},"676494":{"id":"676494","type":"image","title":"CSE25-Tableau.png","body":null,"created":"1741290772","gmt_created":"2025-03-06 19:52:52","changed":"1741290772","gmt_changed":"2025-03-06 19:52:52","alt":"SIAM CSE25 Tableau","file":{"fid":"260291","name":"CSE25-Tableau.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Tableau.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Tableau.png","mime":"image\/png","size":539581,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/06\/CSE25-Tableau.png?itok=lRlCOcEm"}}},"media_ids":["676493","676494"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/school-present-research-weather-prediction-carbon-storage-nuclear-fusion-and-more-computing","title":"School to Present Research in Weather Prediction, Carbon Storage, Nuclear Fusion, and More at Computing Conference"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681761":{"#nid":"681761","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Pioneer Eco-Friendly Building Materials for Earth and Mars","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor centuries, innovations in structural materials have prioritized strength and durability \u2014 often at a steep environmental price. Today, the construction industry accounts for approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with cement, steel, and concrete responsible for more than two-thirds of that total. As the world presses for a sustainable future, scientists are racing to reinvent the very foundations of our built environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParadigm Shift in Construction\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a novel class of modular, reconfigurable, and sustainable building blocks \u2014 a new construction paradigm as well-suited for terrestrial homes as it is for extraterrestrial habitats. Their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2590238525001493?dgcid=author\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, published in \u003Cem\u003EMatter\u003C\/em\u003E, demonstrates that these innovative units, dubbed eco-voxels, can reduce carbon footprints by up to 40% compared to traditional construction materials. These units also maintain the structural performance needed for applications ranging from load-bearing walls to aircraft wings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe created sustainable structures using these eco-friendly building blocks, combining our knowledge of structural mechanics and mechanical design with industry-relevant manufacturing practices and environmental assessments,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/christos-e-athanasiou\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristos Athanasiou\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHousing Affordability Solutions\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir work offers a potential solution to the growing housing affordability crisis. As climate-driven disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods increase, homes are damaged at higher rates, and insurance costs are skyrocketing. This crisis is fueled by rising land prices and restrictive development regulations. Meanwhile, the growing demand for housing places an increasing strain on global resources and the environment. The modularity and circularity of the developed approach can effectively address these issues.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe New Building Blocks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEco-voxels \u2014 short for eco-friendly voxels, the 3D equivalent of pixels \u2014 are made from polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT). PTT is a partially bio-based polymer derived from corn sugar and reinforced with recycled carbon fibers from aerospace waste (scrap material lost during the manufacturing of aerospace components). Eco-voxels can be easily assembled into large, load-bearing structures and then disassembled and reconfigured, all without generating waste. Consequently, they offer a highly adaptable, sustainable approach to construction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team tested eco-voxels and found they can handle the pressure that buildings usually face. They also used computer simulations to show that changing the shape of eco-voxels makes them suitable for many different building needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers compared the eco-voxel approach to other emerging construction methods like 3D-printed concrete and cross-laminated timber (CLT), finding that eco-voxels offer significant environmental advantages. While traditional and alternative materials are often heavy and carbon-intensive, the eco-voxel wall had the lowest carbon footprint: 30% lower than concrete and 20% lower than CLT.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese results highlight eco-voxels as a promising low-carbon, high-performance solution for sustainable and affordable construction, opening new possibilities for faster, more sustainable building solutions. In addition to residential uses, emergency shelters built with eco-voxels could be used for disaster-relief scenarios, where quick assembly, modularity, and minimal environmental impact are crucial.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u201c\u003C\/em\u003EThis study exemplifies how advances in structural mechanics, sustainable composite development, and sustainability analysis can yield transformative solutions when coupled. Eco-voxels\u0026nbsp; \u2014\u0026nbsp; our modular, reconfigurable building blocks \u2014 provide a scalable, low-carbon alternative that redefines our approach to building in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments,\u0022 said Athanasiou.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding in Space\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond their terrestrial potential, eco-voxels can also offer a promising solution for off-world construction where traditional building methods are unfeasible. Their lightweight, rapid assembly \u2014 structures can be erected in less than an hour \u2014 and reliance on sustainable or locally sourced materials make them ideal candidates for future Martian or lunar shelters.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe ability to build these structures quickly is a significant advantage for space construction,\u201d said Athanasiou. \u201cIn space, we need lightweight units made from locally sourced materials.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerhaps most importantly, the researchers envision a future where the built environment not only minimizes harm but actively contributes to the preservation of planetary health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis research was led by Georgia Tech, in collaboration with teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and the National University of Singapore.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"A new study explores reconfigurable, sustainable construction materials that could transform how we build on this planet \u2014  and beyond."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers at Georgia Tech have developed a novel class of modular, reconfigurable, and sustainable building blocks \u2014 a new construction paradigm as well-suited for terrestrial homes as it is for extraterrestrial habitats. Their \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2590238525001493?dgcid=author\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Estudy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, published in \u003Cem\u003EMatter\u003C\/em\u003E, demonstrates that these innovative units, dubbed eco-voxels, can reduce carbon footprints by up to 40% compared to traditional construction materials. These units also maintain the structural performance needed for applications ranging from load-bearing walls to aircraft wings.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new study explores reconfigurable, sustainable construction materials that could transform how we build on this planet \u2014  and beyond."}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-04-11 22:25:47","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 18:00:50","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677358":{"id":"677358","type":"video","title":"Eco-Voxels Build Tech Tower","body":null,"created":"1752062867","gmt_created":"2025-07-09 12:07:47","changed":"1752062867","gmt_changed":"2025-07-09 12:07:47","video":{"youtube_id":"E-QaIMFTLvc","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/E-QaIMFTLvc?feature=shared"}}},"media_ids":["677358"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/christos-athanasiou-works-reuse-materials-our-planet-and-beyond","title":"Christos Athanasiou Works to Reuse Materials on Our Planet \u2014 and Beyond"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["monique.waddell@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682699":{"#nid":"682699","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Army Awards Tech-Led Project $20M to Develop Aluminum Manufacturing for Hydrogen Energy Production","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAluminum scrap is one of the most common materials found on military bases and aircraft carriers worldwide. Now, the U.S. Army has tapped Georgia Tech to help turn that waste into power that can be generated off the grid and on demand.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Army Research Office awarded Georgia Tech and its partners $20 million to develop scalable, efficient methods for transforming aluminum into hydrogen energy. The project could lead to a new, low-cost, clean, and efficient energy source powered by discarded materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/stebner\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor and Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. Chair in Manufacturing in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, will oversee the multi-year effort at Georgia Tech together with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/scott-mcwhorter\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScott McWhorter\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, lead for Federal Initiatives at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to several team members from Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute, the project includes researchers from Fort Valley State University, the 21st Century Partnership, MatSys, and Drexel University.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAluminum already reacts with water \u2014 even wastewater and floodwater \u2014 to create hydrogen gas, power, and thermal energy,\u201d McWhorter said. \u201cIf aluminum can be efficiently upcycled into stored energy, it could be a game-changer.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s goal is to experiment with aluminum\u2019s material properties so it can be inexpensively manufactured to create a highly effective reaction that produces low-cost, clean hydrogen.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHaving this ability would allow military bases to be less dependent on the use of a foreign country\u2019s electrical grids,\u201d said Stebner, who is also co-director of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and faculty at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManufacturing Aluminum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral years ago, the Army Research Lab discovered and patented the basic technology for recycling aluminum to produce hydrogen gas. However, current manufacturing methods require too much energy for the amount of hydrogen energy produced. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo make the technology viable and effective, Stebner and his colleagues will research alternate manufacturing processes and then develop automated methods for safely producing and storing stable aluminum. They also plan to optimize these processes using digital twin technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECurrently, manufacturers use large machines to grind up and tumble the aluminum in very controlled environments, because stray aluminum powder can be explosive. These methods are very costly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStebner and the team are looking into small, modular technologies that could allow for convenient, onsite energy generation. According to Stebner, they are interested in determining how these smaller machines could be so efficient that they could be powered using solar panels.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStebner envisions that a field of solar panels could power the aluminum-processing modules \u2014 the aluminum recycling could be done while the sun shines and produce power 24\/7.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainable Impact\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce they have developed the manufacturing techniques and processes, the team plans to test their efficacy by generating power for rural Georgia communities. Success here would prove the technology could be viable for military deployments and other off-grid scenarios.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Deep South \u2014 especially middle and southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana \u2014 often has enormous energy disruptions during hurricanes or power outages due to flooding and severe rains,\u201d Stebner said. \u201cManufacturers can be hesitant to build big plants there, because the grids aren\u2019t as stable. This same technology that the Army plans to use for remote military bases could be a game-changer in rural Georgia.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf power is unexpectedly cut in those areas, floodwater could then be used to make hydrogen gas. While hydrogen has not yet had its day in the sun, it has great potential as an alternative to fossil fuels, Stebner says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom a sustainability perspective, any time you can take something that\u2019s already waste \u2014 like scrap aluminum and wastewater \u2014 and turn it into a high-value product that can be used to power communities, that is a huge win.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: Army Research Office\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Army Research Office awarded Georgia Tech and its partners $20 million to develop scalable, efficient methods for transforming aluminum into hydrogen energy. The project could lead to a new, low-cost, clean, and efficient energy source powered by discarded materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The multi-year research project could make scalable off-grid power sources a reality for rural communities and the military."}],"uid":"36123","created_gmt":"2025-06-05 16:10:27","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 17:42:15","author":"Catherine Barzler","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677196":{"id":"677196","type":"image","title":"aluminum powder.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EScientists at the Army Research Laboratory found that an aluminum-based powder prompts hydrogen to split from water. Now, a Georgia Tech-led partnership will carry that research forward. Credit: US Army\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749139837","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","changed":"1749139837","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","alt":"a small vial of white powder","file":{"fid":"261070","name":"1-armyplanstol--1-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/1-armyplanstol--1-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/1-armyplanstol--1-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":608105,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/1-armyplanstol--1-.jpg?itok=nhqnY83a"}},"677194":{"id":"677194","type":"image","title":"Aaron Stebner.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAaron Stebner\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749139837","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","changed":"1749139837","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","alt":"A man with glasses and a beard in a dark vest and dress shirt","file":{"fid":"261068","name":"Media-e1740408363490.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/Media-e1740408363490.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/Media-e1740408363490.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":169800,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/Media-e1740408363490.jpeg?itok=UOfQe7cb"}},"677195":{"id":"677195","type":"image","title":"Photo-McWhorter-Christopher.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EScott McWhorter\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1749139837","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","changed":"1749139837","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 16:10:37","alt":"A headshot of a man in a blue shirt and dark blazer","file":{"fid":"261069","name":"Photo-McWhorter-Christopher.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/Photo-McWhorter-Christopher.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/Photo-McWhorter-Christopher.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":40865,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/Photo-McWhorter-Christopher.jpg?itok=RTFiwlqs"}}},"media_ids":["677196","677194","677195"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECatherine Barzler, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:catherine.barzler@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ecatherine.barzler@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["catherine.barzler@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682801":{"#nid":"682801","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Alumni Develop Device to Understand Moon\u2019s Water Content","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen NASA\u2019s PRIME-1 Mission \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/athena-moon-lander-tips-over-intuitive-machines-mission\/\u0022\u003Elanded\u003C\/a\u003E on the moon in March, an Intuitive Machine\u2019s lander named Athena ended up on its side. The faulty landing meant the instruments couldn\u2019t drill into the moon to measure water and other resources, as intended. But the mission wasn\u2019t a total loss: PRIME-1\u2019s The Regolith Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT) and Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSOLO)\u0026nbsp;could still operate and gather some data. The mission, led by Georgia Tech alumni who collaborated with Georgia Tech faculty, is already pivotal to future NASA missions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/polar-resources-ice-mining-experiment-1-prime-1\/\u0022\u003EPRIME-1\u003C\/a\u003E, or Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1, is a combination tool of two instruments: TRIDENT and MSOLO. PRIME-1\u2019s objective is to help scientists determine resources available on the moon, with the eventual goal of sending humans to live there. TRIDENT is a space-rated drill designed and built by Honeybee Robotics that can extract lunar soil up to 3 feet deep. MSOLO is a mass spectrometer that can analyze TRIDENT\u2019s soil samples for water and other critical volatiles. Together, this data can show how viable living on and mining from the moon could be.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETwo Georgia Tech alumna, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/technology.nasa.gov\/blog-MEET-THE-INVENTOR-Jackie-Quinn\u0022\u003EJackie Williams Quinn\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/people\/janine-captain\/\u0022\u003EJanine E. \u0026nbsp;Captain\u003C\/a\u003E, led the PRIME-1 team for NASA. They had help with computer modeling of PRIME-1\u2019s mass spectrometer data from Georgia Tech\u2019s Regents\u2019 Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/thomas-orlando\u0022\u003EThom Orlando\u003C\/a\u003E and Senior Research Scientist Brant Jones in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech to the Moon\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s expertise influenced all areas of developing PRIME-1, but perhaps their biggest contribution was the collaboration across disciplines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuinn, a civil engineering graduate, wrote the initial proposal. She also managed TRIDENT\u2019s development, through a contract with Honeybee Robotics, ensuring it was also built to operate in the harsh lunar environment (a process known as ruggedizing). The team worked with Honeybee\u2019s Jameil Bailey, fellow Tech alumnus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECaptain, the MSOLO principal investigator and chemistry Ph.D. graduate, never planned to work at NASA. But her advisor, Orlando, got her interested.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhat drew me to NASA\u2019s In-Situ Resource Utilization team is that I could apply the instrumentation techniques that I learned in my Ph.D. \u0026nbsp;to measuring vital things like oxygen on the moon,\u201d Captain said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERuggedization Redux\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it was confirmed in 2008 the moon had water, NASA wondered if humans could one day live there. Having a functional mass spectrometer on the moon was paramount to determining where the water was and how much of it existed. Captain\u2019s team modified a commercial mass spectrometer and tested it in a harsh environment comparable to the moon: Hawaii\u2019s dormant shield volcano, Mauna Kea. Once they demonstrated the mission operation in this environment, they worked to ruggedize an existing one manufactured by instrumentation company INFICON. The team worked with INFICON and through lab tests, they showed that all components of the mass spectrometer functioned in a lunar vacuum environment. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Orlando\u2019s lab, his team experimented with lunar material to determine how water interacts with lunar soil. From there, they created a theoretical model that simulated how much water they might find from what PRIME-1 sampled. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo create the model, we used the data of how water sticks to the lunar surface \u2014 from controlled experiments carried out in our ultra-high vacuum chambers at Georgia Tech,\u201d Orlando said. \u201cWe approached the problem from a surface physics point of view in these lab experiments, but then in our model, we were able to connect to the actual mission activity.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce PRIME-1 hardware validation testing was finished, NASA was ready to launch. \u0026nbsp;That\u2019s when things got hairy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe don\u0027t fully understand everything that happened during the landing, but the fact that PRIME-1 was fully functional is pretty amazing,\u201d Captain said. \u201cWe got the data. It was so cool to know that all this work we did was worth it.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMoon Milestones\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough they didn\u2019t get the chance to drill into the moon as planned, they can still analyze the data PRIME-1 pulled from the lunar atmosphere. This data includes how the spacecraft may have contaminated the local atmosphere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPRIME-1 was the only instrument that got to fully run and check out everything because when the lander fell over, the instrument was on top,\u201d Quinn noted. \u201cThey were able to extend the drill all the way out a meter. It was drilling into empty space, but we were able to show that the drill got the signal from Earth, fully extended, and was able to auger and percuss. We were also able to fully operate MSOLO and gather data on gases coming off the lander in its final resting orientation.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe mass spectrometer and ice drill will be crucial to future NASA missions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The mass spectrometer and ice drill will be crucial to future NASA missions. "}],"uid":"34541","created_gmt":"2025-06-16 20:37:19","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 17:36:23","author":"Tess Malone","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677238":{"id":"677238","type":"image","title":"54370792577_4e391512ec_k.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAthena landed on its side with MSOLO glowing. \u0026nbsp;[Image courtesy of Intuitive Machines]\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1750106384","gmt_created":"2025-06-16 20:39:44","changed":"1750106384","gmt_changed":"2025-06-16 20:39:44","alt":"Athena landed on its side with MSOLO glowing. ","file":{"fid":"261119","name":"54370792577_4e391512ec_k.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/16\/54370792577_4e391512ec_k.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/16\/54370792577_4e391512ec_k.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":135656,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/16\/54370792577_4e391512ec_k.jpg?itok=TMW2a0Go"}}},"media_ids":["677238"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETess Malone, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Etess.malone@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682938":{"#nid":"682938","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ready Named Inaugural Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Space Research Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEffective July 1,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2885\u0022\u003EW. Jud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ewill serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI), which will officially launch on the same date.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI builds upon Georgia Tech\u2019s long and distinguished history in space research and exploration. By uniting experts across disciplines \u2014 from aerospace engineering to planetary science, astrophysics, robotics, policy, the arts, and origin of life explorations \u2014 the SRI aims to create a resilient ecosystem for space research that can adapt and thrive, even in an era of fiscal uncertainty. It is composed of faculty, staff, and students whose collaborative research spans a broad spectrum of space-related topics, all deeply connected to advancing our understanding of space and its impact on the human experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe launch of the SRI comes at a pivotal moment for the scientific community,\u201d said Vice President of Interdisciplinary Research Julia Kubanek. \u201cAs the federal government proposes major cuts to funding agencies, our interdisciplinary research institutes are striving to support faculty and make them more competitive across disciplinary boundaries. This institute will publicly showcase impactful research led by Georgia Tech faculty, attract new collaborators, and pursue alternative funding strategies via philanthropic and industry partners.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Space Research Institute will consist of an interdisciplinary community of faculty across Georgia Tech\u2019s schools, colleges, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is an honor to be appointed executive director of the Space Research Institute,\u201d said Ready. \u201cMy plan is to provide internal and external space researchers with access to Georgia Tech\u2019s world class facilities and turbocharge the space activities already underway. We\u2019re committed to empowering our existing community while forging new partnerships that will expand our reach and impact across the global space ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady, a\u0026nbsp;principal research engineer in GTRI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/laboratories\/electro-optical-systems-laboratory\u0022\u003EElectro-Optical Systems Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;is the\u0026nbsp;first GTRI faculty member to serve in a long-term capacity as an IRI executive director. Prior to his appointment, he served as\u0026nbsp;associate\u0026nbsp;director of external engagement\u0026nbsp;for the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and Systems\u003C\/a\u003E and director of the Georgia Tech Center for Space Technology and Research (CSTAR).\u0026nbsp;He is also an adjunct professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Materials Science and Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore joining the Georgia Tech faculty, Ready worked for General Dynamics and MicroCoating\u0026nbsp;Technologies. Throughout his career,\u0026nbsp;he has served as PI or co-PI for grants totaling more than $25M awarded by the Army, Navy, Air Force, DARPA, NASA, NSF, NIST,\u0026nbsp;DOE, other federal sponsors,\u0026nbsp;industry, charitable foundations, private citizens, and\u0026nbsp;the States of Georgia and Florida.\u0026nbsp;His current research focuses primarily on energy capture, storage, and delivery enabled by nanomaterial design. His research has been included on three missions to the International Space Station, two others to low earth orbit, and one perpetually in heliocentric orbit (Lunar Flashlight). His future space missions include MISSE-21 to the International Space Station and SSTEF-1 to the Lunar surface. A half dozen solar cells from his past missions to the International Space Station will be included in the permanent At Home in Space exhibit opening on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum\u0027s 50th Anniversary.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReady has received numerous awards and honors for his work. His most recent awards include the Class of 1934 Outstanding Innovative Use of Education Technology award in 2025 and the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development award in 2023, both from Georgia Tech. He also received the One GTRI Collaboration Award in 2022, which he was awarded during GTRI\u2019s annual Distinguished Performance Awards celebration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditional articles of interest:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/coe.gatech.edu\/magazine\/2025\/spring\/10-questions-jud-ready\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E10 Questions with Jud Ready\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/space-station-testing-will-evaluate-photovoltaic-materials\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpace Station Testing Will Evaluate Photovoltaic Materials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Effective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEffective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Effective July 1, Ready will serve as the inaugural executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s new Space Research Institute, which will officially launch on the same date."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-06-30 14:27:59","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 17:22:59","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677316":{"id":"677316","type":"image","title":"Jud Ready","body":null,"created":"1751374763","gmt_created":"2025-07-01 12:59:23","changed":"1751374791","gmt_changed":"2025-07-01 12:59:51","alt":"Jud Ready","file":{"fid":"261202","name":"Ready-recropped.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png","mime":"image\/png","size":498883,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/01\/Ready-recropped.png?itok=Gk_6TGDx"}}},"media_ids":["677316"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682962":{"#nid":"682962","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches Two New Interdisciplinary Research Institutes","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has launched two new Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs): The Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS) and the Space Research Institute (SRI).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new institutes focus on expanding breakthroughs in neuroscience and space, two areas where research and federal funding are anticipated to remain strong. Both fields are poised to influence research in everything from healthcare and ethics to exploration and innovation. This expansion of Georgia Tech\u2019s research enterprise represents the Institute\u2019s commitment to research that will shape the future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, innovation flourishes where disciplines converge. With the launch of the Space Research Institute and the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society, we\u2019re uniting experts across fields to take on some of humanity\u2019s most profound questions. Even as we are tightening our belts in anticipation of potential federal R\u0026amp;D budget actions, we also are investing in areas where non-federal funding sources will grow and where big impacts are possible,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen. \u0022These institutes are about advancing knowledge \u2014 and using it to improve lives, inspire future generations, and help shape a better future for us all.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth INNS and SRI grew out of faculty-led initiatives shaped by a strategic planning process and campus-wide collaboration. Their evolution into formal institutes underscores the strength and momentum of Georgia Tech\u2019s interdisciplinary research enterprise.