{"689280":{"#nid":"689280","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Potential of Data Center Energy","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/matthew-liska\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Liska\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology) explores the growing role of data centers in providing flexibility, the ability to shift or reduce electricity use in response to grid conditions, to the electric grid as renewable energy penetration and AI-driven computing demand surge. The authors highlight that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade, presenting both challenges and opportunities for grid stability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe paper examines various strategies for enhancing the flexibility of data center energy use. One approach is to use backup power systems, such as uninterruptible power supplies, to support the grid during emergencies. Another method involves rerouting computing jobs to different data centers in other locations to balance energy demand. The authors also discuss implementing smart scheduling techniques that shift workloads to off-peak hours, reducing strain on the grid. Additionally, they highlight adjusting processor speeds by lowering CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) clock rates to limit power consumption when needed. Finally, the paper suggests pre-cooling data center equipment to limit the energy required for cooling during peak demand periods. Notably, experimental evidence shows that underclocking GPUs can cut power consumption by 40% with only a 22% performance loss, suggesting technical feasibility for demand-response interventions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite these technical options, the authors find that real-world cost considerations and reliability concerns limit widespread adoption. Data center operators generally do not change their behavior in response to electricity prices, as job revenue far outweighs energy costs under normal conditions. For example, a GPU rented at $2 per hour consumes only $0.04 worth of electricity at average prices, making curtailment unattractive except during extreme price spikes. Surveys indicate that operators are reluctant to compromise reliability or deploy backup systems for ancillary services. Consequently, price-based incentives alone are unlikely to drive meaningful flexibility.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/\u0022\u003ERead more on the EPIcenter Webpage\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/\u0022\u003EListen to a podcast on the research here\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/constance-crozier\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConstance Crozier\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/matthew-liska\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMatthew Liska\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology) explores the growing role of data centers in providing flexibility, the ability to shift or reduce electricity use in response to grid conditions, to the electric grid as renewable energy penetration and AI-driven computing demand surge. The authors highlight that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade, presenting both challenges and opportunities for grid stability.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A recent review by EPIcenter faculty affiliate highlights that data centers, particularly those supporting high-performance computing and AI workloads, are projected to consume nearly 10% of U.S. electricity by the end of the decade."}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:00:21","changed_gmt":"2026-03-31 19:08:59","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679804":{"id":"679804","type":"image","title":"PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1774983673","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 19:01:13","changed":"1774983673","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 19:01:13","alt":"Adobe Stock image showing solar panels, wind mills and energy storage units in a desert-like landscape with the sun setting in the background","file":{"fid":"264008","name":"PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1531847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/PotentialofDatacenterEnergy-AdobeStock_248626760.jpeg?itok=VE5-39Gn"}}},"media_ids":["679804"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/2026\/03\/24\/the-potential-of-data-center-energy\/","title":"Full Story on the EPIcenter Webpage"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ggonzalez68@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGilbert Gonzalez\u003C\/a\u003E, EPIcenter\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689114":{"#nid":"689114","#data":{"type":"news","title":"ATDC Startups Secure Rare  FDA \u2018Breakthrough Device\u2019 Status ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s\u0026nbsp;uncommon\u0026nbsp;for any startup to receive the Food and\u0026nbsp;Drug\u0026nbsp;Administration\u2019s\u202f(FDA) Breakthrough Devices\u202fdesignation.\u0026nbsp;For the\u0026nbsp;roughly 40%\u0026nbsp;of applicants who receive the designation, it\u0026nbsp;shows that\u0026nbsp;the technology has real potential to improve patient outcomes and should get priority attention from the agency.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAdvanced Technology Development Center\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(ATDC)\u0026nbsp;in Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eannounced two of its\u0026nbsp;health technology\u0026nbsp;(HealthTech) portfolio\u0026nbsp;companies,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nephrodite.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ENephrodite\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.orthopreserve.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOrthoPreserve\u003C\/a\u003E, earned\u0026nbsp;the designation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAchieving this rare milestone\u0026nbsp;underscores\u0026nbsp;the caliber of founders, science, and support in ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;30-company\u0026nbsp;HealthTech\u0026nbsp;portfolio, the incubator\u2019s largest focus\u0026nbsp;area.\u0026nbsp;It\u2019s\u0026nbsp;also a\u0026nbsp;win for\u0026nbsp;Georgia\u0026nbsp;because it\u0026nbsp;reflects\u0026nbsp;the strength of the state\u2019s\u0026nbsp;health\u0026nbsp;innovation\u0026nbsp;ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis designation is one of the strongest signals the FDA gives that\u0026nbsp;a technology\u0026nbsp;could change the\u0026nbsp;standard of care,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Greg Jungles, HealthTech catalyst at\u0026nbsp;ATDC.\u0026nbsp;\u201cFor ATDC to\u0026nbsp;have two in the same year is remarkable.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u202fBreakthrough Device\u202fProgram\u0026nbsp;doesn\u2019t\u0026nbsp;waive evidence requirements, but it\u202faccelerates learning\u202fwith the FDA, ATDC\u2019s Jungles said. \u201cThat means shorter response times,\u202fmore frequent meetings, and\u202fprioritized review. Teams avoid dead ends and align earlier on study designs and endpoints.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor the founders\u0026nbsp;of both startups,\u0026nbsp;their technologies\u0026nbsp;come one step closer to moving their innovations to market.\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;technology\u0026nbsp;improves\u0026nbsp;the lives of dialysis\u0026nbsp;patients.\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;device addresses challenges faced by\u0026nbsp;those who suffer from chronic knee pain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENephrodite: Advancing Continuous Artificial Kidney Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDr. Nikhil\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;and Dr. Hiep Nguyen,\u0026nbsp;cofounders\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite, aim\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;improve\u0026nbsp;care for dialysis patients\u0026nbsp;with end-stage kidney disease\u0026nbsp;who need transplants. These patients\u0026nbsp;often\u0026nbsp;spend\u0026nbsp;three to four hours in a\u0026nbsp;dialysis\u0026nbsp;clinic\u0026nbsp;up to\u0026nbsp;three times a week. Being\u0026nbsp;tethered to stationary machines\u0026nbsp;with needles\u0026nbsp;drawing blood via arm grafts\u0026nbsp;complicates\u0026nbsp;everyday\u0026nbsp;activities\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;from work\u0026nbsp;tasks\u0026nbsp;to the ability to travel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDialysis addresses chronic kidney disease, which means kidneys no longer work properly. The treatments filter out toxins,\u0026nbsp;waste, and other fluids in the blood. Kidney disease\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/kidney-disease\/ckd-facts\/index.html\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ecosts Medicare\u0026nbsp;$124.5 billion\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And those costs are expected to rise because of increasing rates of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDialysis, while lifesaving\u0026nbsp;when it was pioneered\u0026nbsp;in 1952, is incredibly burdensome,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;Besides being\u0026nbsp;a long process\u0026nbsp;that keeps the patient in a fixed location,\u0026nbsp;it\u2019s\u0026nbsp;physically tiring.\u0026nbsp;\u201cTaking out your blood\u0026nbsp;continually\u0026nbsp;many, many times over, and over the course of four hours\u0026nbsp;is the equivalent of running\u0026nbsp;the Boston Marathon, hitting the finish line, and then someone saying, \u2018You\u0027re not done;\u0026nbsp;go do\u0026nbsp;it again,\u2019\u0026nbsp;\u201d\u0026nbsp;he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA surgeon by training,\u0026nbsp;with\u0026nbsp;expertise\u0026nbsp;in transplantation and oncology, Shah\u0026nbsp;is also an adjunct associate professor\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;Tech\u2019s School of Interactive Computing. He\u0026nbsp;worked with\u0026nbsp;Nguyen\u0026nbsp;to develop a\u0026nbsp;continuously\u0026nbsp;functioning mechanical artificial kidney, leading to\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;formation.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;FDA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;breakthrough designation\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;its\u0026nbsp;artificial kidney\u0026nbsp;allows the company\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;pursue approvals to\u0026nbsp;begin tests in\u0026nbsp;human trials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe company traces its beginnings to a German aerospace facility outside Munich,\u0026nbsp;where\u0026nbsp;Nguyen and\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;watched engineers\u0026nbsp;demonstrate\u0026nbsp;a pediatric artificial heart\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.berlinheart.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBerlin Heart\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat\u2019s\u0026nbsp;how we got started,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cSeeing\u0026nbsp;an artificial heart that led us to\u0026nbsp;think about doing this for kidneys\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;because the kidney space has been largely ignored for 70 years.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBacked by a German federal grant,\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u0026nbsp;grew, moving from Germany to Boston, Massachusetts, then\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;Austin, Texas, before calling Atlanta home.\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;company joined\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;tapped\u0026nbsp;into other Georgia Tech programs.\u0026nbsp;This\u0026nbsp;included\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medtech.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECenter for MedTech Excellence\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u0026nbsp;also\u0026nbsp;drew on\u0026nbsp;student talent as\u0026nbsp;the researchers\u0026nbsp;quietly\u0026nbsp;worked\u0026nbsp;on\u0026nbsp;their\u0026nbsp;continuous mechanical artificial kidney.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;began\u0026nbsp;interviewing\u0026nbsp;patients\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;find out what they wanted\u0026nbsp;the artificial kidney needed to solve.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey learned patients\u0026nbsp;want\u0026nbsp;the ability to be mobile.\u0026nbsp;Patients also\u0026nbsp;desire\u0026nbsp;an alternative\u0026nbsp;therapy to large needles being inserted into arm grafts\u0026nbsp;because the injection sites are prone to\u0026nbsp;infection\u0026nbsp;and the grafts can fail. In addition, the process\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;be\u0026nbsp;painful and disfiguring. Finally,\u0026nbsp;patients want\u0026nbsp;a quality of life\u0026nbsp;independent of\u0026nbsp;machines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThose\u0026nbsp;quality-of-life\u0026nbsp;needs, especially being free and mobile,\u0026nbsp;were\u0026nbsp;absolutely universal,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;began developing the technology to\u0026nbsp;build\u0026nbsp;its device\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;a filter surgically implanted in the pelvis area.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe developed an implant designed to run\u0026nbsp;constantly, connected to larger blood vessels\u0026nbsp;in the pelvis\u0026nbsp;to\u202favoid arm graft failures, and paired with an external interface that lets patients sleep at night while the system removes toxins and excess fluid,\u201d Shah\u0026nbsp;explained.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe device also has\u0026nbsp;built-in sensors, with\u0026nbsp;data uploaded to the cloud,\u0026nbsp;enabling\u0026nbsp;medical care teams\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;remotely\u0026nbsp;monitor\u0026nbsp;their patients\u0026nbsp;while freeing\u0026nbsp;patients from frequent\u0026nbsp;in-clinic\u0026nbsp;visits.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShah said\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite\u2019s\u0026nbsp;device\u0026nbsp;could restore everyday\u202findependence,\u0026nbsp;while potentially\u202flowering infection risk.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u0027s like having an actual kidney, but\u0026nbsp;without\u0026nbsp;all the issues\u0026nbsp;of an unhealthy one,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOrthoPreserve: Innovating a Minimally Invasive Meniscus Implant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EOrthoPreserve\u2019s technology aims\u0026nbsp;to address issues\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;people have with their meniscus,\u0026nbsp;the C\u2011shaped piece of cartilage in a knee joint that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and shin bone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;patients undergo a now-routine surgery to address it,\u0026nbsp;incomplete recoveries are\u0026nbsp;also\u0026nbsp;common.\u0026nbsp;An estimated\u0026nbsp;quarter\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;patients\u202flater experience\u0026nbsp;recurring knee pain.\u0026nbsp;No FDA-approved implant\u202fcurrently exists for this population.\u0026nbsp;Now,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserveis developing a minimally invasive,\u202fartificial meniscus implant\u202fto\u202frestore cushioning,\u0026nbsp;relieve pain, and\u202fdelay\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;or even\u0026nbsp;prevent\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;knee replacement\u202ffor\u0026nbsp;some patients.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are a million meniscus\u0026nbsp;surgeries every year, and 25% of those patients still live with recurring pain,\u201d said Jonathan Schwartz,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founder and CEO.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPatients\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;face\u202fdaily pain\u202ffrom\u0026nbsp;ordinary activities, such as\u0026nbsp;prolonged\u0026nbsp;standing\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;walking\u0026nbsp;a dog. Other activities like\u0026nbsp;jogging and\u0026nbsp;recreational sports\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;trigger flares\u202fthat\u0026nbsp;can lead to\u0026nbsp;swelling and\u0026nbsp;prolonged\u0026nbsp;discomfort, Schwartz said.\u0026nbsp;\u201cThose patients have\u202fno\u0026nbsp;reliable\u0026nbsp;options today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re building a minimally invasive implant to\u202frestore cushioning\u202fand help people get back to the activities they love.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrhoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;durable implant\u0026nbsp;restores cushioning, and it\u0026nbsp;could help people\u202freturn to normal activities\u0026nbsp;and\u202fdelay invasive knee replacement. Along with this comes\u0026nbsp;potential cost and recovery benefits for the healthcare\u0026nbsp;system.\u202f \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESchwartz\u202fcreated the implant as his\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/tech-alum-launches-meniscus-implant-startup\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech master\u2019s thesis\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fin the lab of\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/ku\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDavid Ku\u003C\/a\u003E\u202fin\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;Lawrence P. Huang Endowed Chair for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Regents\u0027 Professor\u0026nbsp;in\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. After industry experience,\u0026nbsp;Schwartz\u0026nbsp;returned to\u0026nbsp;further\u0026nbsp;develop\u0026nbsp;the\u0026nbsp;technology,\u0026nbsp;building on Georgia Tech\u2019s translational\u0026nbsp;expertise\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOrthoPreserve\u0026nbsp;has completed\u202fmechanical testing and a successful\u202fstudy. The company\u0026nbsp;is raising a\u202f$2 million seed\u202fto complete validations and begin human trials, which Schwartz expects to start in\u0026nbsp;18 months.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe\u0026nbsp;FDA\u0026nbsp;breakthrough designation validates that nothing like this\u0026nbsp;technology\u0026nbsp;exists,\u0026nbsp;and that it has the potential to disrupt the standard of care,\u201d Schwartz\u0026nbsp;said,\u0026nbsp;adding the\u0026nbsp;U.S.\u2019\u0026nbsp;market\u0026nbsp;opportunity\u0026nbsp;is\u0026nbsp;roughly\u0026nbsp;$1.5 billion. \u201cWe finally have a minimally invasive\u0026nbsp;option to bridge the gap between meniscus surgery and knee replacement.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat FDA Breakthrough Designation Means for\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;HealthTech Startups\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving a\u0026nbsp;faster\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;clearer path is a\u202fderisking milestone\u202ffor investors\u0026nbsp;who are\u0026nbsp;evaluating\u0026nbsp;capital intensive\u0026nbsp;medical\u0026nbsp;device\u0026nbsp;technologies,\u0026nbsp;Jungles\u0026nbsp;said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis\u0026nbsp;breakthrough device designation is a really big deal for medical\u0026nbsp;device companies,\u201d Jungles said, adding\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;startups often fear navigating the FDA\u0026nbsp;approval\u0026nbsp;process.\u0026nbsp;\u201cBut this designation\u0026nbsp;adds to the legitimacy of their technologies\u0026nbsp;and the problemsthey are solving. The designation will help them get to market faster, assuming their data continues to meet expectations.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EATDC launched its\u202f\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/industry\/healthtech\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHealthTech vertical\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in 2018,\u0026nbsp;which is\u0026nbsp;now\u0026nbsp;sponsored by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/catalyst.wellstar.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECatalyst by Wellstar\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s HealthTech\u0026nbsp;portfoilo\u0026nbsp;companies\u0026nbsp;include\u0026nbsp;medical devices, biotech, and digital health, among other segments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EATDC\u2019s Role in Accelerating HealthTech Innovation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENephrodite\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founders\u0026nbsp;noted\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u202fcoaching\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;programming\u0026nbsp;as critical in navigating fundraising and regulatory milestones.\u0026nbsp;Another\u0026nbsp;factor, they said,\u0026nbsp;was\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s\u0026nbsp;connection\u0026nbsp;to\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;labs and facilities\u0026nbsp;and\u0026nbsp;prototyping support and clinical advisors\u0026nbsp;from\u0026nbsp;across\u0026nbsp;metro\u0026nbsp;Atlanta.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe meet with ATDC coaches every two to four weeks to troubleshoot and plan,\u201d Schwartz said. \u201cHaving that level of seasoned guidance, all\u0026nbsp;without consultant-level costs,\u0026nbsp;has been huge.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJungles added\u0026nbsp;that\u0026nbsp;two\u0026nbsp;Breakthrough device\u0026nbsp;designations in the same year\u0026nbsp;reflects\u0026nbsp;ATDC\u2019s selection rigor, noting\u0026nbsp;he\u2019s\u0026nbsp;evaluated hundreds of technologies since the HealthTech vertical launched.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt reflects the caliber\u0026nbsp;of the companies in\u0026nbsp;ATDC, specifically in the medical\u0026nbsp;device space,\u201d Jungles said. \u201cIt\u2019s the strength of their teams, the persistence of the founders, and the collaboration of the ecosystem in Georgia and Atlanta.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFDA Breakthrough Device designation is rare for health technology startups.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Milestone designation signals strong potential to reshape care for dialysis patients and those with chronic knee pain."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-03-20 21:15:57","changed_gmt":"2026-03-24 15:34:46","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679705":{"id":"679705","type":"image","title":"Shah and Nguyen headshots","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDr. Nikhil\u0026nbsp;Shah\u0026nbsp;and Dr. Hiep Nguyen,\u0026nbsp;are cofounders\u0026nbsp;of\u0026nbsp;Nephrodite, an ATDC startup.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774043491","gmt_created":"2026-03-20 21:51:31","changed":"1774043761","gmt_changed":"2026-03-20 21:56:01","alt":"Shah and Nguyen headshots","file":{"fid":"263896","name":"Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png","mime":"image\/png","size":289138,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/20\/Screenshot-2026-03-20-at-17.49.33.png?itok=tG6Q9aU1"}},"679703":{"id":"679703","type":"image","title":"Jonathan Schwartz headshot","body":"\u003Cp\u003EJonathan Schwartz,\u0026nbsp;OrthoPreserve\u2019s\u0026nbsp;founder and CEO.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774042486","gmt_created":"2026-03-20 21:34:46","changed":"1774042827","gmt_changed":"2026-03-20 21:40:27","alt":"Headshot of Jonathan Schwartz.","file":{"fid":"263894","name":"J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":514027,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/20\/J-schwartz-headshot_W.jpg?itok=fyQrz_1r"}}},"media_ids":["679705","679703"],"groups":[{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"4238","name":"atdc"},{"id":"194965","name":"Greg Jungles"},{"id":"194966","name":"Catalyst by Wellstar"},{"id":"14713","name":"FDA"},{"id":"189701","name":"breakthrough device designation"},{"id":"194967","name":"Nephrodite"},{"id":"194968","name":"OrthoPreserve"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688801":{"#nid":"688801","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Energy Day: Meeting AI\u2019s Growing Energy Demands","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022\u003EEnergy Day\u003C\/a\u003E returns this year on March 19 with an expanded focus and a new collaborative momentum. Cohosted by the Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and\u0026nbsp;Systems\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IMS) and the \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SEI) \u003C\/strong\u003Ewith plenary session support from the\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Day 2026 convenes leaders from academia, industry, government, and students to address the challenges associated with meeting the rapidly growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESet in the heart of Tech Square on the Georgia Tech campus, this year\u2019s event explores how energy systems, materials, technologies, supply chains, and policy must evolve in response to AI\u2019s accelerating impact. As digital infrastructure expands and computation intensifies, the need for reliable, resilient, and sustainable power has never been more urgent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEnergy Day reflects Georgia Tech\u2019s strength in connecting world-class research in materials and components with the infrastructure and partnerships needed to translate discovery into scalable energy technologies that serve industry, society, and the future economy,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/people\/eric-vogel\u0022\u003EEric Vogel\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the IMS and the Hightower Professor in Materials Science and Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Day 2026 also marks an important milestone with the introduction of its first group of corporate sponsors:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gevernova.com\/\u0022\u003EGE Vernova\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.southerncompany.com\/\u0022\u003ESouthern Company\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiapower.com\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Power\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/corporate.exxonmobil.com\/\u0022\u003EExxonMobil\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southwirespark.com\/\u0022\u003ESouthwire Spark\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gems-setra\/\u0022\u003EGems Setra\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, \u003C\/strong\u003Eand\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tek.com\/en\u0022\u003ETektronix\u003C\/a\u003E. Their support reflects a shared commitment to advancing energy solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTektronix is excited to be part of Energy Day because advancing the future of energy starts with precise measurement and trusted insights,\u201d said Christopher Bohn, president of Tektronix. \u201cFrom power electronics and high voltage systems to grid scale renewables and AI driven control technologies, the breakthroughs discussed here directly align with the innovations we support through our products and solutions. Collaborating with Georgia Tech allows us to engage early with emerging research and the next generation of engineers\u2014critical collaborators in building a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy ecosystem.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe keynote address will be delivered by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vanessazchan\/\u0022\u003EVanessa Z. Chan\u003C\/a\u003E, a nationally recognized leader at the intersection of\u0026nbsp;innovation, commercialization, and emerging technologies. Chan will provide insights on accelerating technological discovery, emphasizing how AI is transforming energy and materials design. She will discuss how commercialization strategies must rapidly evolve across multidisciplinary energy domains from grid modernization to advanced batteries and clean manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuilding on the themes introduced in the keynote, the program transitions into a fireside chat with Georgia Tech EVPR\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/leadership\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E featuring\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kulkarniam\/\u0022\u003EAmit Kulkarni\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/james-jim-walsh\/\u0022\u003EJim Walsh\u003C\/a\u003E. Kulkarni is vice president of Product Management and Strategy for the Gas Power business within GE Vernova, where he oversees the world\u2019s largest portfolio of power generation equipment. Walsh, vice president of GE Vernova\u2019s Consulting Services, leads teams providing innovative solutions across the full spectrum of power generation, delivery, and utilization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENext comes a policy-focused panel that will explore the surge in power demand driven by AI, how the United States is addressing today\u2019s most urgent energy challenges, and the long-term implications of today\u2019s decisions for a sustainable energy future. Bringing together leading voices in U.S. environmental and energy policy, the panel features\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joseph-aldy-0794942\/\u0022\u003EJoe Aldy\u003C\/a\u003E of Harvard University and former special assistant to the president for Energy and Environment;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/al-mcgartland-161689a\/\u0022\u003EAl McGartland\u003C\/a\u003E of New York University\u2019s Institute for Policy Integrity and former Environmental Protection Agency lead economist and director of the National Center for Environmental Economics; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kevinrennert\/\u0022\u003EKevin Rennert\u003C\/a\u003E, fellow and director of the Comprehensive Climate Strategies Program at Resources for the Future and former staff member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe second panel focuses on critical materials \u2014 the foundation of advanced energy systems and digital technologies. As AI, data centers, and advanced energy technologies drive demand for critical materials, securing them now requires integration and coordination across the entire value chain. Panelists include \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/people\/rachel-galloway\u0022 id=\u0022menur1su2\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/people\/rachel-galloway\u0022\u003ERachel Galloway\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;British consul general in Atlanta;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vijaymurugesan\/\u0022\u003EVijay Murugesan\u003C\/a\u003E, head of Materials Intelligence and Digital Innovation at Amazon; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/colinspellmeyer\/?utm_source=share_via\u0026amp;utm_content=profile\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_ios\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/colinspellmeyer\/?utm_source=share_via\u0026amp;utm_content=profile\u0026amp;utm_medium=member_ios\u0022\u003EColin Spellmeyer\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;executive strategic sourcing leader at GE Vernova; \u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haslam.utk.edu\/people\/profile\/charles-sims\/\u0022\u003ECharles Sims\u003C\/a\u003E, Tennessee Valley Authority Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at the University of Tennessee; and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nnnyeboah\/\u0022 id=\u0022menur1sua\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nnnyeboah\/\u0022\u003ENortey Yeboah\u003C\/a\u003E, principal engineer at Southern Company. Together, they will offer perspectives on the policy and economic frameworks shaping the energy supply chain, from developing raw resources to manufacturing the technologies essential to future energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the afternoon, participants can dive deeper into specialized topics through three focused technical tracks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track1_meet_demand_for_power\u0022\u003EMeeting the Demand for Power\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will examine how emerging technologies, advanced nuclear systems, and renewable integration can work together to deliver reliable, resilient electricity.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track2-data-center-infrastructure-and-resources\u0022\u003EData Center Infrastructure and Resources\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will explore innovations in thermal management technologies, energy-efficient computing, and the broader resource impacts of expanding digital infrastructure.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\/track3-grid-technologies-and-markets\u0022\u003EGrid Technologies and Markets\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d will highlight strategies for strengthening grid capacity, incorporating demand-side management, and optimizing carbon performance as energy systems evolve.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMeeting the rapidly rising electricity demand driven by AI requires bold ideas, coordinated action, and research that moves at the speed of innovation,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/yuanzhi-tang\u0022\u003EYuanzhi Tang\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the SEI. \u201cEnergy Day 2026 brings together the people and expertise needed to shape resilient, sustainable energy systems for the future. At Georgia Tech, we see this event as a catalyst for new partnerships, new solutions, and a shared commitment to strengthening the nation\u2019s energy foundation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnergy Day 2026 is designed for researchers advancing emerging energy technologies, policymakers navigating shifting regulatory and geopolitical landscapes, industry professionals seeking insight into emerging tools and supply chains, and students preparing to enter one of the most consequential sectors of the decade. It also welcomes anyone interested in AI, sustainability, electrification, and critical materials.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJoin us to explore the future of energy. To learn more and register, visit:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022 target=\u0022_new\u0022\u003EEnergy Day 2026\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energyday\u0022\u003EEnergy Day\u003C\/a\u003E returns this year on March 19 with an expanded focus and a new collaborative momentum. Cohosted by the Georgia Tech\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and\u0026nbsp;Systems\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(IMS) and the \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SEI) with plenary session support from the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/a\u003E, Energy Day 2026 convenes leaders from academia, industry, government, and students to address the challenges associated with meeting the rapidly growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Join us on March 19 as we explore one of the most urgent questions facing the nation: How do we power an AI\u2011driven future?"}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-03-06 20:46:52","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 16:57:12","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-03-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679541":{"id":"679541","type":"image","title":"EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772830025","gmt_created":"2026-03-06 20:47:05","changed":"1772830025","gmt_changed":"2026-03-06 20:47:05","alt":"Georgia Tech Energy Day 2026 Header Image with three boxes showing an image of a datacenter, an electric bulb with energy sources around it and a multi-colored critical mineral ","file":{"fid":"263714","name":"EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":147447,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/06\/EnergyDayEmailHeader.jpg?itok=i6baP0eA"}}},"media_ids":["679541"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"194607","name":"Batteries"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"},{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E | Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683928":{"#nid":"683928","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Twenty Years After Katrina: How Levee Failures Changed America","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, it wasn\u2019t just another storm \u2014 it was one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history. Entire neighborhoods disappeared, families were scattered, and lives were split into \u201cbefore\u201d and \u201cafter.\u201d Nearly 20 years later, the haunting images of submerged rooftops and boat rescues remain vivid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Surge That Shattered New Orleans\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Aug. 29, 2005, early reports claimed New Orleans had \u201cdodged the bullet.\u201d But offshore winds funneled water into the city\u2019s canals, triggering multiple catastrophic levee failures. The Lower Ninth Ward, where most fatalities occurred, was devastated as many residents, misled by comparisons to Hurricane Camille, chose not to evacuate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cKatrina\u2019s storm surge was exceptional,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/hermann-m-fritz\u0022\u003EHermann Fritz\u003C\/a\u003E, a civil engineering professor at Georgia Tech. \u201cIn some areas, we saw water levels over 27 feet\u0026nbsp;\u2014 that\u2019s like a three-story building.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile much attention focused on New Orleans\u2019 levee failures, Fritz points out that the surge\u2019s sheer height and energy would have overwhelmed even more robust defenses in some areas. \u201cKatrina showed us that nature can produce forces beyond our engineering designs,\u201d he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Disaster of Inequality\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe storm didn\u2019t strike evenly; it exposed and deepened existing social and economic inequalities. \u201cThe disaster hit lower-income Black neighborhoods hardest,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/allen-hyde\u0022\u003EAllen Hyde\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor of history and sociology. He notes how years of segregation, disinvestment, and discriminatory housing policies left these communities uniquely vulnerable. Hyde continues, \u201cMany homes were in low-lying, flood-prone areas, and residents often lacked access to reliable transportation, making evacuation difficult or impossible.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia\u2019s Changing Landscape: Migration and Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKatrina displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed a staggering toll of more than 1,800 lives. Georgia quickly absorbed many evacuees, reshaping its demographics and infrastructure. \u201cHurricane Katrina led to one of the largest displacements of people due to a natural disaster,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/econ.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/shatakshee-dhongde\u0022\u003EShatakshee Dhongde\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor of economics. \u201cIt changed the demographics of Georgia in measurable ways, from school enrollment to the labor market.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Census Bureau tracked this migration, noting spikes in Louisiana-born residents in metro Atlanta. Local school districts enrolled hundreds of new students almost overnight, while housing markets saw increased demand from families looking for permanent homes. The arrival of so many displaced residents didn\u2019t just strain schools and housing \u2014 it reshaped the state\u2019s economy. Dhongde notes that evacuees often brought new skills, business ideas, and networks. At the same time, the state and local governments faced the financial burden of expanding social services, healthcare, and housing assistance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDhongde adds, \u201cThe impact of a disaster doesn\u2019t stop at the water\u2019s edge. It travels with people, and those effects can last for years.\u201d While the influx strained services, it also enriched Georgia\u2019s cultural and economic fabric.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHyde notes, \u201cGentrification made many neighborhoods unaffordable for former residents,\u201d and adds that many Black evacuees didn\u2019t return to New Orleans due to economic barriers and post-Katrina gentrification. Cultural communities scattered across cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Baton Rouge.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELessons the Levees Still Teach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Fritz, Katrina remains a wake-up call for coastal preparedness.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cWe can\u2019t stop hurricanes,\u201d he says, \u201cbut we can improve how we design and maintain our defenses, and how we evacuate people before it\u2019s too late.\u201d He warns that climate change, with its potential to intensify storms, makes those improvements even more urgent.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDhongde sees a parallel need for social and economic planning. \u201cDisaster preparedness isn\u2019t just about sandbags and levees,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s also about ensuring the communities receiving evacuees have the resources and support systems to integrate them successfully.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFinally, Hyde stresses the importance of engaging youth and communities in preparedness efforts. \u201cYouth advocacy programs, like those we\u2019re piloting in Georgia, empower young people in marginalized neighborhoods with knowledge and agency to build long-term resilience. Disaster planning must be a community effort, inclusive and forward-looking.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwenty years after Hurricane Katrina\u2019s catastrophic landfall, its legacy of destruction, displacement, and deepened inequality continues to shape communities and challenge disaster preparedness across the U.S.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina\u2019s catastrophic landfall, its legacy of destruction, displacement, and deepened inequality continues to shape communities and challenge disaster preparedness across the U.S."}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2025-08-18 20:59:51","changed_gmt":"2026-03-19 13:11:54","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677735":{"id":"677735","type":"image","title":"Hurricane Katrina New Orleans","body":null,"created":"1755620033","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 16:13:53","changed":"1755620033","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 16:13:53","alt":"Flooding in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina","file":{"fid":"261668","name":"AdobeStock_243012601.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_243012601.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_243012601.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3672480,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/AdobeStock_243012601.jpeg?itok=Mj7riyMS"}},"677737":{"id":"677737","type":"image","title":"Katrina.jpg","body":null,"created":"1755622437","gmt_created":"2025-08-19 16:53:57","changed":"1755622437","gmt_changed":"2025-08-19 16:53:57","alt":"Three changes since Katrina that still have an impact two decades later","file":{"fid":"261671","name":"Katrina.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Katrina.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/19\/Katrina.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1316301,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/19\/Katrina.jpg?itok=IvnP-aCU"}}},"media_ids":["677735","677737"],"groups":[{"id":"658168","name":"Experts"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"1647","name":"Hurricane Katrina"},{"id":"1860","name":"hurricane"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71901","name":"Society and Culture"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aisles3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688282":{"#nid":"688282","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches Pilot Program to Support Rural Arts Organizations","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBeginning this March in Perry, Georgia, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Arts Innovation Network (GAIN)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;will support arts\u2011related nonprofits and small businesses in\u0026nbsp;Perry, Houston County, and surrounding counties in Middle Georgia. The six\u2011month pilot is funded by a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.arts.gov\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENational Endowment for the Arts (NEA)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Our Town\u0026nbsp;grant and is the first EI\u00b2 program dedicated specifically to the arts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cArts organizations contribute so much to the vibrancy of a community,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Caley Landau, program manager for GAIN and marketing strategist at EI\u00b2. \u201cThey help create a sense of place and provide the \u2018something to do\u2019 that small cities and towns want to offer residents, new workers, and prospective businesses. Our hope is to enhance the arts and cultural ecosystem in Middle Georgia by providing training and technical assistance to the organizations that produce art in the region.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Rural Community Already Investing in Placemaking\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPerry was selected as the pilot location in part for its active downtown revitalization work and commitment to placemaking. Through the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiacitiesfoundation.org\/placemaking\u0022\u003EGeorgia Economic Placemaking Collaborative\u003C\/a\u003E, Perry city staff partnered with EI\u00b2\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cedr.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Economic Development Research\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to develop strategies for arts\u2011based community development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWorking alongside the Georgia Tech team has been a wonderful experience,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Alicia Hartley, downtown manager for the City of Perry. \u201cWe hope that participants walk away from the cohort inspired and empowered to activate their organizations in creative and meaningful ways.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EListening First, Then Providing Targeted Support\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program will begin with a listening session to understand participating organizations\u2019 needs. EI\u00b2 will then design tailored workshops drawing from experts at Georgia Tech and beyond. Every other month, cohort members will meet for sessions on business practices, digital tools, operational efficiency, marketing, placemaking partnerships, and other areas that support long\u2011term sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThey sound like great ideas \u2014 murals, pop\u2011up exhibits, outdoor performances \u2014 but how do you really get down to the nuts and bolts of making them happen?