No ticket is required, but a BuzzCard swipe is needed to participate.

• Attend in-person at the Petit Biotechnology Building (IBB) - Lunch provided, while supplies last
• Virtual link coming soon!

Join us for A-Town Showdown 2027 on February 6th!

• Attend in-person at the Petit Biotechnology Building (IBB) - Lunch provided, while supplies last
• Register Here to participate virtually

• Complete the five challenges below.
• Each challenge is worth 10 points.
• Complete all five on September 3rd for a 10-point bonus.
• 40 points = Ice Cream Ticket
• 50 points = ISyE Swag Giveaway Drawing Entry Ticket
• 60 points = Grand Prize Drawing Entry Ticket

Challenge 1:  Photo Quest (Worth: 10 Points)

Capture George Tower, study spaces/Collaborative Learning Space(s), student organizations, faculty member, at least three new ISyE students, CASE team member(s), Academic Office team member(s), XR Makerspace, and what you would consider the best view from the building.  Upload and tag gt_isye on Instagram to receive points for this challenge. See attached flyer for more information on how to upload. 

Challenge 2:  Club Crawl (Worth: 10 Points)

Visit Alpha Phi Mu, BISyE, IISE, Student Ambassadors, Supply Chain& Logistics Club, and WISyE.

Challenge 3:  Resource Rally (Worth: 10 Points)

Visit Academics (Advising, OR Master’s in IE, OR MSA, OR, PhD tables), CASE, ISyE XR Makerspace, and Faculty Undergraduate Research labs.

Challenge 4:  Did You Know? Discovery (Worth: 10 Points)

Collect fun facts from offices, labs, and organizations that you visit. You can continue to visit the Academic Office (houses Advising, Master’s and PhD in IE, MSA, and CASE) after the “kickoff” to find your “fun fact” throughout the week.

Challenge 5:  Leave Your Mark (Worth: 10 Points)

Complete the Achievement Board AND answer a prompt on the ISyE Wall.

We invite you to celebrate with us this fall at the Georgia Tech Naval Technology and Strategy Conference and Centennial Dinner. For more information on our events, join our mailing list, visit our website, or follow us on Instagram.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how we design, operate, and sustain critical infrastructure systems. In this BBISS Insights Series, Daniel Molzahn and Dr. Clint Loe (Trinnex) will draw from both academic research and industry practice to discuss AI-enabled approaches to enhance infrastructure resilience in response to evolving resource demands and climate impacts. This session will provide attendees with a timely perspective on the role of AI in building more adaptive, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure systems.

9 - 9:30 AM Breakfast Networking
9:30 - 10:30 AM Presentations
10:30 - 11 AM Panel Discussion

RSVP Here for BBISS Insights Series #1!

Upcoming BBISS Insights Series Events

Insight Series #2: AI for Climate Resilience
Wednesday, October 14th, 9 AM - 11 AM
Location TBD
RSVP Here to Stay Informed

Insight Series #3: Environmental Monitoring and Sensing
Date TBD
Location TBD
RSVP Here To Stay Informed

In this talk, Matthew E. Poehner, professor of applied linguistics and education and director of the Center for Language Acquisition at Pennsylvania State University, will introduce key ideas related to the ZPD and explore their implications for language teaching and learning.  

Drawing on research in sociocultural theory and dynamic assessment, Poehner will discuss how teachers can better understand learners’ abilities and provide appropriate support to promote language development, offering an accessible introduction to these concepts and considering their relevance to supporting diverse language learners in educational settings.  

The talk will be followed by discussion and an opportunity for students to engage with questions about language teaching, learning, and assessment.

This event is also a space to forge relationships between current students, GT alumni, and industry partners who value liberal arts talent. We hope to connect our amazing students with the many wonderful employer partners of the Georgia Tech and Atlanta communities.

