These sessions are designed to hear from you, and favor strong audience participation. Rather than a formal presentation, they invite participants to share their thoughts, ideas and priorities. Members of the Presidential Search Committee will be there to listen, learn, and gain valuable insight from the community.

The first session will be held Wednesday, August 12, from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. in the room 370, George Tower | Scheller Tower (55 5th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30332). No RSVP is required to attend. 
Participants may also register to participate virtually. 

Multiple sessions are planned; details will be added as they are finalized. If you are unable to attend in person, a virtual option will be available for every session so you can participate from anywhere. We encourage you to join us in this important search.

Host: Dr. Itamar Kolvin

Title: Learning Force Laws in Many-Body Systems

Abstract:

Scientific laws describing natural systems may be more complex than our intuition can handle, thus how we discover laws must change. Machine learning (ML) models can analyze large quantities of data, but their structure should match the underlying physical constraints to provide useful insight. While progress has been made using simulated data where the underlying physics is known, training and validating ML models on experimental data requires fundamentally new approaches. Here we demonstrate and experimentally validate an ML approach that incorporates physical intuition to infer force laws in dusty plasma, a complex, many-body system. In our laboratory dusty plasma, micron-sized, charged particles are levitated in a low-density argon plasma. We image the system using high-speed tomography and track individual particles for minutes. Using the 3D particle trajectories as training data, the ML model accounts for inherent symmetries, non-identical particles, and learns the effective non-reciprocal forces between particles with exquisite accuracy (R^2>0.99). We validate the model by inferring particle masses in two independent yet consistent ways. The model's accuracy enables precise measurements of particle charge and screening length, discovering violations of common theoretical assumptions. Our ability to identify new physics from experimental data demonstrates how ML-powered approaches can guide new routes of scientific discovery in many-body systems. Furthermore, we anticipate our ML approach to be a starting point for inferring laws from dynamics in a wide range of many-body systems, from colloids to living organisms.

Bio: Justin Burton received his B.S. in Physics from the University of Cincinnati in 2001, followed by a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Irvine in 2006. He then completed postdoctoral research at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Chicago before joining Emory University’s Department of Physics in 2013, where he is currently a Professor of Physics. His honors include selection as a Gordon and Betty Moore Experimental Physics Investigator, election as a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and an NSF CAREER Award. Burton’s experimental, interdisciplinary lab explores a broad spectrum of complex and nonequilibrium phenomena, with ongoing projects on interfacial and nanoscale fluid dynamics, machine learning approaches to many-body dusty plasma dynamics, and “soft earth” geophysics. Beyond research, he leads several K 12 STEM outreach and education initiatives throughout the Atlanta region.

Our distinguished guests share their perspectives, examine local and global trends, delve into the nuances of leadership, and illuminate the interconnectedness of our changing business world. You’re invited to join us for a dynamic convergence of minds where ideas take center stage.

In this session, Dean Anuj Mehrotra will be joined by Jaime Gilinski, CEO of Grupo Nutresa. A Georgia Tech industrial engineering alumnus, IE '78, Gilinski brings decades of experience leading transformative growth across Latin America and international markets. He will share insights on value-driven investing, global leadership, and navigating cross-cultural business environments. Gilinski will also share leadership lessons from his far-reaching career and his perspective on developing leaders equipped to drive innovation and lasting impact across borders.

Our Tech Talks Business audience consists of industry leaders, working professionals, faculty, staff, alumni, and students. Our student and alumni audience – from Scheller College and across the Institute – are among the most engaged. At the end of the session, Jaime will have the opportunity to engage directly with the audience during a brief Q&A.

View Jaime Gilinski's Bio
 

• A live DJ from WREK 91.1
• Private-room karaoke
• Movies
• Team trivia with prizes
• Board and video games
• Personalized posters in the Multimedia Scholarship Commons
• Hands-on papermaking activities with the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking

Led by the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking, this workshop will explore an early form of cameraless photography known as the cyanotype. Using paper pre-coated with a mixture of chemicals, sunlight, and plants, participants will create their own cyanotypes.

After creating an individual cyanotype, participants will collaborate on a large group piece. 

Participants will also learn about the history of cyanotypes, from the technique's invention and earliest photographic applications to contemporary paper artists who create artwork using this process.

All materials are provided.

This workshop is open to Georgia Tech students, staff, and faculty. It will be held in the Wilby Room (Room G-120) in Crosland Tower, near Blue Donkey Coffee.

Registration is required.

Register at Fall 2026 Digital Accessibility Training Series Registration.

Register at Fall 2026 Digital Accessibility Training Series Registration.

The Georgia Tech Library's Gaming Collection offers access to the latest titles for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, providing a fun and engaging outlet in the Library.

Games will be available on multiple screens throughout the space, including the large, curved screen that spans the IMZ.

Play fan favorites from the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Dreamcast, including Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Soulcalibur, and more.

Bring your friends, challenge fellow players, and kick off the semester with some retro gaming fun.

Attendees should register through the Genius LMS, using the "GT Login" button. Click on "View Course Catalog", then enter "RCR" in the search bar to view the current RCR workshop sessions. You can view information about each class (including class times) by clicking on "more info".  To register for a class, click on "Register", then "Proceed to Checkout" (there is no cost for the sessions). Then click on "Confirm". You will receive a confirmation email with a calendar file. You will need to follow instructions given to you during the session in order to receive RCR in-person contact hour credit for attending.

Authorship
📅 Thursday, August 27
🕚 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
📍Parker H. Petit Biotechnology Building (IBB) -  Suddath Seminar Room 1128

For more information about the RCR Workshop Series, including additional dates/sessions offered, refer to RCR Workshops and Events and Workshop FAQs.

The Bench2Market Talks series is created to provide commercialization guidance to the university research community. For more details on the series, visit our website.

Blending painting, virtual reality, and digital media, Biophilia invites visitors to experience nature as more than a landscape—encouraging reflection on the living connections between people and the natural world through immersive and interactive media.

Supported by a GT Arts 2025–26 Catalyst Grant, the exhibition highlights the innovative, interdisciplinary work made possible through GT Arts' investment in creative research and artistic exploration.

Visit the exhibition page for hours and additional information.