\u201d Landau said. \u201cAnd how do you bring the right partners to the table? That\u2019s what we\u2019ll explore together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Statewide Mission, Strengthened Through the Arts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Georgia Tech\u2019s economic development arm, EI\u00b2 administers programs that support entrepreneurs, manufacturers, communities, and municipalities across the state and around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGAIN represents an important part of EI\u00b2\u2019s comprehensive approach to economic development,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;David Bridges, vice president of EI\u00b2. \u201cIt gives us another way to create impact in Georgia by applying our expertise to serve arts organizations that are vital to Georgia communities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJason Freeman, associate vice provost for Georgia Tech Arts, noted that the pilot aligns with the Institute\u2019s broader commitment to supporting arts, culture, and creativity statewide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThrough GAIN, I\u2019m excited to learn more about the arts ecosystem in Middle Georgia,\u201d Freeman said. \u201cThe lessons we learn will inform both statewide collaborations and new initiatives emerging through our\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arts.gatech.edu\/creative-quarter\u0022\u003ECreative Quarter\u003C\/a\u003E innovation district on campus.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EProgram Funding and Support\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pilot is funded through the NEA\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Our Town\u0026nbsp;program, which supports projects integrating arts, culture, and design into community development. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gaarts.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Council for the Arts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is partnering with EI\u00b2 on cohort recruitment, curriculum development, and arts\u2011based placemaking strategies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERecruitment has begun.\u0026nbsp;Arts nonprofits and arts\u2011based businesses in Middle Georgia may apply at\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Einnovate.gatech.edu\/gain\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"NEA Our Town grant supports Middle Georgia initiative"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (EI\u00b2) is launching a new pilot program to help rural arts organizations strengthen operations, adopt new technologies, and deepen their role in local community and economic development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"NEA \u201cOur Town\u201d grant supports Middle Georgia initiative"}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-02-16 19:23:27","changed_gmt":"2026-02-27 14:01:22","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"PERRY, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679410":{"id":"679410","type":"image","title":"Perry Players","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EA production of the Perry Players, in Perry, Ga.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771954765","gmt_created":"2026-02-24 17:39:25","changed":"1771956406","gmt_changed":"2026-02-24 18:06:46","alt":"Theater group on stage.","file":{"fid":"263572","name":"600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":714495,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/24\/600279566_1401542021982073_3327861092957966357_n.jpg?itok=GY5ckgdk"}}},"media_ids":["679410"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"42941","name":"Art Research"},{"id":"194568","name":"Arts and Performance"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194917","name":"Georgia Arts Innovation Network"},{"id":"194918","name":"Caley Landau"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"194919","name":"Middle Georgia"},{"id":"184294","name":"Center for Economic Development Research"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMEDIA CONTACT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGAIN PROGRAM CONTACT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECaley Landau\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:caley.landau@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ecaley.landau@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688502":{"#nid":"688502","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Understanding the Data Center Building Boom ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by: Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs artificial intelligence (AI) drives explosive growth in data centers, communities across the U.S. are facing rising electricity costs, new industrial development, and mounting strain on an aging power grid.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, several faculty members are approaching these sustainability challenges from different but complementary angles: examining how data center policy affects local communities, modeling how AI-driven demand reshapes regional energy systems, and building tools that help the public understand the tradeoffs embedded in grid planning. Together, their work highlights how better data, thoughtful policy, and public engagement can guide more resilient and equitable decisions in an AI-powered future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAI\u2019s Hidden Footprint: How Data Centers Reshape Communities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAhmed Saeed studies the infrastructure most people never see. An assistant professor in the School of Computer Science and a Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) Faculty Fellow, Saeed focuses on how data centers \u2014 the backbone of modern AI \u2014 are built, operated, and regulated, and what their growth means for host communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cData centers are the infrastructure for our digital life, so more of them are necessary to keep doing what we\u2019re doing,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EData center energy consumption could double or triple by 2028, accounting for up to 12% of U.S. electricity use, according to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/escholarship.org\/uc\/item\/32d6m0d1\u0022\u003Ereport by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory\u003C\/a\u003E. U.S. spending on data center construction jumped nearly 70% between May 2023 and May 2024, according to the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/americanedgeproject.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Americas-AI-Surge-Powering-Growth-in-Every-State.pdf\u0022\u003EAmerican Edge Project\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia is an AI data center hub, ranked fourth globally, with $4.6 billion in AI-related venture capital invested across 368 deals, the American Edge Project reported. At a recent \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/sustainability-fellowship-supports-professors-data-center-research\u0022\u003Etown hall in DeKalb County, Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, Saeed helped residents connect AI\u2019s promise to its local consequences. Training large AI models can require tens of thousands of graphics processing units (GPUs) running for days or weeks, driving an unprecedented wave of data center construction. AI-focused chips, he noted, can consume 10 to 14 times more power than traditional processors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat demand often shows up as pressure on local infrastructure. Communities are increasingly concerned about electricity and water use, grid upgrades, and who ultimately pays. In Virginia, Saeed pointed to a legal dispute in which consumer advocates warned that data centers could raise electricity bills by 5% in the short term and up to 50% over time, while utilities argued those investments were inevitable and could benefit customers in the long run.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnvironmental concerns add another layer. Saeed cited controversies over water use and backup diesel generators in states, including Georgia and Tennessee, alongside a recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that tightened generator regulations. While diesel generators are clearly harmful, he cautioned that long-term, rigorous evidence linking data centers to regional health impacts remains limited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaeed\u2019s research aims to reduce those impacts directly. By optimizing how workloads are scheduled across large server fleets, his team has demonstrated power savings of 4 \u2013 12%, a meaningful gain if U.S. data centers approach projected levels of up to 12% of national electricity use by 2028.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Saeed, data centers are akin to highways: essential to modern life, disruptive to nearby communities, and shaped by policy choices. The question, he argues, is not whether AI infrastructure should exist, but how transparently and fairly it is built.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEconomist Probes the Energy Costs of the AI Boom\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile headlines often frame AI as an energy crisis, Georgia Tech environmental and energy economist and BBISS Faculty Fellow Tony Harding is focused on measuring its real \u2014 and uneven \u2014 impacts. Harding, an assistant professor in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, uses economic modeling to examine how AI adoption affects energy use, emissions, and local communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iopscience.iop.org\/article\/10.1088\/1748-9326\/ae0e3b\u0022\u003Erecent work\u003C\/a\u003E published in \u003Cem\u003EEnvironmental Research Letters\u003C\/em\u003E, Harding and his co-author analyzed how productivity gains from AI could influence national energy demand. Their findings suggest that, at a macro level, AI-related activity may increase annual U.S. energy use by about 0.03% and CO\u2082 emissions by roughly 0.02%.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThose numbers are small in the context of the overall economy,\u201d Harding said. \u201cBut the impacts are highly uneven.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat unevenness is evident in where data centers are built. While Northern Virginia remains the country\u2019s top data center hub, with 343 operational data centers, states like Georgia, which currently has 94 operational data centers, are rapidly attracting facilities due to reliable power and favorable tax policies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHarding\u2019s latest research focuses on local effects, asking why data centers cluster in urban areas, how they influence housing markets, what happens to electricity prices, and whether they exacerbate water stress. Early evidence suggests large facilities can increase local electricity rates, contributing to public backlash and regulatory response. In Georgia, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psc.ga.gov\/site\/assets\/files\/8617\/media_advisory_data_centers_rule_1-23-2025.pdf\u0022\u003EPublic Service Commission\u003C\/a\u003E has begun requiring new, high power draw customers (like data centers) to cover more of the costs associated with grid expansion.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHarding\u2019s goal is to give policymakers better evidence to design incentives and guardrails. \u201cTo manage these technologies responsibly,\u201d he said, \u201cwe need a clear picture of their intended and unintended consequences.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGamifying a Strained and Aging Power Grid\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDaniel Molzahn is tackling another side of the problem: how to modernize an aging power grid under growing demand. Electricity demand is expected to rise about 25% by 2030, driven by data centers, electric vehicles, and broadscale electrification. At the same time, much of the U.S. electricity grid is nearing the end of its lifespan, with many transformers being decades old.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo make these challenges tangible, Molzahn, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, developed a browser-based game with a group of students through Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/frm_display\/team-listings\/entry\/1303\/\u0022\u003EVertically Integrated Projects\u003C\/a\u003E program called \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/currentcrisis.itch.io\/current-crisis\u0022\u003ECurrent Crisis\u003C\/a\u003E. Players take on the role of a utility decision-maker, balancing reliability, wildfire risk, renewable integration, and affordability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe game grew out of Molzahn\u2019s National Science Foundation CAREER award and reflects his belief that complex systems are best understood experientially. Its initial focus is wildfire resilience, modeling how grid infrastructure can both spark and suffer damage from fires.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut resilience comes at a cost. Burying power lines, for example, reduces wildfire risk but dramatically increases expenses. Players must confront the same tradeoffs utilities face: improve reliability or keep rates low.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMolzahn hopes the game will help students and the public grapple with the realities of planning future power systems. \u201cThese choices aren\u2019t abstract,\u201d he said. \u201cThey shape affordability, resilience, and our path toward a cleaner grid.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe project now involves nearly 40 students from across campus, supported by Sustainability NEXT funding and a collaboration with Jessica Roberts, former BBISS Faculty Fellow and director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tiles.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ETechnology-Integrated Learning Environments (TILES) Lab\u003C\/a\u003E in the School of Interactive Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a learning scientist, I look at how to engage people with science and scientific data and get people having conversations they might not otherwise have,\u201d says Roberts, who hopes the seed grant helps the team determine first that they are going in the right direction and, second, how to broaden the impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne student, Stella Quinto Lima, a graduate research assistant in Human-Centered Computing, has made the game the focus of her doctoral thesis. Through the game, she wants players to notice their misconceptions about the power grid, energy use, and AI, and to use critical thinking to identify, question, and possibly undo those misconceptions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cI hope that we can really engage adults and help them see it\u2019s not black and white. The game is not only about power grids, but how AI affects the grid, how it affects our lives, and how it will impact our future.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team plans to expand the game\u2019s features, use it in outreach programs, and analyze player decisions as a source of data to study energy-system decision-making.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to change the conversation about power and power grid stability, reliability, and sustainability, Roberts said, \u201cand find a way to get this message to a larger public.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs artificial intelligence (AI) drives explosive growth in data centers, communities across the U.S. are facing rising electricity costs, new industrial development, and mounting strain on an aging power grid.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Explosive data center growth requires research to inform policies which manage the building of this critical infrastructure."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2026-02-24 20:29:10","changed_gmt":"2026-02-25 16:43:42","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679428":{"id":"679428","type":"image","title":"Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized","body":null,"created":"1772037433","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 16:37:13","changed":"1772037615","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 16:40:15","alt":"Three men\u0027s individual portrait-style photos are arranged side by side, each showing a person from the shoulders up. The individuals wear collared shirts and appear in different lighting settings, including a dark background, a neutral studio backdrop, and a bright white background.","file":{"fid":"263591","name":"Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":872348,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/Giarusso_Saeed_Molzhan_Headshots_Collage_Sized.jpg?itok=TPizgOZr"}}},"media_ids":["679428"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688493":{"#nid":"688493","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Augusta Positioned to Become a Leader in Medical Device Entrepreneurship","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Institute of Technology and Augusta University have launched a collaborative effort to boost the city\u2019s medical device innovation ecosystem.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Augusta region is already a major hub for health and life sciences, boasting five hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia, the nation\u2019s 13th oldest medical school and one of its largest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, the advocacy nonprofit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.galifesciences.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Life Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E designated the region a BioReady Gold community. This ratings system recognizes its existing bioscience assets and its commitment to expanding infrastructure and commercialization, marking Augusta as a desired choice for biotech companies looking for suitable sites to expand.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeading the work at Georgia Tech are the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E (GaMEP) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atdc.org\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Technology Development Center\u003C\/a\u003E (ATDC).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaMEP is a program of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, Tech\u2019s chief economic development arm. It brings a\u0026nbsp;dedicated team with the unique skills required to help innovators clearly understand the requirements needed to bring medical devices to market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen entrepreneurs gain insight into the regulatory and quality requirements early in development, they can make informed, strategic decisions that can significantly reduce both time and cost,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Sarah Jo Tucker, industry manager for GaMEP\u2019s medical device group. \u201cWe partner closely with innovators throughout the process and bring deep expertise in the regulatory requirements while they bring expertise in their technology. Together, we can move products efficiently and confidently from concept to commercialization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EADTC, part of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E, is the state\u2019s premier technology incubator and the oldest university-based incubator in the country. ATDC provides guidance and resources for entrepreneurs and founders to successfully launch and scale their technology companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince its founding in 1980, ATDC\u2019s startup graduates have attracted more than $6.2 billion in investment and generated over $14 billion in revenue in Georgia. Through the partnership with Augusta University, ATDC uses its expertise to serve\u0026nbsp;entrepreneurs in the medical device field.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Medical innovation across the state of Georgia is critical for our health tech industries to thrive,\u201d said Chris Dickson, ATDC\u2019s startup catalyst in the Augusta region. \u201cWe identify investment-ready medical technology startups and provide the support needed while they are scaling their businesses.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA major hub for the life sciences, Augusta University is home to a wealth of researchers in the biomedical and related fields. This makes the institution ideally situated to help facilitate medical device commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGuido Verbeck understands this dynamic firsthand. A\u0026nbsp;professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Augusta University, he is also an entrepreneur and medical device innovator.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAcademia is a fantastic platform for launching ideas, but there must be an understanding of how to bring a device to market,\u201d said Verbeck. \u201cPhysicians and practitioners who are also academics are solving problems in real time, but they often lack the resources and support to get their ideas to production and commercialization.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELynsey\u0026nbsp;Steinberg, director of innovation for Augusta University\u2019s strategic partnerships and economic development team, summed up collaboration\u2019s goal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen we tap our depth of talent, innovation, and community collaboration, this region has what it takes to become a launchpad for medical device startups \u2014 a place where bold ideas find the purpose they need to succeed to solve real-world problems,\u201d she said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s GaMEP medical device commercialization team\u0026nbsp;and the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)\u0026nbsp;are now working directly with Augusta researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs to help move medical device ideas from concept to commercialization.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A partnership between Georgia Tech and Augusta University supports the effort ."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2026-02-24 17:16:53","changed_gmt":"2026-02-24 17:25:03","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Augusta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-24T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679409":{"id":"679409","type":"image","title":"Downtown Augusta ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe city of Augusta is a major hub for health and life sciences, boasting five hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771953448","gmt_created":"2026-02-24 17:17:28","changed":"1771953675","gmt_changed":"2026-02-24 17:21:15","alt":"Aerial view of downtown Augusta","file":{"fid":"263570","name":"AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":10707782,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/24\/AdobeStock_466386413.jpeg?itok=SgNSyEj_"}}},"media_ids":["679409"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"16331","name":"GaMEP"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"4238","name":"atdc"},{"id":"2579","name":"commercialization"},{"id":"9535","name":"medical device"},{"id":"172575","name":"Augusta University"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr\u003Eeve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687242":{"#nid":"687242","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Energy Policy and Innovation Center Launches Interactive Dashboard ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (EPIcenter) has collaborated with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EDan Matisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EJimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E and EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Data Dashboard\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E designed to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe interactive dashboard compiles and visualizes data gathered by\u0026nbsp;Matisoff, along with\u0026nbsp;Program and Operations Manager\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/2af53a9b-d638-574a-a72e-567d586c3cef\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichael Morley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;offering a comprehensive view of SAF production, feedstock availability, and policy trends.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEPIcenter Research Associate \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/people-yang-you\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYang You\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has designed the dashboard to translate complex datasets into policy-relevant insights for decision-makers. By organizing key metrics into interactive visuals, the dashboard helps stakeholders assess market readiness and identify regulatory actions that could accelerate SAF adoption.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEmphasizing the importance of data-driven insights, Matisoff said, \u201cThe Department of Energy has a Grand Challenge to produce 3 billion gallons a year of Sustainable Aviation Fuel by 2030, and 35 billion gallons a year by 2050. By compiling and visualizing SAF data, we can help policymakers and researchers understand progress towards these goals, where the key opportunities and bottlenecks are \u2013 and how to move forward effectively\u201d.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy SAF Matters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhile aviation only accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is a rapidly growing share, and decarbonizing this sector is considered one of the most challenging aspects of the energy transition. Produced from renewable feedstocks, sustainable aviation fuel offers a pathway to reduce lifecycle emissions from air travel without requiring major changes to aircraft or infrastructure. However, SAF production and deployment face hurdles related to cost, supply chain development, and policy support.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s Director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/people\/laura-taylor\u0022\u003ELaura Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E highlighted the dashboard\u2019s role in addressing these challenges:\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cSustainable aviation fuel is a cornerstone of decarbonizing air travel, but the market is complex and rapidly evolving. The dashboard provides clarity by organizing the relevant data in a way that\u2019s accessible and actionable for decision-makers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis tool is meant to bridge analysis and action,\u201d said You. \u201cBy visualizing SAF production, capacity, and offtake dynamics, the dashboard allows policymakers and stakeholders to see where the market is moving, where gaps remain, and how targeted infrastructure investments or supportive policies could unlock scale.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe EPIcenter SAF Dashboard is intended as a resource for industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers working to accelerate SAF adoption. By providing transparent, data-driven insights, Georgia Tech aims to support informed decisions that advance innovation and sustainability in aviation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo explore the dashboard and learn more about Georgia Tech\u2019s work on sustainable aviation fuel, visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003EEPIcenter\u2019s SAF page\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergy Policy and Innovation Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (EPIcenter) has collaborated with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/daniel-matisoff\u0022\u003EDan Matisoff\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EJimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E and EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Data Dashboard\u003C\/strong\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E designed to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Energy Policy and Innovation Center has collaborated with Dan Matisoff, EPIcenter\u2019s faculty affiliate, to develop a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel Data Dashboard to provide clear, accessible insights into the rapidly evolving SAF market. "}],"uid":"36413","created_gmt":"2026-01-13 17:04:00","changed_gmt":"2026-01-13 17:10:35","author":"pdevarajan3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678970":{"id":"678970","type":"image","title":"SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1768324007","gmt_created":"2026-01-13 17:06:47","changed":"1768324007","gmt_changed":"2026-01-13 17:06:47","alt":"Fuel Truck carrying Sustainable Aviation Fuel near an airplane","file":{"fid":"263073","name":"SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":831898,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/13\/SAFDashboard-AdobeStock.jpeg?itok=bJdX1-Z0"}}},"media_ids":["678970"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/epicenter.energy.gatech.edu\/saf\/","title":"EPIcenter SAF Dashboard"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EPriya Devarajan\u003C\/a\u003E || SEI Communications Program Manager\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["priya.devarajan@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686281":{"#nid":"686281","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Changing Reporting Landscape at the Intersection of Accounting and Cryptocurrency","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECryptocurrency continues to reshape the financial landscape. As cryptocurrency moves from niche to mainstream, companies are grappling with how to account for these volatile digital assets. New research from Scheller College of Business accounting professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/moon\/index.html?_gl=1*1jp4fxj*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA4MjcxMzQwNS4xNzYyNTI2Mjg3*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3NjI1MjYyODckbzEkZzEkdDE3NjI1MjYyOTAkajU3JGwwJGgxNDU2MDcyODg2\u0022\u003ERobbie Moon\u003C\/a\u003E, and his co-authors\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/business.uc.edu\/faculty-research\/accounting\/faculty\/chelsea-anderson.html\u0022\u003EChelsea M. Anderson\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/kelley.iu.edu\/faculty-research\/faculty-directory\/profile.html?id=VFANG\u0022\u003EVivian W. Fang\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/walton.uark.edu\/departments\/accounting\/directory\/uid\/jeshipma\/name\/Jonathan+Edward+Shipman\/\u0022\u003EJonathan E. Shipman\u003C\/a\u003E, sheds light on how U.S. public companies have navigated crypto holdings and accounting practices over the past decade.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EASU 2023-08, the Financial Accounting Standards Board\u2019s (FASB) newly enacted rule, aims to bring clarity and consistency to crypto asset reporting with the mandate for fair value reporting. Moon\u2019s research, which examined a comprehensive set of companies from 2013 to 2022, looks at the exponential rise in corporate crypto investments and the diverse, and often inconsistent, ways firms have reported them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/1475-679X.70018?af=R\u0022\u003EAccounting for Cryptocurrencies\u003C\/a\u003E,\u201d Moon and his co-authors work to better understand this pivotal point in financial reporting with research that dives into why firms hold crypto \u2013 whether for mining, payment acceptance, or investment \u2013 and how reporting practices have evolved to meet this current moment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKeep reading to learn more about Moon\u2019s research and why it matters right now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy do companies hold cryptocurrencies, and how has this changed over time?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECompanies hold cryptocurrency for three main reasons: they mine it, they accept it as payment, or they consider it an investment. Early on, most businesses kept crypto because customers used it to pay for goods and services. Around 2017, that trend declined, and more companies began mining crypto themselves. Today, mining accounts for about half of corporate crypto holdings, while payment acceptance and investment make up the rest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat were the main challenges companies face when trying to report cryptocurrency holdings in their financial statements?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUntil the end of 2023, there were no official rules on how companies should report cryptocurrency on their financial statements. Back in 2018, the Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG) stepped in with guidance, suggesting that crypto be treated like intangible assets, similar to things like patents or trademarks. This is known as the impairment model.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the difference between the \u201cfair value model\u201d and the \u201cimpairment model\u201d for accounting crypto assets, and why does it matter?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe two accounting methods differ in how they handle changes in crypto value. The fair value model updates the value of a company\u2019s crypto to match current market prices every reporting period. If the price goes up or down, the change shows up on the company\u2019s income statement as a gain or loss.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe impairment model only lets companies record losses when the value drops below what they paid. If the price goes up, they can\u2019t record the increase.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe difference in the two approaches can best be seen when crypto prices rise. Under the impairment model, companies\u2019 balance sheets understate the true value of the crypto since the gains cannot be recorded. The fair value model allows companies to adjust the balance sheet value of crypto as market prices change.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat factors led ASU 2023-08 to favor fair value reporting?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen the FASB was trying to decide if they should add crypto accounting to their standard setting agenda, they reached out to the public for feedback. The response was overwhelming and most practitioners and firms called for the use of the fair value model.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do big accounting firms, like Deloitte or PwC, influence how companies report their crypto holdings?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen there aren\u2019t official rules for complex issues like crypto accounting, the Big Four firms often step in to guide companies. In 2018, they recommended using the impairment model, which they viewed as most appropriate based on existing standards. After that, most companies switched from fair value reporting to the impairment approach.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir guidance in 2018 was based on what was allowed under the standards at that time. With the new rule in place, the firms will likely help clients manage the transition.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes using fair value accounting for crypto make a company\u2019s stock price more volatile or its earnings reports more useful to investors?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe primary downside of using a fair value model for a risky asset like crypto is how volatility affects earnings. \u0026nbsp;Moon\u2019s research suggests that stock price volatility increases for firms using the fair value model, and it doesn\u2019t appear the model makes earnings more useful for investors. That said, the results should be viewed cautiously because the study\u2019s sample largely consisted of smaller companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy does this research matter right now?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis research matters because more companies are investing in cryptocurrency. That trend is only expected to grow. This research looks at how businesses handled crypto before official rules came out in 2023, showing that many treated it like traditional investments. This provides a baseline against which future research can evaluate the new rule. The research also warns that the fair value approach could make stock prices more volatile without necessarily making earnings reports more useful for investors.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/1475-679X.70018?af=R\u0022\u003ERead More: Accounting for Cryptocurrencies\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERobbie Moon\u2019s newly published research explains why companies hold cryptocurrency, the challenges of reporting it, and how new accounting rules aim to bring clarity.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Robbie Moon\u2019s research explains why companies hold cryptocurrency, the challenges of reporting it, and how new accounting rules aim to bring clarity."}],"uid":"36730","created_gmt":"2025-11-07 14:43:23","changed_gmt":"2025-11-07 14:47:24","author":"klowe36","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678570":{"id":"678570","type":"image","title":"Robbie Moon, associate professor of Accounting","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERobbie Moon, associate professor of Accounting\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762526145","gmt_created":"2025-11-07 14:35:45","changed":"1762526251","gmt_changed":"2025-11-07 14:37:31","alt":"Robbie Moon, associate professor of Accounting","file":{"fid":"262622","name":"robbie-moon-research.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/07\/robbie-moon-research.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/07\/robbie-moon-research.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":233237,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/07\/robbie-moon-research.jpg?itok=28zXMMKh"}}},"media_ids":["678570"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/accounting-and-cryptocurrency-robbie-moon.html?_gl=1*1bo5ybe*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTA4MjcxMzQwNS4xNzYyNTI2Mjg3*_ga_8XJDVR2ZKP*czE3NjI1MjYyODckbzEkZzEkdDE3NjI1MjYyODkkajU4JGwwJGgxNDU2MDcyODg2","title":"Read More"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"104321","name":"cryptocurrency"},{"id":"1427","name":"Accounting"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"1224","name":"regulation"}],"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\u003EKristin Lowe\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ekristin.lowe@scheller.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kristin.lowe@scheller.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684926":{"#nid":"684926","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Taps Military Talent to Boost Manufacturing Workforce","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs the U.S. works to strengthen its industrial base and reshore critical manufacturing capabilities, workforce development has emerged as a central challenge \u2014 and opportunity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/manufacturing.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) recently welcomed its first Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Fellow to help address this growing need. Lukas Berg, a retiring U.S. Army officer, will be working with GTMI to support new education and training programs aimed at preparing Georgians for careers in advanced manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLukas Berg brings a unique blend of operational experience, academic insight, and a deep commitment to service,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11182\u0022\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of GTMI. \u201cHis perspective will be invaluable as we work to build stronger connections between Georgia\u2019s communities and the advanced manufacturing sector.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/career-services\/fellowships\/\u0022\u003EHiring Our Heroes\u003C\/a\u003E is a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that helps veterans and military spouses transition into civilian careers through short-term fellowships. Since 2021, Georgia Tech has hosted more than two dozen HOH fellows, beginning with U.S. Army veteran \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/people\/erik-andersen\u0022\u003EErik Andersen\u003C\/a\u003E, who now serves as interim deputy director for the Research, Electronics, Optics, and Systems Directorate at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), where he also helps lead the HOH program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBerg is the first fellow to be placed outside of GTRI, a sign of the program\u2019s growing reach across campus and its potential to support a broader range of workforce development efforts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s been exciting to see how the Hiring Our Heroes program has grown at Georgia Tech,\u201d said Andersen. \u201cBerg\u2019s placement at GTMI reflects the Institute\u2019s commitment to connecting military talent with real-world innovation and workforce development. Veterans bring a unique perspective and skill set to these challenges, and I\u2019m proud to see the program expanding to new parts of campus.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBerg\u2019s military career includes aviation command roles, teaching positions at West Point and the Joint Special Operations University, and deployments across multiple regions. At GTMI, he will be contributing to a new initiative that partners with rural school districts to introduce students to hands-on learning in advanced manufacturing, an effort designed to spark interest in high-potential career paths and support long-term workforce readiness.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith personal ties to Georgia Tech and a strong sense of purpose, Berg sees this fellowship as a meaningful next step. We spoke with him to learn more about what brought him to GTMI and how he views the role of manufacturing and workforce development in shaping the country\u2019s future.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat inspired you to pursue a fellowship at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute after your military service?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast year, I visited Georgia Tech with many of the junior officers and pilots assigned to my helicopter battalion in Savannah. Our agenda included stops at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility, both of which struck me as being absolutely vital to maintaining the technological edge required to fight and win on the modern battlefield. Pursuing a fellowship at GTMI felt like a natural extension of my military service, and I suspected that it would put me back at the intersection of thinkers and doers (where I have always felt most at home).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou mentioned your grandmother taught at Georgia Tech for over 30 years \u2014 how has her legacy influenced your academic and professional journey?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy grandmother, Maria Venable, was the first woman to serve as a full-time faculty member in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Modern Languages. She poured herself into both her family and her students, and I was lucky to count myself in both populations, as she agreed to tutor me for the AP German exam in high school (but only if I behaved as well as her students at Tech). Her example inspired me to pursue a teaching assignment at West Point halfway through my Army career, and I experienced the same joy in teaching that she did. It\u2019s something that I will continue to do for the rest of my life, whether in a formal or informal capacity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you share more about the specific initiatives you\u0027ll be working on at GTMI related to advanced manufacturing education?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMost immediately, I am joining a new GTMI initiative that partners with rural school districts to deliver several weeks\u2019 worth of curriculum and hands-on practice in advanced manufacturing. We just kicked off a pilot program with Bainbridge High School in Decatur, and it\u2019s exciting to see their students leveraging sophisticated systems to design and build Pinewood Derby cars that would make Cub Scouts across the country green with envy. Beyond this initiative, I hope to contribute to other efforts that get young people excited about careers in manufacturing and that assist adult learners in re-skilling and up-skilling for this high-potential industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are you most looking forward to as you begin your fellowship at GTMI?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech feels like a physical and intellectual crossroads of modern civilization. I\u2019m excited to not only contribute as a member of GTMI but also to learn about the countless other departments, institutes, and programs that are convening talent to solve the world\u2019s thorniest problems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat skills or insights are you hoping to gain during your time at GTMI that will support your next career chapter?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an Army officer, I\u2019ve been stationed across the country and deployed around the world, but Georgia has always been home. (Gladys Knight\u2019s \u201cMidnight Train to Georgia\u201d has been a fixture on my playlist since I left for West Point at the age of 17.) Now back with my family, I look forward to using my time at GTMI to learn about my home state and identify ways that I can contribute to its near and long-term prosperity, whether through roles in academia, government, or private industry. I also look forward to expanding my network in all these communities, as no single one has a monopoly on problem-solving.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy do you believe rebuilding America\u2019s industrial base and manufacturing workforce is critical to national security today?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a career aviator, much of my professional life was spent agonizing over the availability of parts to repair my helicopters. It seemed like there were never enough, and they always took too long to get to me. This experience, coupled with lessons learned from our support of Ukraine\u2019s self-defense, contrasted starkly with my recent study of America\u2019s 20th-century role as the \u201carsenal of democracy.\u201d I\u2019m convinced that we need to regain that reputation, and I would like to see Georgia at the forefront of associated design, manufacturing, and education initiatives.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do you see veterans playing a unique role in strengthening the U.S. manufacturing workforce?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think veterans are the most natural candidates in the world for roles in the manufacturing workforce. They possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in most endeavors, but most are looking for ways to extend their service beyond their time in uniform. What better way than to contribute to a field that is so vital to our national security and prosperity?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat does \u201cProgress and Service\u201d mean to you, and what does it mean to you personally to be contributing to that mission?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI love Tech\u2019s motto. I grew up in a family and community that reinforced at every turn the idea that our highest potential as human beings is realized when we serve others. This motivated my choice to serve in the military for the past 20 years, and it remains my North Star for this next chapter. I also love the idea of technological progress being the vehicle by which Georgia Tech collectively serves others, and I hope to accelerate this progress during my time at GTMI.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you could give one piece of advice to other service members considering a fellowship like this, what would it be?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInventory your passions and define your purpose. Then start reaching out to people in related fields. I have been amazed at how generous people have been with their time and how eager they have been to help me find my second calling and related opportunities.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s partnership with the Hiring Our Heroes program grows with a new fellowship placement focused on rural outreach and manufacturing workforce readiness.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s partnership with the Hiring Our Heroes program grows with a new fellowship placement focused on rural outreach and manufacturing workforce readiness."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-09-16 18:04:56","changed_gmt":"2025-09-17 14:38:15","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-09-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678018":{"id":"678018","type":"image","title":"497731223_1107871948051058_460928682481553540_n.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELukas Berg (right), who flew several variants of the UH-60 Blackhawk over the course of his career, celebrated his final flight before joining the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute in August.