Thesis Title: "Seed-Mediated Synthesis of Platinum-Based Nanocrystals for Electrocatalysis"

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Location: MoSE 1226, or Join via Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/240534290662733?p=mYK43lBGCInxPMQtah

Committee Members:

Prof. Younan Xia (Advisor) - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Prof. Angus P. Wilkinson - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Prof. Joseph Sadighi - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Prof. Nian Liu - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Yong Ding - School of Materials Science and Engineering

Date: Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM ET

In-person Location: CODA C0903 Midtown

Zoom: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/97270969399?pwd=XTTOoLyDVa6w8xOKXcTYLmq6I5YueA.1

Utkarsh Aashu Mishra

Ph.D. Student
Institute for Robotics & Intelligent Machines 
Georgia Institute of Technology

Committee:

Dr. Yongxin Chen (advisor) -- Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Danfei Xu (advisor) -- School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Harish Ravichandar -- School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Leslie Pack Kaelbling -- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dr. Yilun Du -- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

Abstract:

Long-horizon manipulation requires planning for many interdependent actions in sequence to satisfy a goal condition. Current robot-learning methods are limited along three axes: (a) Data: whole-task demonstrations are combinatorially expensive, so monolithic policies do not scale. (b) Inter-step dependencies: a locally optimal early action can make a later step infeasible, and errors compound. (c) Partial observability: an open-world scene is not fully known at planning time. The first part of this proposal develops a long-horizon planning framework that learns distributions of short-horizon behaviors using generative models and composes them at inference to generate long-horizon plans. The compositional generative modeling reasons about inter-step dependencies and goal reaching without any whole-task demonstrations. The second part extends this framework toward open-world planning along two directions: (i) it explores the compositional generalization of short-horizon models trained on a diverse set of real-world, manipulation-rich behaviors, and (ii) it adds a verification harness, an independent symbolic-geometric verifier that checks whether a proposed plan is geometrically executable before execution. Across both axes, the objective is to build a reliable framework that can replan and sufficiently generalize across behaviors and planning horizon: a composed plan should be a plausible real-world future prediction while satisfying the long-horizon goal under inter-step constraints.

*Refreshments: 12-12:30 PM, ES&T Atrium

Join researchers and clinicians from across the Georgia CTSA for a session on Space Research.

REGISTER HERE for virtual participation link.

Blue Sky Groups are unstructured meetings that provide a unique opportunity for attendees to drive the agenda and catalyze future collaborations and research opportunities.

The discussion will be opened by a panel discussion featuring five researchers from across the CTSA in this field: Thom Orlando, William Dynan, Binu Tharakan, Chunhui Xu, and Phillip Stancil.

Discussion topics may include, but are not limited to:

• What are the burning research questions in this area?
• What are the known funding opportunities?
• What are the cross-institutional collaborative research opportunities
  in this field?

Share your experience, learn from others, enjoy opportunities for interdisciplinary networking and find potential collaborators!

• One six-foot exhibit table, two chairs - electricity available upon request
• Event promotion across campus and throughout Georgia Tech's bio community
• One complimentary parking pass per vendor company registration (to be used in the Area 5 Visitor Parking Deck only)
• Lunch vouchers at IBB's Bob's Café for up to two company representatives

Note

• Exhibit tables are limited, a maximum of two company representatives may attend per vendor registration
• A maximum of three exhibitor tables per company/organization will be accepted*
  • *Additional Table Availability: If exhibitor tables remain unsold two weeks prior to the event (beginning Oct. 14, 2026), any remaining tables will be released for open registration. At that time, companies that have already reached the three-table limit may register for additional exhibitor tables on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.
• Proceeds support the annual operations of the Bioengineering and Bioscience Unified Graduate Students (BBUGS)

Raffle Contribution Request:
Each exhibitor is encouraged to donate a promotional item (valued under $75) for attendee drawings throughout the event. 

The JMHP first-year retreat is scheduled for August 17 - 18, 2026.