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s 11 IRIs support collaboration between researchers and students across the Institute\u2019s seven colleges, the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), national laboratories, and corporate entities to tackle critical topics of strategic significance for the Institute as well as for local, state, national, and international communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022IRIs bring together Georgia Tech researchers making them more competitive and successful in solving research challenges, especially across disciplinary boundaries,\u201d said Julia Kubanek, vice president of interdisciplinary research. \u201cWe\u0027re making these new investments in neuro- and space-related fields to publicly showcase impactful discoveries and developments led by Georgia Tech faculty, attract new partners and collaborators, and pursue alternative funding strategies at a time of federal funding uncertainty.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Space Research Institute\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E will connect faculty, students, and staff who share a passion for space exploration and discovery. They will investigate a wide variety of space-related topics, exploring how space influences and intersects with the human experience. The SRI fosters a collaborative community including scientific, engineering, cultural, and commercial research that pursues broadly integrated, innovative projects.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESRI is the hub for all things space-related at Georgia Tech. It connects the Institute\u2019s schools, colleges, research institutes, and labs to lead conversations about space in the state of Georgia and the world. Working in partnership with academics, business partners, philanthropists, students, and governments, Georgia Tech is committed to staying at the forefront of space-related innovation.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SRI will build upon the collaborative work of the Space Research Initiative, the first step in formalizing Georgia Tech\u2019s broad interdisciplinary space research community. The Initiative brought together researchers from across campus and was guided by input from Georgia Tech stakeholders and external partners. It was led by an executive committee including\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/4313\u0022\u003EGlenn Lightsey\u003C\/a\u003E, John W. Young Chair Professor in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/21316\u0022\u003EMariel Borowitz\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/2804\u0022\u003EJennifer Glass\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Beginning July 1, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/s1.space.research.gatech.edu\/w-jud-ready\u0022\u003EW. Jud Ready\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal research engineer in GTRI\u2019s Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory, will serve as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ready-named-inaugural-executive-director-georgia-tech-space-research-institute\u0022\u003Einaugural executive director of the Space Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo receive the latest updates on space research and innovation at Georgia Tech,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/app.e2ma.net\/app2\/audience\/signup\/2015041\/1983075\/\u0022\u003Ejoin the SRI mailing list\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS) is dedicated to advancing neuroscience and neurotechnology to improve society through discovery, innovation, and engagement. INNS brings together researchers from neuroscience, engineering, computing, ethics, public policy, and the humanities to explore the brain and nervous system while addressing the societal and ethical dimensions of neuro-related research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINNS builds on a foundation established over a decade ago, which first led to the GT-Neuro Initiative and later evolved into the Neuro Next Initiative. Over the past two years, this effort has culminated in the development of a comprehensive plan for an IRI, guided by an executive committee composed of faculty and staff from across Georgia Tech. The committee included \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3736\u0022\u003ESimon Sponberg,\u003C\/a\u003E Dunn Family Associate Professor in the School of Physics and the School of Biological Sciences; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3728\u0022\u003EChristopher Rozell,\u003C\/a\u003E Julian T. Hightower Chaired Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11576\u0022\u003EJennifer Singh\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor in the School of History and Sociology; and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/sarah-peterson\u0022\u003ESarah Peterson\u003C\/a\u003E, Neuro Next Initiative program manager. Their leadership shaped the vision for a research community both scientifically ambitious and socially responsive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EINNS will serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary collaboration across the full spectrum of brain-related research \u2014 from biological foundations to behavior and cognition, and from fundamental research to medical innovations that advance human flourishing. Research areas will encompass the foundations of human intelligence and movement, bio-inspired design and neurotechnology development, and the ethical dimensions of a neuro-connected future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy integrating technical innovation with human-centered inquiry, INNS is committed to ensuring that advances in neuroscience and neurotechnology are developed and applied ethically and responsibly. Through fostering innovation, cultivating interdisciplinary expertise, and engaging with the public, the institute seeks to shape a future where advancements in neuroscience and neurotechnology serve the greater good. INNS also aims to deepen Georgia Tech\u2019s collaborations with clinical, academic, and industry partners, creating new pathways for translational research and real-world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn internal search for INNS\u2019s inaugural executive director is in the final stages, with an announcement expected soon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eepurl.com\/iX8jss\u0022\u003EJoin our mailing list\u003C\/a\u003E to receive the latest updates on everything neuro at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBy uniting experts across disciplines, Georgia Tech is positioning itself at the forefront of neuroscience and space research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By uniting experts across disciplines, Georgia Tech is positioning itself at the forefront of neuroscience and space research."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2025-07-01 11:53:04","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 16:58:27","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677315":{"id":"677315","type":"image","title":"Tech Tower","body":null,"created":"1751369747","gmt_created":"2025-07-01 11:35:47","changed":"1751369782","gmt_changed":"2025-07-01 11:36:22","alt":"Tech Tower","file":{"fid":"261201","name":"tech-tower.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3688196,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/01\/tech-tower.png?itok=k1paARgU"}}},"media_ids":["677315"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188087","name":"go-irim"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683264":{"#nid":"683264","#data":{"type":"news","title":" How the World\u2019s Nuclear Watchdog Monitors Facilities Around the World \u2013 and What it Means That Iran Kicked it Out","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat happens when a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program? Every peaceful program starts with a promise not to build a nuclear weapon. Then, the global community verifies that stated intent via the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/disarmament.unoda.org\/wmd\/nuclear\/npt\/\u0022\u003ETreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce a country signs the treaty, the world\u2019s nuclear watchdog, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/\u0022\u003EInternational Atomic Energy Agency\u003C\/a\u003E, provides continuous and technical proof that the country\u2019s nuclear program is peaceful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe IAEA ensures that countries operate their programs within the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/topics\/safeguards-legal-framework\/more-on-safeguards-agreements\u0022\u003Elimits of nonproliferation agreements\u003C\/a\u003E: low enrichment and no reactor misuse. Part of the agreement allows the IAEA to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/topics\/additional-protocol\u0022\u003Einspect nuclear-related sites\u003C\/a\u003E, including unannounced surprise visits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese are not just log reviews. Inspectors know what should and should not be there. When the IAEA is not on site, cameras, tamper-revealing seals on equipment and real-time radiation monitors are working full-time to gather or verify inside information about the program\u2019s activities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESafeguards Toolkit\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe IAEA safeguards toolkit is designed to detect proliferation activities early. Much of the work is fairly technical. The safeguards toolkit combines physical surveillance, material tracking, data analytics and scientific sampling. Inspectors are chemists, physicists and nuclear engineers. They count spent fuel rods in a cooling pond. They check tamper seals on centrifuges. Often, the inspectors walk miles through hallways and corridors carrying heavy equipment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s how the world learned in April 2021 about Iran pushing uranium enrichment from reactor-fuel-grade to near-weapons-grade levels. IAEA inspectors were \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/govinf2021-26.pdf\u0022\u003Eable to verify\u003C\/a\u003E that Iran was feeding uranium into a series of centrifuges designed to enrich the uranium from 5%, used for energy programs, to 60%, which is a step toward the 90% level used in nuclear weapons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAround the facilities, whether for uranium enrichment or plutonium processing, closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitor for undeclared materials or post-work activities. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/newscenter\/news\/new-seals-to-verify-the-use-of-nuclear-material-and-technology-demonstrated-at-iaea-general-conference\u0022\u003ESeals around the facilities\u003C\/a\u003E provide evidence that uranium gas cylinders have not been tampered with or that centrifuges operate at the declared levels. Beyond seals, online enrichment monitors allow inspectors to look inside of centrifuges for any changes in the declared enrichment process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeals verify whether nuclear equipment or materials have been used between onsite inspections.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the inspectors are on-site, they collect environmental swipes: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/newscenter\/news\/swipe-check-collecting-and-analysing-environmental-samples-nuclear-verification\u0022\u003Esamples of nuclear materials on surfaces\u003C\/a\u003E, in dust or in the air. These can reveal if uranium has been enriched to levels beyond those allowed by the agreement. Or if plutonium, which is not used in nuclear power plants, is being produced in a reactor. Swipes are precise. They can identify enrichment levels from a particle smaller than a speck of dust. But they take time, days or weeks. Inspectors analyze the samples at the IAEA\u2019s laboratories using sophisticated equipment called mass spectrometers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to physical samples, IAEA inspectors look at the logs of material inventories. They look for diversion of uranium or plutonium from normal process lines, just like accountants trace the flow of finances, except that their verification is supported by the ever-watching online monitors and radiation sensors. They also \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/topics\/verification-and-other-safeguards-activities\u0022\u003Ecount items of interest\u003C\/a\u003E and weigh them for additional verification of the logs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond accounting for materials, IAEA inspectors verify that the facility \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/topics\/verification-and-other-safeguards-activities\u0022\u003Ematches the declared design\u003C\/a\u003E. For example, if a country is expanding centrifuge halls to increase its enrichment capabilities, that\u2019s a red flag. Changes to the layout of material processing laboratories near nuclear reactors could be a sign that the program is preparing to produce unauthorized plutonium.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ELosing Access\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIran announced on June 28, 2025, that it has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/iran-ban-iaea-chief-rafael-grossi-surveillance-camera-nuclear-plant\/\u0022\u003Eended its cooperation with the IAEA\u003C\/a\u003E. It removed the monitoring devices, including surveillance cameras, from centrifuge halls. This move followed the news by the IAEA that Iran\u2019s enrichment activities are well outside of allowed levels. Iran now operates \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-the-us-bombed-a-bunch-of-metal-tubes-a-nuclear-engineer-explains-the-importance-of-centrifuges-to-iranian-efforts-to-build-nuclear-weapons-259883\u0022\u003Esophisticated uranium centrifuges\u003C\/a\u003E, like models IR-6 and IR-9.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERemoving IAEA access means that the international community loses insight into how quickly Iran\u2019s program can accumulate weapon-grade uranium, or how much it has produced. Also lost is information about whether the facility is undergoing changes for proliferation purposes. These processes are difficult to detect with external surveillance, like satellites, alone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/680796\/original\/file-20250717-56-yh9yjg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/680796\/original\/file-20250717-56-yh9yjg.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 alt=\u0022a satellite view of a complex of buidlings on a desert landscape\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA satellite view of Iran\u2019s Arak Nuclear Complex, which has a reactor capable of producing plutonium. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/maxar-satellite-imagery-shows-the-arak-heavy-water-reactor-news-photo\/2220199432\u0022\u003ESatellite image (c) 2025 Maxar Technologies via Getty Images\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn alternative to the uranium enrichment path for producing nuclear weapons material is plutonium. Plutonium can\u2019t be mined, it has to be produced in a nuclear reactor. Iran built a reactor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/isis-online.org\/uploads\/isis-reports\/documents\/Plutonium_Pathway_Final.pdf\u0022\u003Ecapable of producing plutonium\u003C\/a\u003E, the IR-40 Heavy Water Research Reactor at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nti.org\/education-center\/facilities\/arak-nuclear-complex\/\u0022\u003EArak Nuclear Complex\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIran modified the Arak reactor under the now-defunct \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-is-the-Iran-nuclear-deal-and-why-was-it-scrapped\u0022\u003EJoint Comprehensive Plan of Action\u003C\/a\u003E to make plutonium production less likely. During the June 2025 missile attacks, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/defence-blog.com\/israel-hits-irans-arak-reactor\/\u0022\u003EIsrael targeted Arak\u2019s facilities\u003C\/a\u003E with the aim of eliminating the possibility of plutonium production.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith IAEA access suspended, it won\u2019t be possible to see what happens inside the facility. Can the reactor be used for plutonium production? Although a lengthier process than the uranium enrichment path, plutonium provides a parallel path to uranium enrichment for developing nuclear weapons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EContinuity of Knowledge\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENorth Korea \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iaea.org\/newscenter\/pressreleases\/iaea-inspectors-depart-dprk\u0022\u003Eexpelled IAEA inspectors\u003C\/a\u003E in 2009. Within a few years, they \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/carnegieendowment.org\/posts\/2021\/09\/what-the-restarting-of-north-koreas-yongbyon-reactor-means?lang=en\u0022\u003Erestarted activities\u003C\/a\u003E related to uranium enrichment and plutonium production in the Yongbyon reactor. The international community\u2019s information about North Korea\u2019s weapons program now relies solely on external methods: satellite images, radioactive particles like xenon \u2013 airborne fingerprints of nuclear activities \u2013 and seismic data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat is lost is the continuity of the knowledge, a chain of verification over time. Once the seals are broken or cameras are removed, that chain is lost, and so is confidence about what is happening at the facilities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to IAEA inspections, there is no single tool that paints the whole picture. Surveillance plus sampling plus accounting provide validation and confidence. Losing even one weakens the system in the long term.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe existing safeguards regime is meant to detect violations. The countries that sign the nonproliferation treaty know that they are always watched, and that plays a deterrence role. The inspectors can\u2019t just resume the verification activities after some time if access is lost. Future access won\u2019t necessarily enable inspectors to clarify what happened during the gap.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/260689\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-the-worlds-nuclear-watchdog-monitors-facilities-around-the-world-and-what-it-means-that-iran-kicked-it-out-260689\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhat happens when a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program?\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"What happens when a country seeks to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program?"}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-07-24 17:48:38","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 16:40:29","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677480":{"id":"677480","type":"image","title":"This travel case holds a toolkit containing equipment for inspecting nuclear facilities","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis travel case holds a toolkit containing equipment for inspecting nuclear facilities. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/iaea_imagebank\/30483028477\/\u0022\u003EDean Calma\/IAEA\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\u0022\u003ECC BY\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753379503","gmt_created":"2025-07-24 17:51:43","changed":"1753379503","gmt_changed":"2025-07-24 17:51:43","alt":"This travel case holds a toolkit containing equipment for inspecting nuclear facilities","file":{"fid":"261382","name":"file-20250717-56-7a42gj.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/24\/file-20250717-56-7a42gj.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/24\/file-20250717-56-7a42gj.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":313068,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/24\/file-20250717-56-7a42gj.jpg?itok=oZugr_QX"}}},"media_ids":["677480"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-the-worlds-nuclear-watchdog-monitors-facilities-around-the-world-and-what-it-means-that-iran-kicked-it-out-260689","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/anna-erickson-2420881\u0022\u003EAnna Erickson\u003C\/a\u003E, professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683422":{"#nid":"683422","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Mapping Georgia\u2019s Urban Forest: Georgia Tech Tools Help Planners Prioritize Tree Canopy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor more than 15 years, Georgia Tech has provided the City of Atlanta with the foundational data and insight that shape how the city tracks, understands, and plans for changes in its tree canopy. The latest cycle of this research \u2014 delivered through the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/resilience.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Urban Resilience and Analytics (CURA)\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 continues that legacy by offering a high-resolution, citywide canopy assessment using satellite imagery and field validation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe assessment, funded by the city\u2019s Tree Recompense Fund, uses advanced remote sensing tools such as WorldView-2 satellite data and a random forest classification model to categorize land into three land cover types. These include tree canopy, non-tree vegetation (grass, shrubs, and low lying vegetation) and non-vegetation (water, pervious surface). The methodology delivers a detailed spatial picture of land cover across the city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is simply a tool in their planning arsenal,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/tony-giarrusso\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnthony Giarrusso\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, who has led every canopy study since 2008. \u201cBefore they did any of this work in 2008, everything was anecdotal. It was reactionary.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new study is not advocacy \u2014 it\u2019s information. Giarrusso emphasized that while researchers stay neutral in the politics of urban growth and conservation, their work equips city leaders with science-based knowledge to make more effective zoning and planning decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to mapping existing conditions, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/b53452fbad5c4cc6a237940bcd08bd7d\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech team developed the Potential Planting Index (PPI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a scalable tool that identifies where tree planting is physically possible based on current land cover. The tool quantifies the difference between tree canopy and non-tree vegetation, indicating zones with restoration potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother key insight is the challenge of interpreting canopy change without understanding land use patterns. \u201cIt gives you a false sense of stability if you don\u2019t understand the underlying land use,\u201d said Giarrusso. \u201cYou might see canopy regrowth on paper, but that land could be cleared again tomorrow.\u201d He explained that this false signal is particularly common in stalled development sites: \u201cWe saw a lot of properties where trees had regrown after initial clearing, but it was temporary and monoculture, low quality canopy. Several of those areas were cleared again for construction later.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiarrusso pointed to these \u201closs-gain-loss\u201d cycles as one of the more misleading aspects of tree canopy analysis without strong land use context. \u201cSome of them were pipe farms \u2014 land cleared for development with infrastructure like water and sewer lines installed, but then construction never happened. So trees grow back, and you get a canopy gain that doesn\u2019t last and is nowhere near the quality of the trees originally cleared.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe stressed that policymakers need to consider the permanence of canopy when using the data. \u201cIf it\u2019s just going to be cleared again in two years, it\u2019s not really a gain. That\u2019s why long-term tracking and land use analysis together are so important.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe city has incorporated these tools into broader planning efforts, including zoning reform and tree ordinance revisions. The research supports recommendations such as restricting full lot clearing in certain zoning categories and adjusting setback or lot coverage limits to better preserve existing canopy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGiarrusso underscored the urgency of protecting larger, intact forested tracts. \u201cIf you can see it from space and it\u2019s still forest \u2014 save it,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce it\u2019s cleared, you don\u2019t get it back.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers developed new statewide canopy assessment tools to help urban planners, policymakers, and communities make data-informed decisions for climate resilience.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers developed new statewide canopy assessment tools to help urban planners, policymakers, and communities make data-informed decisions for climate resilience."}],"uid":"36761","created_gmt":"2025-07-31 19:26:56","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 16:38:16","author":"malonso35","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"587356":{"id":"587356","type":"image","title":"Trees around Einstein Statue","body":null,"created":"1487015393","gmt_created":"2017-02-13 19:49:53","changed":"1487015393","gmt_changed":"2017-02-13 19:49:53","alt":"Trees around Einstein","file":{"fid":"223847","name":"16C10400-P15-015.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/16C10400-P15-015.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/16C10400-P15-015.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2802823,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/16C10400-P15-015.jpg?itok=uBcC4GSz"}}},"media_ids":["587356"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"179325","name":"urban canopy"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["Melissa.Alonso@design.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683964":{"#nid":"683964","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Farming for the Future of the Planet: How Liming Could Be Key for Carbon Removal","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOverly acidic soils can mean the difference between feeding a region and famine. Each crop needs the right soil pH to thrive, and acidic conditions, produced primarily by industrial emissions and application of fertilizers,\u0026nbsp;can harm growing conditions. It has recently been estimated that sub-Saharan Africa, for example, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s43016-025-01194-z\u0022\u003Eloses\u003C\/a\u003E billions of dollars annually in crop yield because of poor agricultural conditions. But there is a possible solution \u2014 and it could even help the Earth\u2019s climate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor centuries, farmers have neutralized soil acidity with a practice called liming. It involves mixing crushed calcium- or magnesium-rich rocks, known as limestone, into the soil to balance pH. But liming has long been an assumed tradeoff in which removing acid also meant increasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENew research from Georgia Tech shows that the opposite may be true. Agricultural liming can actually reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide \u003Cem\u003Eand\u003C\/em\u003E improve crop yield.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe current thinking about liming is that farmers must choose between doing something that could benefit them economically or reducing their greenhouse gas emissions,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/reinhard.gatech.edu\/chris-reinhard.html\u0022\u003EChris Reinhard\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cBut this is often a false choice. They can do both.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers published a new framework for the potential role of liming in food security and greenhouse gas mitigation in August in the paper, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44221-025-00473-0\u0022\u003EUsing Carbonates for Carbon Removal,\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d in \u003Cem\u003ENature Water\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollecting Carbon Data\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe framework is based in part on ongoing work Reinhard and his collaborators are pursuing on the impacts of agricultural liming in the Upper Midwest\u2019s Corn Belt for a Department of Energy study. With funding from the Grantham Foundation, they\u2019re now turning their attention to local farms in southern Georgia and North Carolina.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor each farm, the researchers measure data that most farmers would collect already, like soil pH and nutrients. But the team also tracks more specialized measurements, including trace elements and greenhouse gas fluxes in the soil. All this data is matched to a high-resolution, machine learning grid of the farm\u2019s geography to determine exactly which crops might benefit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers are using the data to build a computer model that predicts how carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will move through any particular soil system. Liming won\u2019t universally absorb carbon dioxide \u2014 or if it does, there may be an occasional time delay between carbon emissions and absorption \u2014 which is why the researchers factor soil, crop rotation, climate, and other management practices into their calculations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur goal is to develop a way that farmers can monitor and plan cheaply, and largely through techniques they are already using, so we don\u0027t have to send out a whole team to gather data,\u201d Reinhard said. \u201cWe are trying to develop a predictive model architecture for planning agricultural practice across scales, but it\u2019s important that the techniques required on the field are actually feasible for farmers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis data could be pivotal for farmers, and it could also help policymakers as they address farming subsidies and foreign aid funding. Globally, food-insecure regions like sub-Saharan Africa could become more self-sufficient with more liming. Farmers in parts of the U.S. could also improve their yields and, in effect, their profits, if they limed more fields.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe added benefit of lowering carbon could get even more farmers on board, and there is extensive exploration and implementation of agricultural practices already on voluntary and governmental carbon markets. Carbon dioxide is only one greenhouse gas that liming can lower; researchers are also exploring how liming can reduce methane and nitrous oxide \u2014 the latter of which is a key climate impact of human agriculture and is often considered a \u201chard-to-abate\u201d emission.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELiming may be a centuries-old practice, but its applications are potentially much wider than initially believed. In the future, farming may be part of the answer to reducing carbon emissions, instead of part of the problem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELiming, a centuries-old agricultural practice, can improve crop yield and greenhouse gas reduction.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Liming, a centuries-old agricultural practice, can improve crop yield and greenhouse gas reduction. "}],"uid":"34541","created_gmt":"2025-08-19 17:57:58","changed_gmt":"2025-12-31 16:35:44","author":"Tess Malone","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677739":{"id":"677739","type":"image","title":"AdobeStock_445557503.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA tractor applying lime to mitigate acidity in the soil. [Adobe Stock]\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755626294","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 17:58:14","changed":"1755626294","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 17:58:14","alt":"A tractor applying lime","file":{"fid":"261673","name":"AdobeStock_445557503.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_445557503.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_445557503.