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758045905","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 18:05:05","changed":"1758045905","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 18:05:05","alt":"Lukas Berg (right), who flew several variants of the UH-60 Blackhawk over the course of his career, celebrated his final flight before joining the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute in August.","file":{"fid":"261990","name":"497731223_1107871948051058_460928682481553540_n.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/497731223_1107871948051058_460928682481553540_n.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/497731223_1107871948051058_460928682481553540_n.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":344535,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/497731223_1107871948051058_460928682481553540_n.jpg?itok=TTcvjYVr"}},"678019":{"id":"678019","type":"image","title":"Lukas-Berg-GTMI.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBerg will be working with GTMI for the course of his fellowship with the Hiring Our Heroes program.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758046108","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 18:08:28","changed":"1758046108","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 18:08:28","alt":"Berg will be working with GTMI for the course of his fellowship with the Hiring Our Heroes program.","file":{"fid":"261991","name":"Lukas-Berg-GTMI.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Lukas-Berg-GTMI.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Lukas-Berg-GTMI.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":14094481,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/Lukas-Berg-GTMI.jpg?itok=AyYwhmUm"}},"678020":{"id":"678020","type":"image","title":"Maria-Venable.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMaria Venable, Berg\u0027s grandmother, joined the Georgia Tech faculty in 1963 as a 28-year-old native German speaker.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758046193","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 18:09:53","changed":"1758046193","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 18:09:53","alt":"Maria Venable, Berg\u0027s grandmother, joined the Georgia Tech faculty in 1963 as a 28-year-old native German speaker.","file":{"fid":"261992","name":"Maria-Venable.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Maria-Venable.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Maria-Venable.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":327739,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/Maria-Venable.jpg?itok=sHFnui7w"}},"678021":{"id":"678021","type":"image","title":"Berg-Final-Flight-Family.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBerg and his family stand next to the model of helicopter frequently flown during his career.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758046255","gmt_created":"2025-09-16 18:10:55","changed":"1758046255","gmt_changed":"2025-09-16 18:10:55","alt":"Berg and his family stand next to the model of helicopter frequently flown during his career.","file":{"fid":"261993","name":"Berg-Final-Flight-Family.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Berg-Final-Flight-Family.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/16\/Berg-Final-Flight-Family.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":12273657,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/16\/Berg-Final-Flight-Family.jpg?itok=5nPicDlf"}}},"media_ids":["678018","678019","678020","678021"],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"194610","name":"National Interests\/National Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"},{"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:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683545":{"#nid":"683545","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Helps Towns Plan for Explosive Growth","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPEMBROKE, GA \u2014\u003C\/strong\u003E For more than two decades, Ray Butler has run Butler\u2019s Tire \u0026amp; Lube in the heart of Pembroke. He\u2019s seen the town evolve, shrink, and now, rapidly grow \u2014 all during the time of his life as a local here.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe had three grocery stores once a long time ago. That went away and for a while things felt pretty empty,\u201d Butler recalled. \u201cNow, it\u2019s housing ... housing going up everywhere. That\u2019s just in the last six to eight months.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat burst of activity isn\u2019t random. Just 10 miles down the road, Hyundai Motor Company has built a $5.5 billion Metaplant \u2014 a sprawling electric vehicle and battery complex expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs, with thousands more in supporting industries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor towns like Pembroke, a 40-minute drive west of Savannah with a population of 2,800, the arrival of a global manufacturing powerhouse brings both promise and pressure. How do you preserve the feel of a small town while preparing for massive new demands on housing, infrastructure, and services?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cedr.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Economic Development Research\u003C\/a\u003E (CEDR) at Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E is hoping to help with that question \u2014 not just for Pembroke, but for any community facing sudden economic acceleration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u201cWe built a tool that predicts where and when growth will happen,\u201d said Betsy McGriff, a project manager at CEDR. The tool, CEDRC\u2122, is an economic development certification program that assists communities in planning for workforce infrastructure. \u201cIt looks beyond one county or one city line and focuses on commuting patterns \u2014 where people actually live, shop, go to school. That\u2019s what gives you a truer sense of regional impact.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003ECEDRC\u2122 was developed with coastal Georgia in mind, specifically the unprecedented scale of the Hyundai investment. But its applications are broader \u2014 a way for cities and counties to model real-world impact and plan accordingly. It translates job growth into practical numbers: how many households, how many students, how much more demand on water, roads, or emergency services.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003EFor Pembroke Community Development Director Derek Cathcart, that modeling is critical.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s a tension between keeping the small-town charm people value, and the growth pressures we\u2019re seeing,\u201d Cathcart said. \u201cYou have to plan for that middle ground. We\u2019re doing infrastructure studies, housing studies, transportation planning \u2014 and this tool helps us make those decisions with real data.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGriff, who grew up not far from Pembroke and has worked extensively with rural communities, understands that language matters.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSometimes planners talk in units per acre, in zoning codes \u2014 but people don\u2019t live in codes. They live in places that feel right to them,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I ask: Does this feel like the town you want?\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn April, McGriff and her team hosted a public listening session in Pembroke, where residents gathered to view street designs, development options, and housing styles. Rather than presenting a one-size-fits-all plan, the team asked locals what they liked, what felt right, and what kind of community they wanted to build.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s not about imposing a vision,\u201d McGriff said. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping people shape their own.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe feedback gathered from that session will be shared with city leaders and used to help guide updates to zoning codes and ordinances \u2014 giving Pembroke the regulatory tools it needs to make its residents\u2019 vision a reality.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new model lets communities visualize the future they want \u2014 whether that\u2019s historic preservation and thoughtful infill development or room for newer commercial corridors. And it emphasizes that decisions made today shape what becomes permanent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou\u2019ve got one bite at the apple,\u201d McGriff said. \u201cOnce it\u2019s built, it\u2019s built.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBack at Butler\u2019s Tire \u0026amp; Lube, business is good. New faces are walking in the door, and Butler enjoys chatting with folks about where they came from and why they chose Pembroke.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019d never live anywhere but a small town,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s different now \u2014 a big change to get used to \u2014 but it\u2019s exciting too.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Pembroke and so many other towns that are neighbors to big development projects, growth is inevitable. With tools like Georgia Tech\u2019s model in hand, communities may have a better shot at shaping that growth \u2014 rather than being overwhelmed by it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Pembroke, Georgia, braces for explosive growth spurred by Hyundai Motor Company\u2019s\u0026nbsp;$5.5 billion Metaplant, Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Economic Development Research is helping the small town \u2014 and others like it \u2014 plan smarter with a data-driven tool that turns job projections into real-world impacts on housing, infrastructure, and community identity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Pembroke, Georgia, is bracing for growth from Hyundai\u2019s $5.5B Metaplant. Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Economic Development Research is helping towns like it plan smarter with a tool that helps translate projections into real impact on community identity."}],"uid":"36174","created_gmt":"2025-08-05 17:21:24","changed_gmt":"2025-08-26 00:31:15","author":"Blair Meeks","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677789":{"id":"677789","type":"video","title":" Georgia Tech Helps Towns Plan for Explosive Growth","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Pembroke, Georgia, braces for explosive growth spurred by Hyundai Motor Company\u2019s\u0026nbsp; $5.5 billion Metaplant, Georgia Tech\u0027s Center for Economic Development Research is helping the small town \u2014 and others like it \u2014 plan smarter with a data-driven tool that turns job projections into real-world impacts on housing, infrastructure, and community identity.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1756149813","gmt_created":"2025-08-25 19:23:33","changed":"1756150920","gmt_changed":"2025-08-25 19:42:00","video":{"youtube_id":"SVoRAzzLF_k","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SVoRAzzLF_k"}},"677572":{"id":"677572","type":"image","title":"Aerial view of downtown Pembroke, Georgia","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe main street of Pembroke, Georgia is about 10 miles from the new Hyundai auto plant and 35 miles west of Savannah.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754408497","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 15:41:37","changed":"1754408686","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 15:44:46","alt":"This image shows a bird\u0027s eye view of downtown Pembroke, Georgia","file":{"fid":"261485","name":"Pembroke-aerial-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-aerial-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-aerial-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3004172,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-aerial-2025.jpg?itok=v60ZS2A7"}},"677574":{"id":"677574","type":"image","title":"Downtown Pembroke, Georgia","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECrossing one of the main streets of downtown Pembroke, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754408711","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 15:45:11","changed":"1754408892","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 15:48:12","alt":"This image shows two people crossing one of the main streets of downtown Pembroke","file":{"fid":"261486","name":"Pembroke-crossing-street-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-crossing-street-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-crossing-street-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2059793,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-crossing-street-2025.jpg?itok=YvcIxVvQ"}},"677571":{"id":"677571","type":"image","title":"Pembroke community meeting on housing forecast","body":"\u003Cp\u003EBetsy McGriff and her team from Georgia Tech\u0027s Center for Economic Development Research lead a community meeting in Pembroke, Georgia, seeking input on housing and development options to plan for growth due to the nearby Hyundai auto plant.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754407732","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 15:28:52","changed":"1754408470","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 15:41:10","alt":"This picture shows Betsy McGriff of Georgia Tech\u0027s Center for Economic Development Research  speaking to residents in Pembroke, Georgia, about expected housing growth due to the nearby Hyundai auto plant","file":{"fid":"261483","name":"Pembroke-City-Hall-medium-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-City-Hall-medium-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-City-Hall-medium-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1067227,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-City-Hall-medium-2025.jpg?itok=-1cseCLp"}},"677577":{"id":"677577","type":"image","title":"Construction for housing in Pembroke is booming","body":"\u003Cp\u003EConstruction for housing in and around Pembroke, Georgia, is booming. This drainage work is helping prepare sites in one of several new subdivisions being built to accommodate auto plant growth.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754408906","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 15:48:26","changed":"1754409354","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 15:55:54","alt":"This image shows a worker in a small excavator preparing the area around a drainage pipe","file":{"fid":"261488","name":"Pembroke-road-construction-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-road-construction-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-road-construction-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3010614,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-road-construction-2025.jpg?itok=GpcqOAGU"}},"677580":{"id":"677580","type":"image","title":"Many businesses around Pembroke are growing as a result of the nearby auto plant","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECustomers line up for service at Butler\u0027s Tire \u0026amp; Lube in Pembroke, Georgia. The owner has seen an increase in business and he\u0027s expecting more growth.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754409371","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 15:56:11","changed":"1754409741","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 16:02:21","alt":"This image shows vehicles outside of Butler\u0027s Tire \u0026 Lube in Pembroke, Georgia","file":{"fid":"261491","name":"Pembroke-auto-shop-wide-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-wide-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-wide-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2678470,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-wide-2025.jpg?itok=ZVIzP1zs"}},"677581":{"id":"677581","type":"image","title":"Ray Butler and an employee at Butler\u0027s Tire \u0026 Lube in Pembroke","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERay Butler of Butler\u0027s Tire \u0026amp; Lube talks with an employee in the shop. The business has experienced some growth as a result of the nearby auto plant, and while Butler would like to see Pembroke keep its small town feel, he knows rapid growth is coming. He\u0027s planning and hoping for the best.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1754409763","gmt_created":"2025-08-05 16:02:43","changed":"1754410143","gmt_changed":"2025-08-05 16:09:03","alt":"This image shows Ray Butler and one of the employee\u0027s at Butler\u0027s Tire \u0026 Lube a long-standing business in Pembroke, Georgia","file":{"fid":"261494","name":"Pembroke-auto-shop-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1890758,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/05\/Pembroke-auto-shop-2025.jpg?itok=c1acwLm-"}}},"media_ids":["677789","677572","677574","677571","677577","677580","677581"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"12856","name":"civil infrastructure"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EW. Blair Meeks\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:blair.meeks@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eblair.meeks@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"684009":{"#nid":"684009","#data":{"type":"news","title":"GTRI Develops Climate, Moisture Control Technologies to Optimize Poultry House Operations","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, where chickens are the biggest agricultural product with an annual state economic impact of over \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nifa.usda.gov\/about-nifa\/blogs\/georgia-extension-supporting-county-governments-poultry-industry\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E$28 billion\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, maintaining the right temperature and moisture levels in a poultry house is crucial for bird health and efficiency. However, this can be challenging due to changing weather, bird density and size, and high energy costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is addressing these challenges with two technologies: the Broiler House Integrated Guided-Motion Excreta Saturation System (BHIG-MESS) and a protective chicken enclosure known as \u201cchicken bubble.\u201d BHIG-MESS addresses moisture concerns by removing poultry waste from the house regularly and automatically, which helps reduce ventilation needs and energy consumption. \u201cChicken bubble\u201d uses an inflatable barrier to reduce the volume of air that needs conditioning, lowering energy expenses that are among the highest costs for farmers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOne of the biggest challenges for poultry houses and farmers is maintaining the internal environment of the house,\u201d said GTRI Principal Research Scientist Alex Samoylov.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cWhile issues related to feed and water have been more or less resolved, creating an optimal environment within the house is still very much an art rather than an exact science.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPoultry house energy costs are primarily driven by heating fuel and electricity for essential needs like keeping chickens warm, providing adequate lighting and powering ventilation systems.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHow well farmers manage their energy costs directly impacts the health and productivity of the birds \u2013 and by extension, their profitability,\u201d Samoylov said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBHIG-MESS consists of a specially designed tiled floor where manure falls through into a tray beneath, allowing for daily removal. In traditional houses, wood shavings absorb manure and it remains in place for the flock\u0027s entire stay. By clearing out the manure every day, BHIG-MESS significantly reduces moisture levels inside the house and, consequently, the need for intensive ventilation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u201cchicken bubble\u201d system\u2019s inflatable technology reduces the amount of air that needs to be ventilated and conditioned. By displacing a significant portion of air inside the house, farmers could cut these air requirements by at least half, Samoylov said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI has conducted trials of BHIG-MESS at the University of Georgia\u2019s (UGA) Poultry Experimental Center. During the trials, researchers replaced half of the floor with GTRI\u2019s system and the other half remained traditional wood shavings. The birds were raised for seven weeks and GTRI collected data on manure accumulation, bird health and weight distribution.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey observed that the birds on GTRI\u2019s flooring system had significantly fewer instances of footpad dermatitis, a condition in chickens where the skin on the bottom of their feet becomes inflamed and irritated, often caused by wet and dirty litter. The system also demonstrated that it did not cause more chicken deaths compared to traditional methods. Chickens on the new system also had similar weight patterns and, in some cases, were healthier than those raised on the traditional wood shavings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI plans to test \u201cchicken bubble\u201d in 2026, starting in controlled environments before moving to larger poultry houses. This project has been supported by GTRI\u2019s Agricultural Technology Research Program (ATRP).Once more testing has been completed, GTRI plans to partner with commercial entities that would manufacture and distribute these technologies. Samoylov said his team envisions a partnership where these companies would handle production and installation while GTRI continues focusing on further research and technical refinement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur focus is on enhancing sustainability and profitability for the poultry industry,\u201d he said. \u201cBy creating innovative solutions, we aim to secure food supply and help growers thrive.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: \u003Cstrong\u003EAnna Akins\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPhotos: \u003Cstrong\u003ESean McNeil\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAdditional Photo Credit: \u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Samoylov\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about GTRI, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute | GTRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI is developing two technologies to address climate and moisture control challenges in poultry houses - innovations that could lead to healthier flocks and reduce costs for farmers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GTRI is developing two technologies to address climate and moisture control challenges in poultry houses - innovations that could lead to healthier flocks and reduce costs for farmers. "}],"uid":"35874","created_gmt":"2025-08-20 17:51:15","changed_gmt":"2025-08-21 19:20:19","author":"Anna Akins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677756":{"id":"677756","type":"image","title":"PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, chickens make up the biggest agricultural product with a whopping annual state economic impact of over $28 billion. However, it can be extremely challenging - and costly - for poultry farmers to maintain optimal temperature and moisture levels inside poultry houses. By addressing this challenge, GTRI\u0027s two technologies could result in healthier birds and save farmers money.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of a chicken. ","file":{"fid":"261690","name":"PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1583847,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170045035.jpg?itok=Moy9DDlz"}},"677757":{"id":"677757","type":"image","title":"PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDuring recent trials at UGA, GTRI observed that birds on GTRI\u0027s BHIG-MESS flooring system (on left) had fewer instances of footpad dermatitis along with similar weight patterns and better overall health in some cases than those on raised traditional wood shavings (Photo Credit: Alex Samoylov).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of chickens in a poultry house. ","file":{"fid":"261691","name":"PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2606006,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/PXL_20250220_170935576.jpg?itok=ZpQS4Gu2"}},"677755":{"id":"677755","type":"image","title":"2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI Principal Research Scientist and project lead Alex Samoylov stands next to a prototype he has developed of GTRI\u0027s \u0022chicken bubble\u0022 technology. \u0022Chicken bubble\u0022 reduces the volume of air in poultry houses that needs conditioning, lowering energy expenses that are among the highest costs for farmers. GTRI plans to test this technology out in the field sometime next year (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of GTRI\u0027s \u0022chicken bubble\u0022 technology ","file":{"fid":"261689","name":"2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17452917,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0515_image_Future-Farm_05.JPG?itok=0yzITy1Y"}},"677754":{"id":"677754","type":"image","title":"2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI Principal Research Scientist and project lead Alex Samoylov (left) and GTRI Research Engineer Parth Mandrekar (right) have developed a BHIG-MESS prototype and are seen working on it here (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI). BHIG-MESS addresses moisture concerns in poultry houses by removing waste regularly and automatically, which helps reduce ventilation needs and energy consumption.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1755712306","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","changed":"1755712306","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 17:51:46","alt":"A photo of two GTRI researchers working on the BHIG-MESS prototype. ","file":{"fid":"261688","name":"2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":17261930,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/2025_0707_image_ATRP_future-farm_01.JPG?itok=EsoxuKQc"}}},"media_ids":["677756","677757","677755","677754"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"44641","name":"institute communications"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"23681","name":"Food Processing Technology"},{"id":"125571","name":"poultry industry"},{"id":"11426","name":"Georgia Economy"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAuthor: Anna Akins \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eanna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTRI media contact info: \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683317":{"#nid":"683317","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Scientists Pinpoint Hazards for Engineered Stone Fabrication Shop Workers ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EYou\u0027ve probably seen fabricated stone countertops on an HGTV remodeling show \u2014 and you might even have them in your own home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe durable, affordable, and highly customizable product debuted in Italy in the 1970s and continues to grow in popularity. Between 2010 and 2018, U.S. imports of engineered stone slabs\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/10482911231189503\u0022\u003E increased by 800%\u003C\/a\u003E. One\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.freedoniagroup.com\/industry-study\/global-engineered-stone-countertops\u0022\u003Ereport predicted\u003C\/a\u003E that global demand will increase 5.4% each year, to reach 97 million square meters by 2028.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometimes referred to as manufactured stone or quartz (which is, confusingly, also the name of one of its main components), to the untrained eye, the material looks no different from natural stone. One of its biggest advantages is that it can be made to resemble marble, granite, or nearly any other stone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeneath the material\u2019s familiar smooth surface, however, lie safety risks for engineered stone workers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearch conducted by a team of Georgia Tech scientists demonstrates that everyone in a fabrication shop is at risk, not just the workers cutting and fashioning the material.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group included members of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESafety, Health, and Environmental Services\u003C\/a\u003E (SHES) program: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/jenny-houlroyd-cih-mpsh\/\u0022\u003EJenny Houlroyd\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/hilarie-warren-cih-mph\/\u0022\u003EHilarie Warren\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/brandon-j-philpot-mph\/\u0022\u003EBrandon J. Philpot\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/staff\/sean-castillo-mph\/\u0022\u003ESean Castillo\u003C\/a\u003E. Together with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scholars.georgiasouthern.edu\/en\/persons\/jhy-charm-soo-2\u0022\u003EJhy-Charm Soo\u003C\/a\u003E of\u0026nbsp;Georgia Southern University, they recently published their findings in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/\u0022\u003EOxford Academic\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email#512191161\u0022\u003EThe study\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;divided engineered stone workers into four risk groups and charted their relative exposure to the material\u2019s chief hazard:\u0026nbsp;respirable crystalline silica.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA \u201cToxic Product\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineered stone differs notably from its natural counterpart, both in composition and in danger to worker health. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA stone slab cut from the ground, such as granite or marble,\u0026nbsp;comprises\u0026nbsp;several different minerals and typically has a concentration of 40% or less of mineral crystalline silica \u2014 usually quartz, which is the most abundant form of crystalline silica.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEngineered stone, however, can contain more than 90% silica. Slabs are produced when silica is crushed, combined with synthetic resins, and compressed using heat or pressure.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring fabrication, these slabs are cut and shaped by powered hand tools. The resulting dust contains tiny particles of respirable crystalline silica. Once inhaled,\u0026nbsp;some of the particulate may stay in the lungs and cause an inflammatory response.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile crystalline silica is released from both natural and engineered slabs during fabrication, the engineered slabs\u2019 significantly higher percentage of silica poses a much greater risk to human health.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA growing body of research indicates that breathing engineered stone dust leads to lung inflammation and can cause acute silicosis, an untreatable lung disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI would classify engineered stone as a really toxic product,\u201d said Houlroyd, manager of occupational health services at SHES. \u201cWhen you have something that\u2019s high-risk, you have to prepare for systems to fail and have backup measures.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommitted to Safety\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver six years, the SHES research group collected air-sampling data, making 17 visits to 11 Georgia stone fabrication shops. The shops had all requested air-sampling services offered by SHES.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe companies agree that by working with us, they commit to correcting the hazards and reducing exposures, as much as is feasible,\u201d Houlroyd noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause most kitchen and bathroom countertop fabrication shops are small employers, workers often complete a variety of tasks, resulting in a range of exposure factors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe research team recommended that all manufactured stone fabrication workers\u0026nbsp;wear respirators, such as an N95 mask. For employees who are the most exposed, they recommended a respirator with a powered air-purifying element or supplied air.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut personal protective equipment (PPE) alone does not ensure safe conditions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMost of the workers in this industry are relying on respirators as their primary source of protection, and they need a lot more to protect them,\u201d explained Houlroyd. \u201cPPE is the last line of defense, and safety needs to be addressed from all angles.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPart of that multifaceted strategy includes repeated monitoring of air quality and equipment. It\u2019s also crucial for employers to make sure that exposure risks are understood by all workers \u2014 not just employees, but also contract and day laborers, as well as those working for cash.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore Than Just a Job\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs members of SHES, the Georgia Tech research team members are first and foremost health and safety consultants, with expertise spanning industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Houlroyd, worker safety is not just a professional calling; it\u2019s also a personal mission.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy dad got sick with brain cancer from exposure to contaminants on the job, and he died four years ago,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThough he didn\u2019t work in the manufactured stone industry, his story is representative of many people who go to work each day to feed their family, are not aware of workplace hazards, and then find themselves sick.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe public can play a part in worker safety, too.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cConsumers have a choice and can educate themselves about what type of countertop materials they choose to have installed \u2014 like how we look at food labels for nutritional information,\u201d said Warren, who oversees the OSHA Training Institute Education Center at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe should be aware of the risk to workers, as well as how the installation process in our homes should be properly managed to prevent dust contamination,\u201d she added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Zero-Risk Solution\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2024, Australia eliminated the risks associated with engineered stone fabrication. Despite having enacted stronger regulations in 2019, the country continued to see a rise in silicosis cases resulting from exposure to respirable crystalline silica.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAustralia\u2019s solution?\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1183\/13993003.00138-2024\u0022\u003EEnacting a ban\u003C\/a\u003E on the import and fabrication of the material until its safe manufacture can be demonstrated.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn their report, the Georgia Tech group recommends that the U.S. do the same. As Houlroyd put it, \u201cI would love to see our country find a safer substitution and take this dangerous product off the market.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E____________________\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETitle:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cRespirable dust and respirable crystalline silica exposures among workers at stone countertop fabrication shops in Georgia from 2017 through 2023\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EConflict of interest\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;Jenny Houlroyd has served as an expert witness in silicosis legal cases unrelated to this research. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFunding\u003C\/strong\u003E: The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as part of the OSHA 21(d) Consultation Program grant.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDOI\u003C\/strong\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/academic.oup.com\/annweh\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/annweh\/wxaf014\/8116008?utm_source=advanceaccess\u0026amp;utm_campaign=annweh\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAustralia enacted a ban on the import and fabrication of manufactured stone slabs because of health hazard concerns. Researchers from Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern University recommend the U.S. do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Engineered stone has been in use for homes since the 1970s but creates serious health hazards for workers who produce them."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2025-07-28 14:17:01","changed_gmt":"2025-07-30 14:28:40","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677502":{"id":"677502","type":"image","title":"Sanding Photo - Javier Padilla","body":"\u003Cdiv\u003EJavier Padilla, a sander with a metro Atlanta stone fabrication company, works on smoothing out a slab. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/div\u003E","created":"1753723684","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:28:04","changed":"1753724449","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 17:40:49","alt":"Man sanding a slab of fabricated stone.","file":{"fid":"261407","name":"sanding-6.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":136279,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/sanding-6.jpg?itok=1bZuo-cJ"}},"677506":{"id":"677506","type":"image","title":"Saw with Water","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOn average, fabrication stone plants use about 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of water per day. This saw is cutting though a slab of manufactured stone as water runs to keep the machinery from overheating, mitigate dust particulates, and polish the stone. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753725472","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:57:52","changed":"1753726882","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 18:21:22","alt":"saw machine cutting fabricated stone under running water.","file":{"fid":"261410","name":"saw-with-water.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":326823,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/saw-with-water.jpg?itok=DtrTOQjQ"}},"677503":{"id":"677503","type":"image","title":"Resipirator Photo","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMasks such as this respirator are an important tool for workers in stone fabrication plants. To prevent silica dust and other particulates from damaging their components, experts say respirators should be stored in clear, plastic bags or containers when not in use. (Photo: Mixed Bag Media)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753724474","gmt_created":"2025-07-28 17:41:14","changed":"1753725381","gmt_changed":"2025-07-28 17:56:21","alt":"Respirator mask in a factory","file":{"fid":"261408","name":"respirator3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":63134,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/28\/respirator3.jpg?itok=hcHY-KM4"}}},"media_ids":["677502","677506","677503"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194690","name":"engineered stone"},{"id":"194691","name":"silicosis"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"194692","name":"worker safety"},{"id":"194693","name":"Georgia Southern University"},{"id":"188875","name":"Safety Health and Environmental Services"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr\u003Eeve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["eve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683266":{"#nid":"683266","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Georgia Tech Celebrates 65 Years of Service","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech, received recognition by Gov. Brian P. Kemp at the Georgia State Capitol for 65 years of service to the manufacturing industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe commendation acknowledged GaMEP for leveraging its world-renowned expertise and resources to advance manufacturing and economic prosperity across the state, supporting an industry that adds $82 billion to the economy and employs 425,000 residents, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis impact reflects decades of intentional growth and support for the industry. By 1960, more than 4,500 manufacturers had planted roots across Georgia \u2014 the result of strategic efforts by state leaders, with economic development assistance from Georgia Tech, to industrialize the economy. But growth brought new challenges. Manufacturers needed technical support to stay competitive. In response, the Georgia General Assembly voted to establish the Georgia Tech Industrial Extension Service (now known as the GaMEP). This created statewide field offices that provide a direct link between industry and innovation, delivering on-site technical expertise to help manufacturers thrive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur role is to support those manufacturers so together we can help grow the state\u2019s economy \u2014 and we\u2019ve been really successful at that,\u201d said Tim Israel, GaMEP director and EI2 associate vice president for corporate engagement\/firm-based programs. \u201cIn 2024, Georgia experienced a significant return on its investment with the GaMEP generating an impressive $294 for every state dollar allocated to manufacturing projects. This remarkable outcome highlights the critical importance of the state\u2019s strategic investments in strengthening Georgia\u2019s manufacturing sector.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the past decade alone, the GaMEP has provided assistance and education to more than 3,900 manufacturers across 144 counties, helping them create or retain 14,500 jobs, invest $1 billion in capital improvements, realize $3.5 billion in sales, and save nearly $450 million in costs. The GaMEP primarily serves small- to medium-sized manufacturers with 75% employing less than 250 workers. Its top-served industries include fabricated metal products, food, machinery, and chemical and transportation equipment manufacturing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen Georgia manufacturers become more productive and profitable, they hire more people, pay better wages, and stabilize local economies, especially in rural and underserved areas of the state,\u201d said David Bridges, EI2 vice president. \u201cThis also creates pathways for career advancement for frontline workers who might not have had previous opportunities.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, GaMEP\u2019s reach spans 10 regions across the state, each led by a dedicated region manager who lives and works locally, offering manufacturers direct, knowledgeable connections to its expert team, valuable resources, and diverse partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe GaMEP has been a trusted collaborator and valued partner in strengthening manufacturing across Georgia,\u201d said Lloyd Avram, Georgia Association of Manufacturers CEO and president. \u201cTogether, we\u2019ve supported thousands of manufacturers statewide \u2014 helping them embrace innovation, improve operations, and remain competitive. We appreciate their extensive expertise and shared dedication to advancing the industry, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure Georgia remains one of the best states for manufacturing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaMEP\u2019s impact and success by region, according to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgia.org\/regions\u0022\u003EGeorgia Department of Economic Development regions\u003C\/a\u003E:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECoastal Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 269.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 283.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $23,171,292.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $1,645,061.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $13,965,000.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/roger-wood-foods\/\u0022\u003ERoger Wood Foods\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEast Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 169.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 3,899.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $127,754,280.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $14,771,582.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $975,465,000.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/nutritional-resources-success-story\/\u0022\u003ENutritional Resources\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEast Central Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 209.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 621.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $19,703,035.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $2,535,494.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $29,486,000.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess stories:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/creature-comforts\/\u0022\u003ECreature Comforts Brewing Company\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/poly-tech-industries\/\u0022\u003EPoly Tech Industries\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMetro Atlanta Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 1,601.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 2,928.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $235,763,480.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $112,083,262.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $844,679,890.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess stories:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/compass-technology-group\/\u0022\u003ECompass Technology Group\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/construction-specialties\/\u0022\u003EConstruction Specialties\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/highland-forge\/\u0022\u003EHighland Forge\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMiddle Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 170.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 972.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $121,814,846.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $8,810,950.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $300,213,400.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/unified-defense\/\u0022\u003EUnified Defense\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENortheast Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 280.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 1,029.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $88,443,395.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $63,999,228.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $259,453,900.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/freudenberg-nok-success-story\/\u0022\u003EFreudenberg Sealing Technologies\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENorthwest Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 387.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 1,090.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $ $92,948,931.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $141,460,651.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $326,366,408.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/trenton-pressing\/\u0022\u003ETrenton Pressing\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESouth Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 176.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 969.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $219,300,221.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $6,596,254.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $39,632,275.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/healthy-pet-success-story\/\u0022\u003EHealthy Pet\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESoutheast Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 166.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 281.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $20,684,800.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $3,098,700.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $77,724,500.