The Leadership for Social Good Study Abroad Program combines academic learning with hands-on experience across Central and Eastern Europe. Through coursework, engagement with social sector leaders and organizations, and an international internship in Budapest, students explore complex social challenges and learn what it takes to create meaningful and sustainable social impact.

Working in teams with a nonprofit organization or social enterprise, students apply their skills to a real-world organizational challenge while building their leadership, problem-solving, cross-cultural collaboration, and professional capabilities. The experience prepares students to navigate complex challenges and create social value - whether their future takes them into the private, public, or nonprofit sector.

As an added benefit, all 12 credit hours earned through the program count toward Georgia Tech's Leadership Studies Minor (Business Track), fulfilling 12 of the minor's 15 required credit hours. Students who successfully complete the study abroad program therefore need just one additional three-credit course to complete the minor.

Check out our program video and read about the program's impact from this past summer.

Scholarships are available - see our website for all relevant details, including eligibility criteria.

If you have questions, email the Program Director, Dr. Dori Pap, at dori.pap@ilsi.gatech.edu.

Tickets drop WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26TH at 12PM NOON. Don’t forget to set a reminder so you can get Early Bird Student tickets at $26. Once these sell out, general student admission is $32 ($35 day-of event). Staff/faculty/alumni/guest admission is $39 ($42 day-of). 

Questions or need to reserve accessibility assistance? Email atlantalife@scpc.gatech.edu

Berlin is a growing Tech Hub in Europe, home to innovative companies and research institutions, and host to tech meetups, hackathons, and conferences. With focus on entrepreneurship and start-up culture, this program is a great option if you are a CM major, if your CS Threads are Intelligence or Information-Internetworks, or if you’re doing the Create-X: Idea-To-Protype Junior Design option.

Review the attached flyer and email berlin@cc.gatech.edu for questions. Application deadline: December 1st in Atlas.

We invite you to study abroad this summer with the College of Computing! Take 12 GT credit hours while immersing yourself in the exciting environments of Barcelona.

Email barcelona@cc.gatech.edu for questions. Application deadline: December 1st in Atlas.

Design and Techno-Economic Analysis of PV Powered Irrigation System: Case Study in
Rwanda

Abstract: 

The agriculture sector is a major economic driver for Africa. However, climatic change is driving severe disruption across Africa, causing prolonged dry seasons and erratic rainfall. As a result, farmers are facing lower farming yield. To mitigate this serious challenge, farmers must adopt modern and green technologies, like solar irrigation. To show the potential of solar irrigation system to mitigate this critical problem, a research project has been developed with the collaboration of Georgia Tech, University of Rwanda and Adama Science and Technology University. The project aims at developing a PV irrigation system that integrates IoT and controllers for real-time monitoring of the performance of the PV-irrigation system and for optimizing water conservation. This project is envisioned to be a prototype model for further scaling up the deployment of PV-irrigation systems in Africa to enhance sustainable agricultural. 
As part of the whole project, this seminar focuses more on the design and economic assessment of the system for a particular village in Rwanda.

Bio: 

Getachew Biru Worku obtained his MSC and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Dresden University of 
Technology, Germany. He has more than 30 years of academic and research experience in academic institutions and industry. He has extensive experience in teaching a broad range of electrical engineering courses with excellent feedback and acknowledgements from faculties and students. He has been lecturing courses such as Power Quality and Reliability, Power System Operation and Control, High Voltage Engineering, Power System Analysis, Power Transmission and Distribution Engineering, Electrical Machines Design, Smart Grid and Traction Power System in various Ethiopian Universities and University of Rwanda. He is currently employed as an associate professor at the University of Rwanda giving lectures and advising postgraduate students. He is a dedicated researcher in renewable energy deployment focusing on reliability of off-grid and microgrids to bring sustainable electrical power to the underserved areas. His research areas are electrical power and renewable energy and has authored and co-authored more than 45 papers in peer-reviewed journals. 

