VIP at Georgia Tech

to last week when many of our VIP students gave final presentations about their progress this year. For example, the AI Makerspace Nexus students presented about their work on developing tools and services to democratize access to the AI Makerspace across campus and the state. Some of these innovations will soon be launched campus-wide, making it easier to integrate the AI Makerspace into classrooms, and to teach AI/ML to any campus member.

Congratulations VIP graduates! We're sure you'll accomplish great things!

Big congratulations to the Building for Equity and Sustainability on the successful completion and launch of the Afro-Futuristic Outdoor Classroom at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA)! The ribbon cutting took place on during WAWA’s Forest Fest—a day celebrating 50 years of environmental justice and ecological preservation in the community. After multiple semesters of vision, design, and construction, the student-designed space is officially complete.

Dive deeper into the journey behind this transformative space in this podcast episode by Alex Kozela:
https://loom.ly/9_CXTAQ

Last two photos by Yelena M. Rivera Vale

Zerrin Ondin-Fraser is the advisor of the Global Assistive Technology Innovation team, which plays a key role in advancing her work in accessible design. Under her mentorship, the team collaborates with local partners in Rwanda to develop sustainable, low-cost assistive technologies tailored to community needs. Projects include a locally manufacturable Braille slate and stylus, and a durable wheelchair chassis for children with cerebral palsy. Through this partnership, Zerrin integrates student innovation into her global research, expanding its impact while training the next generation of inclusive designers.

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/G35XsHA

Want to know more about our VIP teams, faculty, and students?
Our Linktree is live!

It’s your one-stop hub to:
🔹 Explore the innovative projects VIP teams are working on
🔹 Learn more about faculty contributions—both within and beyond VIP
🔹 Read publications and articles featuring teams, students, and faculty
🔹 Access helpful resources

Click the link below to explore!
https://loom.ly/38ikHyk

The same drive towards innovation that leads to start VIP teams also empowers them to transform communities. Jud Ready (advisor for the Chip Scale Power and Energy VIP team) led the effort to build the first-ever U.S. bridge made from decommissioned wind turbine blades—right in Atlanta’s Beaverbrook Park! With support from Georgia Tech students, alumni, and faculty across engineering, computing, and architecture, this project showcases the power of adaptive reuse and sustainable design.

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/ixCiMEw

Congrats to Yasaman Gholami (Climate Innovations Team) who won the institute-wide award for Online TA. Her nominator, Kevin Caravati, shared, "I've been an instructor for the class for 7 years and Yasaman is the best TA we have ever had. In addition to collecting and analyzing student deliverables, reviews, and presentations, she encourages students to better themselves and provides positive feedback and support. Her contributions have advanced team building, research capacity, and skills valuable to faculty and professionals." Join us in celebrating Yasaman and all the incredible TAs making a difference!

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/3pa7k8g

Mark Liebert, advisor of the Art & AI Team, and Pamela Pollett, advisor of the Chemical Equity Team, joined an expert panel this past Monday to explore the question: Will AI ever have a soul? As part of the Neuro Next Initiative Seminar Series, the discussion delved into AI, consciousness, creativity, and what truly defines humanity. The panel examined the societal impact of advancing neurotechnology and the evolving relationship between humans and AI.

Learn more here: https://loom.ly/nyZScDw



First image generated by ChatGPT

The Smart Stadium VIP team has developed a testbed that integrates multiple data sources including video clips, play annotations, sensor measurements, and fan interactions to enhance sports analytics and fan engagement. Machine learning identifies and classifies plays from video footage, while sensors track crowd excitement through vibrations and audio. Mobile applications further engage fans by offering interactive games, social connectivity, and play reviews. Overall, the system aims to improve both in-game analysis for coaches and the overall spectator experience.

Read more here: https://loom.ly/xcm0RKw

College of Engineering at Georgia Tech
College of Computing at Georgia Tech

Cici McNamara is integrating entrepreneurship into her Health Care Consolidation Project through a Jim Pope Fellowship from CREATE-X. The team builds a dataset on hospital mergers to inform policy, and McNamara will connect VIP students with startups to refine its applications. She’ll also incorporate entrepreneurial themes into her economics courses, making the work more engaging for students.

Read more here: https://loom.ly/7o5NXWo

Georgia Tech CREATE-X
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business
College of Engineering at Georgia Tech
College of Computing at Georgia Tech
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Tech

The Electronic ARTrium presents Bee My Guide at the Ferst Center for the Arts, Feb 11-25. Don’t miss this unique and immersive experience! To visit, grab a ticket from the ticket booth.

When Antonia Antoniou isn’t working with her EcoCar VIP team, she is researching ways to reduce electronic waste through sustainable packaging. With millions of tons of e-waste generated annually, her work focuses on designing recyclable materials and improving their mechanical properties to prevent failure. She collaborates with experts to develop alternatives like glass substrates and recyclable aluminum, ensuring high performance while reducing environmental harm. Antoniou stresses that cleaner manufacturing and better recycling practices are urgent to break the growing e-waste cycle.

Read more here: https://loom.ly/qgL-Qv0

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering at Georgia Tech