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess stories:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/cjb-industries\/\u0022\u003ECJB Industries\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/south-georgia-pecan\/\u0022\u003ESouth Georgia Pecan\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESouthwest Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 130.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 130.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $12,266,730.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $1,682,790.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $5,002,020.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/sweet-grass-dairy\/\u0022\u003ESweet Grass Dairy\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWest Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 111.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 713.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $37,948,131.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $3,197,600.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $69,588,348.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess story:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/oneda-corporation\/\u0022\u003EOneda Corporation\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWest Central Region\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECounties: Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EManufacturers served: 234.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJobs created\/retained: 1,658.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECapital improvement investment: $90,750,763.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECosts saved: $89,931,074.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESales realized: $615,900,002.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESuccess stories:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/complete-truck-bodies-success-story\/\u0022\u003EComplete Truck Bodies\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/success-story\/mountville-mills\/\u0022\u003EMountville Mills\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about GaMEP\u2019s impact, including impact by county, visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/statewide-impact\/\u0022\u003Egamep.org\/statewide-impact.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program of the Enterprise Innovation Institute at Georgia Tech, serves manufacturers by offering solution-based assistance that promotes top-line growth and reduces bottom-line cost. The GaMEP, a member of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nist.gov\/mep\u0022\u003EU.S. Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E, has advanced manufacturing and economic prosperity in Georgia since 1960. For more information, visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003Egamep.org\u003C\/a\u003E and like\/follow on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GaMEPGT\/\u0022\u003EFacebook\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gamep\/\u0022\u003ELinkedIn\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/x.com\/GaMEPGT?lang=en\u0022\u003EX,\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCCdMKaskl8EJ3WOgV4Wq6FQ\u0022\u003EYouTube\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe commendation celebrates GaMEP\u2019s commitment to supporting manufacturers across the state through educational opportunities and technical assistance.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Gov. Brian Kemp recognizes GaMEP history and impact serving manufacturers in Georgia."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2025-07-24 19:29:37","changed_gmt":"2025-07-24 22:42:52","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-07-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677483":{"id":"677483","type":"image","title":"Gov. Kemp GaMEP Commendation","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u0026nbsp;at Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute receives a commendation from Gov. Brian P. Kemp at the Georgia State Capitol for 65 years of service to the manufacturing industry. The commendation acknowledged GaMEP for leveraging its world-renowned expertise and resources to advance manufacturing and economic prosperity across the state, supporting an industry that adds $82 billion to the economy and employs 425,000 residents. (Photo: Georgia Governor\u0027s Office)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1753385588","gmt_created":"2025-07-24 19:33:08","changed":"1753396877","gmt_changed":"2025-07-24 22:41:17","alt":"Group photo of Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership staff receiving a commendation from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.","file":{"fid":"261385","name":"Gov.-Brian-P.-Kemp-and-GaMEP.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/24\/Gov.-Brian-P.-Kemp-and-GaMEP.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/07\/24\/Gov.-Brian-P.-Kemp-and-GaMEP.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2573580,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/07\/24\/Gov.-Brian-P.-Kemp-and-GaMEP.jpg?itok=h1Qvc4jf"}}},"media_ids":["677483"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"194685","name":"Manufacturing"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"136201","name":"Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership"},{"id":"16331","name":"GaMEP"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682819":{"#nid":"682819","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech, Emory Expand Research at Science Square","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology and Emory University are taking medical and biomedical research to the next level by moving seven cutting-edge labs into \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sciencesquareatlanta.com\/\u0022\u003EScience Square,\u003C\/a\u003E the Southeast\u2019s premier life sciences district. This expansion is more than just growth in square footage; it marks a major push to establish Atlanta as a Top 5 technology hub in the U.S.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cScience Square Labs marks a pivotal step forward for Georgia Tech and for Atlanta\u2019s growing life sciences ecosystem. We\u2019re not only accelerating our research and innovation \u2014 we\u2019re building powerful momentum across the region,\u201d said \u00c1ngel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. \u201cOur labs moving to this space will attract top talent and drive medical innovation. The move sets the stage for transformative discoveries, and we hope others will join us to continue Atlanta\u2019s evolution into a global hub for medical breakthroughs.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis move comes as Georgia Tech saw a 46% increase in research awards from 2018 to 2024, evidence of the Institute\u2019s fast-growing impact. By adding these labs, Atlanta strengthens its position on the national stage for advanced tech and life sciences innovation.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy It Matters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESaving lives\u003C\/strong\u003E: From early cancer detection and more innovative immune therapies to healing damaged tissues and managing chronic diseases, the research that will be conducted at Science Square tackles health issues millions face. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFueling a tech hub\u003C\/strong\u003E: By combining research powerhouses like Georgia Tech and Emory with next-gen laboratory facilities, Atlanta is building the brainpower and resources to compete with national tech centers. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEconomic growth\u003C\/strong\u003E: Science Square is helping attract top researchers, startups, and funding \u2014 bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to Georgia. Most recently, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgia.org\/press-release\/duracell-selects-georgia-new-rd-headquarters\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDuracell\u003C\/a\u003E announced they are moving their research and development headquarters to Science Square.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch for Real Life\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new labs at Science Square will support teams tackling life-changing challenges:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Gabe-A.-Kwong\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGabe Kwong\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Robert A. Milton Chair, College of Engineering, is developing a two-step cancer defense: tagging tumor cells with a synthetic \u201cflag,\u201d then supercharging T cells (the body\u2019s infection-fighting white blood cells) to track down and destroy them. Early lab tests show the technique works against breast, brain, and colon cancers \u2014 and prevents regrowth. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Tara-Deans\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETara Deans\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Eand her team are teaching cells new jobs \u2014 when to grow, which type of cell to become, or how to release medicine. Their goal is to design smart cells that can sense what\u2019s happening in the body and act as \u201cliving therapies,\u201d delivering treatment exactly where, when, and at the level needed. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/alexander-vlahos\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlex Vlahos\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is developing ways to reprogram cells to understand and treat diseases. His team makes new protein tools that help cells sense their environment, communicate with each other, and respond to problems \u2014 repairing tissues, fighting cancer, or calming an overactive immune system. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/edward-botchwey\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEd Botchwey\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E co-directs the Regenerative Engineering and Medicine Center, a collaboration between Georgia Tech, Emory University, and the University of Georgia. His team develops advanced biomaterials that work with the body\u2019s immune system, combined with specialized methods, to produce therapeutic cells and their beneficial byproducts. They focus on innovative regenerative treatments for conditions like sickle-cell disease complications, severe muscle injuries, and injuries affecting the mouth, face, and skull. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/john-blazeck\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJohn Blazeck\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E designs new ways to help the immune system fight disease. His team engineers cells and proteins to better target cancer, improve immune therapies, and develop next-generation treatments. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chbe.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/corey-wilson\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECorey Wilson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Love Family Professorship, College of Engineering, is building custom-made biological systems from scratch\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E By mixing protein engineering with genetic tinkering, his team is creating powerful new tools for science and medicine that help us understand how proteins and genes work. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Alyssa-Panitch\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlyssa Panitch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, professor and chair in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, designs innovative materials that help tissues heal better and scar less \u2014 whether skin, blood vessels, or even joints. Her team\u2019s biomaterials promote healing on both the inside and outside of cells, guiding the body\u2019s natural repair process.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore About Science Square Labs\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.sciencesquarelabs.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EScience Square Labs\u003C\/a\u003E, which opened in 2024, offers more than 368,000 square feet of premium lab and innovation space across 13 floors. Strategically located across from Georgia Tech\u2019s North Avenue Research Area, the building is designed to bring together academic institutions, startups, and industry leaders.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the continued expansion, Georgia Tech announces a major new lease at Science Square. Jon Mayeske of Cushman and Wakefield represented Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures, an affiliate organization of Georgia Tech, which signed a 10-year lease beginning February 15, 2026, for a 36,364 square-foot space on the sixth floor of Science Square Labs. This cutting-edge life sciences facility includes modern lab spaces, offices, and amenity areas designed to foster collaboration among researchers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETrammell Crow is the master developer of the Science Square District, programmed for over 2.1 million square feet of labs, offices, and residential and retail spaces in multiple phases.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech and Emory University are accelerating Atlanta\u2019s emergence as a national leader in life sciences and technology by relocating seven advanced biomedical research labs to Science Square, a state-of-the-art innovation district.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech and Emory University are advancing Atlanta\u2019s position as a top U.S. tech hub by relocating seven pioneering biomedical research labs to Science Square, a premier life sciences district driving innovation, talent, and economic growth."}],"uid":"35797","created_gmt":"2025-06-18 19:37:04","changed_gmt":"2025-06-24 13:33:44","author":"Siobhan Rodriguez","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677251":{"id":"677251","type":"image","title":"24-R10400-P57-001.JPG","body":null,"created":"1750268613","gmt_created":"2025-06-18 17:43:33","changed":"1750268613","gmt_changed":"2025-06-18 17:43:33","alt":"Image of Science Square sign with Atlanta skyline","file":{"fid":"261133","name":"24-R10400-P57-001.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/18\/24-R10400-P57-001_1.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/18\/24-R10400-P57-001_1.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4912420,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/18\/24-R10400-P57-001_1.JPG?itok=fr5-Fw5I"}}},"media_ids":["677251"],"related_links":[{"url":"entity:node\/660292","title":"Georgia Tech Breaks Ground on Science Square \u2014 Announces Fund Connecting Local Community to Jobs Training and Education Resources"},{"url":"entity:node\/674484","title":"Science Square Ushers in New Era of Research"},{"url":"entity:node\/663241","title":"BioSpark Labs Announces Expansion to Support Life Sciences Research in Science Square"},{"url":"entity:node\/657366","title":"Construction to Begin on Science Square, Life Science Hub "}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"246","name":"Georgia Institute of Technology"},{"id":"2305","name":"Emory University"},{"id":"194570","name":"Science Square Labs"},{"id":"194571","name":"Atlanta tech hub"},{"id":"194572","name":"Life sciences innovation"},{"id":"129681","name":"biomedical research"},{"id":"194573","name":"Medical breakthroughs"},{"id":"2565","name":"research and development"},{"id":"194574","name":"Advanced laboratory facilities"},{"id":"189415","name":"Georgia Tech Research"},{"id":"194575","name":"Top 5 technology hub"},{"id":"194576","name":"Southeast life sciences district"},{"id":"194577","name":"Research awards growth"},{"id":"194578","name":"Immune therapies"},{"id":"194579","name":"Cancer detection research"},{"id":"1489","name":"Regenerative Medicine"},{"id":"171033","name":"Synthetic Biology"},{"id":"194580","name":"Smart cells"},{"id":"194581","name":"Protein engineering"},{"id":"194582","name":"Chronic disease management"},{"id":"194589","name":"Georgia Advanced Technology Ventures"},{"id":"194590","name":"Economic development Georgia"},{"id":"194591","name":"Tech talent attraction"},{"id":"77221","name":"innovation ecosystem"},{"id":"194592","name":"Startup incubation"},{"id":"41551","name":"public-private partnerships"},{"id":"174430","name":"research commercialization"},{"id":"194596","name":"Lab space expansion"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"},{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESiobhan Rodriguez\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Media Relations\u0026nbsp;Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["media@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682560":{"#nid":"682560","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Relaunches The Biltmore as Strategic Hub for Entrepreneurship in Tech Square ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is reimagining \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.biltmoreatlanta.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Biltmore\u003C\/a\u003E as the latest engine of innovation in Tech Square, launching a bold new chapter for one of Atlanta\u2019s most historic landmarks. As part of an ambitious effort to make Atlanta a top-five U.S. tech hub, Georgia Tech is transforming The Biltmore into a vibrant center for launching, scaling, and accelerating startups in the heart of Midtown.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is more than a building \u2014 it\u2019s a launchpad for Atlanta\u2019s future,\u201d said Georgia Tech President \u00c1ngel Cabrera. \u201cAt The Biltmore, we\u2019re not just reinvigorating a landmark, we are creating space for more startups, more opportunity, and more innovation that moves Atlanta forward.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBuilt in 1924 and marking its centennial last year, The Biltmore has long stood as a symbol of Atlanta\u2019s growth, once serving as a central point for the city\u2019s business and social life. Now, it begins its next century as a future-looking hub for entrepreneurship, where founders, researchers, investors, and industry leaders can collaborate to launch world-changing ventures. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs home to the South\u2019s first radio station, this over 100-year-old lasting Atlanta landmark has its own tech history,\u201d said Commissioner Pat Wilson from the Georgia Department of Economic Development. \u201cIt\u2019s fitting that our Tech Square neighbor will now play a role as a springboard to the innovative companies and ideas that will take us into the future.\u201d \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETech Square: A National Innovation District\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPreviously acquired by the Georgia Tech Foundation, The Biltmore sits in the heart of \u003Cstrong\u003ETech Square\u003C\/strong\u003E, a 2.5-million-square-foot innovation district that is home to:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore than 35 corporate innovation centers \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2014 including R\u0026amp;D labs, innovation hubs, regional tech headquarters, and corporate labs, making Tech Square one of the densest concentrations of corporate innovation activity in the country.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMore than 30 Georgia Tech labs and programs\u003C\/strong\u003E, including the Advanced \u003Cstrong\u003ETechnology\u003C\/strong\u003E Development Center and Venture Lab.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETwo new towers\u003C\/strong\u003E that will open in 2026, expanding space for Georgia Tech\u2019s Scheller College of Business and the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe award-winning \u003Cstrong\u003ECoda building\u003C\/strong\u003E, which integrates high-performance computing, research, and startups under one roof.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAtlanta is becoming the startup capital of the South, and this next chapter for The Biltmore strengthens our momentum,\u201d said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. \u201cWe are bringing together the people, places, and resources to accelerate Atlanta\u2019s growth as a world-class tech and innovation ecosystem.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Biltmore @ Tech Square: What\u0027s Inside\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe revitalized Biltmore will house over 100,000 square feet of key pillars of Georgia Tech\u2019s innovation ecosystem:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECREATE-X Headquarters\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Georgia Tech\u2019s flagship student startup accelerator boasting more than 600 startups already launched, a combined valuation exceeding $2.4 billion, and plans to launch 1,000 startups annually.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EQuadrant-i\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003ETurning Georgia Tech research into real-world startups by supporting inventors with guidance on finding customers, building teams, and bringing ideas to market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOffice of Technology Licensing \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Helping companies around the world commercialize revolutionary research developed at Georgia Tech and accelerating the global impact of Georgia Tech innovations through strategic technology transfer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVentureLab \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 Offering comprehensive entrepreneurial and commercialization training. VentureLab is home of the Southeast hub for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/icorpssoutheasthub.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EI-Corps\u003C\/a\u003E).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStartup Scaling Platform \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003EProviding space, mentorship, programming, and funding to help scale early-stage startups from their first customer to their first 100 customers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECorporate Engagement Office\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Bringing startups and strategic industry partners together.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVenture Investment Hub \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003EHosting local and national venture capital firms alongside Georgia Tech and scores of locally founded startups.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAdditional Strategic Partners\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 Supporting organizations and corporate innovations centers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, these assets position Tech Square \u2014 and now, Atlanta \u2014 as one of the most nationally competitive ecosystems for entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and venture acceleration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re honored to have been engaged by the Foundation to help bring Georgia Tech\u2019s vision to life,\u201d said David Tyndall, an original co-developer of Tech Square and CEO of Collaborative Real Estate, which will oversee The Biltmore\u2019s redevelopment. \u201cThe Biltmore is the centerpiece of Tech Square, and now it will become an international crown jewel of innovation. This will be a place where founders build, investors engage, and the future takes shape.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExperience Tech Square in Action\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGet a firsthand look at Tech Square during \u003Cstrong\u003EATL Tech Week\u003C\/strong\u003E and the \u003Cstrong\u003ETech Square Tech Hop\u003C\/strong\u003E on June 11, with an afternoon of startup showcases, networking, and cutting-edge technology on display.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ELearn more at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.atl.tech\/%22%20\/t%20%22_new\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eatl.tech\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lu.ma\/yxkiso65\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Elu.ma\/yxkiso65\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs part of an ambitious effort to make Atlanta a top-five U.S. tech hub, Georgia Tech is transforming The Biltmore into a vibrant center for launching, scaling, and accelerating startups in the heart of Midtown.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech is transforming the iconic Biltmore into a dynamic hub of innovation in Tech Square, marking an exciting new chapter for one of Atlanta\u2019s most historic landmarks. "}],"uid":"36573","created_gmt":"2025-05-28 13:52:59","changed_gmt":"2025-05-29 15:07:01","author":"aprendiville3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677144":{"id":"677144","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Relaunches Biltmore as Strategic Hub for Entrepreneurship in Tech Square","body":null,"created":"1748440645","gmt_created":"2025-05-28 13:57:25","changed":"1748440834","gmt_changed":"2025-05-28 14:00:34","alt":"Georgia Tech is reimagining the iconic The Biltmore as the newest engine of innovation in Tech Square.","file":{"fid":"261012","name":"Biltmore_Still_02.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Biltmore_Still_02.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Biltmore_Still_02.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3841839,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/28\/Biltmore_Still_02.jpg?itok=AnLLGMnz"}}},"media_ids":["677144"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"179355","name":"Building Construction"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: media@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Media Relations\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["media@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"682574":{"#nid":"682574","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Partnerships Bridge the Skills Gap for Georgia Manufacturers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThomasville, Georgia, is a hub of training and talent for local manufacturers. But \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/srtc-leadership\u0022\u003EMason Miller\u003C\/a\u003E could tell there was something missing.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe didn\u0027t have any training for advanced manufacturing in our area,\u201d said Miller, vice president of Academic Affairs at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC), which offers education and training programs in technical and manufacturing fields. \u201cCompanies had to go out and recruit people from Michigan to run their machines. That\u0027s when we said, \u2018We don\u2019t want that to happen \u2014 we need to be doing that right here.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat\u2019s where the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) stepped in. Working with partner program \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E (Georgia AIM), GTMI helped connect SRTC with the resources and expertise needed to develop a robust training program tailored to the needs of local manufacturers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller said at first, he was skeptical. \u201cWhen GTMI said they wanted to be partners, I thought, \u2018OK, this is another situation where we\u0027re going to talk for a minute, everybody says things and then goes away \u2014 and that\u2019s it,\u2019\u201d said Miller. \u201cThat\u0027s not how it\u0027s been at all.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERather, it\u2019s been a true partnership driven by SRTC, with curriculum focused on automation and robotics developed by the Technical College System of Georgia and GTMI. The curriculum is also shaped by local industry input to directly address workforce gaps in the region\u2019s manufacturing sector.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a state institution, we\u0027re here to serve you,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-sheffield\u0022\u003ESteven Sheffield\u003C\/a\u003E, senior assistant director of Research Operations at GTMI and a point person of the partnership.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u201cTell us the problem, and we will work hard to try to solve it with you.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFilling the Workforce Gap\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMiller was committed to giving SRTC students the advanced manufacturing skills needed to stand out in the workforce. Yet the evolving manufacturing landscape and the needs of local manufacturers revealed gaps in SRTC\u2019s curriculum, particularly in AI, automation, and robotics.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith GTMI and Georgia AIM researchers contributing key expertise to the expanded smart manufacturing curriculum, Miller noted the partnership is \u201copening our eyes to what we can do with AI. We\u0027re going to start integrating that into our programs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond AI and robotics, SRTC leadership identified a crucial gap in their program: training in precision machining, a skill that local manufacturers like \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/checkmateindustries.com\/\u0022\u003ECheck-Mate Industries\u003C\/a\u003E sorely needed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we want to attract new business and industry to Georgia, we need to be able to show them we can provide a skilled workforce,\u201d said Miller.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo address this missing piece, GTMI and Georgia AIM helped procure funding to acquire and refurbish precision-machining equipment from longtime partner \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.makino.com\/\u0022\u003EMakino\u003C\/a\u003E. Georgia AIM also supported the renovation and outfitting of two SRTC lab spaces with additional updated equipment.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELast fall, SRTC launched its new Precision Manufacturing \u0026amp; Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering Technology programs, with instructors trained by GTMI faculty in precision manufacturing. The new program at SRTC is one example of the ways GTMI experts are working with communities across the state to expand access to training and new technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNot a lot of technical colleges have this type of machinery,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/southernregional.edu\/faculty-staff-directory\/marvin-bannister\u0022\u003EMarvin Bannister\u003C\/a\u003E, SRTC precision machining and manufacturing program chair. Instructors like Bannister received specialized training at GTMI\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E to ensure they felt confident teaching students how to operate the machinery. \u201cNot only is it something else to add to my skill set, but the most important thing is that I\u0027ll be able to train other students who desire to learn on a machine like this.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause of SRTC\u2019s expanded offerings, the technical college has strengthened partnerships and developed new internship programs with local manufacturers. \u201cWe all want the same thing,\u201d said Miller, \u201cwhich is to grow industry partnerships and to create a talent pipeline for our state.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTMI and Georgia AIM also support STEM programs with Thomasville area schools and internship programs for K-12 teachers with local manufacturers such as Check-Mate. These efforts deepen the connections between students and manufacturers, opening doors to future careers in the sector.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re here to connect the dots and enable these types of partnerships,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/steven-ferguson\u0022\u003ESteven Ferguson\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal research scientist with GTMI and co-director of Georgia AIM. \u201cWhen teams and their networks come together to solve a challenge for just one manufacturer, the impact can reach across an entire region.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe programs are working with Southern Regional Technical College to equip students with advanced skills in smart manufacturing and robotics.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The programs are working with Southern Regional Technical College to equip students with advanced skills in smart manufacturing and robotics."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-05-28 19:42:06","changed_gmt":"2025-05-29 15:04:57","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-28T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677151":{"id":"677151","type":"image","title":"Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAs part of the partnership, Southern Regional Technical College Instructor Marvin Bannister (center) received hands-on training on advanced machining equipment to prepare for teaching Georgia\u2019s next generation of manufacturers. Photo: Audra Davidson.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748461764","gmt_created":"2025-05-28 19:49:24","changed":"1748461997","gmt_changed":"2025-05-28 19:53:17","alt":"As part of the partnership, Southern Regional Technical College Instructor Marvin Bannister (center) received hands-on training on advanced machining equipment to prepare for teaching Georgia\u2019s next generation of manufacturers.","file":{"fid":"261020","name":"Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png","mime":"image\/png","size":8613723,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/28\/Marvin-Training-AMPF.png?itok=mCKmDwDN"}}},"media_ids":["677151"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ai-focused-grant-enhances-program-veterans","title":"AI-Focused Grant Enhances Program for Veterans"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-and-georgia-quick-start-partner-improve-manufacturing-training","title":"Georgia Tech and Georgia Quick Start Partner to Improve Manufacturing Training"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"39461","name":"Manufacturing, Trade, and Logistics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681671":{"#nid":"681671","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Faculty, Students Pilot AI Crisis Simulation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers from Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGTRI\u003C\/a\u003E) recently piloted an in-depth crisis simulation exploring the national security implications of advanced artificial intelligence. Designed by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.aisi.dev\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EAI Safety Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E in collaboration with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtmun.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EModel UN at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, the immersive half-day workshop challenged faculty to respond to a series of escalating threats \u2014 including a potential biological attack, cyberattacks, and rising global tensions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EParticipants represented major governments, corporations, and organizations \u2014 including OpenAI and Google DeepMind \u2014 and were inundated with simulated press releases and intelligence reports describing the rapid evolution of AI technologies. Their task: to debate and coordinate policy responses in real time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn one scenario, a preliminary World Health Organization report revealed AI-enabled pathogens spreading across Central Asia. The player representing China quickly moved to close borders and reimpose pandemic-era lockdowns, a move that caused global confusion and economic instability.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere\u2019s just no way I could have predicted that response,\u201d said Parv Mahajan, the director of the simulation. \u201cBut that kind of extreme response tells us so much about how unprepared countries might react.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDivjot Kaur, who constructed the simulated documents participants received throughout the workshop, agreed. \u201cThis valuable information can shed light on the research and work we must put in,\u201d she said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome players took advantage of the chaos. The simulation concluded with a discussion about how profit motives might distort information access and accelerate a potential AI arms race.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat stood out most to participants was the range of ideas that emerged during the crisis. \u201cIt was great to see the perspectives of diverse disciplines on the future of AI,\u201d said Amaar Alidina, an undergraduate researcher. \u201cDebate provided meaningful insight on topics we wouldn\u0027t even have thought of,\u201d Kaur said. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking ahead, the AI Safety Initiative hopes to expand the simulation through collaborations with labs and departments across campus.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe future of our work will depend, in some way or another, on AI,\u0022 said Mahajan. \u0022And the best way to understand the future is to try and experience it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a simulation from Georgia Tech and GTRI, participants navigated escalating global crises \u2014 including AI-enabled biothreats and cyberattacks \u2014 to assess how different actors might respond to emerging AI risks.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers explore national security risks posed by advanced AI through a high-stakes strategic exercise."}],"uid":"36734","created_gmt":"2025-04-08 18:30:49","changed_gmt":"2025-04-22 15:37:53","author":"Parv Mahajan","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676793":{"id":"676793","type":"image","title":"DSC04327.jpg","body":null,"created":"1744137281","gmt_created":"2025-04-08 18:34:41","changed":"1744137281","gmt_changed":"2025-04-08 18:34:41","alt":"Man with OpenAI placard listens carefully to speech.","file":{"fid":"260634","name":"DSC04327.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04327_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04327_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":319130,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04327_0.jpg?itok=5QpHv7mI"}},"676794":{"id":"676794","type":"image","title":"DSC04279.jpg","body":null,"created":"1744137281","gmt_created":"2025-04-08 18:34:41","changed":"1744137281","gmt_changed":"2025-04-08 18:34:41","alt":"Man with \u0022Other Researchers and the Press\u0022 placard studies documents.","file":{"fid":"260635","name":"DSC04279.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04279_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04279_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":254102,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/08\/DSC04279_0.jpg?itok=ZWayoRds"}}},"media_ids":["676793","676794"],"groups":[{"id":"660394","name":"AI Safety Initative (AISI)"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194465","name":"AI Safety"},{"id":"2835","name":"ai"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"184285","name":"Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts; school of public policy"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39481","name":"National Security"},{"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":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAI Safety Initiative\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:board@aisi.dev\u0022\u003Eboard@aisi.dev\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Model UN\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gatechmun@gmail.com\u0022\u003Egatechmun@gmail.com\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681961":{"#nid":"681961","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Thesis on Human-Centered AI Earns Honors from International Computing Organization","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech alum\u2019s dissertation introduced ways to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible, interpretable, and accountable. Although it\u2019s been a year since his doctoral defense,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/zijie.wang\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZijie (Jay) Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) work continues to resonate with researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang is a recipient of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medium.com\/sigchi\/announcing-the-2025-acm-sigchi-awards-17c1feaf865f\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The award recognizes Wang for his lifelong work on democratizing human-centered AI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThroughout my Ph.D. and industry internships, I observed a gap in existing research: there is a strong need for practical tools for applying human-centered approaches when designing AI systems,\u201d said Wang, now a safety researcher at OpenAI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy work not only helps people understand AI and guide its behavior but also provides user-friendly tools that fit into existing workflows.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[Related: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/research\/chi-2025\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing Swarms to Yokohama, Japan, for CHI 2025\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang\u2019s dissertation presented techniques in visual explanation and interactive guidance to align AI models with user knowledge and values. The work culminated from years of research, fellowship support, and internships.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang\u2019s most influential projects formed the core of his dissertation. These included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/cnn-explainer\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECNN Explainer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: an open-source tool developed for deep-learning beginners. Since its release in July 2020, more than 436,000 global visitors have used the tool.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/diffusiondb\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDiffusionDB\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: a first-of-its-kind large-scale dataset that lays a foundation to help people better understand generative AI. This work could lead to new research in detecting deepfakes and designing human-AI interaction tools to help people more easily use these models.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/interpret.ml\/gam-changer\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGAM Changer\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: an interface that empowers users in healthcare, finance, or other domains to edit ML models to include knowledge and values specific to their domain, which improves reliability.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jennwv.com\/papers\/gamcoach.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGAM Coach\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: an interactive ML tool that could help people who have been rejected for a loan by automatically letting an applicant know what is needed for them to receive loan approval. \u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-tool-teaches-responsible-ai-practices-when-using-large-language-models\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFarsight\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: a tool that alerts developers when they write prompts in large language models that could be harmful and misused. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI feel extremely honored and lucky to receive this award, and I am deeply grateful to many who have supported me along the way, including Polo, mentors, collaborators, and friends,\u201d said Wang, who was advised by School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/polochau\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPolo Chau\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis recognition also inspired me to continue striving to design and develop easy-to-use tools that help everyone to easily interact with AI systems.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELike Wang, Chau advised Georgia Tech alumnus\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fredhohman.com\/\u0022\u003EFred Hohman\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE 2020).\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/alumnus-building-legacy-through-dissertation-and-mentorship\u0022\u003EHohman won the ACM SIGCHI Outstanding Dissertation Award in 2022\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/\u0022\u003EChau\u2019s group\u003C\/a\u003E synthesizes machine learning (ML) and visualization techniques into scalable, interactive, and trustworthy tools. These tools increase understanding and interaction with large-scale data and ML models.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChau is the associate director of corporate relations for the Machine Learning Center at Georgia Tech. Wang called the School of CSE his home unit while a student in the ML program under Chau.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang is one of five recipients of this year\u2019s award to be presented at the 2025 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2025.acm.org\/\u0022\u003ECHI 2025\u003C\/a\u003E). The conference occurs April 25-May 1 in Yokohama, Japan.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESIGCHI is the world\u2019s largest association of human-computer interaction professionals and practitioners. The group sponsors or co-sponsors 26 conferences, including CHI.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang\u2019s outstanding dissertation award is the latest recognition of a career decorated with achievement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMonths after graduating from Georgia Tech,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/research-ai-safety-lands-recent-graduate-forbes-30-under-30\u0022\u003EForbes named Wang to its 30 Under 30 in Science for 2025\u003C\/a\u003E for his dissertation. Wang was one of 15 Yellow Jackets included in nine different 30 Under 30 lists and the only Georgia Tech-affiliated individual on the 30 Under 30 in Science list.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile a Georgia Tech student, Wang earned recognition from big names in business and technology. He received the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/student-named-apple-scholar-connecting-people-machine-learning\u0022\u003EApple Scholars in AI\/ML Ph.D. Fellowship in 2023\u003C\/a\u003E and was in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-machine-learning-students-earn-jp-morgan-ai-phd-fellowships\u0022\u003E2022 cohort of the J.P. Morgan AI Ph.D. Fellowships Program\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with the CHI award, Wang\u2019s dissertation earned him awards this year at banquets across campus. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com\/sites.gatech.edu\/dist\/0\/283\/files\/2025\/03\/2025-Sigma-Xi-Research-Award-Winners.pdf\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech chapter of Sigma Xi presented Wang with the Best Ph.D. Thesis Award\u003C\/a\u003E. He also received the College of Computing\u2019s Outstanding Dissertation Award.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech attracts many great minds, and I\u2019m glad that some, like Jay, chose to join our group,\u201d Chau said. \u201cIt has been a joy to work alongside them and witness the many wonderful things they have accomplished, and with many more to come in their careers.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA Georgia Tech alum\u2019s dissertation introduced ways to make artificial intelligence (AI) more accessible, interpretable, and accountable. Although it\u2019s been a year since his doctoral defense,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/zijie.wang\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EZijie (Jay) Wang\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) work continues to resonate with researchers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWang is a recipient of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medium.com\/sigchi\/announcing-the-2025-acm-sigchi-awards-17c1feaf865f\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The award recognizes Wang for his lifelong work on democratizing human-centered AI.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" Zijie (Jay) Wang (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) is a recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (ACM SIGCHI)."