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

Join us every Friday that classes are in session for the Plant Library. We open 3:30 - 4:30 pm to plant seeds, take cuttings, nurture plants, and distribute plants that are ready to take home. We are working on something different each week — come get your hands dirty!

We welcome everyone to join us in our second semester of the Plant Library! Drop in to help us care for the plants in our inventory and create new plants for distribution through planting seeds and taking propagations. 

We usually have a variety of houseplants for you to take home. Inventory varies!

We accept donations of seeds, whole plants, propagations, decorative pots, potting mix, and gardening tools. 

Through a partnership with the Atlanta Botanical Garden, we recycle their used nursery pots, so we are not accepting donations of nursery pots at this time.


https://sites.gatech.edu/plantlibrary/

We'll be located in the LLC West Commons Classroom, in the Curran Street parking deck (across the street from the Eighth Street Apartments, enter under the blue GT awning). Come with plenty of questions!

RSVP via Suitable here.

Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM EST

Location: Caddell Building, Conference Room 212 & Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Meeting Link: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/275012286837302?p=tYjHzReQ3Ao5blaC1O

Meeting ID: 275 012 286 837 302

Passcode: fg7aW3gx

Committee:

• Dr. Ebenezer Fanijo – School of Building Construction, Georgia Tech. (Advisor)
• Dr. Baabak Ashuri – School of Building Construction and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Tech.
• Dr. Georg Reichard – School of Building Construction, Georgia Tech.
• Dr. Valerie Thomas – School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and School of Public Policy, Georgia Tech.
• Dr. Moe Sharbaf – EP Power Minerals.

Title: Performance Evaluation of Geopolymer Mixes with Alternative Precursors: Mechanical, Microstructural, Durability, and Sustainability Insights

Abstract

Geopolymers, synthesized through the alkali activation of aluminosilicate precursors, have emerged as promising alternatives to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) because of their potential for lower carbon emissions, competitive mechanical and durability performance, and enhanced resistance to elevated temperatures. Geopolymer are a family of alumino-silicate binders, which is the result of an inorganic polycondensation reaction; a so-called geopolymerisation. Such reaction yields an amorphous to semicrystalline three-dimensional aluminosilicate frameworks with the general empirical formula of Mn{−(SiO2)z–AlO2−}n. wH20 - where M is a charge-balancing cation (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺, or Ca²⁺), n is the degree of polycondensation, and z is the Si/Al molar ratio governing geopolymer concrete properties – similar to conventional cement. Although established geopolymer cement commonly rely on aluminosilicate precursors such as fly ash (FA), ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), and metakaolin (MK), each precursor presents distinct limitations related to reactivity, material availability, compositional variability, cost, as well as environmental sustainability and optimization. For instance, FA shows source-dependent compositional variability - reporting up to 25% variation in strength across FA sources, and slow ambient-cured strength development, while GGBFS, despite high reactivity, can exhibit drying shrinkage 2–3 times that of OPC. MK provides more consistent reactivity but has high liquid demand and requires energy-intensive calcination (600–900 °C). Supply is also increasingly constrained: U.S. FA production declined by ~68% from 2002 to 2024, while the shift toward electric-arc-furnace steelmaking reduces availability of GGBFS. These limitations motivate hybrid geopolymer systems combining abundant natural and industrial precursors to exploit complementary physicochemical properties while mitigating individual precursor deficiencies. Analogous to the multi-component strategy of limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), optimized precursor combinations could achieve competitive engineering performance with reduced environmental and economic burdens. Therefore, this study establishes a pathway for translating alternative geopolymer precursors into construction-ready concrete, beginning with precursor reactivity and reaction mechanisms, followed by systematic mixture design, performance and durability validation, and environmental and economic evaluation. Ultimately, these efforts aim to identify a technically robust, low-impact, and cost-competitive binder with demonstrated potential for field implementation.