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":11458364,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_445557503.jpeg?itok=4fZDo7bg"}}},"media_ids":["677739"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETess Malone, Senior Research Writer\/Editor\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Etess.malone@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684959":{"#nid":"684959","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Links in Air Pollution and Dementia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EScientists at Georgia Tech have teamed up with researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Columbia University to better understand how certain types of air pollution increase the risk of developing dementia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETheir findings, published this month in the journal\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/science.adu4132\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScience\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, help explain how small particle pollution \u2014 think industrial emissions and car exhaust, wildfires and burning wood for heat and cooking \u2014 can lead to Lewy body dementia, a devastating disease that causes toxic clumps of protein to destroy nerve cells in the brain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0022Epidemiological studies have suggested a strong link between air pollution and dementia, but what sets this study apart is that we also provide a convincing biological mechanism,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\/people\/liu-pengfei-0\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPengfei Liu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eas.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESchool of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E and one of the study\u2019s co-authors. \u201cThis collaborative work shows that fine particulate matter from different geographic regions consistently triggers a specific stain of misfolded protein that drives Lewy body dementia.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe work has \u201cprofound implications\u201d for helping scientists and policy makers better understand measures to prevent this type of dementia, which is among the most common forms of the disease and affects millions of people around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAlong with Liu, the research team from Georgia Tech includes\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rweber.eas.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERodney Weber\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMinhan Park\u003C\/strong\u003E, a postdoctoral research fellow co-advised by Liu and Weber;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBin Bai\u003C\/strong\u003E, a graduate student in Liu\u2019s lab; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMa Cristine Faye Denna\u003C\/strong\u003E, a graduate student in Weber\u2019s lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cFiguring out how exposure to atmospheric aerosols might be linked to dementia, and what mechanisms are involved, is a complex and challenging problem \u2014\u0026nbsp;and as this study shows, it takes a large team with many different areas of expertise,\u201d Weber adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELearn more:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/science.adu4132\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EScience\u003C\/em\u003E: Lewy body dementia promotion by air pollutants\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/news\/newsroom\/news-releases\/2025\/09\/researchers-reveal-potential-molecular-link-between-air-pollutants-and-increased-risk-of-lewy-body-dementia\u0022\u003EJohns Hopkins Medicine newsroom\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.publichealth.columbia.edu\/news\/potential-molecular-link-between-air-pollutants-increased-risk-lewy-body-dementia-revealed\u0022\u003EColumbia University newsroom\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/sep\/04\/fine-particulate-air-pollution-trigger-forms-dementia-study-lewy-body\u0022\u003EPress: \u003Cem\u003EThe Guardian\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EScientists at Georgia Tech have teamed up with researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and Columbia University to better understand how certain types of air pollution increase the risk of developing dementia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Scientists team up to better understand how certain types of air pollution increase the risk of developing dementia.\u00a0"}],"uid":"34528","created_gmt":"2025-09-16 21:26:52","changed_gmt":"2025-12-30 19:50:28","author":"jhunt7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678035":{"id":"678035","type":"image","title":"Car exhaust (Adobe: elcovalana)","body":null,"created":"1758058019","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 21:26:59","changed":"1758058019","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 21:26:59","alt":"Car exhaust (Adobe: elcovalana)","file":{"fid":"262013","name":"Car-exhaust---elcovalana.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Car-exhaust---elcovalana.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Car-exhaust---elcovalana.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":952683,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/Car-exhaust---elcovalana.jpeg?itok=UiPeGoBL"}}},"media_ids":["678035"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"61541","name":"Earth and Atmospheric Sciences"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"184361","name":"brain health"},{"id":"5076","name":"dementia"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jess@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684993":{"#nid":"684993","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Why Do Big Oil Companies Invest in Green\u00a0Energy?","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome major oil companies such as Shell and BP that once were touted as leading the way in clean energy investments are now \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c3374ekd11po\u0022\u003Epulling back from those projects\u003C\/a\u003E to refocus on oil and gas production. Others, such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron, have concentrated on oil and gas but announced recent investments in carbon capture projects, as well as in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/carboncredits.com\/chevron-joins-other-oil-majors-to-boost-the-u-s-lithium-supply-chain\/\u0022\u003Elithium\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/09\/09\/business\/energy-environment\/exxon-mobil-graphite-electric-vehicles.html\u0022\u003Egraphite production for electric vehicle batteries\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENational oil companies have also been investing in renewable energy. For example, Saudi Aramco has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energypolicy.columbia.edu\/saudi-arabias-renewable-energy-initiatives-and-their-geopolitical-implications\/\u0022\u003Einvested in clean energy\u003C\/a\u003E while at the same time asserting that \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/03\/18\/saudi-aramco-ceo-says-energy-transition-is-failing-give-up-fantasy-of-phasing-out-oil.html\u0022\u003Eit\u2019s unrealistic to phase out oil and gas entirely\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut the larger question is why oil companies would invest in clean energy at all, especially at a time when many \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/energy-environment\/5417842-trump-administration-cuts-green-energy\/\u0022\u003Efederal clean energy incentives are being eliminated\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/time.com\/7314000\/trump-administration-climate-report-scientists\/\u0022\u003Eclimate science is being dismantled\u003C\/a\u003E, at least in the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome answers \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/11\/18\/business\/energy-environment\/cop-oil-gas-green-energy.html\u0022\u003Edepend on whom you ask\u003C\/a\u003E. More traditional petroleum industry followers would urge the companies to keep focused on their core fossil fuel businesses to meet growing energy demand and corresponding near-term shareholder returns. Other shareholders and stakeholders concerned about \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/e\/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp\u0022\u003Esustainability\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/articles\/press-release\/new-analysis-what-ipcc-energy-pathways-tell-us-about-paris-aligned-policies\u0022\u003Eclimate\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 including an increasing number of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.erm.com\/globalassets\/insights\/ermsi_annual_trends_report_2025_2.pdf#page=10\u0022\u003Ecompanies with sustainability goals\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 would likely point out the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.deloitte.com\/us\/en\/insights\/industry\/renewable-energy\/renewable-energy-industry-outlook.html\u0022\u003Ebusiness opportunities for clean energy to meet global needs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOther answers depend on the particular company itself. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ipaa.org\/independent-producers\/\u0022\u003EVery small producers\u003C\/a\u003E have different business plans than very large private and public companies. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu\/commentary\/podcast\/why-oil-companies-support-renewable-energy\/\u0022\u003EGeography and regional policies can also play a key role\u003C\/a\u003E. And \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.numberanalytics.com\/blog\/national-oil-companies-energy-economics\u0022\u003Egovernment-owned companies\u003C\/a\u003E such as Saudi Aramco, Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corp. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iisd.org\/publications\/report\/energy-transitions-national-oil-companies\u0022\u003Econtrol the majority\u003C\/a\u003E of the world\u2019s oil and gas resources with revenues that support their national economies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the relatively \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/world-energy-investment-2024\/overview-and-key-findings\u0022\u003Emodest scale of investment in clean energy\u003C\/a\u003E by oil and gas companies so far, there are several business reasons oil companies would increase their investments in clean energy over time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe oil and gas industry has provided energy that has helped create much of modern society and technology, though those advances have also come with significant environmental and social costs. My own experience in the oil industry gave me insight into how at least some of these companies try to reconcile this tension and to make \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.erss.2022.102800\u0022\u003Estrategic portfolio decisions regarding what \u201cgreen\u201d technologies to invest in\u003C\/a\u003E. Now the managing director and a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/oxman\/index.html\u0022\u003Eprofessor of the practice\u003C\/a\u003E at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at Georgia Tech, I seek ways to eliminate the boundaries and identify mutually reinforcing innovations among \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2024\/01\/climate-action-for-profitable-business-growth\u0022\u003Ebusiness interests and environmental concerns\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022People march holding signs objecting to fossil fuels.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687570\/original\/file-20250826-55-mka3uw.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EProtesters call for companies and international organizations to reduce their spending on fossil fuels.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/news-photo\/protesters-march-in-protest-outside-of-the-imf-world-bank-news-photo\/2147931402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EKent Nishimura\/Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EDiversification and Financial Drivers\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJust like financial advisers tell you to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.fidelity.com\/viewpoints\/investing-ideas\/guide-to-diversification\u0022\u003Ediversify your 401(k) investments\u003C\/a\u003E, companies do so to weather different kinds of volatility, from commodity prices to political instability. Oil and gas markets are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.numberanalytics.com\/blog\/maximizing-returns-diversification-petroleum-economics\u0022\u003Enotoriously cyclical\u003C\/a\u003E, so investments in clean energy can hedge against these shifts for companies and investors alike.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EClean energy can also provide opportunities for new revenue. Many customers want to buy clean energy, and oil companies want to be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.erss.2023.103253\u0022\u003Epositioned to cash in\u003C\/a\u003E as this transition occurs. By developing employees\u2019 expertise and investing in emerging technologies, they can be ready for commercial opportunities in biofuels, renewable natural gas, hydrogen and other pathways that may overlap with their existing, core business competencies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFossil fuel companies have also found what other companies have: Clean energy can reduce costs. Some oil companies not only invest in energy efficiency for their buildings but use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research-hub.nrel.gov\/en\/publications\/approaches-for-integrating-renewable-energy-technologies-in-oil-a-3\u0022\u003Esolar or wind to power their wells\u003C\/a\u003E. And adding renewable energy to their activities can also \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/systemschangelab.org\/finance\/scale-down-investment-harmful-climate-and-nature\/cost-capital-fossil-fuel-production\u0022\u003Elower the cost of investing in these companies\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EPublic Pressure\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll companies, including those in oil and gas, are under \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/wcc.919\u0022\u003Egrowing pressure to address climate change\u003C\/a\u003E, from the public, from other companies with whom they do business and from government regulators \u2013 at least outside the U.S. For example, campaigns seeking to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/trellis.net\/article\/how-the-fossil-fuel-industry-is-fighting-for-legitimacy-by-using-big-tobaccos-playbook\u0022\u003Ereduce investment in fossil fuels\u003C\/a\u003E are increasing along with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/06\/22\/climate\/oil-industry-anti-slapp-climate-lawsuits.html\u0022\u003Eclimate-related lawsuits\u003C\/a\u003E. Government policies focused on both \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/topics\/energy\/repowereu_en\u0022\u003Emitigating carbon emissions and enhancing energy independence\u003C\/a\u003E are also making headway in some locations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn response, many oil companies are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.woodmac.com\/news\/opinion\/how-will-oil-and-gas-companies-get-to-scope-3-net-zero\/\u0022\u003Ereducing their own operational emissions\u003C\/a\u003E and setting targets to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.woodmac.com\/news\/opinion\/infographic-scope-for-improvement\/\u0022\u003Eoffset or eliminate emissions from products\u003C\/a\u003E that they sell \u2013 though many observers \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/transitionpathwayinitiative.org\/publications\/uploads\/2024-setting-the-standard-assessing-oil-and-gas-companies-transition-plans\u0022\u003Equestion the viability of these commitments\u003C\/a\u003E. Other companies are investing in emerging technologies such as hydrogen and methods to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/carboncredits.com\/prairie-operating-co-and-the-oil-industrys-shift-toward-sustainable-energy-practices-prop\/\u0022\u003Eremove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome companies, such as BP and Equinor, have previously even gone so far as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.qbco.io\/insights\/strategic-rebranding-in-the-energy-sector-lessons-from-the-past-and-present\u0022\u003Erebranding themselves\u003C\/a\u003E and acquiring clean energy businesses. But those efforts have also been criticized as \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/climate-issues\/greenwashing\u0022\u003Egreenwashing\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d taking actions for public relations value rather than real results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022A net containing fish is pulled aboard a fishing vessel.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=400\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/687571\/original\/file-20250826-55-ciyuy3.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=503\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EFishing, like energy production, does not have to be done in ways that damage the environment.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/net-full-of-salmon-being-hauled-onto-purse-seiner-royalty-free-image\/1200731386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EThomas Barwick\/DigitalVision via Getty Images\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EHow Far Can This Go?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is even possible for a fossil fuel company to reinvent itself as a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2214629623002712\u0022\u003Eclean energy operation\u003C\/a\u003E. Denmark\u2019s Orsted \u2013 formerly known as Danish Oil and Natural Gas \u2013 transitioned from fossil fuels to become a global leader in offshore wind. The company, whose majority owner is the Danish government, made the shift, however, with the help of significant public and political support.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut most large oil companies \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.erss.2023.103194\u0022\u003Earen\u2019t likely to completely reinvent themselves\u003C\/a\u003E anytime soon. Making that change requires leadership, investor pressure, customer demand and shifts in government policy, such as putting a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/carbonpricingdashboard.worldbank.org\/what-carbon-pricing\u0022\u003Eprice or tax on carbon emissions\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo show students in my sustainability classes how companies\u2019 choices affect both the environment and the industry as a whole, I use the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mitsloan.mit.edu\/teaching-resources-library\/fishbanks-a-renewable-resource-management-simulation\u0022\u003EMIT Fishbanks simulation\u003C\/a\u003E. Students run fictional fishing companies competing for profit. Even when they know the fish population is finite, they overfish, leading to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/online.hbs.edu\/blog\/post\/tragedy-of-the-commons-impact-on-sustainability-issues\u0022\u003Ecollapse of the fishery and its businesses\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rpc.cfainstitute.org\/policy\/positions\/short-termism\u0022\u003EShort-term profits\u003C\/a\u003E cause long-term disaster for the fishery and the businesses that depend on it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe metaphor for oil and gas is clear: As fossil fuels continue to be extracted and burned, they release \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/report\/ar6\/wg1\/resources\/climate-change-in-data\/\u0022\u003Eplanet-warming emissions\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/overshoot.footprintnetwork.org\u0022\u003Eharming the planet as a whole\u003C\/a\u003E. They also pose substantial \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.3390\/infrastructures4040074\u0022\u003Ebusiness risks to the oil and gas industry itself\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet students in a recent class showed me that a more collective way of thinking may be possible. Teams voluntarily reduced their fishing levels to preserve long-term business and environmental sustainability, and they even cooperated with their competitors. They did so without in-game regulatory threats, shareholder or customer complaints, or lawsuits.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir shared understanding that the future of their own fishing companies was at stake makes me hopeful that this type of leadership may take hold in real companies and the energy system as a whole. But the question remains about how fast that change can happen, amid the accelerating global demand for more energy along with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/science\/causes-effects-climate-change\u0022\u003Eincreasing urgency and severity of climate change and its effects\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/260855\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-do-big-oil-companies-invest-in-green-energy-260855\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDespite the relatively modest scale of investment in clean energy by oil and gas companies so far, there are several business reasons oil companies would increase their investments in clean energy over time.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Despite the relatively modest scale of investment in clean energy by oil and gas companies so far, there are several business reasons oil companies would increase their investments in clean energy over time."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-09-17 16:20:15","changed_gmt":"2025-12-30 19:44:36","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678053":{"id":"678053","type":"image","title":"A flare burns natural gas at an oil well on Aug. 26, 2021, in Watford City, N.D. ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA flare burns natural gas at an oil well on Aug. 26, 2021, in Watford City, N.D. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/newsroom.ap.org\/detail\/BidenMethaneEmissions\/bd59009031284cb2be9e346df5201077\/photo\u0022\u003EAP Photo\/Matthew Brown\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758126088","gmt_created":"2025-09-17 16:21:28","changed":"1758126088","gmt_changed":"2025-09-17 16:21:28","alt":"A flare burns natural gas at an oil well on Aug. 26, 2021, in Watford City, N.D. ","file":{"fid":"262031","name":"file-20250826-75-dih7vn.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250826-75-dih7vn.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250826-75-dih7vn.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":203831,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/17\/file-20250826-75-dih7vn.jpg?itok=rUJ21cdd"}}},"media_ids":["678053"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/why-do-big-oil-companies-invest-in-green-energy-260855","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"479","name":"Green Buzz"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/michael-oxman-2431432\u0022\u003EMichael Oxman\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of the Practice of Sustainable Business, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686988":{"#nid":"686988","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Releases 2025 Year End Report","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025. \u0026nbsp;Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together. \u0026nbsp;We look forward to partnering with you in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/6csgb\/2321eb10fcabdecfd741b2b51777e4d9\/2025_RBI_Annual_Report_Updated.pdf\u0022\u003ERead the Report here.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025. \u0026nbsp;Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together. \u0026nbsp;We look forward to partnering with you in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Thank you to the entire RBI community for participating in a transformative 2025.  Please enjoy reviewing the accomplishments we made together.  We look forward to partnering with you in 2026."}],"uid":"36757","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 16:25:58","changed_gmt":"2025-12-19 17:01:45","author":"ychernet3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678893":{"id":"678893","type":"image","title":"Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM.png","body":null,"created":"1766075861","gmt_created":"2025-12-18 16:37:41","changed":"1766075861","gmt_changed":"2025-12-18 16:37:41","alt":"RBI Annual Report","file":{"fid":"262983","name":"Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2911125,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/18\/Screenshot-2025-12-17-at-11.42.02-AM_0.png?itok=W8jRMQbx"}}},"media_ids":["678893"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686905":{"#nid":"686905","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Make Waves at the World\u2019s Largest Neuroscience Conference","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine stepping into a space the size of multiple football fields \u2014 only instead of turf and goalposts, it\u2019s filled with science. Every inch is alive with posters, equipment demos, and researchers sharing the latest breakthroughs.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWelcome to the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Conference, one of the largest scientific gatherings in the world, drawing more than 30,000 attendees to San Diego in November. According to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/user\/1105\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAnnabelle Singer\u003C\/a\u003E, it is \u003Cem\u003Ethe\u003C\/em\u003E place to be for neuroscientists. \u201cIf you want to know what is going on now in neuroscience, it is being talked about at SfN.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESinger is a McCamish Foundation Early Career Professor in the Wallace H. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECoulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (BME) at Georgia Tech and Emory University. A frequent SfN attendee, she describes the meeting as \u201cDragon Con for neuroscience, with thousands of talks and posters going on simultaneously.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis year, Georgia Tech didn\u2019t just show up \u2014 it made a statement with more than \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/views\/Neuroscience2025\/main?:showVizHome=no\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E60 presentations\u003C\/a\u003E, a major outreach award, and a spotlight press conference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSeeing Georgia Tech and INNS represented so strongly at SfN is exciting,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/directory\/christopher-john-rozell\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EChris Rozell\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society\u003C\/a\u003E (INNS). \u201cIt reflects the incredible breadth of neuroscience and neurotechnology research happening across our campus and how our work is shaping conversations at the highest level.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInside \u2018Neuroscience Dragon Con\u2019\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany conferences center around structured lectures, but at SfN, posters are the heart. You might find a senior researcher presenting groundbreaking findings right next to a first-time attendee sharing early results. This diversity is what makes the experience so valuable, says Singer. \u201cTrainees get to talk directly with the scientist doing the work to get their questions answered, from wondering about future implications to clarifying technical details.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe scale of SfN can feel overwhelming, but for many, that\u2019s part of the excitement. \u201cThere are so many different posters from so many different fields. It\u2019s a lot to absorb, but it\u2019s all very interesting,\u201d said Benjamin Magondu, a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student presenting for the first time. \u201cI\u2019ve definitely learned at least 47 things by just walking 10 feet.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor students like Magondu, the experience is critical, says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBiological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E Assistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/farzaneh-najafi\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFarzaneh Najafi\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cSfN has such a big scope, all the way from molecular to cognitive and computational systems. Especially for those deciding which direction of neuroscience they want to go into, it\u2019s invaluable.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat breadth also fosters connections across disciplines. \u201cConferences are usually pretty niche,\u201d noted Tina Franklin, a research scientist in BME. \u201cYou have your own field that you\u2019re really good at, but it\u2019s difficult to venture out and find new people who can help you figure out what comes next. This conference brings people from all different fields together with the common interest of neuroscience and brain research.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeading the Charge\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s impact went beyond the conference floor. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/ming-fai-fong\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMing-fai Fong\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in BME, received the prestigious Next Generation Award, one of SfN\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sfn.org\/publications\/latest-news\/2025\/11\/03\/society-for-neuroscience-2025-education-and-outreach-awards\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eeducation and outreach awards\u003C\/a\u003E. The honor recognizes members who make outstanding contributions to public communication and education about neuroscience.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m certainly very grateful to the Society for Neuroscience for recognizing these types of contributions,\u201d says Fong, who was recognized for her work supporting blind and visually impaired youth in Atlanta. \u201cRewarding outreach efforts reinforces my core belief that scientists and engineers can make an immediate impact on communities we care about through outreach. It\u2019s a great parallel avenue to making a positive impact through research.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuilding on this recognition, Georgia Tech was in the spotlight during one of SfN\u2019s selective press conferences \u2014 a session on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.the-scientist.com\/ai-tools-unravel-thoughts-actions-and-neuronal-makeup-73779\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eartificial intelligence in neuroscience\u003C\/a\u003E moderated by Rozell, who is also the Julian T. Hightower Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ece.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Electrical and Computer Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the SfN press event, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/med.emory.edu\/directory\/profile\/?u=TKESAR\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETrisha Kesar,\u003C\/a\u003E an associate professor in BME and adjunct faculty in the School of Biological Sciences, presented her research using AI to improve gait rehabilitation. Her work was among just 40 abstracts selected from more than 10,000 submissions for this honor, and one of five abstracts selected for the AI in neuroscience press conference. The project is a collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bio\/hyeokhyen-kwon\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHyeok Kwon\u003C\/a\u003E, a Georgia Tech computer science alumnus and an assistant professor in BME.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see Georgia Tech and Atlanta emerging as hubs for neuroscience innovation,\u201d said Kesar. \u201cBeing part of a press conference on AI in neuroscience shows how much our community is contributing to the future of brain research, and how collaboration across institutions can accelerate progress.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith more than 60 presentations and recognition for neuroscience outreach and AI research, Georgia Tech demonstrated its growing impact at the 2025 Society for Neuroscience\u2019s annual meeting.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"With more than 60 presentations and recognition for neuroscience outreach and AI research, Georgia Tech demonstrated its growing impact at the 2025 Society for Neuroscience\u2019s annual meeting."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-12-16 16:25:18","changed_gmt":"2025-12-16 20:34:06","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678854":{"id":"678854","type":"image","title":"1763342998142_viaSfN.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAffectionally called \u0022DragonCon for neuroscience,\u0022 the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting is one of the largest academic conferences in the world.