While adoption varies across healthcare systems, Georgia Tech researchers say AI is becoming increasingly integrated into medicine. At the same time, questions about privacy, trust, equity, and human oversight remain central to how the technology will be used in the years ahead. 

“Medicine has clearly embraced the human-AI fusion approach,” said Jon Duke, director of the Center for Health Analytics & Informatics at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. “The use of AI is encouraged, but reliance on AI is not.” 

From Clinical Workflows to Decision Support 

Many of healthcare's earliest AI applications focused on reducing administrative burdens. Today, researchers say the technology is increasingly helping clinicians access and interpret information. 

Duke points to the growing use of clinical AI tools such as OpenEvidence, which provide healthcare professionals with AI-generated, source-backed answers to medical questions. 

“AI is moving beyond administrative tasks and beginning to play a meaningful role in clinical decision support,” Duke said. 

Within electronic health records, AI is being used to generate clinical notes from patient-provider conversations and summarize complex patient charts. While healthcare systems have moved most quickly on efficiency-focused applications, Duke said AI is steadily becoming part of everyday clinical practice. 

Still, he believes human oversight will remain essential. 

“One of the biggest long-term questions is whether physicians trained alongside AI will develop the same level of independent clinical judgment as previous generations,” he said. 

Expanding Access Beyond the Doctor's Office 

Researchers also see AI creating new opportunities outside hospitals and clinics. 

Munmun De Choudhury, professor in the School of Interactive Computing, said AI is helping public health systems identify emerging mental health concerns by analyzing digital and clinical data. 

“AI is enabling public health systems to move from reactive to more proactive approaches by identifying emerging mental health concerns from diverse digital and clinical data sources,” De Choudhury said. 

Those insights may create opportunities for earlier intervention. 

“AI has the potential to identify subtle behavioral changes that precede worsening mental health, creating opportunities for earlier support before someone reaches a crisis,” she said. 

Alexander Adams, assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing, studies wearable sensing systems, remote patient monitoring technologies, and point-of-care health tools. He said advances in AI are accelerating innovation in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, simulation, and biomarker discovery. 

“The biggest changes I am seeing are the increased productivity in pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, simulation, and biomarker discovery,” Adams said. “That has a downstream impact on what we can measure at the point of care.” 

According to Adams, smartphones and wearable devices have become increasingly important healthcare tools because of the amount of data they collect. 

“No stand-alone medical devices generate nearly as much data as smartphones and smartwatches, making them a natural place for modern AI,” he said. 

He also sees significant potential for AI-enabled technologies to improve access in rural and underserved communities. 

“These technologies are especially important for underserved and rural populations that often have less access to care and face higher risks of complications,” Adams said. 

Balancing Innovation and Human Connection 

Despite growing interest in AI, researchers caution that adoption is not without challenges. 

“The real opportunity lies not in building more autonomous AI, but in designing systems that strengthen human judgment, clinical expertise, and community care,” De Choudhury said. 

Although AI has advanced rapidly, its impact on chronic disease management has remained limited, said Rosa Arriaga, professor in the School of Interactive Computing. 

“AI holds a lot of promise but hasn't delivered much in the way of real-world applications,” Arriaga said. 

She also raised concerns about how increased reliance on data-driven tools could affect interactions between clinicians and patients. 

“The fear is that clinicians become ‘data checkers’ and have even less interaction with patients,” she said. 

At the same time, Arriaga said AI is having its greatest impact in the mental wellness space. 

“There are now randomized controlled trials showing that some people are willing to receive ‘therapy’ from an AI agent and that this intervention is beneficial,” she said. 

However, she cautioned that those developments should be considered alongside potential risks. 

“Greater interactions with AI may lead to greater isolation, and parasocial relationships with AI may erode the social fabric,” Arriaga said. 

Shaping the Next Era of Healthcare 

Despite differing views on the opportunities and challenges, the researchers see AI becoming a lasting part of healthcare. 

“AI is accelerating everything,” Adams said. “Even through rapid iteration and simulation alone, it will accelerate medical devices and point-of-care technologies.” 

As healthcare organizations continue to explore where AI can improve care, researchers say the future of medicine will depend not only on technological advances but also on how effectively those tools support the people who deliver and receive care. 

Georgia Tech’s commitment to transforming waste into a valuable campus resource has earned national recognition. The Institute recently received the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award, honoring the Office of Sustainability’s pioneering in-vessel composting program, which is helping Georgia Tech reduce waste, lower emissions, and create a more sustainable campus.  

The award is presented by APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, an international association that serves more than 1,300 educational institutions and facilities professionals. APPA’s Sustainability Innovation Award recognizes educational institutions that implement transformative programs or processes that enhance service delivery, improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and support student success through environmental stewardship. Recipients are selected based on innovation, sustainability impact, adaptability to other institutions, and measurable benefits to their campus communities. 

Turning Food Waste Into a Campus Resource 

Georgia Tech’s award-winning in-vessel composting program exemplifies how innovative infrastructure can support ambitious sustainability goals. 

The Office of Sustainability received a Recycling and Waste Diversion grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in 2024 to implement the composter, which arrived on campus last year. A student-staffed collection program (using e-bikes and an electric golf cart) captures food scraps and compostable materials from campus housing and dining facilities, and processes them on-site using a specialized in-vessel composting system. This reduces the weight of material by approximately 80%, decreasing the demand for off-campus hauling.  

Unlike traditional composting methods, the enclosed system carefully controls temperature, airflow, and moisture, accelerating decomposition while minimizing odors and reducing the space required for processing. In just over six months, three student assistants have collected more than 5 tons (10,000 pounds) of materials from various campus locations. 

“Georgia Tech has grown a strong composting program thanks to high levels of commitment from Tech Dining, Housing, and Campus Services, plus a strong hauling partner,” said Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager in the Office of Sustainability. “The in-vessel composter has added an exciting new layer to our composting services. It’s been fun to see our students embrace the technology and share their ideas for how to improve campus operations.” 

By processing organic waste on campus, Georgia Tech diverts significant amounts of material from landfills, where food waste would otherwise generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The program supports the Institute’s broader sustainability and circular economy objectives by keeping resources in use and reducing environmental impacts. 

Why Georgia Tech Stood Out 

According to APPA, Sustainability Innovation Award recipients demonstrate creativity, measurable environmental and economic benefits, community impact, and the ability to serve as a model for other institutions. 

Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting initiative stood out because it: 

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to campus waste management. 

• Diverts food waste from landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Creates a closed-loop system that turns waste into a useful resource. 

• Provides educational opportunities for students and the campus community. 

• Offers a scalable model that can be replicated by other colleges and universities. 

The program reflects the collaborative work of the Office of Sustainability and campus partners to create practical, measurable solutions that advance Georgia Tech’s sustainability commitments. 