Toward this goal, a state-of-the-art review was first conducted to synthesize recent advances in the selection and application of commonly used geopolymer precursors, including FA, GGBFS, and MK, with particular emphasis on their chemical composition and reactivity, geopolymerization mechanisms, microstructural evolution, engineering performance, and system-level sustainability, as well as the key physicochemical factors governing their early-age behavior and long-term durability. The findings showed that performance is particularly governed by the combined effects of precursor chemistry, activator composition, and curing conditions, with FA- and GGBFS-based systems exhibiting distinct reaction pathways dominated by N–A–S–H and C–A–S–H generations, respectively. While both systems demonstrated mechanical and durability performance comparable to or better than OPC, GGBFS-based geopolymer generally exhibited lower energy demand and emissions. Importantly, the review highlighted the role of calcium-rich chemistry in GGBFS-based geopolymer promote C–A–S–H formation and strength development. Together with the need to reduce dependence on conventional precursors, this finding motivated the exploration of alternative calcium-rich industrial materials such as calcium carbide residue (CCR).

Informed by this review, the first research work investigates CCR, a high-calcium by-product of acetylene production, as a supplementary precursor to partially replace GGBFS and MK in binary and ternary geopolymer binder systems. The goal is to develop a blended geopolymer using an abundant Ca-rich precursor to reduce GGBFS demand while enhancing precursor reactivity and engineering performance while minimizing reliance on FA and MK. Findings showed that selected CCR replacement levels, particularly at lower dosage, achieved strengths comparable to the GGBFS control, while ternary CCR–MK blends retained 96–99% of the control 28-day strength. Microstructural analysis revealed that CCR promoted the formation of hybrid reaction products, while its combination with MK facilitated matrix densification and the development of a more refined geopolymer microstructure. At 20% CCR replacement, embodied carbon decreased from 574.6 to 560.6 kg CO₂-e/m³, while material cost decreased by approximately 6%.  These findings demonstrated that CCR can be valorized as a Ca-rich supplementary material to reduce GGBFS consumption, embodied carbon, and material cost while maintaining performance. However, CCR availability is inherently linked to calcium-carbide-based acetylene production, resulting in regional supply constraints and potentially higher transportation costs and motivating the investigation of more widely available natural precursors. More fundamentally, the changes in reaction products and microstructural development observed with alternative precursor substitution demonstrate that replacing conventional precursors can significantly alter geopolymerization pathways. This highlights a critical knowledge gap in how precursor chemistry controls dissolution kinetics and, consequently, gel formation and long-term network development.

Furthermore, a second mechanistic study, guided by computational modeling, was conducted to establish the relationship between precursor dissolution rate and kinetics and the subsequent evolution and reorganization of the geopolymer network. Real-time measurements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) showed rapid early dissolution of Al and Si, with initial rates of approximately 0.605 and 4.697 μmol L⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively, followed by a transition toward polycondensation. Multiscale characterization further revealed progressive gel growth and surface densification, with surface roughness decreasing by approximately 39% by 7 days and the Si/Al ratio stabilizing at about 1.7 – 1.8 as a dense and chemically stable N–A–S–H network developed. These findings showed that early dissolution behavior directly influences subsequent gel chemistry and structural development, providing reaction-level insight for selecting and combining precursors in the hybrid system.