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-04-22 14:24:46","changed_gmt":"2025-04-22 14:29:07","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676903":{"id":"676903","type":"image","title":"Jay-Wang-SIGCHI-Dissertation-Award.jpg","body":null,"created":"1745331896","gmt_created":"2025-04-22 14:24:56","changed":"1745331896","gmt_changed":"2025-04-22 14:24:56","alt":"Zijie (Jay) Wang CHI 2025","file":{"fid":"260750","name":"Jay-Wang-SIGCHI-Dissertation-Award.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/22\/Jay-Wang-SIGCHI-Dissertation-Award.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/22\/Jay-Wang-SIGCHI-Dissertation-Award.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":99526,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/22\/Jay-Wang-SIGCHI-Dissertation-Award.jpg?itok=_QvwIP00"}},"673947":{"id":"673947","type":"image","title":"Farsight CHI.jpg","body":null,"created":"1714954253","gmt_created":"2024-05-06 00:10:53","changed":"1714954253","gmt_changed":"2024-05-06 00:10:53","alt":"CHI 2024 Farsight","file":{"fid":"257404","name":"Farsight CHI.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/05\/Farsight%20CHI.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/05\/Farsight%20CHI.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":139358,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/05\/Farsight%20CHI.jpg?itok=6genJVjw"}}},"media_ids":["676903","673947"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/thesis-human-centered-ai-earns-honors-international-computing-organization","title":"Thesis on Human-Centered AI Earns Honors from International Computing Organization"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"155","name":"Congressional Testimony"},{"id":"143","name":"Digital Media and Entertainment"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"42921","name":"Exhibitions"},{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"},{"id":"179356","name":"Industrial Design"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"194248","name":"International Education"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"147","name":"Military Technology"},{"id":"148","name":"Music and Music Technology"},{"id":"149","name":"Nanotechnology and Nanoscience"},{"id":"42931","name":"Performances"},{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"},{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"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\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681839":{"#nid":"681839","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Liquid Cooling Technology Developed at Georgia Tech Awarded U.S. Patent, Company Raising Capital to Scale","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhat\u2019s the hottest thing in electronics and high-performance computing? In a word, it\u2019s \u201ccool.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be more precise, it\u2019s a liquid cooling system developed at Georgia Tech for electronics aimed at solving a long-standing problem: overheating.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDeveloped by Daniel Lorenzini, a 2019 Tech graduate who earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, the cooling system uses microfluidic channels \u2014 tiny, intricate pathways for liquids \u2014 that are embedded within the chip packaging.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe worked with VentureLab, a Tech program in the Office of Commercialization, to spin his research into a startup company, EMCOOL, headquartered in Norcross.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur solution directly addresses the heat at the source of the silicon chip and therefore makes it faster,\u201d Lorenzini said. \u201cOur design has our system sitting directly on the silicon chips that generate the most heat. Using the fluids in the micro-pin fins, it carries the heat that\u2019s produced away from the chip.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat cooling solution is directly integrated into the electronic components, making it significantly more efficient than conventional cooling methods, because it enhances the heat dissipation process.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result is a much lower risk of overheating and reduced power consumption, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELorenzini, who researched and refined the technology in the lab of Yogendra Joshi at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, was awarded a patent for the technology in September 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, EMCOOL, which has five empoloyees, is actively pursuing venture capital funding to scale its technology and address the escalating thermal management challenges posed by AI processors in modern data centers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe system uses a cooling block with tiny, pin-like fins on one side and a special thermal interface material on the other. There\u0027s also a junction attached to the block, with ports for the fluid to flow in and out. The cooling fluid moves through the micro-pin fins and helps to carry away the heat.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the ports are designed to match the shape of the fins, it ensures that the fluid flows efficiently and the heat is dissipated as effectively as possible at chip-scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs electronic devices \u2014 from high-performance personal computers to data centers used for artificial intelligence processing \u2014 become more powerful, they generate more heat. This excess heat can damage components or cause the device to underperform.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETraditional cooling methods, which include fans or heat sinks, often struggle to keep pace with the increasing demands of the newer model electronics. Lorenzini\u2019s microfluidic system addresses the challenge of overheating with his patented, more effective, compact, and integrated cooling solution.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the guidance of Jonathan Goldman, director of Quadrant-i in Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization, Lorenzini secured grant funding through the National Science Foundation and the Georgia Research Alliance to further the research and build design prototypes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe immediately had the sense there was commercial potential here,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cThermal management, or getting rid of heat, is a ubiquitous problem in the computer industry, so when we saw what Daniel was doing, we immediately began to engage with him to understand what the commercial potential was.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndeed, the initial focus for the technology was the $159 billion global electronic gaming market. Gamers need a lot of computing power, which generates a lot of heat, causing lag.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut beyond gaming systems, the company, which manufactures custom cooling blocks and kits at its Norcross facility, is eyeing more sectors, which also suffer from overheating, Goldman said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe technology addresses similar overheating electronics challenges in high-performance computing, telecommunications, and energy systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis work propels us forward in pushing the boundaries of what traditional cooling technologies can achieve because by harnessing the power of microfluidics, EMCOOL\u0027s systems offer a compact and energy-efficient way to manage heat,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cThis has the potential to revolutionize industries reliant on high-performance computing, where heat management is a constant challenge.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith support from Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization, VentureLab, NSF, and GRA, EmCool now manufactures custom cooling solutions in Norcross, GA for gaming, high-performance computing, and more.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"EMCOOL\u0027s technology solves overheating in electronics."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2025-04-16 15:23:51","changed_gmt":"2025-04-16 17:39:45","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Norcross, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676859":{"id":"676859","type":"video","title":"EMCOOL Video","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEmCool, a Georgia Tech spinout, is tackling one of tech\u2019s biggest challenges: overheating.\r\nDeveloped by Ph.D. alum Daniel Lorenzini, EmCool\u2019s patented microfluidic cooling system is embedded directly into silicon chips\u2014making it faster, smaller, and more efficient than traditional fans or heat sinks.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744820433","gmt_created":"2025-04-16 16:20:33","changed":"1744820433","gmt_changed":"2025-04-16 16:20:33","video":{"youtube_id":"eZZg391Z_3s","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/eZZg391Z_3s?si=xKbGHkGQnXRgOS-D"}}},"media_ids":["676859"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"193395","name":"Office of Commercialization"},{"id":"4193","name":"venturelab"},{"id":"190790","name":"Jonathan Goldman"},{"id":"181188","name":"Daniel Lorenzini"},{"id":"194476","name":"EMCOOL"},{"id":"194477","name":"liquid cooling technology"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681833":{"#nid":"681833","#data":{"type":"news","title":"SHES Collaborates with University of California San Francisco to Assess Pork and Poultry Worker Safety","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EATLANTA and SAN FRANCISCO \u2014\u003C\/strong\u003E When University of California San Francisco (UCSF) officials were contracted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct research on line speeds at pork and poultry processing facilities, they knew exactly who to ask for additional support: researchers from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESafety, Health, and Environmental Services\u003C\/a\u003E (SHES) division at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA program housed in Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, SHES offers occupational safety, health, and environmental (OSHA) consulting and training services to manufacturers across the country and has worked extensively examining food-processing workers\u2019 exposure to chemicals.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUCSF needed a partner with specific scientific expertise regarding employee exposure to a chemical used to limit bacterial growth during pork processing. SHES\u2019 prior working relationship with UCSF also proved beneficial. In 2021, SHES industrial hygienist Brandon Philpot was the primary investigator (PI) for a collaborative project with a group from the UC system to develop safety training for workers fabricating engineered stone countertops.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUC San Francisco\u2019s School of Medicine was so impressed with our team\u0027s work, they came back to us for this much larger project,\u201d said Jenny Houlroyd, Ph.D., manager of occupational health services at SHES. \u201cWe\u0027re trying to build meaningful relationships and leverage expertise across institutions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudy Parameters\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe study was initiated when the USDA\u2019s Food Safety and Inspection Service division contracted with third-party experts to investigate whether increases in poultry and swine evisceration line speeds affected worker safety.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA secondary aspect of the study looked at the potential for an increase in worker exposure to peracetic acid (a food-safe chemical applied to surfaces in certain food-processing applications) when processing line speeds are increased.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe study\u2019s designers believed that ergonomics was the driving factor in worker safety, but they were unsure if by slaughtering and processing more animals per day, workers were also applying more peracetic acid,\u201d said Houlroyd. \u201cThis is what the SHES team was asked to measure.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to tapping Georgia Tech\u2019s expertise in industrial hygiene, UCSF brought in several other schools in the University of California system, primarily UC Berkeley, to assist with research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScope of SHES\u2019 Role\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur work with UC started in July 2024 and was completed in January 2025,\u201d said Houlroyd, who served as the project\u2019s PI and UC liaison.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConducting the field research were SHES industrial hygienists Philpot, Sean Castillo, and Bob Hendry, as well as SHES OSHA Training Institute Education Center manager Hilarie Warren. The group traveled to six pork processing plants across the U.S. over 11 weeks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough the preferred method for industrial hygiene and worker exposure is to chart direct exposure to the workers themselves, the study did not allow employees to wear chemical monitors on the processing line for safety reasons.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur on-site sampling included putting on a variety of wearable monitors on ourselves,\u201d Hendry said. \u201cWe\u2019d then go to the various work areas in the plant where peracetic acid was used, stand next to the workers, and take readings.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach SHES team member upheld consistent sampling standards, but they were stationed at different sites. As a result, Castillo said, \u201cIt was up to us to use professional judgment to evaluate where the areas of concern were. We had to make sure we were very organized so that if I was at one site one week and Bob came out the next week, we could replicate our data almost one-to-one.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EImportance of Worker Interviews\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe USDA study received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, which is needed if researchers interact with human subjects. Houlroyd noted that because the USDA study was considered formal research, IRB approval was necessary.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough conducting worker interviews was not a requirement of their participation, the SHES team set up a special room where they interviewed employees on ergonomic issues and musculoskeletal disorders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe were able to take the load off from our collaborators and, in doing so, speed up their process so that they could finish their research earlier,\u201d said Castillo.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPhilpot stressed the importance of worker interviews to the study. \u201cThe process was good for collecting background information on what the employees were going through, day in and day out, to see if there\u2019s anything that we could do to help their situation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy putting workers at ease, he and his teammates were able to gain their trust and listen to their concerns. \u201cThey could actually see that we cared about what\u0027s going on,\u201d Philpot said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Houlroyd, \u201cOne of the reasons the UC group loved Brandon and Sean and Bob so much is that we\u0027ve had so much experience doing interviews, we were quick to jump into that role and help them. Our team knows that there is dignity in all labor, so we approach workers with respect. We meet the workers where they are, and we speak to them not as an academic, but human to human.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStudy Results\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EActing Secretary of Labor Julie Su reported that the USDA study found that faster line speeds did result in an increased risk of injuries, but that this risk \u201ccould be mitigated with other controls, specifically having more workers on the line and having effective ergonomic plans.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe results of the peracetic acid research conducted by SHES, however, were inconclusive. \u201cWas there more exposure at the faster line speed?\u201d asked Houlroyd. \u201cWe found one plant where it was true, but it wasn\u0027t consistently true at all the plants, so it was determined that there should be more research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegardless, she welcomed the chance to strengthen collaborative ties with the UC system and celebrated the meticulous and compassionate work conducted by SHES.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am so grateful for this team for traveling to remote locations in our country and spending 11 weeks in slaughterhouses,\u201d said Houlroyd. \u201cI had no doubt that we could do it, and we did it well.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe project was designed to optimize worker safety.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The group traveled to six pork processing plants over 11 weeks."}],"uid":"36604","created_gmt":"2025-04-16 14:26:07","changed_gmt":"2025-04-16 14:45:08","author":"etolpa3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-16T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676852":{"id":"676852","type":"image","title":"IMG_5832.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHilarie Warren is SHES\u0027 OSHA Training Institute Education Center manager.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744813949","gmt_created":"2025-04-16 14:32:29","changed":"1744813949","gmt_changed":"2025-04-16 14:32:29","alt":"a photo of a woman, Hilarie Warren, in safety testing gear","file":{"fid":"260697","name":"IMG_5832.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/16\/IMG_5832.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/16\/IMG_5832.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":597338,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/16\/IMG_5832.jpg?itok=aKkrR7D4"}}},"media_ids":["676852"],"groups":[{"id":"236531","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194474","name":"Hilarie Warren"},{"id":"188875","name":"Safety Health and Environmental Services"},{"id":"11378","name":"food safety"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"194475","name":"UC San Francisco"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr\u003Eetolpa3@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["etolpa3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"681713":{"#nid":"681713","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech and Georgia Quick Start Partner to Improve Manufacturing Training","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a significant move to bolster Georgia\u0027s workforce, Georgia Tech has partnered with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiaquickstart.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Quick Start\u003C\/a\u003E to advance manufacturing training and skill development. This collaboration, formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on April 8, aims to elevate the quality and efficiency of manufacturing workforce training across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt Georgia Tech, innovation isn\u2019t just about discovery \u2014 it\u2019s about solving real-world challenges,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/timothy-charles-lieuwen\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cGeorgia Quick Start ensures that cutting-edge research in advanced manufacturing translates into practical training solutions. Together, we are equipping Georgia\u2019s workforce with the skills needed to drive economic growth and industry advancement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, U.S. manufacturers increasingly require skilled workers experienced in advanced manufacturing. For decades, Georgia Quick Start, administered by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.tcsg.edu\/\u0022\u003ETechnical College System of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, has been addressing this need and has been recognized as the country\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.georgiaquickstart.org\/press-release\/\u0022\u003Etop workforce training program\u003C\/a\u003E for 15 years.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, researchers at Georgia Tech will collaborate with Georgia Quick Start to enhance these efforts by developing Extended Reality (XR) training programs, providing a scalable and experiential solution to meet the growing demand for training.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have been so successful for so many years because we stay focused on relevance, flexibility, and responsiveness,\u201d said Scott McMurray, deputy commissioner for Georgia Quick Start. \u201cThis partnership is an example of how Quick Start is able to develop and deliver effective training even for companies working on the leading edge of advanced manufacturing technologies.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExtended Reality, Scaled Training\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXR technologies use a combination of virtual and augmented reality to create immersive, interactive experiences. By simulating real-world manufacturing environments and processes, XR has the potential to allow trainees to practice and refine their skills in a controlled, risk-free setting through standardized training experiences. This not only enhances the learning experience but also ensures consistency in training quality across a large workforce.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cVirtual reality scales training by gamifying complex tasks and removing the need for costly or hazardous physical equipment. Augmented reality scales on-the-job training by providing adaptive, context-aware guidance exactly when and where it\u2019s needed, reducing the need for expert supervision,\u201d said manufacturing XR researcher \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/mohsen-moghaddam\u0022\u003EMohsen Moghaddam\u003C\/a\u003E, Gary C. Butler Family associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cTogether, they make training more consistent, up-to-date, accessible, and safe, especially for workers who may hesitate to ask for assistance from peers or supervisors out of fear of judgment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe collaboration will leverage Moghaddam\u2019s research and the AR\/VR training space within the expanded \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E, providing a state-of-the-art environment for developing and deploying XR training technologies. Researchers from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTMI) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia AIM\u003C\/a\u003E(Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing) will also play pivotal roles in the development of these training programs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cPartnerships like these highlight the power of the integrated University of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia\u2019s workforce development ecosystem,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/node\/11182\u0022\u003EThomas Kurfess\u003C\/a\u003E, Regents\u2019 Professor and GTMI executive director. \u201cOur country not only needs the creation of new jobs but also the skilled workforce to fill them. At Georgia Tech and GTMI, we are serving as an enabler of innovation in that workforce development.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a bid to support job creation and retention, the new partnership will work to develop scalable extended reality training programs for Georgia\u0027s manufacturing sector.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In a bid to support job creation and retention, the new partnership will work to develop scalable extended reality training programs for Georgia\u0027s manufacturing sector."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-04-10 13:59:12","changed_gmt":"2025-04-14 14:59:02","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-04-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676804":{"id":"676804","type":"image","title":"GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Quick Start Deputy Commissioner Scott McMurray (center left) and Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen (center right) gathered with members of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia AIM, and more to officially commemorate the partnership on April 8.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293556","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 13:59:16","changed":"1744293556","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 13:59:16","alt":"Georgia Quick Start Deputy Commissioner Scott McMurray (center left) and Georgia Tech Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen (center right) gathered with members of the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia AIM, and more to officially commemorate the partnership on April 8.","file":{"fid":"260646","name":"GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1831755,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/GTVR_MOU_040825_0016.jpg?itok=emCHGf_Q"}},"676805":{"id":"676805","type":"image","title":"MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMcMurray and Lieuwen signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293706","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 14:01:46","changed":"1744294494","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 14:14:54","alt":"McMurray and Lieuwen signed a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the collaboration.","file":{"fid":"260648","name":"MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4101230,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/MoU-Signing-GTMI.jpeg?itok=i5B-l2cY"}},"676806":{"id":"676806","type":"image","title":"manufacturing-innovation.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers will work with Georgia Quick Start to develop extended reality training programs for manufacturing workers to make training more consistent and efficient.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1744293884","gmt_created":"2025-04-10 14:04:44","changed":"1744293884","gmt_changed":"2025-04-10 14:04:44","alt":"Georgia Tech researchers will work with Georgia Quick Start to develop extended reality training programs for manufacturing workers to make training more consistent and efficient.","file":{"fid":"260650","name":"manufacturing-innovation.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":437804,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/04\/10\/manufacturing-innovation.JPG?itok=Z9ZDMDEK"}}},"media_ids":["676804","676805","676806"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing-workforce-future","title":"Manufacturing the Workforce of the Future"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ai-and-automation-converge-expansion-georgia-techs-advanced-manufacturing-pilot-facility","title":"AI and Automation Converge in Expansion of Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility"},{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-partners-korean-institutes-drive-manufacturing-innovation","title":"Georgia Tech Partners with Korean Institutes to Drive Manufacturing Innovation"}],"groups":[{"id":"155831","name":"Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation 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 \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"680690":{"#nid":"680690","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Duracell\u0027s $56 Million Investment in Atlanta: A Boost for Georgia Tech and Innovation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn a significant development for Atlanta\u2019s innovation landscape, Duracell Inc., a leading U.S. battery manufacturer, has announced a $56 million investment to establish its new R\u0026amp;D global headquarters at Georgia Tech\u2019s Science Square, a research innovation district adjacent to the university. This move is set to create 110 high-paying jobs and further solidify Atlanta\u0027s reputation as a hub for technological advancement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Strategic Move to Atlanta\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDuracell\u0027s decision to relocate its R\u0026amp;D facility from Bethel, Connecticut, to Atlanta, Georgia, underscores the strategic advantages offered by Georgia Tech and Atlanta\u2019s booming innovation ecosystem. The new hub is scheduled to open in Summer 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis collaboration is a testament to our ongoing efforts to bridge academia and industry, fostering an environment where innovative ideas can thrive and lead to groundbreaking advancements,\u0022 said \u00c1ngel Cabrera, Georgia Tech president.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEconomic and Technological Impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe investment is expected to have a substantial economic impact on the region. With average salaries projected at $120,000, the creation of 110 jobs will provide valuable opportunities for local talent. Duracell\u0027s presence will also enhance the battery research, development, and manufacturing activities already thriving in Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia has set itself apart as a leader in attracting innovative companies with our research institutions, world-class logistics network, and pro-business environment,\u201d said Gov. Brian Kemp in a press release.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Long-Standing Relationship With Georgia\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDuracell\u0027s relationship with Georgia dates back to 1980, with the company running a manufacturing facility in LaGrange and a distribution plant in Fairburn that began operation in 2000.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re excited about the opportunities the move to Atlanta will bring,\u201d said Liben Hailu, chief technology officer at Duracell. \u201cThis move is a significant milestone for Duracell, as we continue to drive innovation in battery technology for many years to come.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScience Square: A Hub for Innovation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EScience Square, developed in partnership with commercial real estate firm Trammell Crow Co., is a premier destination for life sciences and technology companies. Spanning 18 acres, the multiphase development features more than 1.8 million square feet of lab and office space, along with apartments and retail space. Its first phase opened last year, and Duracell\u0027s new hub will occupy a substantial portion of the building.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDuracell Inc. is investing $56 million to establish its new global R\u0026amp;D headquarters at Georgia Tech\u2019s Science Square, creating 110 high-paying jobs and reinforcing Atlanta\u2019s position as a technology hub. The move from Bethel, Connecticut, highlights Atlanta\u2019s strategic advantages, including its strong innovation ecosystem and collaboration between academia and industry. This investment will boost Georgia\u2019s economy, strengthen its battery research sector, and expand Duracell\u2019s long-standing presence in the state.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New R\u0026D headquarters at Science Square to drive innovation and create 110 high-paying Jobs in Atlanta."}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2025-02-21 21:48:27","changed_gmt":"2025-02-21 21:57:14","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-02-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-02-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676371":{"id":"676371","type":"image","title":"Science-Square-Ribbon-Cutting-007.JPG","body":null,"created":"1740174630","gmt_created":"2025-02-21 21:50:30","changed":"1740174630","gmt_changed":"2025-02-21 21:50:30","alt":"Outdoor shot of science square","file":{"fid":"260147","name":"Science-Square-Ribbon-Cutting-007.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/21\/Science-Square-Ribbon-Cutting-007_0.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/02\/21\/Science-Square-Ribbon-Cutting-007_0.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7251315,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/02\/21\/Science-Square-Ribbon-Cutting-007_0.JPG?itok=c_hbDz9B"}}},"media_ids":["676371"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194334","name":"Duracell"},{"id":"191083","name":"science square"},{"id":"11411","name":"economic growth"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Media Relations\u0026nbsp;Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["aisles3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679831":{"#nid":"679831","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Computer Science Initiative Expands Opportunities for Rural Students ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn Georgia, where rural communities often face barriers to accessing advanced education in science and technology, Georgia Tech is leading a transformative effort to bridge the gap. The Rural Computer Science Initiative, designed by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (GTRI) and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ceismc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing\u003C\/a\u003E (CEISMC), is redefining computer science education for underserved school districts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program, inspired by Georgia state representative Todd Jones, connects Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural schools to co-teach engaging computer science lessons while supporting local teachers in developing the skills needed to independently teach these subjects. As Rep. Jones explains, \u201cAt the end of the day, your birthplace should not determine the type of education you receive here in our state.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmpowering Teachers and Students\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThrough a combination of remote teaching and in-class collaboration, the program is already active in 40 school districts, with plans to expand in 2025. The program\u0027s co-teaching model enables rural teachers to upskill while offering students dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities. Shiona Drummer, a participating computer science teacher in Twiggs County noted, \u201cIt\u0027s been really good to me because I did not have a background in computer science. Being a part of the program has influenced my teaching in that I know I have colleagues I can call on.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor students, the program unlocks new possibilities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It\u0027s been fun. It\u0027s something new,\u201d shared a Twiggs County student. \u201cYou get to just express yourself,\u201d she continued. \u201cMost classes, you just sit there, pretty much just bored. This class, you get to interact with things, and it\u2019s just more fun.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese reactions reflect the initiative\u0027s broader goals: to inspire students, foster their confidence, and connect their education to real-world challenges. Lizanne DeStefano, CEISMC\u2019s executive director, emphasizes this point: \u201cThe way that we\u0027ve designed the Rural CS Initiative is that the student work is embedded in real-life problems, particularly those that affect our rural communities.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPreparing for the Future Workforce\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeyond classroom learning, the program is helping shape Georgia\u2019s future workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Rep. Jones highlights the initiative\u0027s broader implications: \u201cWe\u2019ve given [students] that opportunity and that springboard to be able to do things they possibly may never have had the opportunity to do. It provides a greater educated workforce \u2014 one that brings us into 2030, 2040, and 2050 with the advent of AI, autonomous vehicles, and other technological advancements.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe initiative is also tackling one of the pain points for rural communities: the belief that young people must leave their hometowns to find well-paying, high-value jobs. DeStefano explains, \u201cWe\u2019re using this as a way to show how students can remain in their communities, contribute to them with a computer science degree or knowledge, and still be an important cog in the global workforce.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow the Initiative Works\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe professional development aspect of the Rural Computer Science Initiative helps ensure that the teachers can sustain the program\u2019s impact long after Georgia Tech\u2019s involvement.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELeigh McCook, who leads the initiative at GTRI, outlined the process: \u201cWe first meet with the teachers, providing professional development to walk through the modules and show them how they should get involved in the classroom. Then we co-teach the first week and guide problem-based learning in the second week to assess student comprehension.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnsuring that cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and robotics are paired with a problem-based learning approach, is how Georgia Tech is properly equipping rural students with 21st-century skills.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cKnowledge is power,\u201d said Rise\u2019 Jenkins, principal at Twiggs County High School. \u201cOnce you show students what\u2019s available to them and the access they have, they just readily embrace the idea of learning.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn initiative that moves beyond education into more of a transformation, this program aims to prepare students for careers in emerging fields while ensuring Georgia remains competitive in the global economy. CEISMC\u2019s DeStefano notes, \u201cWe\u2019re not thinking about filling jobs today; we\u2019re thinking about filling jobs for the next decade.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWith 40 schools systems throughout Georgia participating so far, Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative bridges the educational divide for underserved communities across the state by connecting Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural school systems to co-teach dynamic computer science courses, empowering teachers with new skills and inspiring students to pursue tech careers while addressing workforce needs for Georgia\u0027s future economy.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative empowers rural teachers and students in Georgia through co-taught computer science courses, preparing them for tech careers and supporting Georgia\u2019s future workforce."}],"uid":"36174","created_gmt":"2025-01-22 21:27:27","changed_gmt":"2025-01-29 16:44:20","author":"Blair Meeks","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-22T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676129":{"id":"676129","type":"video","title":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Rural Computer Science Initiative","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWith 40 schools systems throughout Georgia participating so far, Georgia Tech\u2019s Rural Computer Science Initiative bridges the educational divide for underserved communities across the state by connecting Georgia Tech faculty and students with rural school systems to co-teach dynamic computer science courses, empowering teachers with new skills and inspiring students to pursue tech careers while addressing workforce needs for Georgia\u0027s future economy.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746137","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:15:37","changed":"1737746137","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:15:37","video":{"youtube_id":"l_WkYWHhoS4","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/l_WkYWHhoS4"}},"676131":{"id":"676131","type":"image","title":"Twiggs County computer science class","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETwiggs County students are interacting with Georgia Tech instructors through the Rural Computer Science Initiative\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746495","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:21:35","changed":"1737746495","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:21:35","alt":"This image shows computer science students in Twiggs County, Georgia in their virtual class with Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"259854","name":"IMG_0894.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1407340,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/IMG_0894_0.jpg?itok=LaSX6KUi"}},"676132":{"id":"676132","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech instructors online with Chattooga County students","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Rural Computer Science Initiative allows for remote instruction and interaction with Georgia Tech faculty and students.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746687","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:24:47","changed":"1737746687","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:24:47","alt":"This image shows Georgia Tech instructors in Atlanta online with computer science students in Chattooga County","file":{"fid":"259855","name":"GT students rural CS back closer.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2634149,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/GT%20students%20rural%20CS%20back%20closer_0.jpg?itok=HXlLZmrL"}},"676130":{"id":"676130","type":"image","title":"Participating school districts","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis image shows that the Rural Computer Science Initiative is reaching every corner of the state of Georgia, and the program has plans to expand.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1737746176","gmt_created":"2025-01-24 19:16:16","changed":"1737746339","gmt_changed":"2025-01-24 19:18:59","alt":"These are the 40 school districts throughout Georgia that are currently participating in the Rural Computer Science Initiative","file":{"fid":"259853","name":"RuralDistricts_still.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":358909,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/24\/RuralDistricts_still.jpg?itok=C4wWCTDI"}}},"media_ids":["676129","676131","676132","676130"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/rural-georgia-high-schools-computer-science-program-reaches-new-heights","title":"Rural Georgia High Schools Computer Science Program Reaches New Heights"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/gtri-georgia-tech-launch-computer-science-pilot-program-rural-georgia-high-schools","title":"GTRI, Georgia Tech Launch Computer Science Pilot Program for Rural Georgia High Schools"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"}],"keywords":[{"id":"167487","name":"STEM education"},{"id":"411","name":"CEISMC"},{"id":"416","name":"GTRI"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"1690","name":"rural economic development"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Blair.Meeks@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBlair Meeks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Blair.Meeks@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"679663":{"#nid":"679663","#data":{"type":"news","title":"How the Trump Administration Could Transform the Cryptocurrency Landscape","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Donald Trump prepares to\u0026nbsp;reassume the presidency on\u0026nbsp;Jan.\u0026nbsp;20, the cryptocurrency industry is abuzz with anticipation about the potential impact of his administration\u2019s policies. According to reports, industry leaders expect President-elect Trump to issue several crypto-related executive orders on his first day, with at least one anticipated to ignite a\u0026nbsp;bitcoin price surge. College of Computing experts \u2014 associate professor and blockchain consultant \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/people\/vassilis-zikas\u0022\u003EVassilis Zikas\u003C\/a\u003E and Ph.D. student \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cse.gatech.edu\/people\/agam-shah\u0022\u003EAgam Shah\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 discuss implications for the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA New Era for Blockchain Technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssociate\u0026nbsp;Professor Zikas emphasizes the fundamental differences between blockchain and the common architecture used by traditional financial systems like banks. While banks rely on private ledgers maintained by centralized entities, blockchain uses decentralized ledgers accessible to all participants. This transparency, he explains, is a double-edged sword: it enhances accountability but raises privacy concerns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZikas highlights blockchain\u2019s potential to revolutionize global financial transactions by offering a consistent, borderless mechanism for transferring assets. \u201cThe process of sending bitcoin from a U.S.-based user to a U.K.-based user is identical to transferring bitcoin domestically,\u201d he explains. This contrasts sharply with traditional international banking, which is fraught with delays and fees.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;associate\u0026nbsp;professor also notes that Trump\u2019s previous administration had a mixed stance on crypto. Whilebeing\u0026nbsp;cautious, it supported regulating initial coin offerings and funding blockchain research. In contrast, the Biden administration\u2019s stance, spearheaded by the Securities and Exchange Commission, created uncertainty in the crypto space, and is believed to have contributed to pushing crypto entrepreneurship out of the U.S. and into a prolonged \u201ccrypto winter.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding a Regulatory Framework\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAgam Shah, a blockchain researcher, underscores the importance of clear regulations in fostering crypto adoption. \u201cA well-structured regulatory framework can encourage institutional participation by reducing uncertainties and risks while protecting retail investors,\u201d he notes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe highlights the damage caused by unregulated practices, such as wash trading, which\u0026nbsp;happens when you sell a security at a loss and buy a \u201csubstantially identical\u201d security within 30 days before or after the sale. High-profile failures like cryptocurrency exchange FTX, eroded public trust, with many users losing money. Shah believes that the Trump administration\u2019s positive sentiment toward bitcoin, coupled with his administration\u2019s pro-crypto stance, could lay the groundwork for comprehensive policies that foster innovation while safeguarding investors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShah also points to advancements in blockchain technology, such as tools to detect fraudulent activities, as critical to maintaining market integrity. \u201cTechnological developments will play a pivotal role in ensuring transparency and fairness in the crypto space,\u201d he adds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENavigating Challenges and Opportunities\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDespite the optimism surrounding anticipated policies,\u0026nbsp;Zikas and Shah suggest a\u0026nbsp;cautious approach. Zikas\u0026nbsp;stresses that users and policymakers need to be made aware of the reach (and limits) of the technology.\u0026nbsp; For example,\u0026nbsp;while blockchain\u0026nbsp;can\u0026nbsp;offer privacy benefits,\u0026nbsp;common blockchain ledgers\u0026nbsp;are\u0026nbsp;not completely immune to techniques that can uncover identities. And, although\u0026nbsp;absolute privacy\u0026nbsp;is technologically feasible, it\u0026nbsp;can facilitate illicit activities. Shah, meanwhile, stresses the importance of balancing innovation with market stability, particularly given the crypto market\u2019s volatility and the challenges posed by Basel III endgame\u0026nbsp;\u2014 the latest update to global capital standards\u0026nbsp;\u2014 set to take effect in 2025.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking ahead, both Zikas and Shah agree that clear and actionable policies will be essential for positioning the U.S. as a global leader in blockchain technology. As Trump\u2019s administration aims to transform the U.S. into a crypto powerhouse, the coming months will be pivotal in shaping the future of digital assets and blockchain innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy fostering a balanced approach that combines regulatory clarity with technological innovation, the U.S. could solidify its leadership in the global crypto economy \u2014 while ensuring the ecosystem remains transparent and secure.