A Model for the Future 

Receiving the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award highlights Georgia Tech’s role as a leader in sustainable campus operations and environmental stewardship. As institutions across the country seek innovative ways to reduce waste and meet climate goals, Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting program demonstrates how thoughtful investments in infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits for both the campus community and the environment.

Green Forks was founded by Renee Alnoubani, CE 2025, who is currently pursuing a master's in city and regional planning, and Ivy Xue, Neuroscience 2023, with support from Danielle Ismirle Dunigan of Tech Dining, Steven Fazenbaker of Student Life, and Steve Place of the Office of Sustainability, after students raised concerns about the amount of food being discarded after campus events. Recognizing an opportunity to address both food waste and food insecurity, the founding team partnered with Klemis Kitchen to develop a simple, scalable solution that directs surplus food to students who can benefit from it. 

The process is straightforward. When a catered event ends with surplus food, the event coordinator or catering team submits a brief form. Students registered through Klemis Kitchen receive notifications when food is available, allowing them to pick up meals during a designated collection period. The model is designed to align with food safety requirements while minimizing additional work for event organizers. 

Director of Dining Services Danielle Ismirle Dunigan said, “The students who proposed the idea were passionate about helping divert the many leftovers after catering events. Green Forks is basically a communication tool, and it has effectively diverted food waste while feeding hungry Yellow Jackets. Each Green Forks alert makes my day, knowing we are making a difference in many ways.” 

In just two years, Green Forks has made a significant impact across campus. The program has supported 526 events and provided an estimated 4,750 meals to students. These numbers represent thousands of opportunities for students experiencing food insecurity to access nutritious food that otherwise may have been discarded.  

Student Life Program Director Steve Fazenbaker added, "The idea that drives my work is that everything a student needs to thrive and flourish at Georgia Tech can be found somewhere at Georgia Tech. Green Forks brings that idea to life in a powerful way. Through Green Forks, students are made aware almost daily of the abundance of food on campus, and they are reminded that they never need to miss a meal.”  

Beyond the numbers, students say the program has provided both practical support and a sense of community. One student said that Green Forks helped them "worry less about paying for food and living costs," while another described the program as a reminder of the generosity and care that exists across the Georgia Tech community. 

Steve Place, campus sustainability project manager for the Office of Sustainability, said, "Green Forks is the perfect example of different units working together to meet a common goal. Each partner brought what they do best, and the result was a terrific collaboration that serves campus and makes us incredibly proud." 

Green Forks also advances Georgia Tech's sustainability goals by reducing food waste. Rather than sending edible leftovers to the landfill, the program diverts food to students who can use it immediately, maximizing the value of meals already prepared for campus events. 

The program's success has attracted attention beyond Georgia Tech. Team members have worked with other institutions to share the model, including Missouri State University and North Carolina State University, helping expand the impact of a program that began with a simple student idea. 

Faculty and staff can help continue that success by using Green Forks for catered events, allowing extra time for food collection, and submitting surplus food through the program. Every event has the potential to reduce waste, strengthen community, and help ensure that no Georgia Tech student goes hungry. 

For event coordinators and students who want to participate in and learn more about Green Forks and other temporary assistance programs at Georgia Tech, visit the Green Forks webpage  

On average, labs use four times more water and 10 times more energy than office spaces. This disproportionate impact makes laboratories some of the best places for reducing institutional energy use. Small actions can have a big effect; for example, increasing the setpoint of ultra-low temperature freezers by 10 degrees Celsius can reduce the device’s energy use by 30% and save over $150 per year per freezer. (That figure is derived from https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/8-ways-to-save-energy-in-the-lab/ and Georgia Power billing documents.) 

Before Sustainable Lab Certification, some campus labs had begun exploring reduced energy, water, and materials consumption through My Green Lab certification, a pilot program also sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.  

Shweta Biliya, a research scientist in the Molecular Evolution Core Lab, explained that while My Green Lab offered a helpful framework, translating certification requirements into actionable steps for her lab was difficult without local examples or tailored support. “Now that we have a resource on campus, it’s extremely helpful in that initial stage,” she said. “It helps you see how to approach everything, get support, and make it feel possible.” 

Biliya hopes more laboratories across campus will participate in Sustainable Labs Certification, helping to create a shared culture of sustainable research at Georgia Tech. “It might feel like one lab doesn’t make a difference, but when every lab contributes in small ways, it really adds up,” she said. 

A Sustainable Lab Certification information and celebration session will take place in September. To learn more about the program, visit the Sustainable Labs page at https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainable-labs/.  

The Institute is one of 17 public schools to receive a five-star ranking and the only institution in the state to receive the designation. To compile its list for 2026 and to “help families find schools that deliver strong value,” the publication evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges on 25 metrics, including graduation rates, costs, financial aid, student debt, and alumni salaries. 

In its breakdown, Money declares, “Georgia Tech gets results.” 

Cementing its status as a national leader in outcomes and value for all students remains a top priority in the Institute’s strategic plan. Since 2019, as in-state tuition has risen nationwide by an average of $2,200, Tech has reduced its in-state tuition and fees by nearly 25%. Georgia Tech students continue to outpace the national average with a 93% graduation rate, 75% of whom finish in four years or less.   

Tech recently completed its most successful fundraising year in history, including the creation of a $100 million endowment for need-based scholarships, advancing opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.  

The recognition from Money is the latest accolade Tech has received for its value creation and return on investment. The Princeton Review has named Georgia Tech a best value public college for three consecutive years, and this year, Tech retained its place on Forbes’ list of New Ivies, receiving the highest C-suite rating of any university. 

For nearly a decade, Sankar Nair, professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a longtime researcher with the Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI), has led a collaborative effort to develop technologies that can radically improve the efficiency and profitability of kraft pulp mills. 

“What began as a project to save energy in pulp production has grown into a much broader vision,” Nair explains. “We’re not just trying to make mills more efficient. We’re working to turn the kraft pulp mill into a kraft-based biorefinery that produces multiple higher-value products.” 

From Energy Savings to High-Value Products 

Nair explains that traditional kraft mills use a highly energy-intensive “chemical recovery loop” to handle black liquor — 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. 

“The original desire from our industry partners was to save energy,” Nair says. “Instead 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.” 

Over time, the team realized the opportunity went well beyond efficiency. “We use these membranes in such a way that they actually fractionate the black liquor, not just dewater it,” Nair says. “One 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.” 

Lignin is a complex organic polymer and one of the most abundant biological materials on Earth. It acts as nature’s “glue,” providing plants with structural rigidity and resistance to decay. 

From 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 — 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. 

On the organic acid side, Nair and Christopher Jones, a Georgia Tech catalysis 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. 

“It’s exciting to do a new cascade of reactions to make products that we haven’t really made before,” says Jones, the John F. Brock III School Chair and professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.   