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765903757","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 16:49:17","changed":"1765903757","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 16:49:17","alt":"Affectionally called \u0022DragonCon for neuroscience,\u0022 the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting is one of the largest academic conferences in the world.","file":{"fid":"262944","name":"1763342998142_viaSfN.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/1763342998142_viaSfN.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/1763342998142_viaSfN.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":161836,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/1763342998142_viaSfN.jpeg?itok=0fC9aJqn"}},"678856":{"id":"678856","type":"image","title":"IMG_6535-2.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBenjamin Magondu, a graduate student in biomedical engineering, presented at SfN for the first time this year.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765903975","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 16:52:55","changed":"1765903975","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 16:52:55","alt":"Benjamin Magondu, a graduate student in biomedical engineering, presented at SfN for the first time this year.","file":{"fid":"262946","name":"IMG_6535-2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6535-2.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6535-2.png","mime":"image\/png","size":16053615,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6535-2.png?itok=RqMzz6kC"}},"678855":{"id":"678855","type":"image","title":"IMG_6838.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith hundreds of presentations happening simultaneously, the poster floor can be overwhelming at SfN \u2014 but for many, that\u0027s part of the draw.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765903880","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 16:51:20","changed":"1765903880","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 16:51:20","alt":"With hundreds of presentations happening simultaneously, the poster floor can be overwhelming at SfN \u2014 but for many, that\u0027s part of the draw.","file":{"fid":"262945","name":"IMG_6838.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6838.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6838.png","mime":"image\/png","size":10484632,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6838.png?itok=5jvPd7_3"}},"678857":{"id":"678857","type":"image","title":"IMG_6748-2.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETrisha Kesar answers a question during the SfN press conference on AI in neuroscience, moderated by Chris Rozell.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765904071","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 16:54:31","changed":"1765904071","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 16:54:31","alt":"Trisha Kesar answers a question during the SfN press conference on AI in neuroscience, moderated by Chris Rozell.","file":{"fid":"262947","name":"IMG_6748-2.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6748-2.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6748-2.png","mime":"image\/png","size":10935175,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/IMG_6748-2.png?itok=dFEAz4Je"}}},"media_ids":["678854","678856","678855","678857"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-uses-computing-and-engineering-methods-shift-neuroscience-paradigms","title":"Georgia Tech Uses Computing and Engineering Methods to Shift Neuroscience Paradigms"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.the-scientist.com\/ai-tools-unravel-thoughts-actions-and-neuronal-makeup-73779","title":"Inside the SfN Press Conference: AI Tools Unravel Thoughts, Actions, and Neuronal Makeup"},{"url":"https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\/head-toe-georgia-tech-researchers-treat-entire-human-body-through-neuroscience-research","title":"Head to Toe: Georgia Tech Researchers Treat the Entire Human Body Through Neuroscience Research"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/202927865@N06\/albums\/72177720330951882\/","title":"Georgia Tech at SfN in Photos"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter and media contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Manager\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPresenter Dashboard:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECreated by \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jpreston7@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJoshua Preston\u003C\/a\u003E, Communications Manager, College of Computing\u003Cbr\u003EData collection by Audra Davidson, Hunter Ashcraft\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685663":{"#nid":"685663","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Method Uses Collisions to Break Down Plastic for Sustainable Recycling","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile plastics help enable modern standards of living, their accumulation in landfills and the overall environment continues to grow as a global concern.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPolyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the world\u2019s most widely used plastics, with tens of millions of tons produced annually in the production of bottles, food packaging, and clothing fibers. The durability that makes PET so useful also means that it is more difficult to recycle efficiently.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers have developed a method to break down PET using mechanical forces instead of heat or harsh chemicals. Published in the journal \u003Cem\u003EChem\u003C\/em\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2451929425003456\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Etheir findings\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E demonstrate how a \u201cmechanochemical\u201d method \u2014 chemical reactions driven by mechanical forces such as collisions \u2014 can rapidly convert PET back into its basic building blocks, opening a path toward faster, cleaner recycling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by postdoctoral researcher Kinga Go\u0142\u0105bek and Professor Carsten Sievers of Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the research team hit solid pieces of PET with metal balls with the same force they would experience in a machine called a ball mill. This can make the PET react with other solid chemicals such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), generating enough energy to break the plastic\u2019s chemical bonds at room temperature, without the need for hazardous solvents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re showing that mechanical impacts can help decompose plastics into their original molecules in a controllable and efficient way,\u201d \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sievers.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESievers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E said. \u201cThis could transform the recycling of plastics into a more sustainable process.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMapping the Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn demonstrating the process, the researchers used controlled single-impact experiments along with advanced computer simulations to map how energy from collisions distributes across the plastic and triggers chemical and structural transformations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese experiments showed changes in structure and chemistry of PET in tiny zones that experience different pressures and heat. By mapping these transformations, the team gained new insights into how mechanical energy can trigger rapid, efficient chemical reactions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis understanding could help engineers design industrial-scale recycling systems that are faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient,\u201d Go\u0142\u0105bek said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBreaking Down Plastic\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach collision created a tiny crater, with the center absorbing the most energy. In this zone, the plastic stretched, cracked, and even softened slightly, creating ideal conditions for chemical reactions with sodium hydroxide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHigh-resolution imaging and spectroscopy revealed that the normally ordered polymer chains became disordered in the crater center, while some chains broke into smaller fragments, increasing the surface area exposed to the reactant. Even without sodium hydroxide, mechanical impact alone caused minor chain breaking, showing that mechanical force itself can trigger chemical change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study also showed the importance of the amount of energy delivered by each impact. Low-energy collisions only slightly disturb PET, but stronger impacts cause cracks and plastic deformation, exposing new surfaces that can react with sodium hydroxide for rapid chemical breakdown.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnderstanding this energy threshold allows engineers to optimize mechanochemical recycling, maximizing efficiency while minimizing unnecessary energy use,\u201d Sievers explained.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClosing the Loop on Plastic Waste\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese findings point toward a future where plastics can be fully recycled back into their original building blocks, rather than being downcycled or discarded. By harnessing mechanical energy instead of heat or harsh chemicals, recycling could become faster, cleaner, and more energy-efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis approach could help close the loop on plastic waste,\u201d Sievers said. \u201cWe could imagine recycling systems where everyday plastics are processed mechanochemically, giving waste new life repeatedly and reducing environmental impact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team now plans to test real-world waste streams and explore whether similar methods can work for other difficult-to-recycle plastics, bringing mechanochemical recycling closer to industrial use.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWith millions of tons of PET produced every year, improving recycling efficiency could significantly reduce plastic pollution and help protect ecosystems worldwide,\u201d Go\u0142\u0105bek said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECITATION: Kinga Go\u0142\u0105bek, Yuchen Chang, Lauren R. Mellinger, Mariana V. Rodrigues, Cau\u00ea de Souza Coutinho Nogueira, Fabio B. Passos, Yutao Xing, Aline Ribeiro Passos, Mohammed H. Saffarini, Austin B. Isner, David S. Sholl, Carsten Sievers, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2451929425003456\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpatially-resolved reaction environments in mechanochemical upcycling of polymers\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d \u003Cem\u003EChem\u003C\/em\u003E, 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers have developed a method to break down polyethylene terephthalate, one of the world\u2019s most widely used plastics, using mechanical forces instead of heat or harsh chemicals. Published in the journal \u003Cem\u003EChem\u003C\/em\u003E, their findings demonstrate how a \u201cmechanochemical\u201d method \u2014 chemical reactions driven by mechanical forces such as collisions \u2014 can rapidly convert PET back into its basic building blocks, opening a path toward faster, cleaner recycling.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers have developed a method to break down PET, one of the world\u2019s most widely used plastics, for sustainable recycling using mechanical forces instead of heat or harsh chemicals."}],"uid":"27271","created_gmt":"2025-10-10 16:09:50","changed_gmt":"2025-12-10 20:34:48","author":"Brad Dixon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678329":{"id":"678329","type":"image","title":"sieversballmachine.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe high impact between the metal balls in a ball mill reactor and the polymer surface is suffi\u0002cient to momentarily liquefy the polymer and facilitate chemical reactions.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1760112196","gmt_created":"2025-10-10 16:03:16","changed":"1760112196","gmt_changed":"2025-10-10 16:03:16","alt":"The high impact between the metal balls in a ball mill reactor and the polymer surface is suffi\u0002cient to momentarily liquefy the polymer and facilitate chemical reactions.","file":{"fid":"262342","name":"sieversballmachine.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/sieversballmachine.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/sieversballmachine.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":240481,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/10\/sieversballmachine.jpg?itok=WPkvqn7-"}},"678330":{"id":"678330","type":"image","title":"Kinga-Golabek.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EKinga Go\u0142\u0105bek\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1760112262","gmt_created":"2025-10-10 16:04:22","changed":"1760112262","gmt_changed":"2025-10-10 16:04:22","alt":"Kinga Golabek","file":{"fid":"262343","name":"Kinga-Golabek.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/Kinga-Golabek.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/Kinga-Golabek.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":103075,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/10\/Kinga-Golabek.jpg?itok=ZljPVPOR"}},"678331":{"id":"678331","type":"image","title":"sievers2023webcrop.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProf. Carsten Sievers\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1760116175","gmt_created":"2025-10-10 17:09:35","changed":"1760116175","gmt_changed":"2025-10-10 17:09:35","alt":"Professor Carsten Sievers","file":{"fid":"262347","name":"sievers2023webcrop.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/sievers2023webcrop.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/10\/sievers2023webcrop.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":116072,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/10\/sievers2023webcrop.jpg?itok=QeQj0eFu"}}},"media_ids":["678329","678330","678331"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"5607","name":"chemical recycling"},{"id":"14536","name":"plastic"},{"id":"194823","name":"plastic recycling"},{"id":"171925","name":"mechanochemistry"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBrad Dixon, \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:braddixon@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebraddixon@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["braddixon@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685218":{"#nid":"685218","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Breathtaking Breakthrough: Lung-on-a-Chip Defends Itself ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn a clear polymer chip, soft and pliable like a gummy bear, a microscopic lung comes alive \u2014 expanding, circulating, and, for the first time, protecting itself like a living organ.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/ankur-singh\u0022\u003EAnkur Singh,\u003C\/a\u003E director of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/immunoengineering.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Immunoengineering\u003C\/a\u003E, watching immune cells rush through the chip took his breath away. Singh co-directed the study with longtime collaborator \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/engineering.vanderbilt.edu\/bio\/?pid=krishnendu-roy\u0022\u003EKrishnendu \u201cKrish\u201d Roy\u003C\/a\u003E, former Regents Professor and director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cellmanufacturingusa.org\/\u0022\u003ENSF Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies\u003C\/a\u003E at Tech and now the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans dean of engineering and University Distinguished Professor at Vanderbilt University. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bioengineering.gatech.edu\/user\/rachel-ringquist\u0022\u003ERachel Ringquist\u003C\/a\u003E, Roy\u2019s graduate student, and now a postdoctoral fellow with Singh, led the work as part of her doctoral dissertation.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThat was the \u2018wow\u2019 moment,\u201d Singh said. \u201cIt was the first time we felt we had something close to a real human lung.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELung-on-a-chip platforms provide researchers a window into organ behavior. They are about the size of a postage stamp, etched with tiny channels and lined with living human cells. Roy and Singh\u2019s innovation was adding a working immune system \u2014 the missing piece that turns a chip into a true model of how the lung fights disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers can watch how lungs respond to threats, how inflammation spreads, and how healing begins.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Human Stakes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor millions of people struggling with lung disease, everyday life can feel nearly impossible, whether it\u2019s climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or even laughing too hard. Doctors and scientists have attempted for decades to unlock what really happens inside fragile lungs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This unique lung-on-a-chip model opens new, preclinical pathways of discovery that will allow researchers to better understand the interplay of immune responses to severe viral infections and evaluate critical antiviral treatments,\u201d said Roy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Singh, the Carl Ring Family Professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E with a joint appointment in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, this research is deeply personal. He lost an uncle when an infection overwhelmed his cancer-weakened immune system.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat experience stays with you,\u201d Singh reflected. \u201cIt made me want to build systems that could predict and prevent outcomes like that, so fewer families go through what mine did. I think about my uncle all the time. If work like this means fewer families lose someone they love, then it\u2019s worth everything.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat motivation pushed his team to reimagine what a lung-on-a-chip could do, setting the stage for the breakthroughs that followed.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen the Lung Fought Back\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe turning point came when Roy\u2019s and Singh\u2019s team peered through a microscope and saw something no one had ever witnessed on a chip: blood and immune cells coursing through tiny vessel-like structures, behaving just as they do in a living lung.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years, researchers had struggled to add immunity to organ-on-a-chip systems. Immune cells often died quickly or failed to circulate and interact with tissue the way they do in people. the team solved that problem, creating a chip where immune cells could survive and coordinate a defense.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was an amazing breakthrough moment,\u201d Singh said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe true test came when the team introduced a severe influenza virus infection. The lung mounted an immune response that closely mirrored what doctors see in patients. Immune cells rushed to the site of infection, inflammation spread through tissue, and defenses activated in response.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat was when we realized this wasn\u2019t just a model,\u201d Singh said. \u201cIt was capturing the real biology of disease.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESingh and Roy\u2019s research is published in the journal \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41551-025-01491-9\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003ENature Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA More Human Approach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor decades, lung research has relied on animal models. But mice don\u2019t get asthma like children. Their bodies don\u2019t mount the same defenses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFive mice in a cage may respond the same way, but five humans won\u2019t,\u201d Singh explained. \u201cOur chip can reflect that difference. That\u2019s what makes it more accurate, and why it could dramatically reduce the need for animal models.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKrish Roy emphasized its potential.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Food and Drug Administration\u2019s strategic vision on reducing animal testing and developing predictive non-animal models aligns perfectly with our work. This device goes further than ever before in modeling human severe influenza and providing unprecedented insights into the complex lung immune response,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFighting More Than the Flu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat began with influenza now expands to a wider range of diseases. Roy and Singh believes the platform can be used to study asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and tuberculosis. The researchers are also working to integrate immune organs, showing how the lung coordinates with the body\u2019s defenses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe long-term vision is personalized medicine: chips built from a patient\u2019s own cells to predict which therapy will work best. Scaling, clinical validation, and regulatory approval will take years, but Singh is undeterred.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cImagine knowing which treatment will help you before you ever take it,\u201d Singh said. \u201cThat\u2019s where we\u2019re headed.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhere we\u2019re headed, the future doesn\u2019t wait for illness. Instead, it anticipates it, intercepts it, and rewrites the outcome.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Tech postdoctoral researcher Rachel Ringquist was the first author leading the study.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis research was supported by Wellcome Leap, with additional funding from the National Institutes of Health, Carl Ring Family Endowment, and the Marcus Foundation.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ERingquist, R., Bhatia, E., Chatterjee, P.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Eet al.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;An immune-competent lung-on-a-chip for modelling the human severe influenza infection response.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ENature Biomedical Engineering,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003ESeptember 2025 Vol.9 No.9\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDOI:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41551-025-01491-9#citeas\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41551-025-01491-9\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and Vanderbilt researchers have developed the first lung-on-a-chip with a functioning immune system, a breakthrough published in \u003Cem\u003ENature Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/em\u003E. Led by Ankur Singh and Krishnendu \u201cKrish\u201d Roy, the team created a postage stamp-sized device where blood and immune cells circulate, fight infection, and heal, just as they would in a living lung. The advance not only provides unprecedented insight into diseases like influenza, asthma, and cancer but also offers a path toward reducing animal testing. Long-term, the technology could enable personalized medicine, with chips built from patients\u2019 own cells to predict which therapies will work best.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt researchers have built the first lung-on-a-chip with a working immune system, a breakthrough with the potential to reshape how we study disease, move beyond animal testing, and administer lifesaving therapies."}],"uid":"36410","created_gmt":"2025-09-24 15:20:56","changed_gmt":"2025-12-10 16:49:57","author":"mazriel3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678118":{"id":"678118","type":"image","title":"Lung-on-a-Chip With Immune System","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAnkur Singh and Rachel Ringquist point to the microscopic lung-on-a-chip that has a built-in immune system.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758725634","gmt_created":"2025-09-24 14:53:54","changed":"1758726945","gmt_changed":"2025-09-24 15:15:45","alt":"Researchers show off a lung-on-a-chip that has an immune system. Long term, this technology could lead to highly personalized medicine","file":{"fid":"262102","name":"20250911_IBB_ChipLung-01.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/24\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-01.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/24\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-01.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":13303952,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/24\/20250911_IBB_ChipLung-01.jpg?itok=oU9qxbUs"}}},"media_ids":["678118"],"groups":[{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"1613","name":"Biomedical Engieering"},{"id":"98751","name":"College of Engineering; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Azriel Sr. Writer-Editor\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["mazriel3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"649816":{"#nid":"649816","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship to Support Undergrads","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship is open for contributions again this year. It was established last year to support students in pursuit of their undergraduate degree.\u0026nbsp;Ms. Burchfield, mother to Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Financial Manager, Gay Burchfield, died of COVID-19 on June 8th, 2020, at the age of 80, in Starkville, Mississippi. She lived a life of service to those in her community, with a particular emphasis on education.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Burchfield family selected sophomore Catherine Shamanski in the College of Psychology to receive a $200 scholarship. Shamanski will serve as a Team Leader in a section of the GT-1000 class, helping incoming first year students to find their footing on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMs. Goldia was years ahead of her time.\u0026nbsp;During the segregation era, her family moved from rural Mississippi to a larger town where she could pursue her high school education, which she completed in 1958. She wanted to join the military only to discover that women of color were not eligible to serve. She worked as a part-time custodian in a local bank for 35 years, as well as numerous odd jobs to care for her family and her community.\u0026nbsp;She and her husband had several small businesses in their hometown, one of which was \u201cBurchfield Recreation,\u201d aka \u201cThe Pool Hall.\u201d The pool hall also served as an ad-hoc after-school care for many families with working parents. Ms. Goldia provided meals, advice, and discipline, sometimes working extra odd jobs to finance those additional expenses. She would also put together care packages with stipends for the young people of her community who were college bound. \u0026nbsp;If asked what her greatest achievements were, she would say that she was a great mom, provided free meals to many, greeted everyone with a heartfelt smile, and genuinely cared for everyone she encountered.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDonations by check should be made payable to the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., with \u0022Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship\u0022\u0026nbsp;noted on the check or in a separate note, and should be mailed to: Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc., 760 Spring Street, NW, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn-line gifts can be made at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/development.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/development.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E, using the \u2018GIVE NOW\u2019 button and following directions provided.\u0026nbsp;In the \u2018Other Designation\u2019 box, enter \u201cGoldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship.\u201d\u0026nbsp;Each donor will be acknowledged by the Georgia Tech Foundation, and a list of all donors will be shared with the Burchfield family.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship is open for contributions again this year. It was established last year to support students in pursuit of their undergraduate degree.\u0026nbsp;Ms. Burchfield, mother to Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems Financial Manager, Gay Burchfield, died of COVID-19 on June 8th, 2020, at the age of 80, in Starkville, Mississippi. She lived a life of service to those in her community, with a particular emphasis on education.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Burchfield family selected sophomore Catherine Shamanski in the College of Psychology to receive a $200 scholarship. Shamanski will serve as a Team Leader in a section of the GT-1000 class, helping incoming first year students to find their footing on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003ERead More...\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Goldia Mae Burchfield Memorial Scholarship seeks donations to support undergrads."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2021-08-18 19:15:10","changed_gmt":"2025-12-10 15:34:54","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2021-08-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2021-08-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"637062":{"id":"637062","type":"image","title":"Goldia Mae Burchfield","body":null,"created":"1594994010","gmt_created":"2020-07-17 13:53:30","changed":"1594994010","gmt_changed":"2020-07-17 13:53:30","alt":"Portrait of Godia Mae Burchfield, mother of GT BBISS Financial Manager, Gay Burchfield.","file":{"fid":"242342","name":"Goldia_Mae_Burchfield_Portrait_Sized.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Goldia_Mae_Burchfield_Portrait_Sized.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Goldia_Mae_Burchfield_Portrait_Sized.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":315199,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Goldia_Mae_Burchfield_Portrait_Sized.jpg?itok=ABgu9qZI"}}},"media_ids":["637062"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/development.gatech.edu","title":"Online Donations"}],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"184288","name":"covid"},{"id":"185320","name":"Scholarship Fund"},{"id":"66111","name":"Georgia Tech Foundation"},{"id":"166871","name":"bbiss_big_ideas"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686736":{"#nid":"686736","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Connecting Communities: Georgia Tech\u2019s Community-Engaged Research Council Drives Engagement and Impact","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s research enterprise is expanding its reach beyond campus walls, thanks to the work of the Community-Engaged Research (CER) Council. Formed in 2024, the council focuses on making collaborations between Georgia Tech and community partners easier, more strategic, and more impactful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, there\u2019s incredible expertise in community engagement,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/ruthie-yow\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERuthie Yow\u003C\/a\u003E SCoRE\u2019s associate director, who facilitates the council. \u201cBut until now, there was no centralized way to connect those efforts. The council fills that gap.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFive Pillars for Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe council\u2019s strategy centers on five pillars: Coordination, Partners, Faculty Training and Recognition, Communication, and Resource Development. These priorities emerged from a strategic planning process involving seven interdisciplinary research institutes (IRIs) and centers, including \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sustainability\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBrook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems\u003C\/a\u003E (BBISS), \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for People and Technology (IPaT),\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute (SEI),\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rbi\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI),\u003C\/a\u003E the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute (EI\u00b2),\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPartnership for Inclusive Innovation\u003C\/a\u003E (PIN) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scre.