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Donald Trump prepares to reassume the presidency, the cryptocurrency industry anticipates significant policy shifts, with experts predicting executive orders that could drive a surge in bitcoin prices. Vassilis Zikas, an associate professor and blockchain consultant, and Agam Shah, a blockchain researcher, discuss the potential impacts on the blockchain ecosystem. Zikas highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology for global financial transactions, contrasting its decentralized transparency with traditional banking\u2019s centralized systems. Shah underscores the need for clear regulatory frameworks to foster innovation, mitigate risks, and rebuild trust in the wake of unregulated practices and market volatility. Both experts urge caution, noting the limits of blockchain technology, such as privacy vulnerabilities and challenges posed by upcoming financial regulations like Basel III. With balanced policies and technological advancements, they argue, the U.S. could lead the global crypto economy while ensuring stability and security.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Experts weigh in on how anticipated crypto policies could transform the blockchain landscape while navigating risks and opportunities"}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2025-01-16 16:33:09","changed_gmt":"2025-01-16 17:21:36","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-16T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676046":{"id":"676046","type":"image","title":"Bitcoin.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1737045225","gmt_created":"2025-01-16 16:33:45","changed":"1737045225","gmt_changed":"2025-01-16 16:33:45","alt":"Bitcoin blockchain cryptocurrency mining technology, digital background wallpaper banner.","file":{"fid":"259750","name":"Bitcoin.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/16\/Bitcoin.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/16\/Bitcoin.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4493854,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/16\/Bitcoin.jpeg?itok=NeBNOURH"}}},"media_ids":["676046"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"104311","name":"bitcoin"},{"id":"104321","name":"cryptocurrency"},{"id":"767","name":"Policy"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["aisles3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678814":{"#nid":"678814","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Employing Business Analytics for Social Impact: A Partnership Between a Colombian Nonprofit and Scheller\u0027s Business Analytics Center","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOver the past few years, Antioquia, a department located in the northwest region of Colombia with a population of about 6.9 million, has seen an influx of people, not only from other parts of Colombia, but from all over the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile this has stimulated economic growth, especially in Medell\u00edn, Antioquia\u2019s capital and largest city, it has also introduced challenges such as rising costs and gentrification, with certain neighborhoods becoming less affordable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.comfama.com\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EComfama\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a nonprofit organization that strives to grow the middle class by providing social and economic services to families. The organization has begun a groundbreaking project in collaboration with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/business-analytics-center\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBusiness Analytics Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (BAC)\u0026nbsp;at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business to enhance its ability to forecast and meet the needs of the population.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDetermining the Future of Compensation Funds\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComfama is a \u201ccompensation fund.\u201d In Colombia, these private, nonprofit organizations have been created to improve the lives of workers and their families. They provide social services for recreation, culture, education, preventive healthcare, housing assistance, loans, and more. There are 42 compensation funds across the country that play a vital part in the country\u0027s social security system, according to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/santiagogarciarb\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESantiago Garc\u00eda Rivera\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, head of the Information and Analytics Laboratory at Comfama.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor companies in Colombia, participation in a compensation fund is mandatory. Each fund collects a 4 percent payroll tax from affiliated companies to provide monetary subsidies to workers and their families. \u0022We have about 121 thousand companies affiliated with Comfama, which includes about 1.4 million workers. When you take into account their families, that\u0027s around 2.7 million people we serve, plus a large group of non affiliated people that use our services,\u0022 said Garc\u00eda Rivera.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Comfama, economic and demographic shifts have complicated the prediction of how many people will use its services. \u0022Recognizing these challenges, Comfama is embracing data-driven solutions. We want to build a robust prediction model to help us forecast what will happen to our affiliated population in the future,\u0022 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Georgia Tech Connection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is where Georgia Tech comes in. One of Garc\u00eda Rivera\u0027s colleagues at Comfama, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/juan-david-penagos-a85282149\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJuan David Penagos\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, head of Ventures and New Business Development, knew about the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtmedellin.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute Medell\u00edn Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and suggested they reach out to see whether they could put a project together with business analytics students. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/sara-araujo-santos-878946129\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESara Araujo Santos\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, managing director of Development for Latin America for the Center, contacted \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/staff\/von-behren\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESherri Von Behren\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the BAC\u0027s corporate engagement manager, about possibly creating an \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/explore-programs\/mba-programs\/evening-mba\/curriculum\/practicums.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022MBA business analytics practicum project\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMBA business analytics practicum project\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help Comfama.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVon Behren contacted \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/fan\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJonathan Fan\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a faculty member of the Information Technology Management group in the Scheller College. Fan leads students in transforming data into business solutions through the Business Analytics Practicum course, which is offered in the fall for graduate students and in the spring for undergraduates.\u0026nbsp; Fan immediately saw the value of the opportunity for his MBA students and set up a practicum in which they are developing predictive models using time series data and macroeconomic variables.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are two teams assigned to the project: Team Data Paisa Squad with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aaron-payne4\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAaron Payne\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MBA \u201826 (team lead), \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lissette-chavez\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELissette Chavez\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MBA \u201825, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/boristaganov\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBoris Taganov\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MBA \u201825, and Team The Growth Gurus of Antioquia, with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/justin-siegel1120\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJustin Siegel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MS in Analytics \u201925 (team lead), \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/srinjoy-dasmahapatra\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESrinjoy DasMahapatra\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MBA \u201925, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vinaya-venigalla-3a03a597\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVinaya Vinigalla\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, MBA \u201924.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/phd\/qin\/index.html\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHaofei Qin\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Ph.D. candiate at Scheller helped mentor students along the way.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey meet weekly with the Comfama team, which includes analysts and data scientists \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alejandra-bernal-pati%C3%B1o-679ab710b\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlejandra Bernal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/slondo50\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESusanna Londo\u00f1o\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/wbeimarossa\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWbeimar Ossa\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. The teams discuss their progress and address any challenges they face that week. With less than two months to go, they\u0027re seeing results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFan has been pleased with the results so far. \u201cThis cohort was truly outstanding,\u201d he said, speaking of his students. \u201dThey approached complex topics with clarity and creativity, and their collaborative spirit led to innovative ideas and enlightening discussions. They handled challenging subjects effortlessly, always coming up with fresh and interesting perspectives.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EManaging the Present and Predicting the Future\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERegarding the work of Team Data Paisa Squad, Aaron Payne remarked, \u0022One of our key successes has been developing a model framework that provides accurate forecasts and adapts to changes in external economic indicators. By integrating machine learning techniques alongside traditional time series models, we\u0027ve increased our forecasts\u0027 robustness. Additionally, the collaboration with Comfama\u0027s internal team has been highly productive, enabling us to align our technical solutions with their business needs. The early feedback on our findings has been positive.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPayne stated that one of the main challenges they\u0027ve faced has been combining data from multiple sources, as each source has different levels of detail and accuracy. Ensuring these data sets are consistent and reliable has been difficult, especially for economic factors that may not directly match Comfama\u0027s internal data. Another challenge is adapting standard forecasting models like SARIMAX\u2014\u003Cstrong\u003ES\u003C\/strong\u003Eeasonal \u003Cstrong\u003EA\u003C\/strong\u003EutoRegressive \u003Cstrong\u003EI\u003C\/strong\u003Entegrated \u003Cstrong\u003EM\u003C\/strong\u003Eoving \u003Cstrong\u003EA\u003C\/strong\u003Everage with e\u003Cstrong\u003EX\u003C\/strong\u003Eogenous variables\u2014 to account for external influences like government policies or unexpected economic changes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This experience has reinforced the value of experiential learning in advancing my business analytics skills. Working with real-world data, especially in a dynamic organization like Comfama, has provided a deeper understanding of how to apply advanced analytical methods to solve practical business problems. The practicum has helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, giving me confidence in using these tools to drive decision-making in real business environments,\u0022 said Payne.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe practicum is more than just about numbers, though. It\u0027s about understanding the lives behind the data points. As Fan reminds his students, \u0022A model is just a model, but those data points represent individual lives. We want to understand the mechanism or the story behind the data.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA team of MBA students from the Scheller College of Business is partnering with data analysts at a Colombian compensation fund as part of a business analytics practicum course with the Business Analytics Center. Their work focuses on predicting the future economic and social needs of workers and their families.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Through a business analytics practicum course, a team of MBA students at Scheller is working with data analysts at a Colombian compensation fund to help anticipate the future economic and social needs of workers and their families."}],"uid":"28082","created_gmt":"2024-12-10 20:25:39","changed_gmt":"2024-12-19 21:32:33","author":"Lorrie Burroughs","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-10T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675811":{"id":"675811","type":"image","title":"Colombia","body":null,"created":"1733858916","gmt_created":"2024-12-10 19:28:36","changed":"1733859184","gmt_changed":"2024-12-10 19:33:04","alt":"Colombia","file":{"fid":"259481","name":"Colombia_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/10\/Colombia_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/10\/Colombia_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":373262,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/10\/Colombia_0.jpg?itok=ahoD_4A2"}}},"media_ids":["675811"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1274","name":"Scheller College of Business"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"174245","name":"Business Analytics Center"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELorrie Burroughs\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675279":{"#nid":"675279","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Defining Smart City Digital Twins","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwo of those cities,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/all_projects\/columbus-consolidated-govt\/\u0022\u003EColumbus\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/all_projects\/city-of-warner-robins\/\u0022\u003EWarner Robins\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia, received the awards for projects that involve digital twins. But what, exactly, is a digital twin? And how can the technology be used to solve community problems?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe talked with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/john-e-taylor\u0022\u003EJohn Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, the Frederick Law Olmsted Professor and associate chair for graduate programs and research innovation in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/neda-mohammadi\u0022\u003ENeda Mohammadi\u003C\/a\u003E, city infrastructure analytics director in Georgia Tech\u2019s Network Dynamics Lab to get some answers. These are edited highlights from an interview. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: What is a digital twin?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: A digital twin is an intelligent, adaptive system that pairs virtual and physical worlds. In community development work, a Smart City Digital Twin (SCDT), like those used in Warner Robins and Columbus, pairs a real city to its digital counterpart to generate data-driven feedback loops of interactions between cities\u2019 three main components: (1) human systems, which includes government, industry, and residents; (2) infrastructure systems, which are physical systems and the services they provide; and (3) technology systems, such as devices, sensors, and data analytics infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: They\u2019ve been used in manufacturing for some time. How is that different from a SCDT?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: They\u0027re somewhat easier to implement in a manufacturing context, because everything\u0027s under control, under a roof. They model all the different manufacturing machinery and they use that to see when a part might need to be changed, and when they need to do maintenance. And they can play with the system, using real-time running data to see what happens if this piece does wear out. How bad would it be? They could either adjust that piece or adjust that machine or maintain it, whatever it might be, based on the scenario analysis.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: How does that translate to the less controlled environment of a city?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: It involves replicating multiple systems. For example, if a tall building is on fire, there will be multiple systems brought into play. First, you can see what\u0027s happening in the city at a basic level. You can see that there\u0027s traffic building up, for example. The next level is, why is it happening? And that\u0027s where it gets a little bit more interesting. Most of the digital twin work that we\u0027ve seen \u2014 that anyone\u0027s doing out in the world \u2014 is to understand why things are happening the way they\u0027re happening. But really, the value starts to unlock the third and fourth levels.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe third level is the \u201cwhat if\u201d scenario. In the context of a city, for example, in Midtown they\u0027ve just installed new traffic signals. Hopefully, someone tested that out in advance. But one \u201cwhat if\u201d analysis could be: We\u0027ve got bad traffic in Midtown. What if we put these traffic signals in the Tech Square area? What effect will that have on the flows in the city? With a digital twin, you can know that before you install the lights. That is one of the big opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe fourth level is the idea that the infrastructure could start to intervene on behalf of the citizens. And so in the example of the tall building fire, the traffic signals might preemptively allow the fire trucks through. But they could also do other things like make all of the signals around the building red, so no traffic is moving and there\u0027s more space for people to evacuate the building. That would be something we might allow the systems to do for us.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: How is that different from, for example, a project in Valdosta that allows first responder vehicles to change the traffic lights so they can get to an emergency more quickly?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMohammadi: A digital twin will update itself based on data that keeps coming in. If you think about the interaction with the traffic signal, it doesn\u0027t care about what happened five minutes ago, 10 minutes ago. At that moment, they know that the driver probably has a better situational awareness than the automated system. So they let the driver interfere and put useful inputs into the systems to make a better decision.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe digital twin is accumulating data as it comes because it is based on prediction. The definition of prediction is looking at past data and, based on past experience, predicting what\u0027s likely to happen in the future. We know that time is a moving target. As we move on, things that happened in the past accumulate. There are more things that we know. A digital twin is really at the edge of this moving target.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: Tell us about the river safety project in Columbus, which uses a digital twin to create an alert system to prevent drownings in the Chattahoochee River. The city\u0026nbsp;was recently named a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spring.smartcitiesconnect.org\/Smart20Awards\/\u0022\u003ESmart 20 award\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;winner by Smart Cities Connect for the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/20\/protection-drowning-through-ai-enabled-camera-system\u0022\u003ECitizen Safety Digital Twin\u003C\/a\u003E project.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: A good project from our perspective involves a complicated enough scenario where multiple sensors are involved. With the river safety project, we had to understand and predict water levels with a water level sensor. We use visual sensing to understand, if people were in the environment when hazardous conditions might begin to occur, whether we could get them out of harm\u0027s way before they get swept away into the water.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe had to build a digital twin of the entire river basin, so we would know just what the danger is if the water level rises this much. Are the islands that people are standing on before the water level rises going to vanish?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat one was particularly interesting to us. If you look at the smart city digital twin work we did first, it was related to energy consumption. We\u0027re increasingly excited about having a more direct effect on people\u0027s lives. This one is stopping people from drowning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: Tell us about the digital twin you developed for the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/all_projects\/city-of-warner-robins\/\u0022\u003EWarner Robins\u2019\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Citizen Safety Digital Twin for Community Resilience project, which deploys dynamic license plate reader cameras to help deter crime. It received the Intelligent Community Forum\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.intelligentcommunity.org\/smart21\u0022\u003ESmart21 Community Award\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.smartcity.org.tw\/index.php\/en-us\/\u0022\u003E2024 Taipei Smart City Summit and Expo\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: This project is pretty complicated from our perspective, because we had to build a geographic information systems (GIS) map of the city. We also have to know where crimes have been occurring. We\u0027ve got more than 10 years of crime data, including very recent crime data. We\u0027re deploying sensors in part to deter crimes, but also to detect and collect more information about crime patterns. It comes down to taking the information about where crimes are occurring and coupling that with predictions about routes people would take if they did commit a crime, so that the car would come into view of one of the cameras. We don\u0027t hide the camera; we put it on a very visible structure, where we predict most likely the crimes are going to occur this week. We put this very visible thing to discourage people from doing anything once they realize they\u0027re being watched. And we found that it did in fact, reduce crimes in those high-crime spots by 20%.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: What are some other ways communities can use digital twins?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: We published something this spring, and we\u0027re working on a funding proposal now, about how ambulances move around during a period of inundation \u2014 coastal flooding, coastal inundation, or heavy rains. We\u2019ve met with Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah about this. We looked at data in Virginia Beach to see if, in real time as the flooding is changing, we could deploy ambulances in different parts of the city ahead of where they\u0027re needed. It\u2019s ambulance routing during a natural disaster event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQ: Are there limitations to smart city digital twin technology?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETaylor: When we travel around and we present this, some clever student or faculty member will say, \u201cWouldn\u0027t a great research project be to figure out how to build a central platform for the collection of this data or a standard format for the way this data should be sent so that all the systems can talk to each other?\u201d And they\u2019re right. It\u0027s difficult to get the value across a whole city if you\u0027re only looking at one system at a time. A future research topic is figuring out those data flows and the centralization of that data.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn March, three communities that are part of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pingeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EPartnership for Inclusive Innovation\u2019s\u003C\/a\u003E (Partnership) Community Research Grant program were honored with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/partnership-for-inclusive-innovation-smart-cities-projects-receive-international-recognitions\/\u0022\u003Einternational smart cities awards\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A Q\u0026A with two Georgia Tech experts in civil and environmental engineering and city infrastructure analytics."}],"uid":"36300","created_gmt":"2024-07-01 13:59:28","changed_gmt":"2024-12-09 17:36:57","author":"Karen Kirkpatrick","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-01T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674273":{"id":"674273","type":"image","title":"Neda_John copy.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/neda-mohammadi\u0022\u003ENeda Mohammadi\u003C\/a\u003E, city infrastructure analytics director in Georgia Tech\u2019s Network Dynamics Lab, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ce.gatech.edu\/directory\/person\/john-e-taylor\u0022\u003EJohn Taylor\u003C\/a\u003E, professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (file photo)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1719842474","gmt_created":"2024-07-01 14:01:14","changed":"1719842474","gmt_changed":"2024-07-01 14:01:14","alt":"Photo of two Georgia Tech professors","file":{"fid":"257768","name":"Neda_John copy.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/01\/Neda_John%20copy.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/01\/Neda_John%20copy.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":291243,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/01\/Neda_John%20copy.jpg?itok=VssFtCKt"}}},"media_ids":["674273"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193822","name":"John Taylor"},{"id":"193823","name":"Neda Mohammadi"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"188705","name":"Partnership for Inclusive Innovation"},{"id":"179230","name":"digital twin"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EKaren Kirkpatrick\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ekaren.kirkpatrick@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["karen.kirkpatrick@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678746":{"#nid":"678746","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Multipurpose Model Enhances Forecasting Across Epidemics, Energy, and Economics","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new machine learning (ML) model from Georgia Tech could protect communities from diseases, better manage electricity consumption in cities, and promote business growth, all at the same time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) created the Large Pre-Trained Time-Series Model (LPTM) framework.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2311.11413\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELPTM\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a single foundational model that completes forecasting tasks across a broad range of domains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with performing as well or better than models purpose-built for their applications, LPTM requires 40% less data and 50% less training time than current baselines. In some cases, LPTM can be deployed without any training data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe key to LPTM is that it is pre-trained on datasets from different industries like healthcare, transportation, and energy. The Georgia Tech group created an adaptive segmentation module to make effective use of these vastly different datasets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech researchers will present LPTM in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at the 2024 Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nips.cc\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E). NeurIPS is one of the world\u2019s most prestigious conferences on artificial intelligence (AI) and ML research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe foundational model paradigm started with text and image, but people haven\u2019t explored time-series tasks yet because those were considered too diverse across domains,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/faculty.cc.gatech.edu\/~badityap\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EB. Aditya Prakash\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, one of LPTM\u2019s developers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur work is a pioneer in this new area of exploration where only few attempts have been made so far.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/research\/neurips-2024\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMICROSITE: Georgia Tech at NeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFoundational models are trained with data from different fields, making them powerful tools when assigned tasks. Foundational models drive GPT, DALL-E, and other popular generative AI platforms used today. LPTM is different though because it is geared toward time-series, not text and image generation. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech researchers trained LPTM on data ranging from epidemics, macroeconomics, power consumption, traffic and transportation, stock markets, and human motion and behavioral datasets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter training, the group pitted LPTM against 17 other models to make forecasts as close to nine real-case benchmarks. LPTM performed the best on five datasets and placed second on the other four.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe nine benchmarks contained data from real-world collections. These included the spread of influenza in the U.S. and Japan, electricity, traffic, and taxi demand in New York, and financial markets.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe competitor models were purpose-built for their fields. While each model performed well on one or two benchmarks closest to its designed purpose, the models ranked in the middle or bottom on others.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn another experiment, the Georgia Tech group tested LPTM against seven baseline models on the same nine benchmarks in zero-shot forecasting tasks. Zero-shot means the model is used out of the box and not given any specific guidance during training. LPTM outperformed every model across all benchmarks in this trial.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELPTM performed consistently as a top-runner on all nine benchmarks, demonstrating the model\u2019s potential to achieve superior forecasting results across multiple applications with less and resources.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur model also goes beyond forecasting and helps accomplish other tasks,\u201d said Prakash, an associate professor in the School of CSE.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cClassification is a useful time-series task that allows us to understand the nature of the time-series and label whether that time-series is something we understand or is new.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne reason traditional models are custom-built to their purpose is that fields differ in reporting frequency and trends.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, epidemic data is often reported weekly and goes through seasonal peaks with occasional outbreaks. Economic data is captured quarterly and typically remains consistent and monotone over time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELPTM\u2019s adaptive segmentation module allows it to overcome these timing differences across datasets. When LPTM receives a dataset, the module breaks data into segments of different sizes. Then, it scores all possible ways to segment data and chooses the easiest segment from which to learn useful patterns.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELPTM\u2019s performance, enhanced through the innovation of adaptive segmentation, earned the model acceptance to NeurIPS 2024 for presentation. NeurIPS is one of three primary international conferences on high-impact research in AI and ML. NeurIPS 2024 occurs Dec. 10-15.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.harsha-pk.com\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHarshavardhan Kamarthi\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E partnered with Prakash, his advisor, on LPTM. The duo are among the 162 Georgia Tech researchers presenting over 80 papers at the conference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrakash is one of 46 Georgia Tech faculty with research accepted at NeurIPS 2024. Nine School of CSE faculty members, nearly one-third of the body, are authors or co-authors of 17 papers accepted at the conference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with sharing their research at NeurIPS 2024, Prakash and Kamarthi released an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/github.com\/AdityaLab\/Samay\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eopen-source library of foundational time-series modules\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E that data scientists can use in their applications.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGiven the interest in AI from all walks of life, including business, social, and research and development sectors, a lot of work has been done and thousands of strong papers are submitted to the main AI conferences,\u201d Prakash said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAcceptance of our paper speaks to the quality of the work and its potential to advance foundational methodology, and we hope to share that with a larger audience.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA new machine learning (ML) model from Georgia Tech could protect communities from diseases, better manage electricity consumption in cities, and promote business growth, all at the same time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EResearchers from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) created the Large Pre-Trained Time-Series Model (LPTM) framework.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2311.11413\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELPTM\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a single foundational model that completes forecasting tasks across a broad range of domains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with performing as well or better than models purpose-built for their applications, LPTM requires 40% less data and 50% less training time than current baselines. In some cases, LPTM can be deployed without any training data.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe key to LPTM is that it is pre-trained on datasets from different industries like healthcare, transportation, and energy. The Georgia Tech group created an adaptive segmentation module to make effective use of these vastly different datasets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech researchers will present LPTM in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at the 2024 Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/nips.cc\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E). NeurIPS is one of the world\u2019s most prestigious conferences on artificial intelligence (AI) and ML research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Large Pre-Trained Time-Series Model (LPTM) framework completes forecasting tasks across a broad range of domains, outperforms current models,  and requires 40% less data and 50% less training time than current baselines."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2024-12-04 12:32:04","changed_gmt":"2024-12-05 20:53:31","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675764":{"id":"675764","type":"image","title":"LPTM Head photo.jpg","body":null,"created":"1733315535","gmt_created":"2024-12-04 12:32:15","changed":"1733315535","gmt_changed":"2024-12-04 12:32:15","alt":"CSE NeurIPS 2024","file":{"fid":"259428","name":"LPTM Head photo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/LPTM%20Head%20photo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/LPTM%20Head%20photo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":138121,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/04\/LPTM%20Head%20photo.jpg?itok=-_oqygAy"}},"675765":{"id":"675765","type":"image","title":"Aditya and Harsha.jpg","body":null,"created":"1733315572","gmt_created":"2024-12-04 12:32:52","changed":"1733315572","gmt_changed":"2024-12-04 12:32:52","alt":"CSE NeurIPS 2024","file":{"fid":"259429","name":"Aditya and Harsha.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/Aditya%20and%20Harsha.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/Aditya%20and%20Harsha.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":54358,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/04\/Aditya%20and%20Harsha.jpg?itok=Dv3sFphr"}}},"media_ids":["675764","675765"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/multipurpose-model-enhances-forecasting-across-epidemics-energy-and-economics","title":"Multipurpose Model Enhances Forecasting Across Epidemics, Energy, and Economics"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"191912","name":"Data Science at GT"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678747":{"#nid":"678747","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Dataset Takes Aim at Subjective Misinformation in Earnings Calls and Other Public Hearings","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have created a dataset that trains computer models to understand nuances in human speech during financial earnings calls. The dataset provides a new resource to study how public correspondence affects businesses and markets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESubjECTive-QA is the first human-curated dataset on question-answer pairs from earnings call transcripts (ECTs). The dataset teaches models to identify subjective features in ECTs, like clarity and cautiousness. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dataset lays the foundation for a new approach to identifying disinformation and misinformation caused by nuances in speech. While ECT responses can be technically true, unclear or irrelevant information can misinform stakeholders and affect their decision-making.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETests on White House press briefings showed that the dataset applies to other sectors with frequent question-and-answer encounters, notably politics, journalism, and sports. This increases the odds of effectively informing audiences and improving transparency across public spheres.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe intersecting work between natural language processing and finance earned\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2410.20651\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe paper\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E acceptance to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neurips.cc\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the 38th Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems. NeurIPS is one of the world\u2019s most prestigious conferences on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022SubjECTive-QA has the potential to revolutionize nowcasting predictions with enhanced clarity and relevance,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/shahagam4.github.io\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAgam Shah\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the project\u2019s lead researcher.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIts nuanced analysis of qualities in executive responses, like optimism and cautiousness, deepens our understanding of economic forecasts and financial transparency.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/research\/neurips-2024\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMICROSITE: Georgia Tech at NeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESubjECTive-QA offers a new means to evaluate financial discourse by characterizing language\u0027s subjective and multifaceted nature. This improves on traditional datasets that quantify sentiment or verify claims from financial statements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dataset consists of 2,747 Q\u0026amp;A pairs taken from 120 ECTs from companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 2007 to 2021. The Georgia Tech researchers annotated each response by hand based on six features for a total of 49,446 annotations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe group evaluated answers on:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERelevance: the speaker answered the question with appropriate details.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClarity: the speaker was transparent in the answer and the message conveyed.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOptimism: the speaker answered with a positive outlook regarding future outcomes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESpecificity: the speaker included sufficient and technical details in their answer.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECautiousness: the speaker answered using a conservative, risk-averse approach.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAssertiveness: the speaker answered with certainty about the company\u2019s events and outcomes.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech group validated their dataset by training eight computer models to detect and score these six features. Test models comprised of three BERT-based pre-trained language models (PLMs), and five popular large language models (LLMs) including Llama and ChatGPT.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll eight models scored the highest on the relevance and clarity features. This is attributed to domain-specific pretraining that enables the models to identify pertinent and understandable material.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe PLMs achieved higher scores on the clear, optimistic, specific, and cautious categories. The LLMs scored higher in assertiveness and relevance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn another experiment to test transferability, a PLM trained with SubjECTive-QA evaluated 65 Q\u0026amp;A pairs from White House press briefings and gaggles. Scores across all six features indicated models trained on the dataset could succeed in other fields outside of finance.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Building on these promising results, the next step for SubjECTive-QA is to enhance customer service technologies, like chatbots,\u201d said Shah, a Ph.D. candidate studying machine learning.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want to make these platforms more responsive and accurate by integrating our analysis techniques from SubjECTive-QA.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESubjECTive-QA culminated from two semesters of work through Georgia Tech\u2019s Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program. The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/vip.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVIP Program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is an approach to higher education where undergraduate and graduate students work together on long-term project teams led by faculty.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUndergraduate students earn academic credit and receive hands-on experience through VIP projects. The extra help advances ongoing research and gives graduate students mentorship experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EComputer science major\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/pardawalahuzaifa.me\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHuzaifa Pardawala\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and mathematics major\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/siddhantsukhani\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESiddhant Sukhani\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E co-led the SubjECTive-QA project with Shah.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFellow collaborators included\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/veerkejriwal\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVeer Kejriwal\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/abhipi\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbhishek Pillai\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rohan-bhasin-356aa41a0\/?originalSubdomain=in\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERohan Bhasin\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andrew-dibiasio-96164721a\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndrew DiBiasio\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tarun-mandapati-a90443206\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETarun Mandapati\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dhruv-adha-ba5142215\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDhruv Adha\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. All six researchers are undergraduate students studying computer science.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/chava\/index.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESudheer Chava\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E co-advises Shah and is the faculty lead of SubjECTive-QA. Chava is a professor in the Scheller College of Business and director of the M.S. in Quantitative and Computational Finance (QCF) program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChava is also an adjunct faculty member in the College of Computing\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESchool of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE)\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Leading undergraduate students through the VIP Program taught me the powerful impact of balancing freedom with guidance,\u201d Shah said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAllowing students to take the helm not only fosters their leadership skills but also enhances my own approach to mentoring, thus creating a mutually enriching educational experience.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPresenting SubjECTive-QA at NeurIPS 2024 exposes the dataset for further use and refinement. NeurIPS is one of three primary international conferences on high-impact research in AI and ML. The conference occurs Dec. 10-15.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe SubjECTive-QA team is among the 162 Georgia Tech researchers presenting over 80 papers at NeurIPS 2024. The Georgia Tech contingent includes 46 faculty members, like Chava. These faculty represent Georgia Tech\u2019s Colleges of Business, Computing, Engineering, and Sciences, underscoring the pertinence of AI research across domains.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Presenting SubjECTive-QA at prestigious venues like NeurIPS propels our research into the spotlight, drawing the attention of key players in finance and tech,\u201d Shah said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe feedback we receive from this community of experts validates our approach and opens new avenues for future innovation, setting the stage for transformative applications in industry and academia.