Jones explains that green lubricants derived from non-fossil sources have “both high demand and high value.” 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. 

“The products we are pursuing from lignin and organic acids have bulk demand and also can command significantly higher prices than traditional pulp-based outputs,” Nair notes. “That’s essential if the forest products industry is going to be profitable and competitive over the long term.” 

The two researchers have collaborated on three papers, with two already published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (June 2024) and ACS Catalysis (February 2026).  

Scaling Up: Continuous Manufacturing and Field Trials 

A key hurdle in moving from lab concept to mill reality is scalable manufacturing of the membranes themselves. That’s where collaboration with Georgia Tech’s advanced manufacturing community comes in. 

“In recent years, we’ve really focused on how we can manufacture these membranes at low cost and in a continuous, scalable way,” Nair says. “That’s involved close collaboration with colleagues in materials science, mechanical engineering, and Georgia Tech’s manufacturing institutes.” 

Another Georgia Tech collaborator, Tequila Harris, 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. 

A 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 “high-quality output at production speeds above 60 meters per minute,” which will “dramatically increase production volume while reducing solvent usage and waste, such as water,” says Harris.  

The 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). 

“We’re assembling full membrane modules and installing them in a test skid that will run on real kraft black liquor from the mill,” Nair says. “We’ll collect long-term performance and reliability data that feeds into detailed models of how best to deploy these membranes in a working kraft mill.” 

RYAM leaders, including Larissa Fenn, Director of New Products and Chair of the External Advisory Board for Georgia Tech’s Center for a Renewables-Based Economy From Wood (ReWOOD), help ensure that cutting-edge research remains connected to real-world industry challenges and opportunities.

“Much of our internal research is focused on supporting current operations, customers, and product lines,” Fenn says. “Partnerships 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.”

“The transition to more sustainable materials, chemicals, and fuels represents one of the greatest opportunities our industry has seen in decades,” she adds. “Continued 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.”

Fenn emphasized that the impact extends well beyond individual companies.

“The forestry economy is the backbone of many rural communities across Georgia and throughout the Southeast,” she says. “Advancing technologies that create new value from renewable resources helps support landowners, manufacturers, and the communities that depend on this industry.”

Fenn works at RYAM’s Jesup, Georgia facility, which employs more than 800 people and is the largest employer in the local community.

“Facilities like ours are deeply connected to the communities we serve,” Fenn says. “When we invest in innovation, we are investing in the future of manufacturing, forestry, and economic opportunity in rural America.”

Modular Pathways to a Bio-Based Future 

Transforming an operating mill into a full biorefinery isn’t something that happens overnight, and Nair’s group is designing with that reality in mind. 

“All of these technologies are modular and designed to be fully integrated with the kraft process,” he says. “You don’t 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.” 

That 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. 

“The goal is not to save energy for its own sake,” Nair emphasizes. “It’s 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.” 

The urgency of this work is underscored by the pressures facing the industry: Georgia’s 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 2026 Georgia AG Forecast. New revenue streams and efficiency gains may be essential for mills’ survival. 

Beyond 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 Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER)and the Biobased Rural Innovation for Domestic Growth and Economic Security (BRIDGES). 

Lignin-Derived Materials for the Battery Supply Chain 

Matthew McDowell, 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. 

Lignin-derived carbons can serve as a domestic replacement for graphite in lithium-ion batteries — a critical material not widely produced in the U.S.   

“Conventional synthetic graphite is derived from crude oil and requires very high temperatures, making it energy-intensive and polluting,” McDowell said, noting that their goal is to convert lignin and cellulose “to high-value battery materials that could enable the growth of a new battery supply chain here in the United States.” 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 “build and test full-scale battery cells for translational R&D.”  

Life-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. 

Today, China leads the world in battery production, with Korea and Japan also long-established leaders. The U.S. is building more domestic capability for national security and economic reasons. 

Researchers at Georgia Tech on the front lines of this work also include Jones, who also collaborated on the lubricants research; Valerie Thomas, 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 Meisha Shofner, professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering.  

Thomas is leading research on life-cycle and economic analyses of converting lignin to produce “carbonized lignin” anodes that can replace petroleum‑based synthetic graphite in batteries. She says that lignin‑based graphite can displace petroleum‑derived synthetic graphite, delivering 84% lower energy use, 92% lower greenhouse gas emissions, and lower emissions of other pollutants.  

“This work establishes a supply chain for making batteries, which has really broader impacts throughout Georgia,” 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.  

McDowell agrees. “Marrying the forest products industry and the battery industry makes a lot of sense for Georgia, because both of those industries are really big,” he says, and both are “key employers in the state.” In his view, innovations could benefit both simultaneously. 

Scott Sinquefield, 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’s rural economy.   

“Part of our mission is to support this industry and advance it. This falls right under our umbrella,” 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. 

The Georgia Tech team’s vision is clear, as Nair explains: “If we can do this right, kraft mills don’t just survive. They become hubs of advanced biomanufacturing that anchor a more resilient and sustainable forest-based economy for the state.” 

DoorTix, a startup ticket-buying concierge founded by computer science major Arayna Saxena, industrial engineering major Shinhai Chen, and mechanical engineering major Dhruv Narang, helps users navigate the increasingly complex world of event ticketing. Earlier this year, the startup earned the People’s Choice Award at Georgia Tech’s InVenture Prize competition for its approach to combating dynamic pricing and improving access to live events. 

The Problem 

Whether fans are trying to attend a sporting event or a concert, the team says that securing tickets often means navigating fluctuating prices, limited inventory, hidden fees, and the risk of scams. 

“Buying tickets today can feel like entering a maze with a timer running,” Saxena said.  

“Prices change, listings disappear, fees show up late, and fans often feel like they need to be experts just to get into the event they care about.” 

How DoorTix Works 

DoorTix was built from that frustration. Instead of requiring users to constantly monitor multiple ticket marketplaces, the platform tracks listings across sites and automatically purchases tickets when they meet a user’s target price. 

The system is designed to respond to dynamic pricing and automated purchasing bots that can cause ticket costs to shift rapidly across platforms. 

“That gives fans fair and predictable access without the guesswork,” Saxena said.  

“We wanted to build something that brings the human side back into ticketing, something that feels less like fighting an algorithm and more like having someone in your corner.” 

The World Cup: A Global Test Case 

The World Cup tournament is a high-profile example of the problem DoorTix is designed to solve. With global demand and limited availability, the tournament reflects the same challenges seen across major live events. 

“When fans are trying to attend something as massive as the World Cup, the stakes are higher. The excitement is higher. The confusion is also higher,” Saxena said. 

“That is exactly where DoorTix can be useful. The World Cup gives us a real, high-pressure use case for what we are building.” 