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESCoRE\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew Tool: Community Connect Website\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECouncil members are developing new tools to support these priorities, including the brand-new \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/communityconnect.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECommunity Connect\u003C\/a\u003E website, led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard,\u003C\/a\u003E assistant director for Community-Engaged Research in BBISS. The platform connects faculty and community partners by allowing them to create profiles, post engagement opportunities, and view an interactive map of partnerships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I started this role, faculty told me they wanted to know who Georgia Tech was already working with and how to find new partners,\u201d Kennard said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t want to duplicate efforts or cold-call potential partners. This website addresses this challenge by showing existing connections and helping track engagement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe site will also serve as a data repository to measure impact of partnerships. \u201cHaving this data will help us advocate for infrastructure and support for community-engaged research,\u201d Kennard added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBBISS, IPaT, and more than 70 people from five of the Institute\u2019s colleges and 18 units across GT supported the development of this new interactive site. The \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/communityconnect.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esite\u003C\/a\u003E is up and running while the team makes minor adjustments before a full launch in Spring 2026. Make a profile and share any website feedback with \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/nicole.kennard@gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding Capacity: Grant Readiness Training\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIn September, the council sponsored a grant readiness training for 18 community-based organizations. Led by SCoRE,\u0026nbsp;the two-day workshop covered proposal basics, budgeting, logic models, and outcome measurement parameters. Over the course of two full days at the Outdoor Activity Center in West Atlanta, participants in the training helped these partners build the foundational systems, content, and strategies needed for effective grant seeking. Rather than focusing solely on writing techniques, this intensive workshop emphasized organizational readiness\u2014equipping participants with materials such as boilerplate content, budget templates, outcome measurement frameworks, and funder research strategies. Tailored for organizations with limited staff who juggle multiple roles, the training provided practical, immediately applicable tools that support a proactive, long-term approach to securing grant funding. Read more about the training \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3243\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/node\/3243\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollaboration in Action: Clarkston Project\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThrough the leadership of council members Leigh Hopkins and Candice McKie, the council is launching a collaboration with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cedr.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for Economic Development Research\u003C\/a\u003E (CEDR), to support strategic visioning for the City of Clarkston after funding cuts threatened its planning process. Clarkston, Georgia, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, is moving into the second phase of their collaboration with CEDR. The two groups together are continuing to work on place-making, community-wide events, and creative incentives to attract and retain new businesses.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was a great example of pooling resources to lift up community vision and meet a community need,\u201d Yow said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENetworking for Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOn December 10, the council will host a networking event for faculty and staff engaged in CER. The goal is to share successes, attract new collaborators, and identify projects for 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin us at 2 p.m. in the Student Success Center, President\u2019s Suite B , for light refreshments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEngagement Across IRIs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s interdisciplinary research institutes are already leading impactful projects: IPaT\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cearhub.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECEAR Hub\u003C\/a\u003E supports \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cearhub.org\/projects\/pin-point-resilience-projects\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eclimate and cultural resilience in Georgia\u2019s barrier islands\u003C\/a\u003E; BBISS works on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-10\/Case%20Study%20%235.pdf\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Econservation and cultural sustainability\u003C\/a\u003E with tribal Ojibwe partners; SEI\u2019s Energy Faculty Fellows Program \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/third-cohort-energy-faculty-fellow-program-attracts-multidisciplinary-researchers\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ebuilds research networks with minority-serving institutions\u003C\/a\u003E; RBI\u2019s ReWood initiative advances renewable forest biotechnology for a climate-smart economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFaculty interested in learning more about CER can start by connecting with the council members. \u201cWe want to make it easy for researchers and communities to create mutually beneficial partnerships,\u201d Yow said. \u201cReach out, share your work, and join us in building Georgia Tech\u2019s impact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECouncil members include Terri Sapp (RBI), Clint Zeagler (IPaT), Nicole Kennard (BBISS), Leigh Hopkins and Candice McKie (CEDR), Yang You (SEI), Katie O\u0027Connor (PIN), Ruthie Yow (SCoRE), and Rose Santa Gonzalez (Institute for Robotics \u0026amp; Intelligent Machines.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, there\u2019s incredible expertise in community engagement,\u201d said Ruthie Yow. \u201cBut until now, there was no centralized way to connect those efforts. The council fills that gap.\u201d The council\u2019s strategy centers on five pillars: Coordination, Partners, Faculty Training and Recognition, Communication, and Resource Development.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech has considerable expertise in community engagement. The CER council connects all the initiatives around campus adding impact and reach to everyone\u0027s efforts."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2025-12-04 17:42:29","changed_gmt":"2025-12-09 15:57:08","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-04T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-04T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678771":{"id":"678771","type":"image","title":"group-photo-Grant-Writing-Workshop_cropped.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGrant readiness training participants and facilitators, pictured at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance\u0027s Outdoor Activity Center. Photo includes: \u0026nbsp;Kristin Janacek (BBISS), Thomas Fuentes (Cascade Springs Nature Preserve), Awaz Jabari (Refugee Women\u0027s Network), Anurupa Roy (Center for Sustainable Communities), Freddie Stevens III (Re\u0027Gen Community Advisory), Chuck Barlow Sr. (Henderson School Alumni Association and Trust), Katie Kissel (Unearthing Farm and Market), Anna Tinoco Santiago (SCoRE), Tia Davis (ArtsXChange), Cassandra Knight (Henderson School Alumni Association and Trust), Desiree Jones (Georgia Advancing Communities Together), Alexandra Rodriguez Dalmau (SCoRE), Pabitra Poudyel (Refugee Women\u0027s Network), Katie O\u0027Connell (Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning), Ruthie Yow (SCoRE), and Meena Khodayar (Refugee Women\u0027s Network)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764964749","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 19:59:09","changed":"1765290727","gmt_changed":"2025-12-09 14:32:07","alt":"Group picture of Community Engaged Research workshop participants.","file":{"fid":"262846","name":"group-photo-Grant-Writing-Workshop_cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/group-photo-Grant-Writing-Workshop_cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/group-photo-Grant-Writing-Workshop_cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1276688,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/group-photo-Grant-Writing-Workshop_cropped.jpg?itok=IMjYWSQ5"}}},"media_ids":["678771"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"194869","name":"community-engaged research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJennifer Martin\u003C\/a\u003E, Assistant Director of Research Communications Services\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686330":{"#nid":"686330","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How the US Cut Climate-Changing Emissions While Its Economy More Than\u00a0Doubled","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022theconversation-article-body\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECountries around the world have been discussing the need to rein in climate change \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/climatechange\/un-climate-conferences\u0022\u003Efor three decades\u003C\/a\u003E, yet global greenhouse gas emissions \u2013 and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/climate.copernicus.eu\/climate-indicators\/temperature\u0022\u003Eglobal temperatures\u003C\/a\u003E with them \u2013 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions\u0022\u003Ekeep rising\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen it seems like we\u2019re getting nowhere, it\u2019s useful to step back and examine the progress that has been made.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet\u2019s take a look at the United States, historically the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/education.cfr.org\/learn\/reading\/who-releases-most-greenhouse-gases\u0022\u003Eworld\u2019s largest greenhouse gas emitter\u003C\/a\u003E. Over those three decades, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fred.stlouisfed.org\/series\/POPTOTUSA647NWDB\u0022\u003EU.S. population soared by 28%\u003C\/a\u003E and the economy, as measured by gross domestic product adjusted for inflation, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fred.stlouisfed.org\/series\/GDPCA\u0022\u003Emore than doubled\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet U.S. emissions from many of the activities that produce greenhouse gases \u2013 transportation, industry, agriculture, heating and cooling of buildings \u2013 have remained \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/environment\/emissions\/carbon\/\u0022\u003Eabout the same\u003C\/a\u003E over the past 30 years. Transportation is a bit up; industry a bit down. And electricity, once the nation\u2019s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, has seen its emissions drop significantly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022YzooO\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/YzooO\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOverall, the U.S. is still among the countries with the highest \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions\u0022\u003Eper capita emissions\u003C\/a\u003E, so there\u2019s room for improvement, and its emissions haven\u2019t fallen enough to put the country on track to meet \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/unfccc.int\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-12\/United%20States%202035%20NDC.pdf\u0022\u003Eits pledges\u003C\/a\u003E under the 10-year-old \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/unfccc.int\/process-and-meetings\/the-paris-agreement\u0022\u003EParis climate agreement\u003C\/a\u003E. But U.S. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/ghgemissions\/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks\u0022\u003Eemissions are down\u003C\/a\u003E about 15% over the past 10 years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere\u2019s how that happened:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EUS Electricity Emissions Have Fallen\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EU.S. electricity use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=65264\u0022\u003Ehas been rising\u003C\/a\u003E lately with the shift toward more electrification of cars and heating and cooling and expansion of data centers, yet greenhouse gas emissions from electricity are down by almost 30% since 1995.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the main reasons for this big drop is that Americans are using less coal and more natural gas to make electricity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth coal and natural gas are fossil fuels. Both \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/energy-and-the-environment\/where-greenhouse-gases-come-from.php#\u0022\u003Erelease carbon dioxide\u003C\/a\u003E to the atmosphere when they are burned to make electricity, and that carbon dioxide traps heat, raising global temperatures. But power plants can \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=44436\u0022\u003Emake electricity more efficiently\u003C\/a\u003E using natural gas compared with coal, so it produces less emissions per unit of power.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022u3fo9\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/u3fo9\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhy did the U.S. start using more natural gas?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch and technological innovation in fracking and horizontal drilling have allowed companies to extract more oil and gas at lower cost, making it \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/rmi.org\/utilities-analysts-and-customers-agree-transitioning-from-coal-saves-money\/\u0022\u003Echeaper to produce electricity\u003C\/a\u003E from natural gas rather than coal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a result, utilities have built more natural gas power plants \u2013 especially super-efficient \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gevernova.com\/gas-power\/resources\/education\/combined-cycle-power-plants\u0022\u003Ecombined cycle\u003C\/a\u003E gas power plants, which produce power from gas turbines and also capture waste heat from those turbines to generate more power. More coal plants have been shutting down or running less.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022zl7DI\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/zl7DI\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause natural gas is a more efficient fuel than coal, it has been a win for climate in comparison, even though it\u2019s a fossil fuel. The U.S. has reduced emissions from electricity as a result.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESignificant \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/energy-star-on-the-trump-administrations-target-list-has-a-long-history-of-helping-consumers-wallets-and-the-planet-258152\u0022\u003Eimprovements in energy efficiency\u003C\/a\u003E, from appliances to lighting, have also played a role. Even though tech gadgets seem to be recharging everywhere all the time today, household electricity use, per person, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=49036\u0022\u003Eplateaued over the first two decades of the 2000s after rising continuously\u003C\/a\u003E since the 1940s.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ECosts for Renewable Electricity, Batteries Fall\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EU.S. renewable electricity generation, including wind, solar and hydro power, has \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/electricity\/electricity-in-the-us.php\u0022\u003Enearly tripled since 1995\u003C\/a\u003E, helping to further reduce emissions from electricity generation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECosts for solar and wind power have fallen so much that they are now \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyinnovation.org\/report\/the-coal-cost-crossover-3-0\/\u0022\u003Echeaper than coal\u003C\/a\u003E and competitive with natural gas. Fourteen states, including most of the Great Plains, now get \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cleanpower.org\/facts\/state-fact-sheets\/\u0022\u003Eat least 30% of their power\u003C\/a\u003E from solar, wind and battery storage.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022Hw4VE\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/Hw4VE\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile wind power has been cost competitive with fossil fuels for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png\u0022\u003Eat least 20 years\u003C\/a\u003E, solar photovoltaic power has only been competitive with fossil fuels for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.lazard.com\/news-announcements\/lazard-releases-2025-levelized-cost-of-energyplus-report-pr\/\u0022\u003Eabout 10 years\u003C\/a\u003E. So expect deployment of solar PV to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/news\/global-renewable-capacity-is-set-to-grow-strongly-driven-by-solar-pv\u0022\u003Econtinue to increase\u003C\/a\u003E, both in the U.S. and internationally, even as U.S. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/16\/nx-s1-5462190\/trump-tax-credit-solar-ev-heat-pump\u0022\u003Efederal subsidies disappear\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth wind and solar provide intermittent power: The sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow. There are a number of ways utilities are dealing with this. One way is to use \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/oe\/demand-response\u0022\u003Edemand management\u003C\/a\u003E, offering lower prices for power during off-peak periods or discounts for companies that can cut their power use during high demand. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/lpo\/virtual-power-plants-projects\u0022\u003EVirtual power plants\u003C\/a\u003E aggregate several kinds of distributed energy resources \u2013 solar panels on homes, batteries and even smart thermostats \u2013 to manage power supply and demand. The U.S. had an estimated \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/transformers-magazine.com\/tm-news\/north-american-virtual-power-plants-grow-13-7\/\u0022\u003E37.5 gigawatts of virtual power plants\u003C\/a\u003E in 2024, equivalent to about 37.5 nuclear power reactors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigure class=\u0022align-center zoomable\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=1000\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022Charts show cost decline compared with fossil fuels.\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;fit=clip\u0022 srcset=\u0022https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=345\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 600w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=345\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1200w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=600\u0026amp;h=345\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 1800w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=45\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=433\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=1 754w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=30\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=433\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=2 1508w, https:\/\/images.theconversation.com\/files\/700156\/original\/file-20251104-66-ftct1o.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0\u0026amp;q=15\u0026amp;auto=format\u0026amp;w=754\u0026amp;h=433\u0026amp;fit=crop\u0026amp;dpr=3 2262w\u0022 sizes=\u0022(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px\u0022\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cfigcaption\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003EGlobally, the costs of solar, onshore wind and EV batteries fell quickly over the first two decades of the 2000s.\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Ca class=\u0022source\u0022 href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ipcc.ch\/report\/ar6\/wg3\/chapter\/summary-for-policymakers\/#figure-spm-3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022attribution\u0022\u003EIPCC 6th Assessment Report\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/figcaption\u003E\u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother energy management method is battery storage, which is just now \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/todayinenergy\/detail.php?id=64586\u0022\u003Ebeginning to take off\u003C\/a\u003E. Battery \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/about.bnef.com\/insights\/commodities\/lithium-ion-battery-pack-prices-see-largest-drop-since-2017-falling-to-115-per-kilowatt-hour-bloombergnef\/\u0022\u003Ecosts have come down\u003C\/a\u003E enough in the past few years to make utility-scale battery storage cost-effective.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022nX9Rl\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/nX9Rl\/2\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EWhat About Driving?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the U.S., gasoline consumption has remained roughly constant but \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/vehicles\/articles\/fotw-1237-may-9-2022-fuel-economy-all-vehicle-classes-has-improved\u0022\u003Efuel efficiency has generally improved\u003C\/a\u003E over the decades.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESales of electric vehicle, which could cut emissions more, have been slow, however. Some of this could be due to the success of fracking: U.S. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/afdc.energy.gov\/data\/10324\u0022\u003Epetroleum production has increased\u003C\/a\u003E, and gasoline and diesel \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.rff.org\/publications\/explainers\/gas-prices-101\/\u0022\u003Eprices have remained relatively low\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeople in other countries are switching \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.virta.global\/global-electric-vehicle-market\u0022\u003Eto electric vehicles more rapidly\u003C\/a\u003E than in the U.S. as the cost of EVs has fallen. Chinese consumers can buy an entry-level EV for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/electrek.co\/2025\/04\/08\/byds-low-cost-seagull-ev-now-starts-under-8000-china\/\u0022\u003Eunder US$10,000\u003C\/a\u003E in China with the help of government subsidies, and the country \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/global-ev-outlook-2025\/trends-in-electric-car-markets-2\u0022\u003Eleads the world in EV sales\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, people in the U.S. bought \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/global-ev-outlook-2025\/trends-in-electric-car-markets-2\u0022\u003E1.6 million EVs\u003C\/a\u003E, and global sales reached \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.virta.global\/global-electric-vehicle-market\u0022\u003E17 million\u003C\/a\u003E, up 25% from the year before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ciframe class=\u0022tc-infographic-datawrapper\u0022 style=\u0022border-width:0;\u0022 id=\u0022fSBGn\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/fSBGn\/1\/\u0022 height=\u0022400px\u0022 width=\u0022100%\u0022 scrolling=\u0022no\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThe Unknowns Ahead: What About Data Centers?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe construction of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/ais-ballooning-energy-consumption-puts-spotlight-on-data-center-efficiency-254192\u0022\u003Enew data centers\u003C\/a\u003E, in part to serve the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, is drawing a lot of attention to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-utilities-are-working-to-meet-ai-data-centers-voracious-appetite-for-electricity-240196\u0022\u003Efuture energy demand\u003C\/a\u003E and to the uncertainty ahead.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData centers are increasing electricity demand in some locations, such as \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2025\/07\/17\/nx-s1-5469933\/virginia-data-centers-residents-saying-no\u0022\u003Enorthern Virginia\u003C\/a\u003E, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago and Atlanta. The future \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.wri.org\/insights\/us-data-centers-electricity-demand\u0022\u003Eelectricity demand growth from data centers is still unclear\u003C\/a\u003E, though, meaning the effects of data centers on electric rates and power system emissions are also uncertain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, AI is not the only reason to watch for increased electricity demand: The U.S. can expect growing electricity demand for industrial processes and electric vehicles, as well as the overall transition from using oil and gas for heating and appliances \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nrel.gov\/analysis\/electrification-futures\u0022\u003Eto using electricity\u003C\/a\u003E that continues across the country.\u003C!-- Below is The Conversation\u0027s page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022border-color:!important;border-style:none;box-shadow:none !important;margin:0 !important;max-height:1px !important;max-width:1px !important;min-height:1px !important;min-width:1px !important;opacity:0 !important;outline:none !important;padding:0 !important;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/268763\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\u0022 alt=\u0022The Conversation\u0022 width=\u00221\u0022 height=\u00221\u0022 referrerpolicy=\u0022no-referrer-when-downgrade\u0022\u003E\u003C!-- End of code. If you don\u0027t see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThis article is republished from \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Conversation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E under a Creative Commons license. Read the \u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-the-us-cut-climate-changing-emissions-while-its-economy-more-than-doubled-268763\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eoriginal article\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECountries around the world have been discussing the need to rein in climate change for three decades, yet global greenhouse gas emissions \u2013 and global temperatures with them \u2013 keep rising.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Countries around the world have been discussing the need to rein in climate change for three decades, yet global greenhouse gas emissions \u2013 and global temperatures with them \u2013 keep rising."}],"uid":"27469","created_gmt":"2025-11-06 17:17:39","changed_gmt":"2025-12-08 19:34:19","author":"Kristen Bailey","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678588":{"id":"678588","type":"image","title":"Wind power near Dodge City, Kan. Halbergman\/iStock\/Getty Images Plus","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWind power near Dodge City, Kan. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/photo\/drone-shot-of-pick-up-truck-approaching-wind-royalty-free-image\/1287525883?phrase=road%20solar%20wind\u0026amp;searchscope=image,film\u0026amp;adppopup=true\u0022\u003EHalbergman\/iStock\/Getty Images Plus\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762795118","gmt_created":"2025-11-10 17:18:38","changed":"1762795118","gmt_changed":"2025-11-10 17:18:38","alt":"Wind power near Dodge City, Kan. Halbergman\/iStock\/Getty Images Plus","file":{"fid":"262642","name":"file-20251104-56-f02oyt.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/10\/file-20251104-56-f02oyt.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/10\/file-20251104-56-f02oyt.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":171900,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/10\/file-20251104-56-f02oyt.jpg?itok=xs5XfgAn"}}},"media_ids":["678588"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/how-the-us-cut-climate-changing-emissions-while-its-economy-more-than-doubled-268763","title":"Read This Article on The Conversation"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Ch5\u003EAuthor:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/valerie-thomas-1633560\u0022\u003EValerie Thomas\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of Industrial Engineering, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EMedia Contact:\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:shelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eshelley.wunder-smith@research.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686766":{"#nid":"686766","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Advancing Neonatal Health Monitoring in Ethiopia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESoft, wearable system offers continuous wireless monitoring of newborns\u2019 health.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA new, soft, all-in-one, wearable system has been designed for continuous wireless monitoring of neonatal health in low-resource settings. Developed by Georgia Tech researchers using advanced packaging technologies, the system features a chest-mounted patch and a forehead-mounted pulse oximeter that transmits real-time data to a smartphone app.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe wearable device measures and records important clinical parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, electrocardiograms, and blood oxygen saturation. Speedy detection of abnormal readings in resource-challenged neonatal units could significantly reduce newborn mortality rates.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe device\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41746-025-01974-8\u0022\u003Epilot study,\u003C\/a\u003E conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) in Addis Ababa, in collaboration with Abebaw Fekadu, Ph.D., from the Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT Africa Inc.), and neonatologist Asrat Demtse, M.D., from the TASH department of pediatrics, demonstrated a significant improvement over current vital sign monitoring and recording methods by providing continuous oversight using less medical equipment while also reducing handwritten paper tracking. Vital signs are a group of the most crucial medical data that indicate the status of the body\u0027s life-sustaining functions. The pairing of this wearable system with a smartphone app automated the monitoring process and delivered a superior level of neonatal care compared to the current processes at Ethiopia\u2019s best hospital.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMedical staff and parents also observed a reduced need to wake their babies when using the wearable monitoring system. In addition, after participating in the study, 84% of Ethiopian parents said they would use the device at home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cProfessor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/yeo\u0022\u003EHong Yeo\u003C\/a\u003E and I connected immediately after he gave a brief research talk about a new, wearable cardiac monitor for children,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/gleason\u0022\u003ERudy Gleason\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cI asked him if we could co-develop a wearable device for newborn babies in Ethiopia that measured not one, but a variety of vital signs. We both thought it was a great idea.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYeo and Gleason are faculty members in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech. And both are affiliated with Georgia Tech\u2019s Institute for People and Technology, which seeks to improve global health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2009, Gleason and his wife were in the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia named Kennedy. Before they could bring her home, however, she died \u2014 the result, Gleason said, of a seemingly preventable combination of malnutrition and diarrhea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis loss redirected my academic teaching, research, and service activities at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Gleason. \u201cSince then, I\u2019ve spent most of my career focused on developing resource-appropriate biomedical devices to reduce maternal and child mortality.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen we started this latest study, Ethiopian parents were reluctant to participate. But once we recruited a few mothers in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), everyone in the NICU community wanted their child to participate in our wearable health monitoring system.