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers have created a dataset that trains computer models to understand nuances in human speech during financial earnings calls. The dataset provides a new resource to study how public correspondence affects businesses and markets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESubjECTive-QA is the first human-curated dataset on question-answer pairs from earnings call transcripts (ECTs). The dataset teaches models to identify subjective features in ECTs, like clarity and cautiousness. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe dataset lays the foundation for a new approach to identifying disinformation and misinformation caused by nuances in speech. While ECT responses can be technically true, unclear or irrelevant information can misinform stakeholders and affect their decision-making.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETests on White House press briefings showed that the dataset applies to other sectors with frequent question-and-answer encounters, notably politics, journalism, and sports. This increases the odds of effectively informing audiences and improving transparency across public spheres.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe intersecting work between natural language processing and finance earned\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arxiv.org\/pdf\/2410.20651\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ethe paper\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E acceptance to\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neurips.cc\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENeurIPS 2024\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the 38th Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems. NeurIPS is one of the world\u2019s most prestigious conferences on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) research.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"SubjECTive-QA is the first human-curated dataset on question-answer pairs from earnings call transcripts (ECTs). The dataset teaches models to identify subjective features in ECTs, like clarity and cautiousness.  "}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2024-12-04 12:35:53","changed_gmt":"2024-12-04 21:24:01","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2024-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2024-12-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675766":{"id":"675766","type":"image","title":"SubjECTive Head Photo.jpg","body":null,"created":"1733315763","gmt_created":"2024-12-04 12:36:03","changed":"1733315763","gmt_changed":"2024-12-04 12:36:03","alt":"CSE NeurIPS 2024","file":{"fid":"259430","name":"SubjECTive Head Photo.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Head%20Photo.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Head%20Photo.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":136969,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Head%20Photo.jpg?itok=w8UTZ_0k"}},"675767":{"id":"675767","type":"image","title":"SubjECTive Group.jpg","body":null,"created":"1733315790","gmt_created":"2024-12-04 12:36:30","changed":"1733315790","gmt_changed":"2024-12-04 12:36:30","alt":"CSE NeurIPS 2024","file":{"fid":"259431","name":"SubjECTive Group.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Group.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Group.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":78610,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/12\/04\/SubjECTive%20Group.jpg?itok=fOO_WR5k"}}},"media_ids":["675766","675767"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/new-dataset-takes-aim-subjective-misinformation-earnings-calls-and-other-public-hearings","title":"New Dataset Takes Aim at Subjective Misinformation in Earnings Calls and Other Public Hearings"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"167089","name":"Scheller College of Business"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"191912","name":"Data Science at GT"},{"id":"5993","name":"quantitative and computational finance"},{"id":"190615","name":"Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"677160":{"#nid":"677160","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia AIM Week Kicks Off with Mobile Studio Launch","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA series of events across Georgia, starting with a kickoff event at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, will highlight the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing and how it can transform communities and jobs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia AIM Week, which takes place Sept. 30 \u2013 Oct. 4, is hosted by Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM). The week kicks off at Georgia Tech\u0027s John Lewis Student Center with the debut of the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio. The vehicle will tour the state during the week to showcase how a wide range of organizations, including public schools, manufacturers, and technology startups, are using AI. The week will conclude on Oct. 4,\u0026nbsp;National Manufacturing Day, at the University of Georgia in Athens.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFunded by a $65 million federal Economic Development Administration grant, Georgia AIM launched in September 2022 and connects 16 projects across the state, all working to develop a manufacturing workforce skilled in smart technologies and to deploy innovation in the manufacturing industry.\u0026nbsp;Georgia AIM is one of the largest federally funded initiatives of its kind in the country to connect economic development with AI in manufacturing to foster advancements in innovation and workforce development. The grant project is led by Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia AIM Week allows us to showcase the incredible work that we have accomplished in partnership with a range of organizations over the last two years,\u201d said Donna Ennis, Georgia AIM co-director. \u201cArtificial intelligence and smart technologies are a game-changer for small and medium manufacturers, and learning these technologies opens doors for our workforce. Georgia AIM is working across the state to ensure Georgia can take advantage of these new technologies, and Georgia AIM Week is highlighting these efforts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with the kickoff and wrap-up events, Georgia AIM Week events will occur in Atlanta, Augusta, Dawsonville, LaGrange, McDonough, Moultrie, Savannah, and Warner Robins. Virtual \u201cHour of Coding\u201d activities for 6th to 12th graders are also planned from noon to 1 p.m. each day that week.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EManufacturing-focused events will be hosted by the Georgia MBDA Business Center, Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility located at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia AIM\u2019s work across the state includes K-12 initiatives to connect STEM and problem-solving activities to students, new labs and equipment at Technical College System of Georgia campuses, a new program for cybersecurity training at the Cyber Innovation \u0026amp; Training Center with Augusta University, and new workforce development programs that include training and apprenticeships and fellowships that align with local manufacturing needs. Overall, more than 3,000 students and 1,500 teachers in K-12 schools have connected with new science-based challenges. New programs are connecting Southwest Georgia career academies to advanced technologies, and the number of robotics programs for K-12 schools in Middle Georgia has doubled.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia AIM funding created the AI-Enhanced Robotics Center at the Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center in Warner Robins, where 24 students have received AI-Enhanced Robotic Manufacturing Specialist technical training certificates. Georgia AIM has also connected with dozens of manufacturers and communities across the state, assisting with technology implementation and pilot projects to help incorporate smart technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Georgia AIM\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EFunded by a $65 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration, Georgia\u0026nbsp;AIM is a network of projects across the state that connect the manufacturing community with AI and smart technologies and a ready workforce. Georgia AIM works across all geographies and demographics to bring traditionally underrepresented participants to manufacturing spaces, specifically rural residents, women, people of color, veterans, and those without a college degree. Georgia AIM projects include K-12 education, Georgia\u2019s universities and technical colleges, workforce education, regional partnerships, nonprofits, and support for emerging technologies and manufacturers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information on Georgia AIM, please visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.georgiaaim.org\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Egeorgiaaim.org\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECelebrate the official launch of the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio with festivities at the John Lewis Student Center. Starting at 10:50 a.m. with Georgia Tech\u0027s Pep Squad and a special appearance by Buzz, the event includes special guest speakers from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by tours of the Mobile Studio. The event includes student clubs focused on AI and robotics and a special guest robot dog! Come explore the new Mobile Studio before it launches its tour of the state.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"We\u0027re celebrating the launch of the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio with speakers, student groups, and accessible technology."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-09-26 20:40:31","changed_gmt":"2024-11-15 19:09:40","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675142":{"id":"675142","type":"image","title":"Georgia AIM Mobile AI Studio","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia AIM Mobile Studio is being deployed across the state of Georgia as part of the Underserved Entrepreneurship Activation project. It works to expose new audiences, particularly in rural and Black communities, to AI manufacturing, allowing for the exploration of ideas, careers, and entrepreneurship in a growing, high-demand sector. The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), in close partnership with the University of Georgia, KITTLABS, and Technologists of Color, engaged its network to develop and deploy the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1727383965","gmt_created":"2024-09-26 20:52:45","changed":"1727449876","gmt_changed":"2024-09-27 15:11:16","alt":"Georgia AIM mobile studio on display.","file":{"fid":"258740","name":"IMG_8178.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/27\/IMG_8178.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/27\/IMG_8178.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3305742,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/27\/IMG_8178.jpeg?itok=Ras7KbXI"}}},"media_ids":["675142"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"191642","name":"Georgia AIM"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"170301","name":"Donna Ennis"},{"id":"186857","name":"go-gtmi"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKristen Morales\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E706.206.3055\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kristen.morales@innovate.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ekristen.morales@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["kristen.morales@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"678018":{"#nid":"678018","#data":{"type":"news","title":"National Science Foundation Awards $15M to Georgia Tech-Led Consortium of Universities for Societal-Oriented Innovation and Commercialization Effort","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a syndicate of eight Southeast universities \u2014 with Georgia Tech as the lead \u2014 a $15 million grant to support the development of a regional innovation ecosystem that addresses underrepresentation and increases entrepreneurship and technology-oriented workforce development.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Southeast Hub is a five-year project based on the I-Corps model, which assists academics in moving their research from the lab to the market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub encompasses four states \u2014 Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIts member schools include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EClemson University\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMorehouse College\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUniversity of Alabama\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUniversity of Central Florida\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUniversity of Florida\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUniversity of Miami\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUniversity of South Florida\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn January 2025, when the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub officially launches, the consortium of schools will expand to include the University of Puerto Rico. Additionally, through Morehouse College\u2019s activation, Spelman College and the Morehouse School of Medicine will also participate in supporting the project.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith a combined economic output of more than $3.2 trillion, the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub region represents more than 11% of the entire U.S. economy. As a region, those states and Puerto Rico have a larger economic output than France, Italy, or Canada.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a great opportunity for us to engage in regional collaboration to drive innovation across the Southeast to strengthen our regional economy and that of Puerto Rico,\u201d said the Enterprise Innovation Institute\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nakiamelecio\/\u0022\u003ENakia Melecio\u003C\/a\u003E, director of the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub. As director, Melecio will oversee strategic management, data collection, and overall operations\u200b.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAdditionally, Melecio serves as a national faculty instructor for the NSF I-Corps program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis also allows us to collectively tackle some of the common challenges all four of our states face, especially when it comes to being intentionally inclusive in reaching out to communities that historically haven\u2019t always been invited to participate,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat means bringing solutions to market that not only solve problems but are intentional about including researchers from Black and Hispanic-serving institutions, Melecio said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/keithmcgreggor\/\u0022\u003EKeith McGreggor\u003C\/a\u003E, director of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/venturelab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EVentureLab\u003C\/a\u003E, is the faculty lead charged with designing the curriculum and instruction for the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub\u2019s partners.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcGreggor has extensive I-Corps experience. In 2012, Georgia Tech was among the first institutions in the country selected to teach the I-Corps curriculum, which aims to further research commercialization. McGreggor served as the lead instructor for I-Corps-related efforts and led training efforts across the Southeast, as well as for teams in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Republic of Ireland.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/raghupathy-sivakumar\u0022\u003ERaghupathy \u201cSiva\u201d Sivakumar\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s vice president of Commercialization and chief commercialization officer, is the project\u2019s principal investigator.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub is one of three announced by the NSF. The others are in the Northwest and New England regions, led by the University of California, Berkeley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, respectively. The three I-Corps Hubs are part of the NSF\u2019s planned expansion of its National Innovation Network, which now includes 128 colleges and universities across 48 states.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs designed, the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub will leverage its partner institutions\u2019 strengths to break down barriers to researchers\u2019 pace of lab-to-market commercialization.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Our Hub member institutions have successfully commercialized transformative technologies across critical sectors, including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, cybersecurity, and biomedical fields,\u201d said Sivakumar. \u201cWe aim to achieve two key objectives: first, to establish and expand a scalable model that effectively translates research into viable commercial ventures; and second, to address pressing societal needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022This includes not only delivering innovative solutions but also cultivating a diverse pipeline of researchers and innovators, thereby enhancing interest in STEM fields \u2014 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EU.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-Atlanta, is a proponent of the Hub\u2019s STEM component.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a biology major-turned-congresswoman, I know firsthand that STEM education and research open doors far beyond the lab or classroom.,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThis National Science Foundation grant means Georgia Tech will be leading the way in equipping researchers and grad students to turn their discoveries into real-world impact \u2014 as innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m especially excited about the partnership with Morehouse College and other minority-serving institutions through this Hub, expanding pathways to innovation and entrepreneurship for historically marginalized communities and creating one more tool to close the racial wealth gap.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat STEM aspect, coupled with supporting the growth of a regional ecosystem, will speed commercialization, increase higher education-industry collaborations, and boost the network of diverse entrepreneurs and startup founders, said David Bridges, vice president of the Enterprise Innovation Institute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis multi-university, regional approach is a successful model because it has been proven that bringing a diversity of stakeholders together leads to unique solutions to very difficult problems,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd while the Southeast faces different challenges that vary from state to state and Puerto Rico has its own needs, they call for a more comprehensive approach to solving them. Adopting a region-oriented focus allows us to understand what these needs are, customize tailored solutions, and keep not just our hub but our nation economically competitive.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELed by Georgia Tech\u0027s Office of Commercialization and the Enterprise Innovation Institute, this Hub includes Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Multi-state I-Corps Hubs project designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystem and address inequities in access to capital and commercialization opportunities"}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-10-30 20:00:15","changed_gmt":"2024-11-01 21:11:12","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675471":{"id":"675471","type":"image","title":"NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub Team","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left, Georgia Tech\u0027s Nakia Melecio, Keith McGreggor, and Raghupathy \u0022Siva\u0022 Sivakumar, are the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub director, faculty lead, and principal investigator, respectively.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1730318440","gmt_created":"2024-10-30 20:00:40","changed":"1733765817","gmt_changed":"2024-12-09 17:36:57","alt":"Three Georgia Tech researchers headshots","file":{"fid":"259098","name":"New Trio.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/30\/New%20Trio.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/30\/New%20Trio.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2413319,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/30\/New%20Trio.png?itok=cGSfw7-T"}}},"media_ids":["675471"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193761","name":"Nakia Melecio"},{"id":"84581","name":"Keith McGreggor"},{"id":"20191","name":"Raghupathy Sivakumar"},{"id":"186603","name":"David Bridges"},{"id":"362","name":"National Science Foundation"},{"id":"14628","name":"I-Corps"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"2579","name":"commercialization"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676694":{"#nid":"676694","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Enterprise 6 Internship Cohort Completes 2024 Session","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETaking a summer internship in economic development, Stephanie Galicia, a graduate student at Kennesaw State University, didn\u2019t expect she\u2019d be saving lives.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut Galicia, who is pursuing master\u2019s degrees in business and public administration, found herself doing just that as an Enterprise 6 Intern in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/oshainfo.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESafety, Health, Environmental Services\u003C\/a\u003E group at Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBecause some of her family members work in manufacturing, construction, and landscaping, she felt a strong personal connection to the group\u2019s mission to help employers reduce workplace hazards.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTo come to work, learn the educational side, and go home and educate my family is something I\u0027ve been very fortunate to do,\u201d Galicia said. \u201cEveryone who works in these environments works to be able to feed their family and have a place to live. They don\u0027t know how serious these hazards are that they come across each day. We\u2019re able to tell people, \u2018This chemical\u2019s harming you, this air is harming you, this safety hazard is harming you.\u2019 It\u2019s saving lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGalicia was one of seven Enterprise 6 students from Georgia universities who put the skills they\u2019ve honed in labs and classrooms into a host of dynamic economic development projects across the state this summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in 2021, the Enterprise 6 program allows University System of Georgia undergraduate and graduate students to work in the economic development space. In the past three years, 31 interns have been selected.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Enterprise Innovation Institute is the nation\u2019s longest-running and most diverse university-based economic development organization. Since launching its founding program more than 60 years ago, it has expanded to serve a wide range of businesses of all sizes while also increasing its focus on socioeconomic development, providing resources, support, and skills to local communities.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEnterprise 6 interns receive practical, real-life work experience and $25 an hour for a 20-hour work week, as well as mentorship from a research faculty member and biweekly check-in meetings. The program is made possible by funding from the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur Enterprise 6 internships immerse students from Georgia Tech and other universities in the work of socioeconomic development across our programs that serve communities and business,\u201d said Enterprise Innovation Institute Vice President David Bridges. \u201cStudents don\u2019t always see direct parallels between socioeconomic development and their courses of study, but this experience is designed to help make those connections.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat was the case for Anshika Nichani, who interned with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cCybersecurity, supply chain, and Industry 4.0 projects provided me with invaluable experience and have been instrumental in my development across multiple domains,\u201d said Nichani, a computer science major.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI learned more here than in some of my classes. It was also fascinating and enjoyable to learn about general workplace practices and dynamics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Shreya Dudeja, an undergraduate studying business administration in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/index.html\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E, the internship enabled her to learn about the inner workings of university finance, tracking processes, and delving into research and policy. What she especially appreciated about the internship was \u201cthe fact that I could work with so many different people. It\u0027s a very collaborative environment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECiera Hudson is a Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Emechanical engineering\u003C\/a\u003E student who will graduate in December. Hudson, who grew up singing and playing the flute, chose an Arts Innovation internship and has discovered some overlap between her major and her creative passions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an engineering student, she said, \u201cI\u0027ve had a lot of opportunities to learn about how products are developed and the whole life cycle from concept to completion.\u201d She sees similarities between that process and designing an arts program that meets a client\u2019s particular needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESamuel Hutto, an economics major at Georgia College and State University, worked with Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cedr.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Economic Development Research\u003C\/a\u003E (CEDR), building surveys and collecting and organizing data on municipalities throughout the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat he enjoyed most about his experience was CEDR\u0027s team. \u201cThey\u0027ve been very accepting and relaxed. They\u0027re very easy to work with,\u201d said Hutto, who added, \u201cI\u0027ve learned more about how research can truly affect people\u0027s lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents participated at various stages in their educational and career paths. EI2 Global intern Ejaz Ahmed, for example, is a Ph.D. student in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Public Policy\u003C\/a\u003E with previous work experience, and Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing intern Byron Fair enjoyed a successful military career before joining Scheller\u2019s MBA program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKrystle Richardson, program operations manager for Enterprise 6, supports students throughout their internships, helping them to fine-tune goals and navigate challenges while connecting them with relevant resources at the Enterprise Innovation Institute and Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m thrilled when interns extend their time with us as student workers or graduate research assistants,\u201d she said. \u201cSome even secure full-time positions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne such intern is Hanyu \u201cHannah\u201d Lu. After her experience in the 2023 Enterprise 6 cohort, she completed a master\u2019s degree in computational science and engineering at Georgia Tech. Lu then went on to work as a student employee at the Enterprise Innovation Institute, and she\u2019s recently been hired as a data analyst in the organization\u2019s Office of the Vice President.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe success of the Enterprise 6 Internship program stems from both our exceptional interns \u2014 bright, driven individuals who eagerly apply their classroom knowledge to real-world projects \u2014 and our dedicated leaders who provide them with meaningful and valuable experience that shapes their career paths,\u201d said Richardson.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe hope the interns\u2019 experiences will have a lasting, positive impact on their careers and lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESince the program\u0027s launch in 2021, 31 students from University System of Georgia schools have participated.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Seven students from Georgia universities worked on dynamic economic development projects this summer."}],"uid":"36604","created_gmt":"2024-09-10 20:13:49","changed_gmt":"2024-09-23 14:04:21","author":"etolpa3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-09-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-09-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674980":{"id":"674980","type":"video","title":"Enterprise 6 Summer Interns Class of 2024","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThree University System of Georgia students \u2014 two from Georgia Tech and one from Kennesaw State University \u2014 share their experiences as E6 summer interns at Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute, where they married their skills and classroom learning to solving challenges in economic development. (Video: Chris Ruggiero)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1726506780","gmt_created":"2024-09-16 17:13:00","changed":"1726508187","gmt_changed":"2024-09-16 17:36:27","video":{"youtube_id":"vGmF6Cj8bzE","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vGmF6Cj8bzE?si=jI4uRyLr6qPjQYjx"}},"674933":{"id":"674933","type":"image","title":"E6 summer interns class of 24","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFive of the E6 interns (from left): Stephanie Galicia, Ciera Hudson, Shreya Dudeja, Samuel Hutto, and Byron Fair (PHOTO: Chris Ruggiero)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1725998781","gmt_created":"2024-09-10 20:06:21","changed":"1725999122","gmt_changed":"2024-09-10 20:12:02","alt":"group shot of students","file":{"fid":"258504","name":"E6 Intern Group.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/10\/E6%20Intern%20Group.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/09\/10\/E6%20Intern%20Group.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2029317,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/09\/10\/E6%20Intern%20Group.jpg?itok=JNG5mIgF"}}},"media_ids":["674980","674933"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186603","name":"David Bridges"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"193548","name":"Enterprise 6"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"4044","name":"internship"},{"id":"193946","name":"Enterprise 6 internship"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003Eetolpa3@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["etolpa3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"676000":{"#nid":"676000","#data":{"type":"news","title":"CREATE-X Celebrates 10-Year Milestone With 100 New Startups at Demo Day","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Aug. 29 in the Exhibition Hall from 5 to 7p.m, CREATE-X will celebrate its 10th year of supporting entrepreneurship at Georgia Tech by introducing its next cohort of startup founders at Demo Day. This free event, attracting more than 1,500 people annually, allows the public to explore products from over 100 newly minted startups, ranging from consumer apps to deep tech. It also provides a chance to engage with more than 250 founders thanks to its no-pitch format.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince its inception in 2014, CREATE-X has worked to infuse a spirit of entrepreneurship at Georgia Tech. From supporting eight teams in its inaugural cohort, the program has grown to support the launch of over 100 startups this summer, bringing the total to 560 startup teams boasting a total portfolio valuation of over $2 billion. In the last year, the program has expanded internationally and looks to continue building opportunities for its students.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur mission is to instill entrepreneurial confidence. We believe that entrepreneurship is a life skill,\u201d says Rahul Saxena, CREATE-X director. \u201cGeorgia Tech students are capable of creating startups. We\u2019re just giving them the tools and resources to do it. We want every Tech student to have this advantage when starting their business.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the kickoff for Startup Launch, the program\u2019s summer startup accelerator, CREATE-X co-founder Chris Klaus spoke on the landscape of startups. \u201cThe secret sauce for unicorns is colleges. The number of unicorns is increasing, and I expect that trend to continue. This is the perfect place to build a startup,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStartup Launch has concluded for the summer, and the founders are preparing to showcase their solutions at Demo Day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERegister Now\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe invite you to become part of shaping what comes next. Support these founders as they creatively solve real-world issues. See future industry leaders be born. Join us for the culmination of these founders\u2019 hard work, passion, and ingenuity at Demo Day,\u201d Rahul said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/gt-demo-day-tickets-888408793617?aff=article\u0022\u003EDemo Day 2024 registration\u003C\/a\u003E is open. Tickets are free but limited. Don\u2019t miss this chance to witness the future of innovation and entrepreneurship. For more information, visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/demoday\u0022\u003ECREATE-X website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Aug. 29, CREATE-X will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Demo Day, showcasing over 100 startups and more than 250 founders. Since its inception in 2014, CREATE-X has supported the launch of 560 startups with a total portfolio valuation exceeding $2 billion. In its first decade, the program has expanded internationally and continues to build opportunities for students, emphasizing entrepreneurial confidence as a life skill.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"On Aug. 29, CREATE-X will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Demo Day, showcasing over 100 startups and more than 250 founders. "}],"uid":"36436","created_gmt":"2024-08-14 18:04:11","changed_gmt":"2024-08-14 19:14:35","author":"bdurham31","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674580":{"id":"674580","type":"image","title":"Volunteer (1).png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Aug. 29, CREATE-X will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Demo Day, showcasing over 100 startups and more than 250 founders.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1723662837","gmt_created":"2024-08-14 19:13:57","changed":"1723662837","gmt_changed":"2024-08-14 19:13:57","alt":"CREATE-X Demo Day, Aug. 29, 5-7p.m., Exhibition Hall, 460 Fourth Street NW, Atlanta, GA","file":{"fid":"258127","name":"Volunteer (1).png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/14\/Volunteer%20%281%29_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/14\/Volunteer%20%281%29_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":11635501,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/14\/Volunteer%20%281%29_0.png?itok=HDuWGTS9"}}},"media_ids":["674580"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/gt-demo-day-tickets-888408793617?aff=article","title":"Demo Day 2024 Registration"}],"groups":[{"id":"583966","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"655285","name":"GT Commercialization"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42921","name":"Exhibitions"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"133","name":"Special Events and Guest Speakers"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"166994","name":"startups"},{"id":"137161","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"3472","name":"entrepreneurship"},{"id":"2161","name":"founders"},{"id":"1072","name":"Business"},{"id":"166990","name":"showcase"},{"id":"3905","name":"exhibition"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193658","name":"Commercialization"},{"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\u003EBreanna Durham\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMarketing Strategist\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["breanna.durham@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675893":{"#nid":"675893","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Industrial Assessment Center Named Top in U.S. for 2024","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe federally funded IAC program provides small to mid-sized industrial facilities in the region with free assessments for energy, productivity, and waste, while also supporting workforce development, recruitment, and training.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis IAC is a great example of the ways in which Georgia Tech is serving all of Georgia and the Southeast,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/lieuwen\u0022\u003ETim Lieuwen\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/energy\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(SEI) and Regents\u2019 Professor\u0026nbsp;and holder of the David S. Lewis, Jr. Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EDaniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe support numerous small and medium-sized enterprises in rural, suburban, and urban areas, bringing the technical expertise of Georgia Tech to bear in solving real-world problems faced by our small businesses.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iacgeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s IAC\u003C\/a\u003E, which serves Georgia, South Carolina, and North Florida, is administered jointly by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E (GaMEP), part of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (EI2). The organization has performed thousands of assessments since its inception in the 1980s \u2013 usually at the rate of 15 to 20 per year \u2013 and typically identifies upwards of 10% in energy savings for clients.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe assessment team, overseen by IAC associate director \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/profiles\/kelly-grissom\/\u0022\u003EKelly Grissom\u003C\/a\u003E, comprises faculty and student engineers from Georgia Tech and the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.famu.edu\/\u0022\u003EFlorida A\u0026amp;M University\u003C\/a\u003E\/\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/eng.famu.fsu.edu\/\u0022\u003EFlorida State University College of Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, Georgia Tech leads the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-04\/IAC%20-%20Ctr%20of%20Excellence%20-%20Project%20Factsheets%20-%20April%202023.pdf\u0022\u003ESoutheastern IACs Center of Excellence\u003C\/a\u003E, which partners the institution with fellow \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usg.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity System of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E (USG) entity \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.kennesaw.edu\/\u0022\u003EKennesaw State University\u003C\/a\u003E, local HBCU \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cau.edu\/\u0022\u003EClark Atlanta University\u003C\/a\u003E, and neighboring state capital HBCU \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.famu.edu\/\u0022\u003EFlorida A\u0026amp;M University\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough mechanical engineering has historically been the chief area of concentration for IAC\u2019s interns, the program currently accepts students across a range of disciplines. \u201cIncreased diversity from that standpoint enriches the potential of the recommendations we can make,\u201d said Grissom.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents are integral to the program, as is Grissom\u2019s role in facilitating their experiences with client engagement and technical recommendations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cKelly is the reason our program has been recognized,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/profiles\/randy-green\/\u0022\u003ERandy Green\u003C\/a\u003E, energy and sustainability services group manager at GaMEP. \u201cHe works tirelessly to ensure that assessments are accomplished with success for our manufacturers and students.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe also recognize our partnership with the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and with IAC program lead \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/comas-haynes\u0022\u003EComas Haynes\u003C\/a\u003E, Ph.D., who works diligently to keep us on track and connected with our sponsors at the U.S. Department of Energy,\u201d Green added.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe DoE accolade represents \u201ca \u2018one Georgia Tech\u2019 win,\u201d symbolic of the synergistic relationships forged across the Institute, said Haynes, who also serves as the Hydrogen Initiative Lead at Georgia Tech\u2019s Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) and Energy branch head in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/fptd.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EIntelligent Sustainable Technologies Division\u003C\/a\u003E at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. Haynes specifically cited Green\u2019s \u201ctechnical prowess and managerial oversight\u201d as another key to the IAC program\u2019s success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESaid \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/ranjan\u0022\u003EDevesh Ranjan\u003C\/a\u003E, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, \u201cIt is truly an honor for Georgia Tech to be named the Department of Energy Industrial (Training and) Assessment Center of the Year. Clean energy and manufacturing have been a focus for the Institute and the Woodruff School for a long time, and GTRI, EI2, and SEI have collaboratively done phenomenal work in helping manufacturers save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo check eligibility and apply for assistance from Georgia Tech\u2019s IAC, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iacgeorgia.org\/\u0022\u003Eclick here\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/\u0022\u003EU.S. Department of Energy\u003C\/a\u003E (DoE) recently named the Georgia Institute of Technology the country\u2019s top \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/mesc\/industrial-assessment-centers-iacs\u0022\u003EIndustrial Assessment Center\u003C\/a\u003E (IAC) for 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Industrial Assessment Centers help medium-sized industrial facilities with energy-related support. "}],"uid":"36604","created_gmt":"2024-08-09 20:44:37","changed_gmt":"2024-08-10 13:28:37","author":"etolpa3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-09T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-09T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674554":{"id":"674554","type":"image","title":"IAC award image","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left: Comas Haynes, Kelly Grissom, and Randy Green display the award for 2024\u2019s top IAC.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1723237225","gmt_created":"2024-08-09 21:00:25","changed":"1723237600","gmt_changed":"2024-08-09 21:06:40","alt":"Three men holding an award","file":{"fid":"258098","name":"image003.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/09\/image003.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/09\/image003.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":103910,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/09\/image003.jpg?itok=eEEjQGFs"}}},"media_ids":["674554"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"144","name":"Energy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"16331","name":"GaMEP"},{"id":"14545","name":"George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering"},{"id":"188629","name":"industrial assessment center"},{"id":"167358","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"},{"id":"128461","name":"U.S. Department  of Energy"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"193654","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Eeve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["eve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675441":{"#nid":"675441","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Expanding Access to Obstetric Care in Georgia: Challenges and Strategies ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMotherhood in the U.S. can be dangerous. The nation spends\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.commonwealthfund.org\/publications\/issue-briefs\/2024\/jun\/insights-us-maternal-mortality-crisis-international-comparison\u0022\u003Emore on healthcare than any other high-income country\u003C\/a\u003E. But women giving birth here \u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/features\/2023\/06\/maternal-mortality\/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20Georgia\u0026amp;apos;s%20maternal%20mortality,per%20the%202021%20CDC%20report.)\u0022\u003Eparticularly Black women, and particularly in Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E \u2014 are more likely to die in childbirth. A big reason for this maternal mortality crisis is a lack of access to obstetric care.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia has a problem with access to care \u2014 the whole country does,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/meghan-meredith\u0022\u003EMeghan\u0026nbsp;Meredith,\u003C\/a\u003E a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E (ISyE) who has spent much of her academic career studying the problem, which is particularly acute in rural, lower-income places.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany of these places have been designated\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.marchofdimes.org\/maternity-care-deserts-report\u0022\u003E\u201cmaternity care deserts\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E by the March of Dimes. If a county doesn\u2019t have any obstetric care or providers, it\u2019s considered a desert. Another commonly used measure is whether a pregnant woman lives within 50 miles of critical care obstetrics (CCO).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese measures are often referred to in academic literature and popular media to highlight a lack of healthcare access, and by public policy leaders trying to address the issue. But it\u2019s become evident to Georgia Tech researchers that they just don\u2019t add up.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese measures don\u2019t capture the complete picture,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;Meredith. \u201cThey aren\u2019t an accurate representation of access to care.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd that\u2019s what concerns Meredith and her faculty advisor, ISyE Assistant Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/users\/lauren-steimle\u0022\u003ELauren Steimle.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve been interested in access to maternal care for a long time, and in countless news stories, the maternity care desert measure is reported on,\u201d Meredith said. \u201cWe recognized the limitations, so we thought, \u2018Let\u2019s write a paper that explains how this measure is not a complete representation of access.\u2019\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThey\u003Cstrong\u003E \u003C\/strong\u003Epublished their work recently in the journal\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12913-024-11135-4\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBMC Health Services Research\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EModeling the Landscape\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo study these measures of access, Meredith and Steimle used the same kind of computer-based mathematical model that helps companies decide where to place a new distribution center, retail outlet, or even electric car charging stations: a facility location model.