From Idea to Startup 

The idea for DoorTix began with a simple observation: buying tickets often creates more stress than excitement.  

As a computer science student, Saxena has helped translate that idea into a working product, balancing technical development with user experience design. 

 “A lot of the work is not just ‘write code and ship it.’ It’s asking what the user needs, where they’re confused, and how we can make a complex process feel simple.” 

Through Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X Startup Launch program, the team has tested assumptions, gathered customer feedback, and refined its business model as it develops the product. 

They’ve already seen real customer demand, and now the focus is on improving the experience and making it more scalable. Long-term, the founders envision DoorTix continuing to be a trusted ticket-buying concierge for high-demand events. 

“We’re not just helping someone buy a seat. We’re helping them get to a once-in-a-lifetime memory.” 

About Georgia Tech 

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the nation’s 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. 

Lanier isn’t just using the equipment; he’s helping bring it to life. 

Over the last year, he has worked with Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS) staff as part of the IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program to install a newly designed powder-processing, rotary-bed system. While traditional coating tools are designed to deposit ultra-thin films onto flat surfaces (like silicon computer chips or glass), this tool continuously tumbles a bed of fine powder to ensure a uniform coating of 3D objects with microscopic grains of powder at an atomic scale.  

The work has involved more than just running experiments. Lanier has developed operating procedures, established safety protocols, solved technical challenges, and documented processes that future tool users will rely on long after he graduates.  

“It’s an opportunity to leave something behind for IMS,” Lanier said. “Once I’m gone, the documentation for this tool will still be there. It’s giving IMS information that will be useful for following students.”  

His experience reflects the mission of the apprenticeship program. Launched to provide graduate students with hands-on experience in IMS’s research facilities, the program places graduate students in core facilities with experts. This gives them opportunities to develop technical expertise, support facility operations, and gain professional skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

“We wanted to create an experience where everyone benefits,” said Anna Österholm, principal research scientist and IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program coordinator. “Students gain technical training and professional experience while IMS gains talented and motivated contributors who help develop new capabilities, train users, and improve facility operations.”  

Lanier was one of nine students in the inaugural cohort, which represented a wide range of disciplines and research experience. Matthew Kim, another member of the cohort and a master’s student in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, came to the program with a mechanical background and a desire to gain hands-on semiconductor experience.  

Before the program, much of Kim’s previous exposure to semiconductors and chip packaging came from videos and lectures. Through the apprenticeship, he gained practical experience in the cleanroom, where he taught lab sections for undergraduate integrated circuit fabrication classes. In that role, Kim guided students through the process of creating semiconductors — starting with a blank silicon wafer and ending with a finished product — featuring various designs and structures.  

“It was a new experience for me because I was teaching students while learning the material myself,” Kim said. “It really pushed me to learn everything quickly, and I think that benefited me.” 

Through the program, Kim both taught and participated in some of the semiconductor fabrication short courses offered by IMS throughout the year.  

“A lot of what we learn in class is theory-based,” Kim said. “If you want hands-on experience and want to see semiconductor fabrication with your own eyes, this program is a great way to learn.”  

Besides semiconductor design and creation, additional focus areas for the program include materials characterization operations. Kayla Chuong, a doctoral student in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, took her existing experience with materials characterization techniques and expanded it.  She entered the program as a user of the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF), having previously conducted research using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tools.  

As part of the program, Chuong now trains campus and industry users on tools throughout the MCF. She conducts check-offs on training sessions and authorizes researchers to use instruments. She may spend an entire day conducting back-to-back instrument training, helping everyone from undergraduate researchers to industry professionals gain access to advanced microscopy tools. 

"It's really cool that external users from industry come in and get trained, and I get to meet people from different backgrounds," she said. 

While the program provides students with access to advanced research tools and facilities, participants said some of the most valuable lessons happened outside of the lab. 

Kim found teaching an unexpected source of growth. As he guided students through cleanroom processes and semiconductor fabrication techniques, he found himself developing confidence as a researcher and as an instructor.  

For Chuong, the program expanded her professional network and her base knowledge of SEM beyond what she thought was possible. 

Lanier gained a different perspective through regular interactions with IMS staff. By participating in facility staff meetings and working closely with mentors, he was exposed to the challenges of managing complex research infrastructure and learned how experienced scientists approach troubleshooting and process optimization. 

"Being able to see how other people look at going about research and what they do to work through troubleshooting and optimization," Lanier said, "it's a really good learning experience for myself as well." 

Together, these experiences highlight one of the program's greatest strengths: its ability to immerse students in the broader research ecosystem. Beyond learning how to operate world-class instruments, apprentices gain experience communicating across disciplines, mentoring other researchers, solving complex technical challenges, and contributing to the shared resources that support research across Georgia Tech. 

For Chuong, Kim, and Lanier, the apprenticeship provided more than just access to equipment. It offered a chance to become contributors to Georgia Tech's research ecosystem — whether by teaching new users, supporting education, or helping bring new capabilities online. As the program prepares for future cohorts, their experiences illustrate how immersive, hands-on training can accelerate both research and professional growth. 

As a high school student, van Zyl spent summers in a Georgia Tech aerospace lab, where he was introduced to rotorcraft and autonomous systems. By the time he enrolled at Georgia Tech, that early exposure had grown into a deeper interest. He became a competitive drone racer, gaining hands-on experience with the technology. 

But even then, he recognized a growing risk. 

“I was using this technology to have fun,” said van Zyl, founder and CEO of Askari. “But I also recognized it could equally be used to do very malicious things.” 

That realization became the foundation for Askari, a counter-drone defense company developing systems designed to detect, track, and stop hostile drones. 

A Real-World Problem Comes Into Focus 

Van Zyl first pitched the idea for Askari as a first-year student through Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X Startup Launch, an accelerator that empowers students to launch successful startups.  At the time, the concept of counter-drone defense was not widely seen as urgent. However, that perspective shifted as global conflicts began to demonstrate the impact of low-cost, unmanned systems. 

The widespread use of drones in Ukraine revealed how inexpensive and accessible technologies could reshape modern warfare. Unmanned systems now account for a significant share of battlefield activity, exposing new vulnerabilities across defense and infrastructure. 

“That was the first moment I could point to and say this is real,” van Zyl said. “This is not theoretical anymore.” 

From Student Idea to Scalable Solution 

Askari is building autonomous systems that can identify and neutralize drone threats in real time. The company’s technology is designed to distinguish among objects such as drones, people, and the surrounding environment, allowing it to respond with precision. 

“We are building systems that can understand what they are looking at,” van Zyl said. “They can tell the difference between a drone, a person, or a tree, and act accordingly.” 

Unlike traditional defense systems that rely on expensive infrastructure, Askari is focused on developing solutions that are scalable and accessible to a wider range of users, including frontline operators and security teams. The goal is to provide a faster, more adaptable approach to this challenge. 