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Yeo, \u201cWe designed the wearable patch as a safe, clinical-grade solution with minimal skin irritation. Its key design advantage lies in the use of nanomembranes, which allows the device to be soft and highly conformal to the baby\u0027s skin. Wearing the device helps to ensure critical events are not missed since the built-in automation acts as a force multiplier, freeing clinical staff to focus more on complex decision-making rather than manual data acquisition.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRudy has a deep love for the people of Ethiopia. I feel fortunate to have met him as we embark on this project aimed at helping sick babies in the country. Without his support, I could not envision bringing this technology to Ethiopia,\u201d said Yeo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring the past decade, child mortality rates have decreased in Ethiopia, but newborn deaths have remained mostly unchanged. Both Yeo and Gleason feel their new wearable neonatal device could significantly lower mortality rates for newborns in Ethiopia as they advance this research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECitation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Zhou, L., Joseph, M., Lee, Y.J. \u003Cem\u003Eet al\u003C\/em\u003E. Soft, all-in-one, nanomembrane wearable system for advancing neonatal health monitoring in Ethiopia. \u003Cem\u003Enpj Digit. Med.\u003C\/em\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E8\u003C\/strong\u003E, 575 (2025).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI:\u003C\/strong\u003E https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41746-025-01974-8\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding:\u003C\/strong\u003E Gates Foundation (INV-006189) and the National Institutes of Health (R01HD100635). This work was also supported by the Imlay Foundation\u2014Innovation Fund.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESoft, wearable system offers continuous wireless monitoring of newborns\u2019 health.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Soft, wearable system offers continuous wireless monitoring of newborns\u2019 health."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2025-12-08 14:09:04","changed_gmt":"2025-12-08 16:16:17","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-08T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-08T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678779":{"id":"678779","type":"image","title":"Wearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown on a mannequin baby for illustration","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown on a mannequin baby for illustration\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765202853","gmt_created":"2025-12-08 14:07:33","changed":"1765202877","gmt_changed":"2025-12-08 14:07:57","alt":"Wearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown on a mannequin baby for illustration","file":{"fid":"262854","name":"BabyMannequin-1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/BabyMannequin-1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/BabyMannequin-1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2874342,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/08\/BabyMannequin-1.jpg?itok=L_YBPpUG"}},"678778":{"id":"678778","type":"image","title":"Wearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown close-up","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown close-up\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765202818","gmt_created":"2025-12-08 14:06:58","changed":"1765202834","gmt_changed":"2025-12-08 14:07:14","alt":"Wearable chest-mounted patch and forehead-mounted pulse oximeter shown close-up","file":{"fid":"262853","name":"Three-Sensors-Together.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Three-Sensors-Together.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Three-Sensors-Together.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1521119,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/08\/Three-Sensors-Together.jpg?itok=1FoqLTDU"}},"678777":{"id":"678777","type":"image","title":"Professor Rudy Gleason with baby and parents at a hospital in Ethiopia","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessor Rudy Gleason with baby and parents at a hospital in Ethiopia\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765202788","gmt_created":"2025-12-08 14:06:28","changed":"1765202804","gmt_changed":"2025-12-08 14:06:44","alt":"Professor Rudy Gleason with baby and parents at a hospital in Ethiopia","file":{"fid":"262852","name":"Gleason-in-Hospital.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Gleason-in-Hospital.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Gleason-in-Hospital.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":598089,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/08\/Gleason-in-Hospital.jpg?itok=dxKJnZlo"}},"678776":{"id":"678776","type":"image","title":"Professors Hong Yeo and Rudy Gleason","body":"\u003Cp\u003EProfessors Hong Yeo and Rudy Gleason\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765202713","gmt_created":"2025-12-08 14:05:13","changed":"1765202763","gmt_changed":"2025-12-08 14:06:03","alt":"Professors Hong Yeo and Rudy Gleason","file":{"fid":"262851","name":"Hong-yeo-and-Gleason.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Hong-yeo-and-Gleason.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/08\/Hong-yeo-and-Gleason.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":291765,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/08\/Hong-yeo-and-Gleason.jpg?itok=4sfdbm0W"}}},"media_ids":["678779","678778","678777","678776"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: walter.rich@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686759":{"#nid":"686759","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Team Revive \u0026 Survive Wins Convergence Innovation Competition in Asia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStudent team \u003Cstrong\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Survive\u003C\/strong\u003E from Waseda University, International Christian University, and Keio University in Japan won the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022\u003EInstitute for People and Technology\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (IPaT) \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\/cic\u0022\u003EConvergence Innovation Competition\u003C\/a\u003E (CIC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 1, 2025. This was the second time the contest was held in Asia. This was the second time the contest was held in Asia\u2014the contest was originally started in 2007 at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe winning team members were Taiga Cogger, Ryuichiro Go, Kokoro Cogger, and Taiyo Mitsuoka. The team won $2,000 dollars. The team\u2019s faculty sponsor was Kiichiro DeLuca, a faculty member at Waseda University and partner at WERU Investment, a global early-stage venture capital firm based in Tokyo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the winner, the Revive \u0026amp; Survive student team is also invited to be part of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECreate-X\u003C\/a\u003E startup launch in summer 2026 as well as Georgia Tech\u2019s Demo Day, August 2026, in Atlanta. Some travel support for the Atlanta trip will be provided.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Survive\u2019s project empowers communities through regional revitalization and disaster preparedness for a more resilient and sustainable future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECIC is a competition recognizing student innovation and entrepreneurship responding to today\u2019s global challenges and opportunities. Founded in 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, CIC is organized by IPaT at the Georgia Institute of Technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the 2025-2026 final pitches and award ceremony, the competition landed in Kaula Lampur, Malaysia. The competition focused on student teams from China, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each year, organizers and participants forge new partnerships and foster more collaborations across the Asian continent. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\/cic\/fellows\u0022\u003EIPaT\u2019s CIC Asia Faculty Fellows\u003C\/a\u003E help cultivate those team projects and the students showcase their innovative ideas during the competition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe CIC students, the support of the faculty fellows, the final competition presentations, and the invited industry forum combine to create a special and unique event,\u201d said IPaT executive director Michael Best. \u201cAll of the student finalist projects represented the very best in people-centered technologies responding to global challenges.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECIC Asia is distinct in how it brings teams from multiple countries together to interact and network. Most innovation competitions are single university or country.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe four runner-up finalist teams each received $1,000 dollars in prize money. The CIC Asia runner-up team projects and team members are listed below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChiliCare\u003C\/strong\u003E is an IoT and AI farming app with auto watering, pest detection, microclimate insights, crop plotting, and smart fertilizer guidance. Team Members: Muhammad Haizad bin Murad, Hafiy Azfar bin Mohd Masri, Hazriq Haykal Norrol Farhan, Muhammad Naim bin Mazni. Faculty Fellow: Dr. Masrah Azrifah Azmi Murad. Mentor: Dr. Azrina binti Kamaruddin. University: Universiti Putra Malaysia.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPlaySpot\u003C\/strong\u003E makes booking sports facilities in the Philippines simple, and accessible for everyone. Team Members: Louie Gee G. Cabagay, Alwin Matthew T. Chiong, Daniel Justine R. Jadman, Raphael Luis T. Malolos. Faculty Fellow: Mr. Paulo Luis T. Lozano. University: De La Salle University (The Philippines).\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECityFix\u003C\/strong\u003E is a mobile and web platform enabling citizens to quickly report and track municipal issues with GPS, photos, and real-time updates. Team Member: Ng Jia Hong. Faculty Fellow: Ms. Putri Syaidatul Akma Binti Mohd Azmi. University: Multimedia University (Malaysia).\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFlow Vending Machine\u003C\/strong\u003E proposed having vending machines which dispense biodegradable pads installed around campus toilets to help women to have easy access to sanitary pads. Team Members: Ava Jeslina binti Mohd Jamil, Abigail Siew Kar Yan, Ashley Shakyna, Geneve Tsen Fan Qin. Faculty Fellow: Ms. Putri Syaidatul Akma, J.D. Mentor: Ms. Raja Razana Bt Raja Razali. University: Multimedia University (Malaysia).\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFuture Tech Forum\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe CIC event took place alongside the Future Tech Forum which was also organized by IPaT. The forum focused on innovations, opportunities, and advancements associated with human-centered AI, sustainable data centers, and digital trust and security. Expert panels and speakers from across Asia and Georgia Tech discussed the state of art in a rapidly changing world, with particular attention to what it means for Asian nations. The event was invitation only and limited to 150 attendees of established leaders and emerging innovators.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParticipating technology speakers and panelists included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHonorable YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo\u003C\/strong\u003E, Minister, Ministry of Digital, Malaysia\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChee Mun Foong\u003C\/strong\u003E, CEO, YTL AI Labs; and CPO, Ryt Bank\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChen Change Loy\u003C\/strong\u003E, President\u0027s Chair Professor, CCDS, NTU; Director, MMLab@NTU; and Co-Associate Director, S-Lab\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Lim Ji Xiong\u003C\/strong\u003E, Chief Digital Officer, GAMUDA\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHenry Yang\u003C\/strong\u003E, CMO, Manus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDing Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E, Senior Researcher, Responsible AI, Google Research\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBenjamin Croc\u003C\/strong\u003E, CEO, BrioHR\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETzu Kit Chan\u003C\/strong\u003E, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), Risks and Safety Advisor of Top Universities in the USA, Singapore, Canada, and France\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHari Krishnan\u003C\/strong\u003E, Co-founder and CEO of Genie Health\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBenoit Dubeau\u003C\/strong\u003E, Energy Strategy Manager, APAC, Amazon Web Services (AWS)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECindy Lin\u003C\/strong\u003E, Professor, School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKo Chuan Zhen\u003C\/strong\u003E, Group CEO \u0026amp; Co-Founder, Plus Xnergy, and Executive Director, BM Greentech\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZachary Loh\u003C\/strong\u003E, Market Development Manager, Hydroleap\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENge Foong Kheng\u003C\/strong\u003E, Engineering Manager, APAC, Global Switch\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVerghese Jacob\u003C\/strong\u003E, SVP Technology, DayOne\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA photo album of the CIC and Future Tech Forum events can be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/96938041@N06\/albums\/72177720330705410\u0022\u003Eviewed here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E###\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStudent team \u003Cstrong\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Survive\u003C\/strong\u003E from Waseda University, International Christian University, and Keio University in Japan won the Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022\u003EInstitute for People and Technology\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (IPaT) \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\/cic\u0022\u003EConvergence Innovation Competition\u003C\/a\u003E (CIC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 1, 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Student team Revive \u0026 Survive from Waseda University, International Christian University, and Keio University in Japan won the Georgia Tech Institute for People and Technology\u2019s (IPaT) Convergence Innovation Competition (CIC) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysi"}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2025-12-05 17:11:17","changed_gmt":"2025-12-06 15:02:41","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678766":{"id":"678766","type":"image","title":"CIC Winner 2025-2026","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPictured: CIC winning student team \u003Cstrong\u003ERevive \u0026amp; Survive\u003C\/strong\u003E from Waseda University, International Christian University, and Keio University in Japan. Along with other participants and organizers of the competition.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764954483","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 17:08:03","changed":"1764954990","gmt_changed":"2025-12-05 17:16:30","alt":"Student team Revive \u0026 Survive from Waseda University, International Christian University, and Keio University in Japan. ","file":{"fid":"262841","name":"1st-place-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/1st-place-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/1st-place-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1551702,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/1st-place-2025.jpg?itok=_vvNhxm_"}},"678765":{"id":"678765","type":"image","title":"Four runner ups - CIC 2025-2026","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom top left, clockwise - Teams Chilicare, Playspot, CityFix, and Flow Vending Machine.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764954399","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 17:06:39","changed":"1764954470","gmt_changed":"2025-12-05 17:07:50","alt":"Four runner ups - CIC 2025-2026","file":{"fid":"262840","name":"4-runner-ups.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/4-runner-ups.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/4-runner-ups.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1888965,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/4-runner-ups.jpg?itok=eaa34ipp"}}},"media_ids":["678766","678765"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686760":{"#nid":"686760","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Artist-in-Residence Program Bridges Art and Technology Through Immersive Performance","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) artist-in-residence program recently concluded a new collaboration with Corian Ellisor, a distinguished educator and performer in concert dance and theater. The residency explored the intersection of art and technology, resulting in an innovative, multi-layered experience that invited audiences to engage with themes of joy, peace, and community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project began when Clint Zeagler, principal research scientist and IPaT\u2019s director of strategic partnerships, invited Ellisor to \u201cthink big\u201d and imagine how technology could amplify his artistic vision. \u201cThis was definitely a moment for me to step out of my comfort zone and to think on a bigger scale,\u201d said Ellisor. \u201cComing from a poor artist background, we\u2019re always just struggling to make anything. This was an opportunity to dream.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cArtist residencies within Georgia Tech\u2019s research centers and interdisciplinary research institutes help to drive innovation in our research enterprise, to discover new applications of our research within the arts, to build strong connections with community partners, and \u2014 most important of all \u2014 to create impactful new works of art,\u201d said Jason Freeman, associate vice provost for the arts at Georgia Tech. \u201cIPaT has long been at the forefront of GT\u2019s initiatives to collaborate with Atlanta-area artists. I am thrilled to see the success of this latest collaboration between Clint Zeagler and Corian Ellisor.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEllisor, an Atlanta-based performance artist with a focus on dance theater, was selected as the IPaT\u2019s \u0026nbsp;2025 artist-in-residence. Ellisor has worked with arts communities locally and internationally including Georgia, Texas, Florida, Massachusetts, Washington DC, New York, Guatemala, Sweden, The Netherlands, Germany and The United Kingdom. He was awarded the choreography award at the University of Houston, The Walthall Fellowship through WonderRoot, \u201cTop 20 people to watch in 2013\u0022 by Atlanta\u2019s Creative loafing, an Atlanta Beltline Grant in 2014, an artist in residency award with the Lucky Penny in 2015, and the Best Choreography Award at the Houston Fringe Festival in 2019.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWorld Building Meets Performance Art\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEllisor\u2019s concept centered on world building, a technique often used in gaming but adapted here for live performance. The goal was to create an immersive environment where audiences could interact and react, while maintaining an uplifting aesthetic. \u201cI wanted something that leaves the audience feeling good\u2014something hopeful,\u201d Ellisor explained.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003ETo develop the project, Ellisor and Zeagler hosted workshops with Georgia Tech students and community members, encouraging free-form creation and dialogue around the question: How do people find joy and peace in a chaotic world? Three teams of Georgia Tech undergraduate students were assigned to collaborate with Ellisor and make an avatar of him. The first team was assigned to reproduce Ellisor\u2019s voice. The second team was assigned to generate a visual likeness of Ellisor. The third team worked on the outside aesthetics of a story booth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Story Booth: Technology Meets Emotion\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EA highlight of the residency was the Story Booth, a tech-enabled installation designed to collect personal narratives about joy and solace. Outfitted with full-body scans and voice capture, the booth featured a digital representation of Ellisor and used sentiment analysis to translate stories into color projections. \u201cIf someone shared something happy, the booth glowed orange; if it was sentimental, it turned blue,\u201d Ellisor noted. These dynamic visuals illuminated both the booth and its surroundings, creating a striking display of emotion through light.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAn Hour of Galleries Time\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe residency culminated in \u201cAn Hour of Galleries Time,\u201d an event combining video installations, interactive storytelling, and live dance performances. Dancers engaged with projected visuals before joining together for a collective performance against a massive, illuminated backdrop\u2014transforming the space into a living canvas of movement and light. The interactive performance was held November 23 at the Goat Farm Arts Center, a visual and performing arts center housed in a 19th-century complex of industrial buildings in west midtown Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReflections on Collaboration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEllisor described the experience as transformative, \u201cI am very happy to have met this community of technologists that I would have never met because our worlds just do not cross at all. Another enlightening experience was trusting myself and trusting the vision\u2014and then letting other people do what they\u2019re supposed to do. Usually as an artist, we are sort of a solo factory. But having the trust in other people to make your vision happen\u2014and it happening\u2014was a really lovely experience.\u201d\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EHe added, \u201cI am very grateful to have gone through this with Georgia Tech. There are some tech folks there that were very happy about the final product, which makes me happy.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) artist-in-residence program recently concluded a new collaboration with Corian Ellisor, a distinguished educator and performer in concert dance and theater.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) artist-in-residence program recently concluded a new collaboration with Corian Ellisor, a distinguished educator and performer in concert dance and theater. "}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2025-12-05 17:44:08","changed_gmt":"2025-12-05 17:44:57","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-05T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678769":{"id":"678769","type":"image","title":"Corian Ellisor ","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECorian Ellisor performs at the Goat Farm Arts Center, November 23.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764956493","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 17:41:33","changed":"1764956581","gmt_changed":"2025-12-05 17:43:01","alt":"Corian Ellisor ","file":{"fid":"262844","name":"Corian-dance1.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/Corian-dance1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/Corian-dance1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1743614,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/Corian-dance1.png?itok=OJr26v4P"}},"678768":{"id":"678768","type":"image","title":"Corian and fellow dance artists","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECorian Ellisor and fellow dance artists at the Goat Farm Arts Center event.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1764956117","gmt_created":"2025-12-05 17:35:17","changed":"1764956478","gmt_changed":"2025-12-05 17:41:18","alt":"Corian and fellow dance artists","file":{"fid":"262843","name":"corian-dancers.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/corian-dancers.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/05\/corian-dancers.png","mime":"image\/png","size":3279942,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/05\/corian-dancers.png?itok=bvuZrkQ7"}}},"media_ids":["678769","678768"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682867":{"#nid":"682867","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Researchers Make an Elemental Discovery     ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA longstanding mystery of the periodic table involves a group of unique elements called lanthanides. Also known as rare earth elements, or REEs, these silvery-white metals are challenging to isolate, given their very similar chemical and physical properties. This similarity makes it difficult to distinguish REEs from one other during extraction and purification processes.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe world has come to depend on lanthanides\u2019 magnetic and optical properties to drive much of modern technology \u2014 from medical imaging to missiles to smart phones. These metals also are in short supply, and because they\u2019re found in minerals, lanthanides are difficult to mine and separate. \u0026nbsp; But that may change \u2014 thanks to a Georgia Tech-led discovery of a new oxidation state for a lanthanide element known as praseodymium. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor the first time ever, praseodymium achieved a 5+ oxidation state. Oxidation occurs when a substance meets oxygen or another oxidizing substance. (The browning on the flesh of a cut apple, as well as rust on metal, are examples of oxidation.)\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EAs far back as the 1890s, scientists suspected lanthanides might have a 5+ oxidation state, but \u0026nbsp;lanthanides in that state were too unstable to see, said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/henry-la-pierre\u0022\u003EHenry \u201dPete\u201c La Pierre\u003C\/a\u003E, an associate professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E. Discovering an element\u2019s new oxidation state is like discovering a new element. As an example, La Pierre noted how plutonium\u2019s discovery opened up a whole new area of the periodic table.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cA new oxidation state tells us what we don\u2019t know and gives us ideas for where to go,\u201d he explained. \u201cEach oxidation state of an element has distinct chemical and physical properties \u2014 so the first glimpse of a novel oxidation presents a roadmap for new possibilities.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ELa Pierre and colleagues at University of Iowa and Washington State University recently discovered the 5+ oxidation state for lanthanides.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIt was predicted but never seen until we found it,\u201d said La Pierre, corresponding author of the study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41557-025-01797-w\u0022\u003EPraseodymium in the Formal +5 Oxidation State\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d which was recently published in \u003Cem\u003ENature Chemistry\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u201cLanthanides\u2019 properties are really fantastic. We only use them commercially in one oxidation state \u2014 the 3+ oxidation state \u2014 which defines a set of magnetic and optical properties. If you can stabilize a higher oxidation state, it could lead to entirely new magnetic and optical properties.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EThe researchers\u2019 breakthrough will broaden the lanthanides\u2019 technical applications in fields such as rare-earth mining and quantum technology and could lead to new electronic device architectures and applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cResearch in lanthanides has already yielded significant dividends for society in terms of technological development,\u201d La Pierre added.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EThe researchers hope to discover new tools for mining critical REEs, including improving lanthanide separation and recycling processes. When mining these elements, lanthanide elements are frequently mixed together. The separation process is painstaking and inefficient, generating a significant amount of waste. But with increasing global demand for REEs, the U.S. faces a supply issue. Figuring out how to improve lanthanides separation, potentially through oxidation chemistry, will ultimately enhance the supply of these critical elements.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2014 Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFunding: This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew Oxidation State for a Rare Earth Element Could Advance Quantum and Electronic Devices\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New Oxidation State for a Rare Earth Element Could Advance Quantum and Electronic Devices "}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2025-06-24 14:06:30","changed_gmt":"2025-12-04 21:26:28","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677268":{"id":"677268","type":"image","title":"A diagram showing how the atoms are connected in the praseodymium compound (left); an image showing the most important electron interactions (right)","body":null,"created":"1750773245","gmt_created":"2025-06-24 13:54:05","changed":"1750773383","gmt_changed":"2025-06-24 13:56:23","alt":"A diagram showing how the atoms are connected in the praseodymium compound (left); a chart showing the most important electron interactions (right).","file":{"fid":"261151","name":"GT-Highlight-F1.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/24\/GT-Highlight-F1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/24\/GT-Highlight-F1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":930594,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/24\/GT-Highlight-F1.png?itok=ty_Q_pKW"}}},"media_ids":["677268"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:swundersmith3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EShelley Wunder-Smith\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Research Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["swundersmith3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684518":{"#nid":"684518","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cutting-edge Paper Artists Exhibit at Paper Museum ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew Exhibition Series Honors Decades of Creative Exploration\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EATLANTA, Georgia (August 25, 2025) -- \u003Cem\u003ELegacies in Paper: Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, \u0026amp; Helen Hiebert\u003C\/em\u003E is on view at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, September 4, 2025, through January 30, 2026. The exhibit brings together the work of three artists who have incorporated hand papermaking into their artistic practices for years. Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, and Helen Hiebert each describe a formative period of searching for versatile materials with the ability to take on the qualities required for two and three-dimensional work; could mimic textures of nature and the body; and could facilitate installation work of various scales. Individually, each artist found that the unique medium of hand papermaking could be transformed to encompass their visions, and it quickly became integral to their artwork.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EArmstrong, Cohen, and Hiebert build on the legacy of a community of artists pushing the craft of papermaking forward into contemporary forms. They bring unique voices to the medium: Hiebert\u2019s luminous constructions explore the interplay of light and structure; Cohen\u2019s sculptural works reflect ecological fragility and resilience; and Armstrong\u2019s immersive environments blur the boundaries between the organic and the engineered. Together, their works speak to the transformative potential of paper\u2014not only as a surface for expression but as a sculptural, spatial, and conceptual force. Through their hands, paper becomes a language of memory, a vessel of emotion, and a bridge between past and present.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin the museum staff and featured artists for a reception, 4-7 pm, Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 500 Tenth St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30332. This event is free and open to the public.