This understanding motivated a hybrid precursor system combining highly reactive MK with lower-energy pumice and limestone powder (LP) as the third research objective. MK provides readily available Si and Al, while pumice supplies additional aluminosilicates for continued polycondensation and LP contributes Ca alongside filler and nucleation effects. Their complementary chemistry promotes interactions between N–A–S–H and Ca-containing gels, providing a basis for optimizing reaction kinetics, microstructural development, engineering performance, and overall binder sustainability. To systematically evaluate precursor interactions across the ternary composition space, a full-range augmented simplex lattice design was deployed to establish composition–property relationships for flowability, compressive strength, sorptivity, and drying shrinkage. Multi-response optimization identified a balanced mixture containing approximately 7.4% MK, 75.6% pumice, and 17.0% LP. Experimental validation yielded 106.25% flowability, 3.62 ksi 28-day compressive strength, 0.0447 mm/√s sorptivity, and 0.056% drying shrinkage. Life-cycle assessment showed a GWP of ~374 kg CO₂-e/m³, compared with 543 and 689 kg CO₂-e/m³ for MK-based GPC and OPC, respectively, demonstrating the environmental benefit of increased pumice and LP substitution. However, transport and dimensional-stability responses were highly composition-dependent, with sorptivity varying by >13-fold (0.0062–0.0823 mm/√s) and drying shrinkage by >3-fold (0.042–0.134%), contributing to larger prediction errors during model validation.

To reduce variability and prediction errors in the initial optimization, the composition space around the initial optimized mixture composition was refined to 5–20% MK, 70–85% pumice, and 10–25% LP, leading to the fourth research goal focused on refining and validating the optimized ternary system. This constrained optimization targets <10% deviation between predicted and experimental responses while identifying a mixture with improved overall performance, including the flowability, compressive strength, sorptivity, and drying shrinkage. The optimized system subsequently undergo integrated life-cycle and techno-economic assessments (LCA- TEA), benchmarked against conventional geopolymer systems to evaluate its environmental impact, production cost, and circular economy. The optimized mixture (9.8% MK, 77.1% pumice, 13.1% LP) achieved 105.48% flowability, 3.83 ksi 28-day strength, 0.042 mm/√s sorptivity, and 0.057% drying shrinkage, with prediction errors of 0.30–5.80%. XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDS attributed this balanced performance to a dense, silica-rich hybrid C-(N)-A-S-H matrix with moderate Ca incorporation. Compared with conventional geopolymer systems, the mixture demonstrated competitive engineering performance while reducing cost to $286.30/m³ (58.8% below MK-based GPC) and GWP to 378.3 kg CO₂-eq/m³ (30.4% and 10.9% below MK- and slag-based systems, respectively). Strength-normalized analysis further demonstrated improved cost and carbon efficiency relative to MK- and FA-based systems.

Finally, future work will advance the final optimized binder toward field and application-scale validation as a repair or overlay /concrete pavement. Bond performance with existing concrete will be evaluated through pull-off testing in accordance with ASTM C1583 and slant-shear testing based on ASTM C882, together with other durability testing, to determine its suitability for practical repair and overlay applications. Overall, this research progresses from understanding conventional and alternative precursor behavior to mechanism-informed, sustainability-guided mixture development, optimization, and application-scale validation, with the goal of advancing technically viable, lower-carbon geopolymer binders for practical construction applications.

Join faculty from across the Georgia CTSA for an energetic and dynamic virtual networking session!

Title: Generative Artificial Intelligence for Uncertainty Quantification

Abstract: Generative artificial intelligence models—including variational autoencoders, normalizing flows, generative adversarial networks, and diffusion models—have dramatically advanced the realism and quality of generated images, text, and audio. Beyond these tasks, generative models hold great promise as powerful tools for probability density estimation and high-dimensional sampling, which are central to uncertainty quantification (UQ) tasks such as amortized Bayesian inference and data assimilation. However, while research on image synthesis emphasizes producing high-quality individual samples, UQ applications require accurate approximation of statistical quantities of interest rather than visually realistic samples. As a result, direct application of existing generative models to UQ problems can lead to biased approximations or unstable training. In this talk, we will introduce several new generative approaches tailored to UQ. These include training-free diffusion models for density estimation, a score-based nonlinear filter for data assimilation, and training-free conditional diffusion models for amortized Bayesian inference. We will demonstrate their effectiveness across a range of tasks, including density estimation for unimodal and multimodal distributions, learning stochastic dynamical systems, parameter estimation via amortized inference, and scalable data assimilation for atmospheric models.

Bio: Dr. Guannan Zhang is a Distinguished Staff Scientist in Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He earned my Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Florida State University in 2012. He joined ORNL in 2012 as the Householder fellow. He received the DOE Early Career Award in 2022. Guannan's research interests include high-dimensional approximation, uncertainty quantification, machine learning and artificial intelligence, stochastic methods for scientific inverse problems. 

Meetings are open to Members, Guests, Sponsors, Partners, and presenting Entrepreneurs from any of our Keiretsu Forum Global chapters and regions.

Due to SEC 506(c) regulations guests MUST pre-register to attend our meetings.

Please join us in helping clean up the garden by weeding. Gloves will be supplied, but please wear close-toed shoes and bring reusable water bottle!

Ngoc Phuong Dung Ho
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Advisor: Advisor: James C. Gumbart (School of Physics)

Open to the Community

Across Scales of Regulation: Decoding How Small Molecules Reshape Protein Dynamics, Assembly, and Phase Separation
Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm 

Howey Physics Building, Room W401

Committee Members:

Jeffrey Skolnick (School of Biological Sciences)

Andrew McShan (School of Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Nael A. McCarty (Emory University)

Abstract:

Small molecules modulate essential biological processes across diverse spatial and temporal scales, from regulating intramolecular channel gating to remodeling dynamic oligomeric interfaces and dictating the mesoscale material properties of biomolecular condensates. Although structural biology has resolved numerous therapeutic binding pockets, static structures alone cannot explain how ligand binding alters the dynamic conformational ensembles that govern functional outcomes. This thesis establishes an integrated computational and biophysical framework which combines all-atom molecular dynamics, machine-learning-assisted conformational sampling, coarse-grained modeling, and experimental validation to decode small-molecule regulation across distinct biological hierarchies. By elucidating potentiator-driven gating in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channels, targeting transient dimer interfaces in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and resolving drug-induced single-chain collapse in fused in sarcoma (FUS) condensates, this work connects atomistic conformational shifts to emergent mesoscale organization, providing rational principles to accelerate targeted therapeutic discovery.

Committee:

Dr. Alexandros Daglis, CS, Chair, Advisor

Dr. Moinuddin Qureshi, ECE

Dr. Ada Gavrilovska, CoC

Dr. Richard Vuduc, CSE

Dr. Jovan Stojkovic, UT Austin

Committee:

Dr. Ali Adibi, ECE, Chair, Advisor

Dr. Stephen Ralph, ECE

Dr. Benjamin Klein, ECE

Dr. John Cressler, ECE

Dr. Phillip First, Physics

Committee:

Dr. Matthieu Bloch, ECE, Chair, Advisor

Dr. John Barry, ECE

Dr. Viveck Cadambe, ECE

Dr. Yanbao Zhang, ORNL

Dr. Robert Clark, Physics

Strang and Patel will discuss how manufacturers can leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) and what connected technologies mean for the future of manufacturing.

Friday, August 28, 2026
12:00 p.m.
GTMI, Room 114

Students interested in manufacturing, engineering, computing, technology, and the future of connected products are encouraged to attend.

Register here!

Tickets are free-see you there!

Host: Dr. Matthew Liska

Title: Multimessenger Modeling of Supermassive Binary Black Holes with Next-Generation GRMHD Simulations

 Abstract:                                                                                                                                       Supermassive binary black holes (SMBBHs) are expected to be excellent mHz gravitational wave (GW) sources that also emit across the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. However, electromagnetically identifying SMBBHs to prepare for and complement future GW observations remains a fundamental challenge facing our field. In this talk, I will discuss our efforts to self-consistently model multimessenger emission from SMBBHs during their late inspiral through merger with state-of-the-art numerical simulations in full general relativity. I will describe smoking-gun synchrotron emission from eccentric SMBBHs, the importance of magnetic reconnection and eruptions in shaping the accretion flow near the binary, the potential for a magnetically arrested cavity, and the longest general-relativistic simulation of SMBBH accretion to date. Finally, I will outline our efforts to develop a next-generation, GPU-accelerated code to model SMBBH accretion with radiation transport at unprecedented resolutions and durations.