The company has raised approximately $1.7 million in early funding and is already working with U.S. Department of Defense customers, with growing demand for counter-drone solutions. The team has expanded to 10 people and is scaling to meet that demand. 

The Role of CREATE-X and Georgia Tech 

Georgia Tech’s commercialization ecosystem played a critical role in Askari’s development.  

Through CREATE-X, van Zyl was able to test and refine his idea while gaining exposure to the fundamentals of building a company. He also gained access to a community of founders, mentors, defense leaders, and builders who helped him navigate early-stage challenges. The experience provided an environment to pressure-test the concept and receive feedback, helping him better understand how it could function in real-world scenarios. At the time, the idea was still taking shape, but it helped clarify how it could evolve into a viable solution. 

After gaining experience in the robotics and defense sectors, van Zyl reengaged with Georgia Tech, where the Institute’s network of mentors, resources, and programs helped accelerate the company’s growth. 

“Georgia Tech has been instrumental,” van Zyl said. “We would not be where we are today without it.” 

Today, Askari operates out of The Biltmore, home to CREATE-X and part of Georgia Tech’s innovation ecosystem in Tech Square, placing the company back within the same environment where the idea first began. 

“Askari is a strong example of what we aim to do,” said Rahul Saxena, CREATE-X director. “Students building companies that address real, emerging challenges. It reflects the kind of thinking we want to encourage early on, paired with the ability to continue developing an idea as the need becomes clearer. That progression is a critical part of how students move from concept to company.” 

Returning to Atlanta to Build 

After graduating, van Zyl gained experience working in robotics and autonomous systems, including in Silicon Valley. He also spent time building the company outside of Atlanta before ultimately returning. 

The decision to come back was both strategic and mission-driven. 

Many of Askari’s customers, including Department of Defense organizations, are based in the Southeast. Being in Atlanta allows the company to remain close to those partners while continuing to build within Georgia Tech’s ecosystem. The company’s return also reflects its deep ties to Georgia Tech’s talent pipeline. van Zyl’s co-founders include his younger brother, Marc van Zyl, a Georgia Tech computer science student, and Benjamin Airdo, a close friend and mechanical engineering graduate. Eight of the company’s 10 team members are connected to the Institute as current students, graduates, or researchers. 

A Broader Vision for Security 

While Askari’s current focus is counter-drone technology, van Zyl sees the startup’s mission as part of a larger shift in how modern warfare is evolving. 

For the first time, autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence are moving beyond the digital world into physical environments. That transition introduces new risks that extend beyond traditional defense scenarios. 

“This is not just a drone problem,” van Zyl said. “It is the broader proliferation of robotics in real-world environments.” 

From Campus to Impact 

Askari’s trajectory reflects how Georgia Tech’s commercialization ecosystem supports founders as they move from early ideas to companies. 

From its start in CREATE-X to its return to The Biltmore, the company remains closely tied to the Institute while building technology focused on real-world deployment and impact. 

“We want to build systems that help protect people,” van Zyl said.  As Askari continues to grow, that focus remains central to its mission. 

What to Expect: 

• The closure is scheduled to remain in place through Aug. 7; weather may affect the completion date. 

• Detour routes and signage will be clearly marked. 

• Police-assisted traffic control will help maintain the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles in the area.  

This work is part of a broader renovation of the Smith and Howell residence halls, which includes upgrades to building systems, enhanced interior spaces, and improved ADA accessibility. The addition of a new connecting structure will link the two buildings and create a welcoming central entrance. 

See the attached logistics and detour map for further details. Thank you for your patience as we make improvements to our campus residence halls. 

Aiden Holland is a third-year Georgia Tech undergraduate and Georgia Tech Athletics Grounds Crew student assistant. His match days begin up to nine hours before kickoff as one of the crew members selected by FIFA to maintain the natural-grass surface at AT&T Stadium (temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium).  

After meticulously painting the end lines and stringing the goals, Holland tests the playing surface's moisture level and measures its firmness to ensure the ball will bounce and the players will get the same energy return as on any other World Cup pitch across North America.  

Dallas hosts its ninth and final match on Tuesday, July 14, and Holland has been in attendance for each one. But when Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history, or when Mikel Merino’s extra-time goal gave Spain a dramatic win over Portugal, he was watching the grass under their feet.  

“To see your work play out in front of you on a global stage is exciting,” he said. “As someone who works on fields, I watch through the lens of seeing how the field reacts to the players on it. At no point in a match do you want a moment that makes you think the pitch caused a player to slip or a ball to take a bad bounce. You have the highest-level athletes in the world out there, and the last thing they need to worry about is whether the playing surface will be safe and reliable enough for them to play at the highest possible level.”  

Holland is one of three Yellow Jackets on the Dallas crew, joined by Assistant Athletics Director Chris May and Noonan Golf Facility groundskeeper Cody Brady. The crew of eight expands to 12 on match days to get the pitch ready for action, and days between matches consist of constant maintenance to keep it in pristine condition. 

A double major in international affairs and business, Holland has been around field maintenance his entire life. His father, Eric, is the former lead groundskeeper at Tech and is now the owner of Precision Turf. For the past five summers, Holland has worked for the family business, installing pitches for international soccer matches in Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, and more, including the 2024 Copa América tournament in Dallas.  

Holland’s interest in soccer took him around the world in 2025 in a study abroad program with Regents' Entrepreneur and Full Professor Kirk Bowman, examining the sport’s intersection with geopolitics in Argentina and Uruguay. The Buford, Georgia, native conducted research to determine how pitch maintenance affected team performance, testing nine fields in Argentina’s professional league, Liga Profesional de Fútbol.  

Through his research and hands-on experience at the World Cup, Holland believes the skills and precision learned on the job will stay with him, regardless of his career path.  

“It's instilling a work ethic that asks you to strive toward perfection,” he said. It takes a lot of work to make sure everything's perfected at all times, and that’s somethingI’ll take with me into my work in the classroom, my work with the Athletics Grounds Crew, and my roles within my student organizations. The World Cup is a global circus of sorts, and it provides this incredible opportunity to work with people from around the world, share experiences, and learn what type of collaboration it takes to create this type of event.” 

At the conclusion of the World Cup, Holland will prepare for a new academic year and return to helping maintain the Institute’s athletic facilities — primarily Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium and Shirley Clements Mewborn Field. 

“David has been an important contributor to Georgia Tech’s academic AI strategy from the beginning,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “With expertise in AI use in the classroom, a commitment to instructional innovation, and a deep appreciation for and understanding of faculty perspectives, David is exceptionally well-positioned to lead this work.”  

Joyner’s appointment kicks off the next phase of the academic AI strategy, which was developed with input from faculty, staff, students, and academic leaders from across the Institute. The strategy is organized around three goals: advancing AI-driven teaching and learning, equipping faculty and students to build and integrate AI tools effectively and responsibly, and strengthening Georgia Tech’s impact and leadership through responsible AI innovation and engagement.  

As interim vice provost for AI in Education, Joyner will work closely with faculty governance leaders, academic leadership, and campus partners to coordinate implementation efforts, support strategic initiatives, expand access to AI resources, and help align activities across the Institute. 

Joyner currently serves in the College of Computing as associate dean for Off-Campus and Special Initiatives and executive director of Online Education and the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program. He will continue to serve as executive director of OMSCS while stepping down from his associate dean responsibilities to assume the role of interim vice provost for AI Strategy.  

Joyner is a recognized leader in online learning, educational technology, and AI-enabled education. His research focuses on learning at scale, online instruction, and the use of AI to support student success and teaching innovation. Through his leadership of OMSCS and his work as a researcher and instructor, he has helped shape how Georgia Tech and higher education approach technology-enhanced learning. 

“I am thrilled to take on this role at such a pivotal time for AI and education,” said Joyner. “Georgia Tech’s faculty, staff, and students are already making incredible strides in this area, and I can’t wait to highlight and empower what they’re doing while helping us all articulate how we both use and address AI responsibly, in every sense of the word.” 

Faculty expertise and shared governance will remain central to the implementation of the academic AI strategy. Faculty interested in contributing to pilot projects, sharing effective practices, or helping inform future AI initiatives will have opportunities to participate as the work continues. 

Stone Mountain Fantastic Fourth Celebration 

When: July 1 – 6, 9:30 p.m.  

Where: Stone Mountain Park 

The nightly show features 250 choreographed drones, laser projections, and 4K imagery displayed on Stone Mountain; flame cannons and atmospheric effects for a fully immersive experience; and a grand fireworks finale. Visitors can purchase tickets for the show specifically, or it is included with an attraction pass. 

More information  

Welcome to Atlanta Party 

When: Friday, July 3, 6:30 p.m. 
Where: Margaret Mitchell House  

Hosted by the Atlanta History Center, this event showcases Atlanta's role in the American story, and “where we think the city should go for the next 250 years.” The event will feature music, community resources from across the city, books, and trivia with prizes.  

More information 

Skate Jam 

When: Friday, July 3, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 

Where: Washington Park/Westside Beltline 

Bring your roller skates and learn group routines with timing, control, and confidence while skating with others. This event is part of the ongoing Beltline Free Fitness series. 

More information  

Braves vs. Mets 

When: July 3 – 6  
Where: Truist Park  

The Atlanta Braves host the division rival New York Mets for a weekend series. In addition to postgame fireworks, Friday night’s game will feature music and memories celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Saturday, a Braves Block Party begins the festivities ahead of the Fourth of July celebration.   

More information 

Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race 

When: Saturday, July 4, 6 a.m. 
Where: Starting Line – Lenox Square Mall. Finish Line – Piedmont Park.  

Before the world’s largest 10K gets underway on Saturday, July 4, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will put on a special performance for registered participants at Lenox Square on Friday, July 3. On race day, more than 50,000 runners will make their way from the starting line at Lenox to Piedmont Park, and spectators can cheer them on along the way with entertainment areas lining the route.  

More information 

Frog Feeding 

When: July 4, 10 a.m. 
Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden 

Kick off the holiday with an amphibian specialist at the Fuqua Conservatory lobby to observe the frogs’ feeding habits and learn fun facts about different species at the botanical garden — poison frogs, fringed leaf frogs, and more.  

More information 

Fourth of July Family Day 

When: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 
Where: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum 

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with free admission and family-friendly activities at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. The event will also feature a conversation with Denise Kiernan, who will discuss her new book, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers, and Renegade Women Who Ignited the American Revolution. 

More information 

If you’ve been thinking about starting a program or continuing your education this fall, you have until July 15 to apply for education assistance. 

Programs Available for Eligible Faculty and Staff 

1. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides a tuition waiver to full-time, benefits-eligible employees who have worked for at least six months within the University of System of Georgia.  

2. The Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP) provides partial tuition reimbursement at any accredited private institution. Employees are eligible for STRAP if they have worked at Georgia Tech for at least 12 months.  

Note: Time worked in a temporary position does not count toward the eligibility requirement for either program.  

How to Apply 

1. Apply to your chosen institution through its admissions office. 

2. Open a TAP or STRAP application in the Administrative Services portal. 

3. List your intended courses. If you are unsure, make your best guess. You can request to change it later via your application.

4. Submit your application and it will automatically route for approval. 

5. Register for classes. 

All TAP and STRAP applications must be submitted and approved by Wednesday, July 15 at 5 p.m. Late applications cannot be accepted. A new application is required each semester. 

Questions? 

Contact the Administrative Services Center for assistance: 

• Call 404.385.1111 

• Email support@asc.gatech.edu 

• Submit a general HR request 

Progress at a Glance 

The formal Functional Design Sessions were completed in early May. These sessions gathered input from institutions across the USG on business processes, system configurations, data integrations, reporting needs, change impacts, and potential policies and practices that may necessitate further review. 

In addition, the Institutional Design Review (IDR) Sessions recently concluded. During these sessions, Georgia Tech, along with other USG institutions, reviewed initial systemwide design decisions from each of the workstreams in Finance and Human Capital Management. Potential operational impacts to campuses were shared, in addition to other feedback that would help shape Prototype 1 (P1) — the first of several working test environments — also known as “Tenants” in the new Workday system.  

P1 will serve as an initial, baseline configuration in the new Unified ERP system, using copies of institutions’ data to assess how data is integrated and flowing within the system. Testing throughout the Architect and Configure phase will be iterative with a design-build-review approach. Two additional prototypes are planned for 2027.   

Questions about the Unified ERP Program can be submitted to erp@gatech.edu.   

Workday Resources and Engagement Opportunities 

“I’ve been in teaching and learning spaces for a long time, and I’ve always been curious about what makes something click for someone. That’s the part of the work I love most,” Bisanti said. 

Bisanti is an instructional designer in the College of Lifetime Learning, where she helps shape the design and presentation of online courses. Her role involves taking academic material — slides, scripts, and outlines — and organizing it into clear, structured courses that support how people learn in an online environment. She applies both learning science and visual design to make complex material easier to follow, ensuring that courses remain accessible. 

From start to finish, building a course can take six to nine months. The work requires steady planning and a deep understanding of how learners absorb information over time. While instructors remain the content experts, Bisanti brings expertise in learning science and visual design, drawing on her artistic background to structure, pace, and present material in ways that support understanding and growth. 

“When I’m working on a course, I’m constantly asking how I can break something down and build it back up in a way that makes sense for the learner,” Bisanti said. “It’s a lot of structuring and layering, making sure each piece connects and supports the next.” 