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA full listing of associated programs can be found at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/paper.gatech.edu\/program-listing\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/paper.gatech.edu\/program-listing\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESara Garden Armstrong\u003C\/strong\u003E received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alabama and a Master of Art Education from UAB. A past recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation CALL (Creating a Living Legacy) project, Armstrong\u2019s national and international exhibition record extends over a period of more than 40 years. Her artist\u2019s books can be found in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, among others. Atrium commissions have focused on scientific phenomena and their interactions with the human condition. Armstrong currently lives and works in Birmingham, Alabama.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENancy Cohen\u003C\/strong\u003E has an M.F.A. from Columbia University and a B.F.A from Rochester Institute of Technology. Awards include a Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant, The Murry Reich Distinguished Artist Award and six fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Museum collections include the Asheville Art Museum, Memphis Brooks Museum, Montclair Museum, NJ State Museum, Smith College Museum, Tang Teaching Museum, Weatherspoon Art Gallery, Yale University Art Gallery and the Zimmerli Museum. Cohen has completed large scale paper installations for the Noyes Museum, the Katonah Museum, the Power Point Gallery at Duke University and New Jersey City University, The CODA Museum in the Netherlands and the NTCRI Museum of Craft Design in Taiwan. She lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHelen Hiebert\u003C\/strong\u003E is a Colorado artist who constructs installations, sculptures, films, artists\u2019 books and works in paper using handmade paper as her primary medium. She teaches, lectures and exhibits her work internationally and online, and is the author of several how-to books about papermaking and papercrafts. Helen has an extensive network of paper colleagues around the world and her interest in how things are made (from paper) keeps her up-to-date on current paper trends, which she writes about in her weekly blog called \u003Cem\u003EThe Sunday Paper\u003C\/em\u003E. She interviews papermakers and paper artists on her podcast \u003Cem\u003EPaper Talk\u003C\/em\u003E, and she holds an annual paper retreat and papermaking master classes in her Red Cliff studio.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ELegacies in Paper: Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, \u0026amp; Helen Hiebert\u003C\/em\u003E is on view at the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, September 4, 2025, through January 30, 2026. The exhibit brings together the work of three artists who have incorporated hand papermaking into their artistic practices for years. Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, and Helen Hiebert each describe a formative period of searching for versatile materials with the ability to take on the qualities required for two and three-dimensional work; could mimic textures of nature and the body; and could facilitate installation work of various scales. Individually, each artist found that the unique medium of hand papermaking could be transformed to encompass their visions, and it quickly became integral to their artwork.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Legacies in Paper showcases artwork by Nancy Cohen, Sara Garden Armstrong, and Helen Hiebert"}],"uid":"30829","created_gmt":"2025-09-06 17:41:12","changed_gmt":"2025-12-04 20:01:33","author":"Virginia Howell","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677937":{"id":"677937","type":"image","title":"RCW Legacies","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFire Balloon by Nancy Cohen\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1757180108","gmt_created":"2025-09-06 17:35:08","changed":"1757180321","gmt_changed":"2025-09-06 17:38:41","alt":"Abstract design in yellows, blue, orange and pink on a puckered blue and white background. ","file":{"fid":"261894","name":"Nancy-Cohen_Fire-Balloon_83x61in.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/06\/Nancy-Cohen_Fire-Balloon_83x61in.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/06\/Nancy-Cohen_Fire-Balloon_83x61in.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2100362,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/06\/Nancy-Cohen_Fire-Balloon_83x61in.jpg?itok=bjS4imvL"}}},"media_ids":["677937"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"42941","name":"Art Research"},{"id":"194568","name":"Arts and Performance"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42921","name":"Exhibitions"},{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"}],"keywords":[{"id":"168606","name":"Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking"},{"id":"168495","name":"art exhibition"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJerushia Graham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eoffice: 404-894-7821\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jerushia@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ejerushia@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerushia.graham@rbi.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678432":{"#nid":"678432","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI Initiative Lead Profile: Zhaohui (Julene) Tong","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/zhaohui-julene-tong\u0022\u003EZhaohui (Julene) Tong\u003C\/a\u003E is an associate professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and leads the waste valorization in food-energy-water initiative at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/rbi\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. Her research addresses challenges in the interdisciplinary fields of bioresource engineering and sustainable chemistry, focusing on developing innovative technologies for producing chemicals, materials, energy, and fuels from renewable resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETong\u2019s current research interests include functional biomaterials for a high-efficiency circular economy, platform chemicals and hydrocarbon fuels from renewable resources, sustainable process control and modeling, nano-biomaterial synthesis and self-assembly, and polymer degradation and recycling.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe earned her bachelor\u2019s degree in chemical engineering from Changsha University of Science and Technology in China and her doctoral degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research spans multiple disciplines, including materials, nanotechnology, energy, and sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBelow is a brief Q\u0026amp;A with Tong, where she discusses her research focus areas and how they contribute to maximizing the waste valorization in the food-energy-water initiative at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your field of expertise and at what point in your life did you first become interested in this area?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy expertise lies in sustainable materials and catalytical conversion, with a focus on transforming abundant and low-cost bioresources into functional biomaterials, biochemicals, and biofuels. Driven by a strong desire to conduct meaningful research, I aim to contribute to advancements in human health, food security, and environmental sustainability, addressing critical issues such as climate change, water scarcity, and the circular economy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat questions or challenges sparked your current renewable bioproducts research? What are the big issues facing your research area right now?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe current economy faces significant challenges, including depleting resources, expensive raw materials, energy-intensive processes, and severe environmental impacts. Research in renewable bioproducts is crucial for addressing these issues. However, renewable bioproducts are still not competitive with petroleum-based products. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to minimize energy and material input during the processing and maximize product value without compromising environmental health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat interests you the most in leading the research initiative on waste valorization in food-energy-water? Why is your initiative important to the development of Georgia Tech\u2019s Renewable Bioproducts research strategy?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI am interested in valorizing low-cost and underutilized biomass waste (lignocellulose, lignin, hemicellulose, etc.) into value-added functional products for applications in the food, water, and energy sectors, such as bio-based membranes for contaminant removal and detection. My initiative aims to build connections among multidisciplinary experts from chemical engineering, environmental engineering, agricultural engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and other fields. Polymer chemistry, nanotechnology, and data science all play roles in achieving our goal. My research topic aligns very well with RBI\u2019s central strategic research areas, including the development of a bioeconomy, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable development goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are the broader global and social benefits of the research you and your team conduct on waste valorization in food-energy-water \u0026nbsp;initiative?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe work on increasing the value of bio-based waste for bioproducts to provide clean water, improve food security, and minimize energy input. First, this promotes the efficient use of biomass resources and minimizes waste generation to form a circular economy. Second, it contributes to industrial decarbonization by providing alternative, renewable sources of energy and materials. Third, the utilization of bio-based waste supports several aspects of sustainable development by simultaneously addressing challenges such as waste variability, technological limitations, and economic viability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your plans for engaging a wider Georgia Tech faculty pool with the broader renewable bioproducts community?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI plan to leverage symposia from RBI and other sources, as well as existing sustainable centers like the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, social events, and established networks. Additionally, I will reach out to other faculty through collaborations on integrated proposals from RBI and external sources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your hobbies?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn my leisure time, I enjoy baking and cooking. I also enjoy traveling with my family.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWho has influenced you the most?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have been influenced by several of my professors during my undergraduate and graduate studies and my first department chair at the University of Florida. Their continuous encouragement and support have been instrumental in shaping my academic career in sustainable chemistry and engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/zhaohui-julene-tong\u0022\u003EZhaohui (Julene) Tong\u003C\/a\u003E is an associate professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech and leads the waste valorization in food-energy-water initiative at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/rbi\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;This is a brief Q\u0026amp;A with Tong, where she discusses her research focus areas and how they contribute to maximizing the waste valorization in the food-energy-water initiative at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Zhaohui (Julene) Tong is an associate professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech and leads the waste valorization in food-energy-water initiative at the Renewable Bioproducts Institute. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2024-11-13 22:07:44","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 05:19:01","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-11-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-11-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675633":{"id":"675633","type":"image","title":"julene tong2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Julene Tong, Associate Professor and RBI\u0027s Lead for the Waste Valorization in Food-Energy-Water Initiative \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1731535837","gmt_created":"2024-11-13 22:10:37","changed":"1731535837","gmt_changed":"2024-11-13 22:10:37","alt":"Portrait of Julene Tong, Associate Professor and RBI Initiative Lead","file":{"fid":"259278","name":"julene tong2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/julene%20tong2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/11\/13\/julene%20tong2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":450425,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/11\/13\/julene%20tong2.jpg?itok=A0o83ktc"}}},"media_ids":["675633"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENews Contact: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || RBI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681492":{"#nid":"681492","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Beril Toktay to Lead Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFollowing a nationwide search, Julia Kubanek, vice president for Interdisciplinary Research at Georgia Tech, has named \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/beril-toktay\u0022\u003EBeril Toktay\u003C\/a\u003E as the executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainable.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems\u003C\/a\u003E (BBISS). Toktay has served as BBISS interim executive director since September 2022.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs interim executive director, Beril has built the BBISS community, broadened its scope, and developed new programming to grow cross-disciplinary collaboration, community-engaged research, and entrepreneurship,\u201d Kubanek said. \u201cFaculty and students from the liberal arts, social sciences, design, business, computing, and fundamental science are engaging with BBISS in greater numbers, complementing our engineering community\u2019s involvement. These are areas of strength at Georgia Tech that will help amplify the impact of BBISS.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToktay is professor of operations management, the Brady Family Chair, and Regents\u0027 Professor at the Scheller College of Business. She is an internationally recognized sustainable operations management scholar whose work has been recognized with multiple best paper awards. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the INFORMS Manufacturing \u0026amp; Service Operations Management (MSOM)Society. Through initiatives such as the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.drawdownga.org\/initiative\/drawdown-georgia-business-compact\/\u0022\u003EDrawdown Georgia Business Compact\u003C\/a\u003E, she has helped translate research insights into actionable business initiatives while fostering regional economic development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer academic leadership includes serving as department co-editor for \u201cHealth, Environment, and Society\u201d for \u003Cem\u003EMSOM\u003C\/em\u003E, area editor for \u201cEnvironment, Energy, and Sustainability\u201d at \u003Cem\u003EOperations Research\u003C\/em\u003E, and special issue co-editor on \u201cBusiness and Climate Change\u201d for \u003Cem\u003EManagement Science,\u003C\/em\u003E as well as\u003Cem\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u201cEnvironment\u201d for \u003Cem\u003EMSOM.\u003C\/em\u003E She serves on the board of the Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability and the board of directors of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nyclimateexchange.org\/\u0022\u003ENew York Climate Exchange\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToktay has been instrumental in advancing sustainability at Georgia Tech, serving as founding faculty director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022\u003ERay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/a\u003E, co-architect of the Serve-Learn-Sustain initiative, and co-chair of the Sustainability Next Institute Strategic Plan Implementation Task Force. Her commitment to Ph.D. student success earned her the 2018 Georgia Tech Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Advisor Award. She also co-developed the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.carbonreductionchallenge.org\/\u0022\u003ECarbon Reduction Challenge\u003C\/a\u003E, an award-winning interdisciplinary, co-curricular program that engages undergraduate students in climate intrapreneurship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToktay holds a Ph.D. in operations research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an M.S. in industrial engineering from Purdue University, and a B.S. in industrial engineering and mathematics from Bo\u011fazi\u00e7i University. She joined Georgia Tech in 2005 after serving as faculty at INSEAD business school in Fontainebleau, France.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince assuming the interim role, Toktay has significantly strengthened BBISS by expanding the faculty leadership team, securing additional funding, establishing seed grant programs that have benefited over 100 researchers across all Colleges, and transforming the Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain into the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Sustainable Communities Research and Education\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Energy and sustainability continue to be top Georgia Tech research priorities, for which we will need new funding strategies,\u0022 said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research. \u0022Philanthropy and business partnerships will grow in importance in the coming years. Beril has considerable experience and vision for maximizing these partnerships, which will serve BBISS and the Institute well into the future.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems is one of Georgia Tech\u2019s interdisciplinary research institutes. The vision of BBISS is to grow and mobilize Georgia Tech\u2019s knowledge assets \u2014 people and research \u2014 to create a sustainable future for all. BBISS is a key partner in the implementation of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainabilitynext-plan#:~:text=Connecting%20Georgia%20Tech\u0026amp;apos;s%20education%2C%20research,United%20Nations%20Sustainable%20Development%20Goals.%E2%80%9D\u0022\u003ESustainability Next 2023-2030 Strategic Plan\u003C\/a\u003E, a consensus road map to advance Georgia Tech\u2019s vision to address the biggest local, national, and global challenges of our time. BBISS relentlessly serves the public good, catalyzes high-impact research, develops exceptional leaders, and cultivates partnerships that translate knowledge into practice.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I\u0027m honored to lead BBISS and build on the momentum we\u0027ve created to date,\u201d Toktay said. \u201cOur vision is to maximize the collective impact of Georgia Tech\u0027s remarkable sustainability research community across all colleges and disciplines. By catalyzing collaborative research and connecting our faculty with key external partners and communities, we are positioning Georgia Tech to be a global thought leader in sustainability and to drive meaningful solutions to some of our most pressing environmental and social challenges.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe campus community is invited to a reception celebrating Toktay\u0027s appointment on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. at the Collective Food Hall in the Coda building. Contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:susan.ryan@sustain.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESusan Ryan\u003C\/a\u003E for details.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFollowing a nationwide search, Julia Kubanek, vice president for Interdisciplinary Research at Georgia Tech, has named \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/beril-toktay\u0022\u003EBeril Toktay\u003C\/a\u003E as the executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainable.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems\u003C\/a\u003E (BBISS). Toktay has served as BBISS interim executive director since September 2022.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The interdisciplinary research institute is poised for growth and innovation with Beril Toktay as executive director."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2025-04-01 14:56:54","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 05:09:52","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675104":{"id":"675104","type":"image","title":"Beril Toktay video","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBeril Toktay\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1727280819","gmt_created":"2024-09-25 16:13:39","changed":"1727280998","gmt_changed":"2024-09-25 16:16:38","alt":"Beril Toktay","file":{"fid":"258697","name":"beril-toktay-sbi2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/25\/beril-toktay-sbi2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/25\/beril-toktay-sbi2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":110803,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/25\/beril-toktay-sbi2.jpg?itok=FcMSVQF4"}}},"media_ids":["675104"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"87921","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"2813","name":"Beril Toktay"},{"id":"193980","name":"Executive Director Search"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682403":{"#nid":"682403","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How the US Can Mine Its Own Critical Minerals \u2014 Without Digging New Holes","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEvery time you use your phone, open your computer or listen to your favorite music on AirPods, you are relying on critical minerals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese materials are the tiny building blocks powering modern life. From lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite in batteries to gallium in telecommunication systems that enable constant connectivity, critical minerals act as the essential vitamins of modern technology: small in volume but vital to function.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYet the U.S. depends heavily on imports \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3133\/mcs2025\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Efor most critical materials\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. In 2024 the U.S. imported 80% of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/theconversation.com\/what-are-rare-earths-crucial-elements-in-modern-technology-4-questions-answered-101364\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Erare earth elements\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E it used, 100% of gallium and natural graphite, and 48% to 76% of lithium, nickel and cobalt, to name a few.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/06\/how-us-can-mine-its-own-critical-minerals-without-digging-new-holes\u0022\u003ERead more \u00bb\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEvery time you use your phone, open your computer or listen to your favorite music on AirPods, you are relying on critical minerals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese materials are the tiny building blocks powering modern life. From lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite in batteries to gallium in telecommunication systems that enable constant connectivity, critical minerals act as the essential vitamins of modern technology: small in volume but vital to function.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Every time you use your phone, open your computer or listen to your favorite music on AirPods, you are relying on critical minerals."}],"uid":"27255","created_gmt":"2025-05-14 23:05:27","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 05:07:50","author":"Josie Giles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-06T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-06T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677075":{"id":"677075","type":"image","title":"earth-oxides.jpg","body":null,"created":"1747263943","gmt_created":"2025-05-14 23:05:43","changed":"1747263943","gmt_changed":"2025-05-14 23:05:43","alt":"Piles of rare earth oxides praseodymium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium and gadolinium. Peggy Greb\/USDA-ARS","file":{"fid":"260939","name":"earth-oxides.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/14\/earth-oxides.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/14\/earth-oxides.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":248936,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/14\/earth-oxides.jpg?itok=K3NXnrHM"}}},"media_ids":["677075"],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682651":{"#nid":"682651","#data":{"type":"news","title":"RBI\u2019s Annual Workshop Fosters Collaboration, Innovation for Pulp and Paper Manufacturing","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rbi\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rbi\/2025-spring-workshop\u0022\u003E2025 Spring Workshop\u003C\/a\u003E, held May 12\u201313, brought together leading researchers, industry professionals and students to explore innovations in pulp and paper manufacturing. Hosted at the Kendeda Building and the Paper Tricentennial Building, the event opened with remarks from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/j-carson-meredith\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, RBI executive director, and featured presentations on energy and resource efficiency, carbon accounting and competitiveness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHighlights included talks on membrane separations, electrochemical processing and low-carbon fuels, with contributions from experts such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/chris-luettgen\u0022\u003EChris Luettgen\u003C\/a\u003E, Jose Gonzalez,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sankar-nair\u0022\u003ESankar Nair\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/hatzell\u0022\u003EMarta Hatzell\u003C\/a\u003E and Dave Beck.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInsights from the 2025 RBI Spring Workshop\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERevolutionizing Kraft Pulping with Graphene Oxide Membranes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s rGO membrane technology is transforming the kraft pulping process. These membranes enable efficient black liquor dewatering, organic acid recovery and lignin fractionation\u2014leading to significant energy savings, water recycling and new revenue streams from bioproducts.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENorth America\u2019s Dual Challenge: High Emissions, High Opportunity\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile North America remains a pulp and paper powerhouse (15% of global capacity), it also has one of the highest carbon intensities. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity to lead in emissions reduction through asset renewal and innovation.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBiogenic CO\u2082: From Emission to Asset\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EKraft pulp mills emit large volumes of biogenic CO\u2082\u2014an untapped resource. With carbon capture and utilization (CCUS), mills could generate up to $300 million annually in carbon removal credits, turning emissions into economic value.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIntegrated Biorefineries: The Future of Pulp Mills\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe vision for pulp mills is evolving\u2014from single-product facilities to multi-product biorefineries. Innovations like lignin-based materials, organic acid conversion to biofuels and advanced nanofiltration are paving the way for circular use of carbon in manufacturing.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDecarbonization Is a Strategic Imperative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWith increasing regulatory and consumer pressure, especially from global brands targeting Scope 3 emissions, pulp and paper producers must act. Embracing technologies like rGO membranes and CCUS is not just sustainable\u2014it\u2019s essential for competitiveness.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EElectrochemical Carbon Capture and Conversion for On-Site Fuel Production\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/hatzell\u0022\u003EHatzell\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s lab is pioneering the use of bipolar membrane (BPM) electrolysis to convert captured carbon (from bicarbonate solutions) into valuable fuels like CO and H\u2082. This approach enables:\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E100% carbon utilization with more than 70% Faradaic efficiency for CO production.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIntegration with pulp and paper processes to valorize CO\u2082 emissions instead of storing them.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse of acid-stable single-atom nickel catalysts to improve selectivity and efficiency.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe PAPER-ZERO Initiative\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThis initiative explores transformative pathways to decarbonize the pulp and paper industry by:\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEvaluating scenarios that eliminate combustion of black liquor and waste wood.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EInvestigating renewable energy integration and alternative uses for black liquor.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAssessing the cost, energy and environmental trade-offs of emerging technologies.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop also featured a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-05\/RBI%20Fellows%20Poster%20Session%20May%2012%202025.pdf\u0022\u003Estudent poster session\u003C\/a\u003E, networking opportunities and updates on APPTI collaborative projects. The event concluded with a meeting of the RBI Industry Advisory Board, reinforcing the institute\u2019s role as a hub for partnership and innovation in renewable bioproducts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re grateful to our industry member partners for sharing their time and expertise,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/belinda-vogel\u0022\u003EBelinda Vogel,\u003C\/a\u003E research engagement manager. \u201cThe advisory board meeting highlighted how essential collaboration is in advancing basic science and renewable bioproduct manufacturing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rbi\u0022\u003ERenewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rbi\/2025-spring-workshop\u0022\u003E2025 Spring Workshop\u003C\/a\u003E, held May 12\u201313, brought together leading researchers, industry professionals and students to explore innovations in pulp and paper manufacturing. Hosted at the Kendeda Building and the Paper Tricentennial Building, the event opened with remarks from\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/j-carson-meredith\u0022\u003ECarson Meredith\u003C\/a\u003E, RBI executive director, and featured presentations on energy and resource efficiency, carbon accounting and competitiveness.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers and Industry Partner for Efficiency"}],"uid":"36695","created_gmt":"2025-06-04 16:11:16","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 04:53:42","author":"jmartin482","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"372221","name":"Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"},{"id":"2106","name":"Paper"},{"id":"130851","name":"paper and pulp"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["jennifer.martin@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"685583":{"#nid":"685583","#data":{"type":"news","title":"BBISS Announces 2025 Sustainability Next Seed Grant Recipients","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2025 round of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainability-next-plan\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Research Seed Grants has been awarded to 17 transdisciplinary research teams representing a vibrant network of 51 collaborators from across Georgia Tech. These teams span 21 unique units from six of the seven Colleges, including Schools, research centers, and Interdisciplinary Research Institutes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe seed grant program, administered by the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), reaches many faculty members from a diverse array of disciplines due to the generous support provided by broad-based partnerships in addition to the Sustainability Next funds. This year\u2019s partners are\u0026nbsp;the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/provost.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-arts-initiative-four-years-later\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Arts Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainable.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBBISS\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWalter H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Civil and Environmental Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/design.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Design\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of City and Regional Planning\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scs.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Computer Science\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022\u003ERay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and Systems\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for People and Technology\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/robotics\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstitute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for Sustainable Communities Research and Education\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe goal of the program is to nurture promising research areas for future large-scale collaborative sustainability research, research translation, and\/or high-impact outreach; to provide mid-career faculty with leadership and community-building opportunities; and to broaden and strengthen the Georgia Tech sustainability community as a whole. The call for proposals was modeled after the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/seed-grant-funding-teams-grants\u0022\u003EMoving Teams Forward and Forming Teams programs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking ahead, BBISS will support and nurture these projects in collaboration with the relevant funding partners. Beginning in October, BBISS will host a series of focused workshops designed to foster collaboration and provide additional support to help advance these initiatives. Projects have been grouped into five thematic clusters, each of which will be the focus of an upcoming workshop:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECircularity Programs\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAdaptation to the Changing Environment\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECommunity Engagement and Education\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClimate Science and Solutions\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnvironmental and Health Impacts\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBBISS faculty fellows, past seed grant recipients, and other interested Georgia Tech faculty are invited to participate. If you are interested in participating in the workshops, please email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristin.janacek@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ekristin.janacek@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bbiss-seed-grant-workshop-circularity\u0022\u003Efirst session on Circularity Programs\u003C\/a\u003E is Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. in the Peachtree Room (3rd floor) of the John Lewis Student Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe 2025 Sustainability Next Seed Grant awards are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EForming Teams:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDeveloping a Sustainable and Ethical Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Workforce for the Future Through Cross-Sector Partnerships. Principal Investigators (PI): \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/joe-f-bozeman-iii\u0022\u003EJoe Bozeman\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-hirsch\u0022\u003EJennifer Hirsch\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUnlocking Circularity at Scale: Platform-Based Solutions for Advancing Material Reuse and Supply Chain Resilience. Principal Investigator: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/ceccagnoli\/index.html\u0022\u003EMarco Ceccagnoli\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-realff\u0022\u003EMatthew Realff\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/patricia-stathatou\u0022\u003EPatricia Stathatou\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/christos-e-athanasiou\u0022\u003EChristos Athanasiou\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOpenGUARD: Geospatial Utility Aggregations with Robust Differential Privacy. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/people\/patrick-kastner\u0022\u003EPatrick Kastner\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/juba-ziani\u0022\u003EJuba Ziani\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERegenerative Framework: A Transdisciplinary Model for Urban Climate Resilience and Soil Health. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/jenny-mcguire\u0022\u003EJenny McGuire\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGuiding Transportation With Community Action Through Research, Education, and Service (GT-CARES). PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/rounaq-basu\u0022\u003ERounaq Basu\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/ruthie-yow\u0022\u003ERuthie Yow\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sofia-perez-guzman\u0022\u003E Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ctl.gatech.edu\/rebecca-watts-hull-phd\/\u0022\u003ERebecca Watts Hull\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECo-optimizing Design and Coordination for Sustainable Multi-Robot Construction. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/edvard-pg-bruun\u0022\u003EEdvard Bruun\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/harish-ravichandar\u0022\u003EHarish Ravichanda\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECampus as Material Ecology: Building Transdisciplinary Circular Systems for Plastic Tracking, Transformation, and Community Engagement. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/people\/hyojin-kwon\u0022\u003EHyojin Kwon\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/michael-best\u0022\u003EMichael Best\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/russ-clark\u0022\u003ERuss Clark\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/tim-trent\u0022\u003ETim Trent\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/meisha-shofner\u0022\u003EMeisha Shofner\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESonifying Climate Infrastructures: Community Outreach and Education With Shade Synthesizer. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/624a4663-6439-585b-8bb0-3633dbbf089f\u0022\u003EHeidi Biggs\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/clint-zeagler\u0022\u003EClint Zeagler\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/music.gatech.edu\/people\/alexandria-smith\u0022\u003EAlexandria Smith\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBuilding a Georgia Tech Research Partnership for Community-Based Food System Resilience. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/johannes-milz\u0022\u003EJohannes Milz\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/xin-chen\u0022\u003EXin Chen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/ingeborg-rocker\u0022\u003EInge Rocker\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/sofia-perez-guzman\u0022\u003E Sof\u00eda P\u00e9rez-Guzm\u00e1n\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoving Teams Forward:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAre Data Centers the New Landfills? Social, Economic, and Environmental Tradeoffs. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/allen-hyde\u0022\u003EAllen Hyde\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/josiah-hester\u0022\u003EJosiah Hester\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ic.gatech.edu\/people\/cindy-kaiying-lin\u0022\u003ECindy Lin\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nicole-kennard\u0022\u003ENicole Kennard\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/joe-f-bozeman-iii\u0022\u003EJoe Bozeman\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/people\/elora-lee-raymond\u0022\u003EElora Raymond\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/anthony-harding\u0022\u003ETony Harding\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/jung-ho-lewe\u0022\u003EJung-Ho Lewe\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGame-Based Learning in Energy Systems: A Rigorous Evaluation of Current Crisis. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/jessica-roberts\u0022\u003EJessica Roberts\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/dan-molzahn\u0022\u003EDaniel Molzahn\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStrategic Application of Antibiotic-Independent Therapy to Treat Coral Disease Outbreaks. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/lauren%20speare\u0022\u003ELauren Speare\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAdvancing Water Reuse Through Research, Education, and Community Partnerships in Atlanta, Georgia. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/katherine-graham\u0022\u003EKatherine Graham\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ctl.gatech.edu\/amanda-nolen-ph-d\/\u0022\u003EAmanda Nolen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/yeqingkong\u0022\u003EYeqing Kong\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAssessing the Accuracy and Reliability of Low-Cost Particulate Matter (PM) Sensors Across Diverse Ambient Environments. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nga-lee-sally-ng\u0022\u003ENga Lee (Sally) Ng\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/armistead-russell\u0022\u003ETed Russell\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EDeveloping a Georgia Community Center Into a Sustainability Hub. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/ashutosh-dhekne\u0022\u003EAshutosh Dhekne\u003C\/a\u003E, Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/umakishore-ramachandran\u0022\u003EUmakishore Ramachandran\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/danielle-willkens\u0022\u003EDanielle Willkens\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/ruthie-yow\u0022\u003ERuthie Yow\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhat, When, Where of Air Pollution: PM2.5 and How It Impacts Health. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/shuichi-takayama\u0022\u003EShuichi Takayama\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/nga-lee-sally-ng\u0022\u003ENga Lee (Sally) Ng\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EEnabling Communities to Baseline the Performance of Energy Systems. PI: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/jung-ho-lewe\u0022\u003EJung-Ho Lewe\u003C\/a\u003E. Co-PIs: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/scott-duncan\u0022\u003EScott Duncan\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/david-solano-sarmiento\u0022\u003EDavid Solano Sarmiento\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/danielle-willkens\u0022\u003EDanielle Willkens\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scre.research.gatech.edu\/anna-tinoco-santiago\u0022\u003EAnna Tinoco-Santiago\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis round of funding was highly competitive, with 45 proposals submitted. BBISS extends its gratitude to all the individuals and groups who applied, as well as to the faculty and staff who contributed their time and expertise to evaluate the proposals.\u0026nbsp;Their thoughtful input was essential to achieving a fair and collaborative selection process, ensuring that the awarded proposals align strongly with the BBISS\u2019 strategy and show promise for long-term impact and future research opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to BBISS Executive Director Beril Toktay, and Brady Family Chair in Management, \u201cThe high level of participation demonstrates the enduring commitment to sustainability research and engagement by the Georgia Tech community. BBISS honors this commitment by looking for collaboration opportunities with all who are driving sustainability efforts at Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe 2025 round of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainability-next-plan\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Research Seed Grants has been awarded to 17 transdisciplinary research teams representing a vibrant network of 51 collaborators from across Georgia Tech. These teams span 21 unique units from six of the seven Colleges, including Schools, research centers, and Interdisciplinary Research Institutes.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The seed grant program reaches many faculty members from a diverse array of disciplines due to the generous support provided by broad-based partnerships in addition to the Sustainability Next funds."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2025-10-07 19:51:05","changed_gmt":"2025-12-02 04:32:49","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"671777":{"id":"671777","type":"image","title":"Sustainability Next Plan document","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECover of the Sustainability Next Plan\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1695304278","gmt_created":"2023-09-21 13:51:18","changed":"1695304423","gmt_changed":"2023-09-21 13:53:43","alt":"cover of the 2023-2030 Sustainability Next Plan","file":{"fid":"254901","name":"1695303836419-983e452a-cef1-4503-8103-5a098471d512_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/21\/1695303836419-983e452a-cef1-4503-8103-5a098471d512_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/21\/1695303836419-983e452a-cef1-4503-8103-5a098471d512_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":183429,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/09\/21\/1695303836419-983e452a-cef1-4503-8103-5a098471d512_1.jpg?itok=K6f7VHG1"}}},"media_ids":["671777"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"188020","name":"go-rbi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"},{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686604":{"#nid":"686604","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Clean, Old-Fashioned Collaboration: Engineering the Future of Healthcare at Georgia Tech and UGA","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve lived in Georgia long enough, you\u2019ve almost certainly heard the friendly jabs tossed across divided Thanksgiving tables. On one side, a smirk and a mention of the \u201cNorth Avenue Trade School.\u201d On the other, a pointed retort: \u201cTo hell with Georgia.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFew rivalries run deeper than the one known as \u201cClean, Old-Fashioned Hate,\u201d the annual showdown between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia (UGA). On Friday afternoon, November 28, the two will face off in one of the most anticipated matchups in years. These teams don\u2019t like each other, and for a few hours every year, neither do friends, families, and even significant others.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOff the field, however, the schools are proving that collaboration, not competition, is the schools\u2019 true strength.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor more than a century, Georgia\u2019s flagship universities have united around complementary strengths, tackling the state\u2019s biggest challenges together. That starts with making Georgians healthier.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWhen Georgia Tech and UGA combine their strengths, together we create solutions that neither institution could achieve alone,\u201d said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for Research at Georgia Tech. \u201cThese collaborations accelerate innovation in healthcare, improve lives across our state, and demonstrate that partnership \u2014 not rivalry \u2014 is Georgia\u2019s most powerful tradition.\u0022\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThe common denominator between these two great institutions is the populations they serve,\u201d said Chris King, interim vice president for Research at UGA. \u201cWe have a duty to find solutions that help improve the quality of life for all Georgians, and that\u2019s what these partnerships are all about.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFrom programs like the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA) to the National Science Foundation\u2019s Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT), researchers at UGA and Georgia Tech are setting rivalries aside to build lasting partnerships that fuel innovation and expand the workforce to meet the state\u2019s needs.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPushing Cell Therapy Across the Goal Line\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECMaT is an NSF-funded consortium of more than seven universities and 40 member companies. At Georgia Tech and UGA, teams are conducting many early stage translational projects to improve manufacturing of cell-based therapeutics.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne joint project between Andr\u00e9s Garc\u00eda, executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering \u0026amp; Bioscience, and John Peroni, the Dr. Steeve Giguere Memorial Professor in Large Animal Medicine in UGA\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine, addresses treatment of bacterial infections that can follow bone repair surgeries.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EBone fractures and non-union defects often require surgical implants, but 1-5% are compromised by bacterial infection, costing hospitals more than $1.9 billion annually. Current treatments are limited to sustained, high doses of antibiotics, which are less effective and can generate antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Garc\u00eda and Peroni are engineering synthetic biomaterials that locally deliver antimicrobial agents to eliminate infections and promote bone repair.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESteven Stice, D.W. Brooks Distinguished Professor and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar at UGA\u2019s Regenerative Bioscience Center, is also working with Georgia Tech\u2019s Andrei Fedorov, professor and Rae S. and Frank H. Neely Chair in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, to improve the quality and control of producing natural, cell-derived healing materials for regenerative medicine.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdult cells secrete tiny, bubble-like vesicles that help other cells heal and regenerate tissue. Stice developed methods to boost vesicle production, while Fedorov created a probe that accelerates the process.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cCells simply don\u2019t secrete these healing vesicles in the quantities needed for scalable, clinical-grade treatments,\u201d said Stice, UGA lead and co-principal investigator for CMaT. \u201cOur collaborative work changes that, accelerating production in a way that finally makes large-scale regenerative therapies feasible.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech and UGA\u0027s collective commitment to advancing science and technology exceeds the intensity of our athletic rivalry,\u201d Fedorov said. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re advancing cell and therapy biomanufacturing to develop lifesaving treatments for the most devastating diseases.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Francisco Robles and UGA\u2019s Lohitash Karumbaiah are using manufactured T cells to target cancer. Robles, who leads the Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Lab in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, developed quantitative Oblique Back-illumination Microscopy (qOBM) to monitor tumor growth in real time. The method allows scientists to visualize patient-derived glioblastoma cell clusters generated in the Karumbaiah Lab, tracking tumor structure and behavior at various stages.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cAssessing therapeutic potency is often complex, costly, and ineffective for solid tumors,\u201d Karumbaiah said. \u201cqOBM simplifies the process by providing real-time, label-free monitoring of therapeutic efficacy against 3D solid tumors.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe work could help doctors personalize cancer treatments by providing early, detailed signs of whether a therapy is working.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThis technique is more compact and affordable and lets us watch T cells attack cell cultures in real time,\u201d Robles said. \u201cThis breakthrough could transform how we study disease and screen new treatments.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Playbook for Local Healthcare\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECreated in 2007 by the National Institutes of Health, Georgia CTSA is one of several NIH-funded national partnerships advancing new health therapeutics and practices. Since 2017, it has comprised UGA, Georgia Tech, Emory, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. The alliance\u2019s reach extends far beyond campus borders, bringing together researchers, clinicians, professional societies, and community and industry partners to identify local health challenges and translate research into practical solutions.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAnd out of this alliance have come many collaborative studies among CTSA\u2019s members.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EOne, the Georgia Health Landscape Dashboard, is a tool to identify local health gaps and connect regional health professionals or policymakers with the researchers who can best address their community\u2019s challenges. UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences Associate Professors Alison Berg and Dee Warmath, along with community health engagement coordinator Courtney Still Brown, are working with Georgia Tech\u2019s Jon Duke, director of the Center for Health Analytics and Informatics at the Georgia Tech Research Institute and a principal research scientist in the School of Interactive Computing.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe dashboard has already helped match researchers with communities by combining epidemiological data with \u201ccommunity voice\u201d insights through surveys of residents and local leaders.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFor example, when examining diabetes data, the dashboard indicates Randolph County has the state\u2019s highest prevalence, despite declining by about 8% between 2021-24. Meanwhile, Treutlen County\u2019s rate increased 29.2% during the same period. Perhaps Treutlen\u2019s need for diabetic care is a growing concern, while Randolph\u2019s is being addressed. And perhaps Hancock County, which ranks diabetes its top priority in the community voice category, is in search of immediate solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe Landscape Dashboard is a fantastic example of how the unique expertise found at Georgia Tech and UGA can be brought together to create something truly valuable for all Georgia,\u201d Duke said. \u201cBy bringing together a range of data sources and health analytics approaches, this collaboration has created a tool that delivers novel insights into health, community, and policy across the state.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESupported by UGA Cooperative Extension and the Biomedical and Translational Sciences Institute, the project leverages a network of agents in every county across the state. Warmath said the project\u2019s strength lies in its ability to connect research with real-world needs.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cTo build a community-responsive ecosystem for biomedical research, scientists must recognize local needs, share progress with communities to foster trust and acceptance, recruit clinicians and industry partners, and strengthen the relationships between patient and caregiver,\u201d Warmath said.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETeaming Up for Maternal Health\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWarmath and a team of researchers at UGA, Georgia Tech, and Emory are also collaborating on an NIH-funded project uniting experts in maternal health, biostatistics, and consumer science to explore how wearable technologies could improve delivery-room care.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDuring childbirth, clinicians monitor countless maternal and fetal vitals \u2014 contractions, heart rates, oxygen levels, kidney function, and more. What new insights, the researchers asked, could advanced wearable technologies offer in the delivery room, and what barriers might prevent their use?\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EUsing nationwide surveys and focus groups, the team gathered information from a representative sample of pregnant, postpartum, and reproductive-age women, as well as healthcare professionals, to examine acceptance of wearable health technologies during labor and delivery. In their analysis of this rich data source, the team is identifying key variables that reveal gaps in technology acceptance and the unique needs of diverse maternal populations.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EEach partner institution brings unique expertise. At Emory, principal investigator Suchitra Chandrasekaran contributes clinical insights from direct patient care. At UGA, Warmath applies her knowledge in consumer science to analyze end-user motivation, attitudes, and behaviors. At Georgia Tech, experts like Sarah Farmer in the Center for Advanced Communications Policy\u2019s Home Lab facilitate large-scale data collection.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWith data collection now complete, the team is analyzing results to inform future design and deployment of wearable technologies.\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cEach school has a different perspective,\u201d Farmer said. \u201cIt\u2019s not as simple as one school does this but doesn\u2019t do that. Each has their expertise, but they offer different perspectives and different resources that, when pooled, can make our research that much more effective.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhether advancing maternal health, mapping Georgia\u2019s health needs, or engineering next-generation therapies, UGA and Georgia Tech continue to prove that collaboration is Georgia\u2019s strongest tradition. Further, the undergraduate and graduate students who work in these labs and others represent the state\u2019s highly skilled workforce of tomorrow.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cWhen our institutions work together, Georgia wins,\u201d Warmath said.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u2014 \u003Cem\u003EBy David Mitchell\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and UGA are teaming up to tackle big health challenges, from cancer and bone repair to maternal care and community health. By combining their strengths, these schools are turning research into real-world solutions that make life better for Georgians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"By uniting expertise and resources, Georgia\u2019s leading institutions are creating practical solutions to improve health outcomes across the state."}],"uid":"28766","created_gmt":"2025-11-24 15:25:22","changed_gmt":"2025-11-24 19:33:14","author":"Shelley Wunder-Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678711":{"id":"678711","type":"image","title":"Tim Lieuwen and Chris King","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETim Lieuwen and Chris King\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763994958","gmt_created":"2025-11-24 14:35:58","changed":"1763999939","gmt_changed":"2025-11-24 15:58:59","alt":"A tall white man wearing a blue GT-branded polo standing next to a slightly shorter man wearing a UGA-branded red polo. They\u0027re smiling and both holding a football.","file":{"fid":"262778","name":"26-R10410-P61-003.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/26-R10410-P61-003.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/26-R10410-P61-003.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1760052,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/24\/26-R10410-P61-003.jpg?itok=mtg-lhnt"}},"678706":{"id":"678706","type":"image","title":"Andres Garcia","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763993719","gmt_created":"2025-11-24 14:15:19","changed":"1763999973","gmt_changed":"2025-11-24 15:59:33","alt":"A man in a white lab coat and glasses, with a gold tie","file":{"fid":"262772","name":"andres-garcia.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/andres-garcia_1.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/andres-garcia_1.png","mime":"image\/png","size":56117,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/24\/andres-garcia_1.png?itok=xiBVwOz6"}},"678707":{"id":"678707","type":"image","title":"John Peroni","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Peroni\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763993920","gmt_created":"2025-11-24 14:18:40","changed":"1763999994","gmt_changed":"2025-11-24 15:59:54","alt":"A man wearing teal surgical cloges and a green scrubs top, next to a light brown horse","file":{"fid":"262773","name":"JohnP24.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/JohnP24.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/JohnP24.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":148787,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/24\/JohnP24.jpg?itok=AO_9L5fk"}},"678709":{"id":"678709","type":"image","title":"The Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe developed to monitor the health of living cell cultures (photo credit: Rob Felt)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe developed to monitor the health of living cell cultures (photo credit: Rob Felt)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763994556","gmt_created":"2025-11-24 14:29:16","changed":"1764000017","gmt_changed":"2025-11-24 16:00:17","alt":"The Dynamic Mass Spectrometry Probe developed to monitor the health of living cell cultures (photo credit: Rob Felt)","file":{"fid":"262776","name":"cell-quality-control-012.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/cell-quality-control-012_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/cell-quality-control-012_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":287024,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/24\/cell-quality-control-012_0.jpg?itok=eeMa9kOC"}},"678710":{"id":"678710","type":"image","title":"Sarah Farmer","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESarah Farmer\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1763994685","gmt_created":"2025-11-24 14:31:25","changed":"1764000040","gmt_changed":"2025-11-24 16:00:40","alt":"A smiling woman with long brown hair, wearing a black t-shirt and a floral cardigan","file":{"fid":"262777","name":"Sarah-Farmer.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/Sarah-Farmer.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/24\/Sarah-Farmer.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":22508,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/24\/Sarah-Farmer.jpeg?itok=zrlUSoPs"}}},"media_ids":["678711","678706","678707","678709","678710"],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"140","name":"Cancer Research"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor media inquiries:\u003Cbr\u003EAngela Bajaras Prendiville\u003Cbr\u003EDirector of Media Relations\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:media@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Emedia@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686553":{"#nid":"686553","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Energy Management Course Aims to Keep Georgia SMEs Competitive","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERay\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (Center), in partnership with Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Executive Education and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Georgia Tech, is launching an Energy Management and Reporting course designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The course has been developed in response to a growing challenge: Large corporations increasingly need their suppliers to track and report energy and emissions data, yet many SMEs lack the resources and expertise to do so.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/acsb-new-energy-management-course.html\u0022\u003ERead more on the Scheller College of Business Newspage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe free Energy Management and Reporting course, funded by GEFA, will help SMEs stay competitive through improved energy efficiency, cost savings, and the capacity to meet emerging reporting requirements.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business, in partnership with Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Executive Education and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, is launching an Energy Management and Reporting course."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2025-11-20 15:55:52","changed_gmt":"2025-11-20 15:55:52","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/acsb-new-energy-management-course.html","title":"Read Story on Scheller Newspage"}],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Eacsb@scheller.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}