Event details:

• Date: September 17, 2026
• Time: 3 PM - 7 PM
• Location: Renewable Bioproducts Institute (RBI)
• Hosted by: TAPPI student chapter

 Event will be fully catered. Bring your resume/CV. 

Student can RSVP here: https://forms.gle/zAGbEDMwWjCJ2K169

Feel free to share this information with your peers and colleagues who may benefit from attending. We look forward to seeing you there.

• Basic teamwork concepts
• Best practices when bringing your first team together
• How to manage and leverage conflict
• Building interdisciplinary collaboration
• Handling team member change/exit

Team consult opportunity:
Our Team Science Skills presenters have graciously opened their schedules to provide a limited amount of attendees with direct feedback and guidance on their personal team issues. During a one-hour consulting session, attendees will be able to directly ask our experts questions and get personalized advice on how to effectively move their team forward. Requesters must attend the full session and complete the post-evaluation survey to be eligible.

Direct inquiries to connect@ibb.gatech.edu

The event celebrates the artists participating in Chalk the Walk, taking place Oct. 21 – 23. Artists will transform 9-by-9-foot sections of sidewalk leading to the Library into a vibrant outdoor gallery celebrating literature and art.

Participants will select a favorite book and create either an artistic rendition of its cover or a reimagined interpretation using sidewalk chalk.

Registration is open through Oct. 8. To submit a book cover concept and sketch, click here. Approved participants will receive space assignments Oct. 17.

Artists will create their work Oct. 21 – 23, transforming a highly visible campus pathway into a temporary public art installation that celebrates creativity, reading, visual storytelling, and Georgia Tech spirit.

Finished works will remain on display throughout Homecoming Week, weather permitting.

Chalk the Walk is a collaboration between the Georgia Tech Library and Georgia Tech Arts.

Participants will connect with startup resources and other innovators from Georgia Tech and across the Southeast. Deep-tech, academically affiliated teams that successfully complete the cohort may be considered for funding and recommendation to the national NSF I-Corps Teams Program.

Two selected Georgia Tech teams may also be eligible to receive up to $2,500 in awards.

Join the virtual information session to learn about the cohort, eligibility, program expectations and application process.

Register for the virtual information session: https://tinyurl.com/eebz6rfe

Apply for the cohort: https://forms.gle/RGTPvtixaxBHH8HLA

Topics will include:

• Current projects and priorities within their area
• Strategic initiatives that may be of interest to attendees
• Opportunities for faculty engagement and involvement
• Key funding opportunities, partnerships, or collaborative efforts that faculty should be aware of

Whether you are already engaged in sustainability-focused work or are interested in connecting with colleagues addressing sustainability challenges from a variety of disciplines, we invite you to join us and build new relationships across the Georgia Tech community.

Register here 

Program Courses:

• CS 4001 – Computing & Society (Ethics Credit) - Students will critically examine how issues around technology, such as globalization, bias, privacy, and others, affect people worldwide.

• CS 3751 – Intro to User Interface Design - Students will explore culturally situated approaches to design and, through the course project, create an inventive design artifact.

Apply HERE. Email indiaprogram@cc.gatech.edu for questions.

Program Courses:

• CS 4001 – Computing & Society (Ethics Credit) - Students will critically examine how issues around technology, such as globalization, bias, privacy, and others, affect people worldwide.

• CS 3751 – Intro to User Interface Design - Students will explore culturally situated approaches to design and, through the course project, create an inventive design artifact.

Apply HERE. Email indiaprogram@cc.gatech.edu for questions and to find out more about upcoming Info Sessions.