More than 6,200 high school students across Georgia tuned in for Engineers Week 2026, joining a series of online talks hosted by Georgia Tech that offered a glimpse into the technologies shaping the future. 

Held February 23–27 as part of the national Engineers Week initiative, the event highlighted research spanning cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, robotics, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. By bringing engineers directly into virtual classrooms, the program connected Georgia Tech’s STEM expertise with students across the state through online learning experiences centered on inquiry, problem-solving, and design. 

“I love this collaborative effort between the College of Engineering, GTMI, and GTRI,” said Sean Mulvanity, program lead at STEM@GTRI. “We provided students from across the state the opportunity to interact with leaders in a variety of engineering fields.” 

Each day featured a different engineer discussing the real-world challenges driving their work. Cybersecurity expert Saman Zonouz opened the week with a talk on defending the digital systems that power modern life. Aerospace engineer Adam Steinberg followed with insights into developing faster, cleaner engines for next-generation supersonic aircraft, while Juergen Rauleder introduced students to interactional aerodynamics research conducted in one of the largest wind tunnels in the United States. 

Later sessions expanded the conversation across disciplines. Lauren Stewart discussed designing structures capable of withstanding extreme loads, while mechanical engineer Aaron Stebner closed the week with his talk, “3D Printing Titanium: Realizing the Superhero Powers of Ironman,” exploring advances in additive manufacturing. 

“These talks show that engineering isn’t just theory,” said Steven Ferguson, principal research scientist at the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute (GTMI). “Students are hearing directly about the kinds of problems people are working on right now.” 

One session featured Aparna Srinidhi Jagannathan, a third-year biomedical engineering student and undergraduate researcher at Georgia Tech, who spoke about her research in the Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls (EPIC) Lab. Jagannathan is developing a wearable biofeedback system designed to help patients with gait disorders improve stance-time symmetry.  

“What I love about being an engineer is the ability to turn abstract ideas and theories into tangible devices and technologies through research and design,” Jagannathan said. “Engineers Week empowers students with the knowledge that they too can meaningfully contribute to and lead their own engineering projects to benefit the communities around them.” 

Engineers Week at Georgia Tech was presented by the College of Engineering, the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute.