{"692765":{"#nid":"692765","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u0027s Space Research Institute Names Two Associate Directors","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESpace Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SRI) has appointed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/david-ballantyne\u0022\u003EDavid Ballantyne\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/iac.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/mariel-borowitz\u0022\u003EMariel Borowitz\u003C\/a\u003E as associate directors, expanding the institute\u0027s leadership team as it continues to strengthen Georgia Tech\u0027s position as a leader in space research, education, and engagement.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince its launch in 2025, SRI has brought together researchers from across campus to advance interdisciplinary space initiatives and create new opportunities for collaboration. In their new roles, Ballantyne and Borowitz will help guide the institute\u0027s growth by strengthening both internal research connections and external partnerships across the broader space community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDavid and Mariel bring complementary strengths that will be invaluable as we continue building SRI,\u201d said Jud Ready, executive director of SRI. \u201cDavid has a deep understanding of the research enterprise at Georgia Tech and a passion for connecting people and ideas across disciplines. Mariel brings extensive experience working across government, industry, and the international space community. Together, they will help us strengthen Georgia Tech\u0027s space ecosystem and expand our impact far beyond campus.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EStrengthening Georgia Tech\u0027s Research Community\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince joining the Institute in 2008 as a founding faculty member of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cra.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Relativistic Astrophysics\u003C\/a\u003E, Ballantyne has helped advance both space science and academic leadership across campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA professor in the School of Physics, he studies the evolution of galaxies and their central black holes, as well as the physics of accretion disks around black holes and neutron stars. He has authored more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and served as associate chair of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E for nearly a decade.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs associate director, Ballantyne will focus on cultivating connections across Georgia Tech\u0027s space research community and identifying opportunities for new interdisciplinary collaborations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI view SRI as a catalyst \u2014 a mechanism to spark new and transformative areas of space research at Georgia Tech that will grow to national and international prominence,\u201d Ballantyne said. \u201cThere is so much innovative space research happening across campus, and one of SRI\u0027s most important roles is helping researchers find the connections and collaborations that can spark new ideas and discoveries.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBallantyne says he is particularly interested in helping position Georgia Tech as a leader in understanding the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence in space systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy goal is to be out in the community, learning about the breadth of space research happening across campus and identifying ways SRI can accelerate that work,\u201d he said. \u201cAI technologies are poised to transform space exploration, scientific discovery, national security, and commercial space operations. SRI is uniquely positioned to help Georgia Tech lead those conversations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EBuilding Partnerships Beyond Campus\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs space activities become increasingly interconnected across government, industry, and academia, strong partnerships are essential to translating research into real-world impact. That collaborative spirit is central to the work of Mariel Borowitz, an associate professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/inta.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESam Nunn School of International Affairs\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBorowitz, who also serves as director of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/policy.space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Space Policy and International Relations\u003C\/a\u003E, is widely recognized for her expertise in space policy, international cooperation, and the governance of emerging space activities. Her work has connected her with space agencies, private companies, and policymakers around the world, providing a valuable perspective on opportunities for Georgia Tech to expand its engagement with the broader space community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn her role as associate director, Borowitz will focus on growing SRI\u0027s partnerships with industry, government, and the broader space community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy focus as associate director will be on building partnerships between Georgia Tech and the broader space community,\u201d Borowitz said. \u201cGeorgia Tech has tremendous expertise across science, engineering, policy, economics, and international affairs. By working across those disciplines, we can help address the complex challenges facing the future of space development while creating new opportunities for collaboration and impact.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBorowitz sees SRI as a powerful mechanism for connecting Georgia Tech\u0027s diverse strengths and amplifying their collective impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cReal-world challenges and opportunities are inherently interdisciplinary,\u201d she said. \u201cThe Space Research Institute allows us to bring together expertise from across Georgia Tech to develop more complete solutions and create new possibilities for the future of space.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETogether, Ballantyne and Borowitz will help advance SRI\u0027s mission of connecting researchers, educators, students, industry leaders, and policymakers to address the most pressing opportunities and challenges in space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSpace exploration has always challenged us to think bigger, work across boundaries, and pursue questions that no single discipline can answer alone,\u201d said Ready, who also serves as a principal research engineer at the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cDavid and Mariel embody that spirit of collaboration, and their leadership will help us create new opportunities for discovery, innovation, and impact at Georgia Tech and beyond.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EDavid Ballantyne and Mariel Borowitz join SRI\u0027s leadership team to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand strategic partnerships, and advance Georgia Tech\u0027s growing space enterprise.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"David Ballantyne and Mariel Borowitz join SRI\u0027s leadership team to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand strategic partnerships, and advance Georgia Tech\u0027s growing space enterprise."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2026-09-22 18:34:05","changed_gmt":"2026-09-22 18:38:11","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-09-22T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-09-22T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681223":{"id":"681223","type":"image","title":"Ballantyne-Borowitz.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EDavid Ballantyne, professor in Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Physics, and Mariel Borowitz, associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, have been appointed associate directors of the Space Research Institute (SRI).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1790102080","gmt_created":"2026-09-22 18:34:40","changed":"1790102080","gmt_changed":"2026-09-22 18:34:40","alt":"Side-by-side headshots of two people. On the left, a person with short brown hair, glasses, and a trimmed beard wears a blue collared shirt against a white textured background. On the right, a person with long brown hair wears a yellow patterned top against a softly blurred gray background.","file":{"fid":"265590","name":"Ballantyne-Borowitz.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/22\/Ballantyne-Borowitz.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/09\/22\/Ballantyne-Borowitz.png","mime":"image\/png","size":4649838,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/09\/22\/Ballantyne-Borowitz.png?itok=YPudirdl"}}},"media_ids":["681223"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.space.gatech.edu","title":"Learn More About the Space Research Institute"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"660370","name":"Space"}],"categories":[{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194701","name":"go-resarchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAudra Davidson\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EResearch Communications Manager, Space Research Institute\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["audra.davidson@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}