{"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":""}},"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":"2026-08-12 12:24:53","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":"545781","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"142761","name":"IRIM"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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. 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","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Energy Unplugged camp, a collaboration between the\u00a0Strategic Energy Institute (SEI), the\u00a0Energy Policy and Innovation Center, and\u00a0CEISMC, attracted students from across the country for an immersive, hands-on experience in real-world energy systems. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-07-20 15:50:28","changed_gmt":"2026-07-20 17:06:11","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":{"680626":{"id":"680626","type":"image","title":"IMG_1862.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERich Simmons, SEI\u0027s Director of Research and Studies, teaches at the Energy Unplugged camp\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784562762","gmt_created":"2026-07-20 15:52:42","changed":"1784597458","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:30:58","alt":"SEI\u0027s Director of Research and Studies Rich Simmons teaching at the Energy Unplugged Camp","file":{"fid":"264914","name":"IMG_1862.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1862.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1862.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3624927,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1862.jpg?itok=-7R0Exb2"}},"680627":{"id":"680627","type":"image","title":"IMG_1906.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERich Simmons, teaches energy production and consumption with The Footprint Project\u0027s solar trailor\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784562893","gmt_created":"2026-07-20 15:54:53","changed":"1784597502","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:31:42","alt":"Rich Simmons, teaches energy production and consumption using Footprint Project\u0027s Solar Trailor ","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 Hucker","file":{"fid":"264916","name":"IMG_1918-copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1918-copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1918-copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2602791,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1918-copy.jpg?itok=_A0EJ3y9"}},"680629":{"id":"680629","type":"image","title":"IMG_1978.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Unplugged camp participants presenting their group project\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784566760","gmt_created":"2026-07-20 16:59:20","changed":"1784597618","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:33:38","alt":"Energy Unplugged camp participants presenting their group project","file":{"fid":"264918","name":"IMG_1978.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1978.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1978.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3017113,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/20\/IMG_1978.jpg?itok=EKTNvzdb"}},"680630":{"id":"680630","type":"image","title":"IMG_2046-cropped.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA group project presented at the Energy Unplugged camp\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1784566885","gmt_created":"2026-07-20 17:01:25","changed":"1784597533","gmt_changed":"2026-07-21 01:32:13","alt":"A group project from the Energy Unplugged 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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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":""}},"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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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 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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":""}}}