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis model helps us determine where to place facilities, so demand is sufficiently covered with the fewest number of facilities,\u201d said Steimle. \u201cThere are tons of potential applications for this model, but we\u2019re using it for healthcare.\u201d For this study, they used the model to identify where Georgia would need to expand healthcare facilities to improve access under the commonly used measures.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere\u2019s some of what the researchers found:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Of the 1,910,308 reproductive-age women in Georgia, 104,158 (5.5%) live in maternity care deserts, while 150,563 (7.9%) live more than 50 miles from CCO services; 38,202 live in both situations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Fifty-six counties in Georgia meet current \u201cmaternity care desert\u201d measures, which means eliminating these deserts would require 56 new obstetric hospitals. That would increase the number of obstetric hospitals statewide from 83 to 139 (a 67% increase).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 Strategically expanding 16 hospitals (a 19% increase) would reduce the number of reproductive-age women living in deserts by half.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u2022 82% of reproductive-age women designated as living in maternity care deserts live within 25 miles from an obstetric hospital.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe researchers conclude that policymakers should be warned: Using the maternity care desert measure alone as a basis for where and how to invest in healthcare resources isn\u2019t a great idea.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf we really want to improve pregnancy outcomes, our measures of access should promote risk-appropriate and regionalized care systems,\u201d Steimle said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETurns out, Georgia is already headed in that direction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECounting Counties: One Size Doesn\u2019t Fit All\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo illustrate the problems with the maternity care desert measure, Steimle compared Georgia with a very different state on the opposite side of the U.S.: Nevada.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA major problem with the maternity care desert measure is its emphasis on county-by-county infrastructure,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn\u2019t tell the whole story about access to care.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, Georgia has 159 counties and more than three times the population of Nevada. Meanwhile, Nevada has twice the square mileage of Georgia \u2014 and 16 very large counties.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt 18,147 square miles, Nye County is Nevada\u2019s largest, and it\u2019s been labeled a maternity care desert. There\u2019s also lots of actual desert in Nye, which is larger than nine U.S. states. So, it\u2019s difficult to accurately compare a vast jurisdiction like Nye with, say, central Georgia\u2019s Lamar County. Lamar, also labeled a desert, is a mere 185 square miles in size. It\u0027s also surrounded by counties that are veritable oases of care.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cA lot of people in Georgia may be falsely labeled as not having access, at least geographically speaking, when in fact they have services nearby,\u201d noted Steimle. \u201cMeanwhile, in a state like Nevada, some women may be labeled as having access, but might be very far from obstetric hospitals in their county.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteimle also point out that measuring access on a county-by-county basis ignores efforts to coordinate care across the whole state. \u201cThe maternity care desert model doesn\u2019t hold up. And it doesn\u0027t reflect Georgia\u2019s approach to a regionalization system.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2009, the Georgia Department of Public Health has organized the state into six geographic perinatal regions (the perinatal period covers pregnancy, childbirth, and early postpartum). The idea is to coordinate the delivery of health services to ensure people in all regions have access to risk-appropriate maternal care.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuild a Better Model\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEach of Georgia\u2019s perinatal regions has a \u201chub\u201d \u2014 a major care center serving as an administrative unit to enable the coordination and delivery of maternal care services. For example,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/med.emory.edu\/departments\/pediatrics\/divisions\/neonatology\/emory-regional-perinatal-center.html#:~:text=Georgia%20is%20divided%20into%20six,neonatal%2C%20and%20infant%20health%20care.\u0022\u003EThe Emory Perinatal Regional Center\u003C\/a\u003E at Emory University Hospital is the coordinating center for the 39-county metro Atlanta region.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis regionalization strategy also tries to address the problem of hospital closures, a troubling trend that leads to more deserts. In Georgia, 12 hospitals have closed since 2013; 18 rural hospitals are currently at risk of closure. And this new Georgia Tech study indicates that Georgia would somehow need to add 56 new facilities to eliminate the state\u2019s maternity care deserts \u2014 at least by the standards used by the March of Dimes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEliminating maternity care deserts in Georgia would mean adding a larger number of obstetrics facilities to make sure every county has an obstetric hospital,\u201d Steimle said. \u201cBut this is likely unrealistic with the current economic forces pushing hospitals to close their obstetric units. With that many facilities in Georgia, some facilities would have a very small number of deliveries, which is not economically sustainable.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn other words, eliminating maternity care deserts in Georgia wouldn\u2019t sufficiently address the larger problems related to access to care. Instead, Steimle and Meredith advocate for approaches that simultaneously consider the different dimensions of an ideal maternal healthcare system, not just access alone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor this initial study, Steimle and Meredith just focused on spatial access. They haven\u2019t yet addressed the complex issues of racial disparities, insurance access, or other hurdles facing reproductive-age women in Georgia. That may be coming.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is a start,\u201d Steimle said. \u201cOur future work entails thinking about how to come at this with the goal of maximizing or improving outcomes for women.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnd as policy leaders across the country begin to address the maternal mortality crisis, Steimle believes her team\u2019s approach using more sophisticated tools can be helpful. So far, they\u2019ve shared their results with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and members of the Georgia, Iowa, and Nevada departments of public health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHow do we make measurements that point us toward our end goals? Our tools as mathematical modelers can really help us think through the system holistically and think through strategies before trying them in the real world,\u201d Steimle said. \u201cThink of it as a policy sandbox.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECITATION:\u003C\/strong\u003E Meghan Meredith, Lauren Steimle, and Stephanie Radke.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12913-024-11135-4\u0022\u003E\u201cThe implications of using maternity care deserts to measure progress in access to obstetric care: a mixed-integer optimization analysis.\u201d\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Cem\u003EBMC Health Services Research\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E(June 2024)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12913-024-11135-4#citeas\u0022\u003Edoi.org\/10.1186\/s12913-024-11135-4\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers highlight the limitations of the \u0022maternity care desert\u0022 measure in accurately representing access to obstetric care in Georgia, urging for more sophisticated, region-specific approaches to address the state\u0027s high maternal mortality rates.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers highlight the limitations of the \u0022maternity care desert\u0022 measure in accurately representing access to obstetric care in Georgia, urging for more sophisticated, region-specific approaches to address the state\u0027s high maternal mortal"}],"uid":"28153","created_gmt":"2024-07-12 10:43:16","changed_gmt":"2024-07-12 16:58:33","author":"Jerry Grillo","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-07-12T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-07-12T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674342":{"id":"674342","type":"image","title":"Meghan and Lauren","body":"\u003Cp\u003EISyE researchers Meghan Meredith (left) and Lauren Steimle have explored maternity care deserts in depth. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1720780377","gmt_created":"2024-07-12 10:32:57","changed":"1720812750","gmt_changed":"2024-07-12 19:32:30","alt":"Meredith and Steimle","file":{"fid":"257842","name":"Meghan Lauren computers.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/12\/Meghan%20Lauren%20computers.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/07\/12\/Meghan%20Lauren%20computers.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6614051,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/07\/12\/Meghan%20Lauren%20computers.jpg?itok=5l8A6zWW"}}},"media_ids":["674342"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"168352","name":"maternity"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"193845","name":"maternity care deserts"},{"id":"193846","name":"maternity mortality crisis"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"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=\u0022jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJerry Grillo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jerry.grillo@ibb.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675159":{"#nid":"675159","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Research Shows that Improving Mobile Internet Service Can Reduce Digital Inequality","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOver 90% of the U.S. population has internet access.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHowever, many households, particularly those of low socioeconomic status, are \u201csmartphone-dependent,\u201d meaning they rely purely on their smartphone for internet access. As a result, their connection may be unstable or slow, and they may be constrained by data caps that limit how much they can use the internet. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to households with internet access through smartphones and\u0026nbsp;other broadband connections at home and work, perpetuating digital inequality between disadvantaged and advantaged households.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe smartphone dependence of many disadvantaged households begs the question: If mobile internet service was better \u2013 e.g. if it was faster, more reliable, and\/or didn\u2019t come with data constraints \u2013 could that reduce digital inequality and level the playing field? Researchers from the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business and Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business studied this question and found the answer is \u201cyes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.smu.edu\/cox\/our-people-and-community\/faculty\/karthik-babu-nattamai-kannan\u0022\u003EKarthik Kannan\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor of IT and Operations Management at the Cox School of Business and Georgia Tech Ph.D. graduate, led the project. \u201cI was interested in the effect of data caps. For example, when you have 10GB of data per month and use more, you are charged extra, or your connection is throttled,\u201d said Kannan. \u201cSo, I partnered with a large telecommunications provider to study what happens when their subscribers switched from capped to unlimited data plans. I was particularly interested in differences between high-income and low-income households.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKannan, along with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/overby\/index.html\u0022\u003EEric Overby\u003C\/a\u003E, Catherine and Edwin Wahlen Professor of Information Technology Management, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/narasimhan\/index.html\u0022\u003ESri Narasimhan\u003C\/a\u003E, Gregory J. Owens Professor of Information Technology Management,\u0026nbsp;at the Scheller College of Business, found that while all households increased their data use after switching to an unlimited plan, the increase was significantly larger for families of low socioeconomic status.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThat was our initial finding: that improving mobile internet service by removing the data cap had disproportionately large benefits for disadvantaged households,\u201d said Overby. \u201cBut that didn\u2019t mean much in and of itself. If those households weren\u2019t using the additional data for \u2018enriching\u2019 purposes like accessing educational, health care, or career-related data, the additional data consumption wouldn\u2019t translate into positive social benefits. Indeed, years of research on digital inequality have consistently shown a \u2018usage gap\u2019 in which advantaged households take fuller advantage of internet access improvements than disadvantaged households. The result is that internet improvements often exacerbate inequality. So, we dug deeper.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESpecifically, the researchers leveraged the telecommunication provider\u2019s data categorization system to study changes in the consumption of educational data. They found that disadvantaged households experienced disproportionate increases in education data consumption (as well as in overall data consumption) after switching to unlimited mobile data. Although advantaged households increased their education data consumption by approximately 15MB (or about three digital textbooks) per month after switching to unlimited data, disadvantaged households increased their education data consumption by approximately 24MB (or about five digital textbooks) per month.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u201cWe can\u2019t be sure that these disproportionate increases in education data consumption will help disadvantaged households narrow gaps in educational outcomes. However, this is clearly a step in the right direction,\u201d said Kannan.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;The research is directly relevant to the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s 2023 inquiry into the effects of data caps on disadvantaged households. Narasimhan explains, \u201cLet\u2019s say that based on their inquiry, the FCC decides to limit the use of data caps. A logical question is: will that do any good? In other words, will disadvantaged households take advantage of their improved mobile internet service in a way that can reduce digital inequality? Prior to our research, we didn\u2019t really know. But based on our research, the answer is yes.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;The research paper is forthcoming in \u003Cem\u003EManagement Science\u003C\/em\u003E and available at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4173558\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4173558\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENew research shows removing data caps to cell phone usage may not only reduce digital\u0026nbsp;inequality but might increase education data consumption by disadvantaged populations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Improving mobile internet service by removing the data cap has large benefits for disadvantaged households."}],"uid":"28082","created_gmt":"2024-06-20 14:51:43","changed_gmt":"2024-06-27 21:33:14","author":"Lorrie Burroughs","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674215":{"id":"674215","type":"image","title":"Hands with cellphone","body":null,"created":"1718895726","gmt_created":"2024-06-20 15:02:06","changed":"1718896333","gmt_changed":"2024-06-20 15:12:13","alt":"hands holding a cell phone","file":{"fid":"257701","name":"pxfuel.com (1)_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/20\/pxfuel.com%20%281%29_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/20\/pxfuel.com%20%281%29_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1173831,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/20\/pxfuel.com%20%281%29_0.jpg?itok=TKMZ6NEv"}}},"media_ids":["674215"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1274","name":"Scheller College of Business"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1293","name":"cell phone"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEric Overby\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"675141":{"#nid":"675141","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Enterprise Innovation Institute Hosts Foreign Entrepreneurs Through U.S. State Department Program","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the war between Russia and Ukraine,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/yevhen-popov\u0022\u003EYevhen Popov\u003C\/a\u003E is something of an information warrior.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPopov is director of civic partnerships and research with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.osavul.cloud\/\u0022\u003EOsavul\u003C\/a\u003E, a Kyiv, Ukraine, information security startup founded in 2022.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing artificial intelligence, the company\u2019s software allows governments, non-governmental organizations, media, and other private sector clients to collect and analyze data from online networks and platforms to fight disinformation and cyberattacks. It launched just as war broke out in Ukraine.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe invasion was not only on the ground, which was military with military force, but also with the minds of people,\u201d Popov said. \u201cSo, with the disinformation attacks happening almost every day \u2014 two or three times a day \u2014\u0026nbsp;this is our response. It\u0027s a way to guide agencies and businesses to protect them from these harmful narratives and the harmful effects of these attacks.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPopov and 18 other entrepreneurs \u2014\u0026nbsp;mostly from Ukraine but some from other countries, including Sri Lanka, Jordan, Fiji, Botswana, Brazil, and Mongolia \u2014 were at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.encoregt.org\/\u0022\u003EEncore\u003C\/a\u003E for several weeks in the spring as part of a U.S. State Department program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat effort, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gistnetwork.org\/\u0022\u003EGlobal Innovation Through Science and Technology Initiative\u003C\/a\u003E (GIST), connects innovators from emerging economies who want to scale with faculty experts and ecosystem builders from the U.S. who can help them succeed.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGIST is working with Nakia Melecio, who heads the Innovation Lab initiative at Georgia Tech\u2019s economic development arm, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. Melecio has been tapped to lead several GIST-related ecosystem-building efforts in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile at Tech, the entrepreneurs met with campus leaders, researchers, and economic development experts from across the Institute, including the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/commercialization.gatech.edu\/georgia-tech-research-your-path-commercialization\u0022\u003EOffice of Commercialization\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/venturelab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EVentureLab\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/global.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInternational Initiatives\u003C\/a\u003E, and the Enterprise Innovation Institute\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/global.innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEI2 Global\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027ve got the opportunity to share not only our resources, but our best practices to help these innovators blaze a trail within their own ecosystems and also figure out how to penetrate the U.S.,\u201d Melecio said, adding that Georgia Tech is slated to host a cohort of entrepreneurs from Egypt later in the summer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re excited here at the Enterprise Innovation Institute to provide the level of coaching, support, and access that these founders need so they can be successful and hit their goals.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe visiting entrepreneurs are just as excited.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u0027s very interesting to be here because the ecosystem of startups is quite huge in Atlanta and in Georgia,\u201d Popov said. \u201cIt\u0027s a good opportunity to be here with people who know what they\u0027re doing and know how they\u0027re doing it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExpanding her network and eyeing global expansion drew\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ariuntuya-altangerel-ba5b3ba6\/\u0022\u003EAriuntuya Altangerel\u003C\/a\u003E, co-founder and CEO of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/brighton.mn\/\u0022\u003EBrighton EdTech\u003C\/a\u003E in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe language learning startup was founded in 2011 to help facilitate, in an interactive way, mastery of English. Altangerel is exploring how the model can be replicated beyond her home country of 3.3 million people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe have a very small population, so for startups, we have no choice but to go global so that they can scale,\u201d she said. Being at Georgia Tech is also giving her and the other GIST-hosted entrepreneurs opportunities to be fully immersed in a successful startup ecosystem.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn our country, the startup ecosystem is at the seed level. It\u0027s growing faster and faster, but still, there are fewer opportunities for us to get an investment,\u201d she said. \u201cI just see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to dive into this ecosystem and learn as much as possible.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nevindaree\/\u0022\u003ENevindaree Premarathne\u003C\/a\u003E is the founder and CEO of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.themakers.global\/\u0022\u003EThe Makers\u003C\/a\u003E in Sri Lanka, a company that\u0026nbsp;aims to inculcate innovation habits in children through hands-on STEM activities and community building. The Makers has partnered with educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and private enterprises to reach underprivileged schools and empower female students in STEM.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are getting a lot of knowledge from Georgia Tech,\u201d Premarathne said, noting her company\u0026nbsp;ships its activity boxes to 10 countries and is looking to scale.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs a country, we have a small ecosystem,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to improve our network here, and seek investment opportunities and partnerships. It\u0027s really important for us, because of the space that we are working on in education.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELearning how to crack the U.S. market is what Vlad Popov sought to achieve for his company,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/platma.com\/\u0022\u003EPlatma\u003C\/a\u003E, a two-year-old, no-code software development platform based in Kyiv.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur goal specifically is to find investors there and make a partnership that will help us in the U.S. market,\u201d said Vlad Popov, who serves as Platma\u2019s marketing director.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe war in Ukraine is driving some of those growth plans. \u201cThe war even accelerated us in this case, because we understand that every day can be the last day, so we work as hard as possible,\u201d he said, adding that the team mostly works remotely but workdays are often interrupted by warning sirens, electricity disruptions, and missile strikes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStarting a business is good because you provide jobs for people, you pay taxes, you help the economy become strong \u2014 it\u2019s important to start a business, even if it\u0027s hard.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EStartup entrepreneurs are part of a U.S. State Department program that pairs founders from overseas with academic experts.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Entrepreneurs are on campus to learn how to scale and develop viable ecosystems for startup success."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-06-18 17:23:31","changed_gmt":"2024-06-18 19:36:43","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-18T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674212":{"id":"674212","type":"image","title":"Enterprise Innovation Institute Hosts Foreign Entrepreneurs Through U.S. State Department Program 2","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEntrepreneurs from around the world were at Georgia Tech as part of a program through the U.S. Department of State designed to help them successfully build their ecosystems in their home countries and scale their businesses. (PHOTO: Chris Ruggiero)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1718732270","gmt_created":"2024-06-18 17:37:50","changed":"1718732419","gmt_changed":"2024-06-18 17:40:19","alt":"Group shot","file":{"fid":"257697","name":"5-16-24 Event-24.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/18\/5-16-24%20Event-24.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/18\/5-16-24%20Event-24.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2266167,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/18\/5-16-24%20Event-24.jpg?itok=uGHKHGGy"}},"674210":{"id":"674210","type":"video","title":"youtube","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENineteen entrepreneurs \u2014 mostly from Ukraine but some from other countries, including from Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America, and Africa \u2014 were at Georgia Tech\u2019s Encore for several weeks in May and early June 2024 as part of a U.S. Department of State program focused on startup leaders seeking guidance on how to scale, explore potential expansion in the U.S., and how to build successful ecosystems. (VIDEO: Chris Ruggiero)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1718731832","gmt_created":"2024-06-18 17:30:32","changed":"1733765817","gmt_changed":"2024-12-09 17:36:57","video":{"youtube_id":"ZGLamDlQi4Q","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZGLamDlQi4Q"}}},"media_ids":["674212","674210"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"51311","name":"U.S. State Department"},{"id":"193761","name":"Nakia Melecio"},{"id":"193792","name":"Global Innovation Through Science and Technology Initiative"},{"id":"166994","name":"startups"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"2237","name":"International Initiatives"},{"id":"88401","name":"Ukraine"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003Cbr\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674932":{"#nid":"674932","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Nakia Melecio to Lead Innovation Lab Effort at Enterprise Innovation Institute","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMelecio, who has also served as the deep tech catalyst in the Enterprise Innovation Institute\u2019s ATDC startup incubator, will lead Innovation Lab, which encompasses new business development efforts in life sciences and biosciences. The Innovation Lab initiative centers on three core activities:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGrow healthcare research, innovation, and workforce development practice.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpand\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/global.innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEI2 Global\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0027s international footprint.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/venturelab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EVentureLab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0027s National Science Foundation I-Corps activities.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNakia has been instrumental in helping to expand Georgia\u2019s life sciences community and ecosystem,\u201d said David Bridges, vice president of the Enterprise Innovation Institute, Georgia Tech\u2019s chief economic development arm. \u201cLeading Innovation Lab already builds on a foundation he created since joining us in 2019 and further supports our broad economic development mission.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe\u0027s already leading in the healthcare research practice expansion with his work in the MedTech Center and\u0026nbsp;running the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scaleuplab.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EScaleUp Lab Program\u003C\/a\u003E for deep tech innovation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder Melecio\u2019s leadership as founding director, the MedTech Center, which has the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Global Center for Medical Innovation as partners, has worked with and evaluated the innovations of more than 200 companies. Since launching in 2021, the MedTech Center\u2019s 66 active startups have raised $13.1 million in investment capital and an additional $6.4 million in federal, non-dilutive funding grants.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2023, the MedTech Center was selected to join the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/center-for-medtech-excellence-named-inaugural-member-of-arpa-h-investor-catalyst-hub-spoke-network\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Research Projects Agency for Health\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub to accelerate the commercialization of practical, accessible biomedical solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe is supporting Georgia Tech\u2019s efforts to collaborate with Atlanta University Center schools \u2014\u0026nbsp;Spelman College, Clark-Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and the Morehouse School of Medicine \u2014 to collaborate with those minority-serving institutions as they build out capacity for their scientists and researchers to create more life sciences technology companies, following an award from the Economic Development Administration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESimilarly, Melecio is working with the University of Alabama at Birmingham on a collaborative project in biologics and medical devices to move more of its researchers\u2019 innovations out of the lab and into commercial markets.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs Innovation Lab lead, Melecio, who has secured more than $5.76 million in federal grants and awards to Georgia Tech,\u0026nbsp;will also work to develop biomanufacturing partnerships for Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith EI2 Global, the Enterprise Innovation Institute\u2019s program that fosters economic opportunity through collaborations with universities, innovators, governments, and nonprofit organizations worldwide, Melecio will serve as an instructor on Lab-to-Market and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/news\/2023\/11\/ei2-kicks-programming-colombia-create-x\u0022\u003ECREATE-X programming\u003C\/a\u003E for entrepreneurs. He will also create and provide educational content for EI2 Global\u2019s university and ecosystem partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECloser to home, his Innovation Lab work includes ongoing projects as a principal in VentureLab, a program of Georgia Tech\u2019s Office of Commercialization. In that capacity, he will work on VentureLab\u2019s National Science Foundation-related Innovation Corps (I-Corps) programming. Those efforts, overseen by Commercialization Vice President\u0026nbsp;Raghupathy \u0022Siva\u0022 Sivakumar,\u0026nbsp;include the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/icorpshubacademy.org\/\u0022\u003ENSF I-Corps Hub Academy\u003C\/a\u003E, where Melecio will serve as director.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur efforts with Innovation Lab are centered around finding new opportunities, new markets, and new industries by leveraging our areas of expertise at the Enterprise Innovation Institute and Georgia Tech to build economic development capacity in the life sciences and biosciences space,\u201d Melecio said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re looking to take a broader perspective, away from being hyper-focused in one or two niche areas in life sciences, to ensure that we maximize opportunities to support new ideas, build stronger practice areas in this space, and secure funding to bring those innovations to scale.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ENakia Melecio, senior extension professional and director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/medtech.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for MedTech Excellence\u003C\/a\u003E at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E, will lead a new effort focused on economic development support for life sciences companies and bioscience commercialization and ecosystem building.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Melecio will focus on economic development for life sciences and biosciences."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-05-29 17:16:29","changed_gmt":"2024-05-29 17:26:54","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-05-29T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-05-29T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674086":{"id":"674086","type":"image","title":"Nakia Melecio - Enterprise Innovation Institute","body":"\u003Cp\u003ENakia Melecio head\u0027s Innovation Lab at Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute. (PHOTO: P\u00e9ralte Paul)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1717003327","gmt_created":"2024-05-29 17:22:07","changed":"1717768298","gmt_changed":"2024-06-07 13:51:38","alt":"Headshot of Nakia Melecio","file":{"fid":"257556","name":"Nakia-Melecio.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/29\/Nakia-Melecio.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/05\/29\/Nakia-Melecio.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":176811,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/05\/29\/Nakia-Melecio.jpg?itok=qLO8AQZo"}}},"media_ids":["674086"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"7043","name":"biosciences"},{"id":"5153","name":"Life Sciences"},{"id":"815","name":"economic development"},{"id":"193760","name":"Innovation Lab"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"193761","name":"Nakia Melecio"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"2579","name":"commercialization"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:peralte@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Eperalte@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674397":{"#nid":"674397","#data":{"type":"news","title":"David Bridges Receives Fulbright Specialist Award to Slovak Republic at Digital Coalition","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board are pleased to announce that David Bridges, vice president of the Georgia Institute of Technology\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute, has received a Fulbright Specialist Program award.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBridges, who was named\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/david-bridges-selected-for-prestigious-fulbright-specialist-roster\/\u0022\u003EFulbright Specialist in February of 2024\u003C\/a\u003E, \u0026nbsp;will complete a project at the Digital Coalition in the Slovak Republic that aims to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within Public Administration.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBridges is one of over 400 U.S. citizens who share expertise with host institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program each year. Recipients of Fulbright Specialist awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESince its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 400,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and scientists the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFulbrighters address critical global issues in all disciplines, while building relationships, knowledge, and leadership in support of the long-term interests of the United States. Fulbright alumni have achieved distinction in many fields, including 60 who have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 88 who have received Pulitzer Prizes, and 39 who have served as a head of state or government.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFor further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eca.state.gov\/fulbright\u0022\u003Eeca.state.gov\/fulbright\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202.632.6452 or e-mail\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:eca-press@state.gov\u0022\u003Eeca-press@state.gov\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBridges is one of 400 Americans in program, which was established in 1946.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Program pairs U.S. academics and professionals with institutions abroad to share expertise, strengthen relations, hone skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures."}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-04-26 06:40:36","changed_gmt":"2024-04-26 06:50:14","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673858":{"id":"673858","type":"image","title":"David Bridges.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDavid Bridges, vice president of Georgia Tech\u0027s Enterprise Innovation Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1714113890","gmt_created":"2024-04-26 06:44:50","changed":"1714113890","gmt_changed":"2024-04-26 06:44:50","alt":"David \/Bridges headshot","file":{"fid":"257307","name":"David Bridges.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/26\/David%20Bridges.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/26\/David%20Bridges.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":695904,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/26\/David%20Bridges.jpg?itok=V2PXEA8B"}}},"media_ids":["673858"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"186603","name":"David Bridges"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"39151","name":"fulbright scholar"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EP\u00e9ralte C. Paul\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nperalte@gatech.edu\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n404.316.1210\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["peralte@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674353":{"#nid":"674353","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Congressman Tours Georgia Tech\u2019s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen U.S. Rep. Earl L. \u201cBuddy\u201d Carter from Georgia\u2019s 1st\u0026nbsp;District visited Atlanta recently, one of his top priorities was meeting with the experts at Georgia Tech\u2019s 20,000-square-foot\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ampf.research.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EAdvanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(AMPF).\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECarter was recently named the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s chair of the Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee, a group that concerns itself primarily with contamination of soil, air, noise, and water, as well as emergency environmental response, whether physical or cybersecurity.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECarter was recently named the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s chair of the Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee, a group that concerns itself primarily with contamination of soil, air, noise, and water, as well as emergency environmental response, whether physical or cybersecurity.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause AMPF\u2019s focus dovetails with subcommittee interests, the facility was a fitting stop for Carter, who was welcomed for an afternoon tour and series of live demonstrations. Programs within Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;specifically the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/georgiaaim.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Georgia AIM) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gamep.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(GaMEP) \u2014 were well represented.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInnovation is extremely important,\u201d Carter said during his April 1 visit. \u201cIn order to handle some of our problems, we\u2019ve got to have adaptation, mitigation, and innovation. I\u2019ve always said that the greatest innovators, the greatest scientists in the world, are right here in the United States. I\u2019m so proud of Georgia Tech and what they do for our state and for our nation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECarter\u2019s AMPF visit began with an introduction by Tom Kurfess, executive director of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/manufacturing\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Manufacturing Institute\u003C\/a\u003E; Steven Ferguson, principal research scientist and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/georgia-aim-welcomes-new-managing-director-industry-partnerships\u0022\u003Emanaging director at Georgia AIM\u003C\/a\u003E; research engineer\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/kyle-saleeby\u0022\u003EKyle Saleeby\u003C\/a\u003E; and Donna Ennis, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/innovate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnterprise Innovation Institute\u003C\/a\u003E\u2019s director of community engagement and program development, and co-director of Georgia AIM.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEnnis provided an overview of Georgia AIM, while Ferguson spoke on the Manufacturing 4.0 Consortium and Kurfess detailed the AMPF origin story, before introducing four live demonstrations.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first of these featured\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/easley\/index.html\u0022\u003EChuck Easley\u003C\/a\u003E, Professor of the Practice in the Scheller College of Business, who elaborated on supply chain issues. Afterward Alan Burl of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/epics.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEPICS: Enhanced Preparation for Intelligent Cybermanufacturing Systems\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and mechanical engineer Melissa Foley led a brief information session on hybrid turbine blade repair.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFinally, GaMEP project manager Michael Barker expounded on GaMEP\u2019s cybersecurity services, and Deryk Stoops of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.centralgatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECentral Georgia Technical College\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;detailed the Georgia AIM-sponsored AI robotics training program at the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gavectr.org\/index.html\u0022\u003EGeorgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(VECTR) Center, which offers training and assistance to those making the transition from military to civilian lif\u003Cem\u003Ee.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe topic of artificial intelligence, in all its subtlety and nuance, was of particular interest to Carter.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAI is the buzz in Washington, D.C.,\u201d he said. \u201cWhether it be healthcare, energy [or] science, we on the Energy and Commerce Committee look at it from a sense [that there\u2019s] a very delicate balance, and we understand the responsibility. But we want to try to benefit from this as much as we can.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHe continued: \u201cI heard something today I haven\u2019t heard before, and that is instead of calling it artificial intelligence, we refer to it as \u2018augmented intelligence.\u2019 I think that\u2019s a great term, and certainly something I\u2019m going to take back to Washington with me.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESaid Ennis, \u201cIt was a pleasure to host Rep. Carter for a firsthand look at AMPF, which is uniquely positioned to offer businesses the opportunity to collaborate with Georgia Tech researchers and students and to hear about Georgia AIM.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShe added, \u201cAt Georgia AIM, we\u2019re committed to making the state a leader in artificial intelligence-assisted manufacturing, and we\u2019re grateful for Congressman Carter\u2019s interest and support of our efforts.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EVisit includes overview of Georgia AIM project.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Buddy Carter visit focused on scope of innovation to address challenges"}],"uid":"28137","created_gmt":"2024-04-24 14:26:29","changed_gmt":"2024-04-26 02:21:18","author":"P\u00e9ralte Paul","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673823":{"id":"673823","type":"video","title":"Rep. Buddy Carter Visits Georgia AIM","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERep. Earl \u0022Buddy\u0022 Carter stopped by the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility in April 2024 to learn about Georgia AIM. The visit included examples of the ways Georgia AIM is connecting manufacturers with smart technologies, and workforce development\u0026nbsp;initiatives taking place across the state.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1713969442","gmt_created":"2024-04-24 14:37:22","changed":"1713969442","gmt_changed":"2024-04-24 14:37:22","video":{"youtube_id":"AWXOq3LLXB8","video_url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AWXOq3LLXB8"}},"673824":{"id":"673824","type":"image","title":"Buddy Carter Tours Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility 1","body":"\u003Cp\u003EU.S. Rep. Earl \u0022Buddy\u0022 Carter, (left) whose Congressional district includes Savannah, listens as \u0026nbsp;the Enterprise Innovation Institute\u0027s Donna Ennis, co-director of Georgia AIM, explains how artificial intelligence is being utilized to drive innovation. (PHOTO: Chris Ruggiero)\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1713969692","gmt_created":"2024-04-24 14:41:32","changed":"1713971330","gmt_changed":"2024-04-24 15:08:50","alt":"Buddy Carter and Donna Ennis speaking","file":{"fid":"257269","name":"4-1-24 Buddy Carter Visit-04.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/24\/4-1-24%20Buddy%20Carter%20Visit-04.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/24\/4-1-24%20Buddy%20Carter%20Visit-04.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1310819,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/24\/4-1-24%20Buddy%20Carter%20Visit-04.jpg?itok=dIU62549"}}},"media_ids":["673823","673824"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187012","name":"Buddy Carter"},{"id":"2835","name":"ai"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"191642","name":"Georgia AIM"},{"id":"170301","name":"Donna Ennis"},{"id":"3671","name":"Enterprise Innovation Institute"},{"id":"174948","name":"AMPF"},{"id":"193661","name":"Chuck Easley"},{"id":"193662","name":"Steven Ferguson"},{"id":"189095","name":"Aaron Stebner"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"106361","name":"Business and Economic Development"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEve Tolpa\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\neve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["eve.tolpa@innovate.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}