Much of this work connects to Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science, which serves learners balancing coursework with full-time careers. 

Before coming to Georgia Tech, Bisanti worked across teaching and learning roles, including positions in public libraries, K-12 classrooms, and curriculum-focused environments — experience that continues to shape how she approaches instructional design today. 

Outside of work, Bisanti is a mixed media artist who has been making art since childhood, beginning with paper dolls and handmade clay. Over time, her interests expanded to include photography, printmaking, ceramics, mosaics, and collage. Today, she focuses primarily on mixed media collage, which combines elements such as paper, paint, and drawing into a single composition. 

“Art is something I have to do,” she said. “It’s not about producing something. It’s about the process and what it gives me, and how it balances the more structured side of my work.” 

Bisanti’s connection to the arts at Georgia Tech became more visible when she led a mixed media collage workshop during Tech Arts Fest. The session invited students to experiment and create —many for the first time — using layered paper, paint, and texture, reinforcing her belief that creativity has an important place in learning environments. 

“I had one student who was there just for a short time, but when he was leaving, he said, ‘I was having a really bad day, and I’m glad this workshop was here for me.’ That made my day. That’s why I do art.” 

Through that work, she also discovered Georgia Tech’s broader arts community. After attending an arts salon meeting, she encountered artists, designers, and creative practitioners working across disciplines throughout the Institute. Finding that community was both energizing and affirming. 

“I didn’t expect to find such a strong arts community here, and that surprised me, in a good way,” Bisanti said. “There’s a lot more happening in the arts than people realize, and it’s becoming a real part of how students experience learning here.” 

That experience revealed a side of Georgia Tech aligned with the Institute’s broader commitment to innovation and exploration, including the launch of a new undergraduate program in Arts, Entertainment, and Creative Technologies this fall. 

“I think people don’t always expect the arts to be part of the experience here, but they are,” Bisanti said. “The more you look, the more you see how much creativity is built into how people learn and work across campus.” 

The same patience, curiosity, and openness that guide her in the studio shape how she approaches learning design. Whether refining a course structure or adding a final layer to a piece of art, she grounds her work in respect for how ideas take shape over time. 

“The more I learn, the more intentional my work becomes, whether I’m designing a course or making art,” she said. 

In connecting her work, her art, and her sense of belonging on campus, Bisanti embodies the idea that learning is never static. 

The Info-Tech learning portal provides a comprehensive library of downloadable IT research reports, tools, templates, and playbooks to assist faculty and students in the preparation of project, program and action plans as well as strategic frameworks rooted in more than 450 industry research reports and methodologies. The platform also includes software evaluation resources, industry trend analysis, and an online training library with certification opportunities. The platform is owned by Info-Tech Research Group, an international information technology research and advisory company,

“This is an exciting step forward in expanding access to high-quality resources that support both teaching, learning, research and decision-making,” said Leo Howell, vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “Info-Tech will equip faculty and students with research and reporting grounded in technology insights to ultimately help guide the work they do.” 

The service’s introduction supports Georgia Tech’s commitment to innovation and experiential learning by connecting academic coursework with real-world IT practices. Faculty can integrate Info-Tech material into their courses, using industry-developed frameworks, case studies, and tools to enhance instruction. Students gain exposure to professional-grade resources commonly used across the technology sector, helping bridge the gap between theory and practice. 

The platform also offers value beyond the classroom: IT professionals and administrative staff can utilize Info-Tech to inform strategic planning, evaluate technology solutions, and strengthen governance practices. Access to benchmarking data and peer insights allows campus units to make more informed decisions and align with best practices across higher education. 

Info-Tech is available through Georgia Tech Single Sign-On, giving users seamless access its full range of resources. Once logged in, users can search for topics, explore research areas, and navigate curated tools based on their specific needs. 

For more information and to access Info-Tech, visit infotech.com/sso/gatech.

Georgia Tech Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) is helping prepare the next generation of safety leaders through a newly launched Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program, a yearlong initiative designed to strengthen laboratory safety culture and promote proactive, people‑centered approaches to risk management. 

As part of the pilot program, Georgia Tech graduate students Megan Yutthasaksunthorn, Calib Lanier, and Youngsu Shin recently took a behind‑the‑scenes tour of Georgia Aquarium, gaining insight into how safety principles are applied in complex operational environments. The experience highlighted best practices in water quality monitoring, laboratory and workplace safety, and, most importantly, the role of a strong safety culture.  

A Program Rooted in Industry Best Practices 

The Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program was developed in collaboration with ExxonMobil’s laboratory safety program in Houston, Texas, bringing industry‑tested practices into an academic framework. Georgia Tech is participating alongside peer institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Florida, and the University of Texas, reflecting a growing, cross-institutional commitment to advancing lab safety education. 

The certificate is designed primarily for graduate students pursuing careers with a focus on chemical and process safety, though qualified undergraduate students may also be considered. Over the course of the year, participants complete both online and hands-on learning components, blending foundational knowledge with applied experience. 

The goal of the program is twofold: to develop safer laboratory practices and to equip participants with the skills to train and influence others in lab settings. Rather than focusing solely on compliance, the program emphasizes leadership, communication, and systems thinking — key elements of a sustainable safety culture. 

Hands‑On Learning Beyond the Campus Lab 

The Georgia Aquarium visit was part of the program’s experiential component and offered a powerful example of safety in action beyond the traditional academic laboratory. Through a detailed presentation and tour, students learned how safety principles translate into daily operations in an environment where human performance, high‑risk activities, and complex systems intersect. 

The visit was facilitated by EH&S Lab and Chemical Safety Officer Alicia Wood-Jones, who coordinated with an assistant dive manager of operations at the aquarium. The session included an in‑depth discussion on human factors and safety, an approach that asks a critical question: How do we design systems so mistakes don’t lead to injury?  

This perspective resonated with students and reinforced one of the program’s central themes: Effective safety programs anticipate human error and build layers of protection through planning, communication, and shared responsibility. 

Building Leadership and Safety Culture 

Throughout the certificate program, participants engage in activities that strengthen both technical understanding and leadership capability. Hands-on components include: 

• Delivering safety talks. 

• Learning about safety culture in both academic and private industry settings. 

• Conducting peer lab inspections. 

• Engaging in dialogue around real-world safety challenges. 

By examining safety culture across different environments, students gain a broader understanding of how values, behaviors, and systems come together to support safe work practices. 

EH&S Leadership and Support 

EH&S plays a pivotal role in supporting the certificate program and ensuring students have access to meaningful learning experiences that align with campus safety priorities. The initiative was spearheaded by Rebecca Graham, EH&S laboratory and chemical safety specialist, whose leadership and coordination helped bring the program and field experience to fruition. “It’s an honor to help lead this program and bring industry-informed practices, including those shaped through ExxonMobil’s safety framework, into an academic setting,” she said. “Our goal is to equip students not only with technical knowledge, but with the leadership skills needed to build and sustain a proactive safety culture wherever their careers take them.” 

Through programs like this, EH&S continues its mission of fostering a culture where safety is proactive, collaborative, and embedded in everything we do.  

For additional information about the certificate program, contact Laboratory and Chemical Safety Specialist Rebecca Graham.

The Aspen Institute’s Board of Trustees voted today to appoint Cabrera to the role, recognizing a career dedicated to education, innovation, leadership, and service. 

Since becoming Georgia Tech’s 12th president in 2019, Cabrera has overseen record growth across enrollment, research, innovation, and philanthropy. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech has grown to enroll more than 56,000 students annually, an increase of 55%, while becoming one of the nation’s most sought-after public universities. The Institute has achieved record levels of student applications, enrollment, graduation rates, research funding, startup formation, invention disclosures, and philanthropic support. 

“Georgia Tech transformed my life, first as a student and later as president," Cabrera said. “Leading this extraordinary institution has been the honor of a lifetime. I leave with immense gratitude for the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who have made our shared progress possible and with tremendous confidence that Georgia Tech’s best days are still ahead.”

Working alongside more than 5,700 faculty and staff, Cabrera led the creation of Progress and Service for All, Georgia Tech’s strategic plan for expanding opportunity, advancing discovery, and increasing the Institute’s impact in Georgia and around the world. 

During his tenure, annual sponsored research awards have surpassed $1.4 billion, helping propel Georgia Tech to No. 1 nationally in research expenditures among universities without a medical school and No. 2 nationally in federal research funding, while expanding the Institute’s leadership in artificial intelligence, neuroscience, space research, and entrepreneurship. Georgia Tech also expanded and modernized its campus significantly and advanced the development of three innovation districts in Atlanta: Tech Square, Science Square, and Creative Quarter. 

Throughout his presidency, Cabrera has remained focused on delivering exceptional value for students and families. Georgia Tech has consistently been recognized as one of the nation's best investments in higher education and among the strongest returns on investment in the country. 

“President Cabrera’s true impact on Georgia Tech goes well beyond the numbers,” said Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia. “Since rejoining his alma mater, he’s brought energy, warmth, and engagement to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the entire Tech community. He’s been a constant, visible force, listening to stakeholders at every level, cheering on their success, and solidifying Georgia Tech’s reputation as a world-class, global research institution. That personal touch has made a profound difference everywhere from Science Square to the new Fanning Center. 

“The scale of what Ángel achieved is clear,” Chancellor Perdue continued. “Under his leadership, Georgia Tech enrolled more in-state undergraduates than ever while raising graduation rates and pushing total enrollment to the highest in the state. Tech’s annual economic impact on Georgia grew to $5.8 billion — a quarter of the entire university system’s total output. The university’s federal research expenditures climbed to more than $1.2 billion, ranking it second in the nation. The Tech community likes to say, ‘We can do that,’ and Ángel has done it, which means we have our work cut out for us to maintain this momentum when he leaves. The system is grateful for his leadership, and we wish him and Beth the very best.” 

Georgia Tech celebrates Cabrera’s selection to this important national leadership role and the lasting impact of his presidency on the Institute. Cabrera plans to remain at Georgia Tech until November to support a smooth transition. The University System of Georgia will announce plans for Georgia Tech’s next leadership chapter at a later date.  

“I’m excited for people from all over the world to experience how much Atlanta has embraced soccer,” said Alex Duncan, senior director of the Online Master of Science in Computer Science program. 

Duncan, originally from Plano, Texas, began following the World Cup in 1998. He traveled to Berlin for the 2006 tournament and has enjoyed seeing the world’s game come closer to home with the addition of Atlanta United, U.S. Soccer’s training headquarters, and the upcoming launch of a women’s professional team in the city. 

“Even if you don’t go to any games, the atmosphere and energy are palpable during the tournament, and it’s one of those rare events that unites people all over the world,” he said. “To have all of this happening effectively in my backyard is a dream come true.” 

For many students, the World Cup arriving in Atlanta represents more than a sporting event. It is a chance to connect with pieces of their identity or homes outside of Atlanta, or even outside of the United States. 

Sindhu Belki, an aerospace engineering student from Doha, Qatar, was in the U.S. when the World Cup was hosted in her home country. Now, she finds herself in the right place at the right time. 

“The excitement of entering a stadium decked in the colors and gear of your favorite team, joining hundreds of people supporting some of your favorite players, seeing little kids imitate Messi or Ronaldo, watching the players walk onto the pitch amid thunderous applause, the nail-biting anticipation with every pass of the ball, and the sheer joy of clinching the winning goal in a penalty shootout — what can be more thrilling and adventurous?” she said. 

Irene Jacob, a city and regional planning student from Maryland, is also thrilled to be living in a host city. She has followed the World Cup since 2014. 

“What makes the World Cup especially unique is the atmosphere around it and how it brings people together from all over the world in a way that few other sporting events can,” she said. “2014-me would be so excited to know that 12 years later, the city I’d be living in during the summer would actually be hosting the World Cup.” 

Whether you’re a diehard soccer fan or simply interested in experiencing the spectacle, there will be plenty of activities on and around campus to enjoy. Georgia Tech will host Club and Country Colors Day on June 10, and Georgia Tech and Georgia State University are teaming up for a watch party at Georgia State’s Convocation Center on July 1 – register for a free ticket.

See more campus events at gatech.edu/world-cup-2026. 

Emergency Medical Services at Tech (EMSaT), the student organization recognized last year with a national EMS-Ready Campus designation, has expanded access to CPR and AED training through a partnership with Georgia Tech Environmental Health and Safety. The free courses are available to students, faculty, and staff and are taught by a team of 11 undergraduate students who hold CPR instructor certifications and volunteer their time to serve the campus community. 

“CPR and AED use are some of the easiest ways for everyday people to make a real difference in the event of cardiac arrest,” said Esther Lee, a biomedical engineering major and outreach director for EMSaT. “If more people know what to do and feel comfortable stepping in, we can make the Georgia Tech community safer and better prepared.” 

During the past year, EMSaT instructors trained 472 members of the Georgia Tech community in CPR and AED use. This spring alone, the organization certified 311 participants. 

The training initiative builds on EMSaT’s broader mission to strengthen emergency preparedness at Georgia Tech. Founded in 2019, the group works with campus and community partners to improve emergency response, provide first aid education, and create hands-on opportunities for students pursuing careers in healthcare and emergency medicine. 

The impact of that work can be seen in the experiences of Georgia Tech student EMTs, who balance rigorous academic schedules with jobs in hospitals and ambulance services. 

The group will continue offering training sessions this fall at the Campus Recreation Center. More information will be available soon at the EMSaT site.