2024 is coming to a close, and what a year it’s been.
Richard Utz took the reins as interim dean and we welcomed 53 new faculty members to our schools, research centers, and ROTC. Our student body grew by nearly 5% this fall and is the largest group we have enrolled to date.
There were plenty of events to keep us busy — we connected with community at the IAC Homecoming Tailgate and the 10th Annual Distinguished Alumni Awards, and the breakout Humanizing STEM 2024 symposium was a resounding success.
We celebrated creativity across campus during National Poetry Month and launched as a new minor in the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning with the College of Engineering. Faculty members helped establish five new vertically integrated projects in filmmaking, photography, energy, health, and sustainable development as well.
Hundreds of students graduated in the Spring and Fall Commencement Ceremonies, and we had the honor of hosting the IAC Master’s Commencement Ceremony and Reception for the first time. But among all the exciting news, events, and research this year, a few things stood out — these are some of the stories you clicked the most in 2024!
GT Alums’ MARTA Scavenger Hunt Promotes Appreciation for Public Transit
In September, a series of scavenger hunts went live in the MARTA train stations. The project was the culmination of Georgia Tech alumni Mira Kaufman and Owen Rohm’s three-month residency at the Fulton County Public Art Futures Lab and MARTA Artbound. The clues explored Atlanta’s transit history and winners received MARTA-related collectibles that Kaufman designed and Rohm 3D modeled and printed.
Marking Two Years of War in Ukraine. What Does the Future Hold in Store?
Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts experts have closely tracked the conflict from the frontlines to potential fault lines in Western support for Ukraine and the potential impact on the global economy. They shared their insights into how the war has evolved in the past year and what to look for going forward.
Documentary by Ivan Allen College Faculty Explores Challenges of Autism in Communities of Color
Two faculty members from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts — Jennifer Singh and John Thornton — joined forces with Camille Proctor, founder of The Color of Autism Foundation, to create a documentary about six Black families raising autistic children. Navigating Autism in Communities of Color follows the unique challenges Black families face along their autism journey.
Georgia Tech ROTC Dedicates New Fitness Facility
The Lt. Tyler Brown Fitness Facility, located in the O’Keefe Building, is part of efforts to provide future military leaders with the facilities they need to prepare them for the military’s unique physical demands. It is named after Tyler Brown, a 2001 Georgia Tech alum and outstanding Army ROTC cadet who died during combat in Iraq in 2004.
What’s Next for Renewable Energy in the US?
Researchers say accelerating the transition to renewable energy can help mitigate climate change, enhance energy security, and stimulate economic growth. Three such energy experts at the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts — an economist, a policymaker, and a historian — chart some of the challenges and opportunities on the path to a fully renewable energy grid in the U.S.
Will Caitlin Clark’s Star Power Raise WNBA Salaries?
As Clark becomes a household name, she elevates a question WNBA players, fans, and advocates have asked for decades: why is there such a significant pay disparity between men’s and women’s basketball? Mary McDonald, the Homer C. Rice Chair of Sports and Society, explains how racism, sexism, cultural narratives, and under-investment have all helped perpetuate the long-standing wage gap between the NBA and WNBA and how a confluence of changes may affect it.
Georgia Tech Research First to Analyze Birth-Rate Impact of 2022 Abortion Ruling
An analysis of birth data by Georgia Tech’s School of Economics finds that the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn federal abortion protections has unevenly driven up birth rates in the United States. Live deliveries rose most among women of color and those living far from states where abortion remains legal.
Noura Howell Receives NSF CAREER Award to Study Emotion AI
Emotion AI, which infers people’s emotions from their facial expressions, is increasingly in the spotlight for its potential applications — as well as its problems and pitfalls. Noura Howell, an assistant professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, researches how we might reimagine the future of emotion AI, thanks to a prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation.
Prompt Engineering: The Art of Getting What You Need From Generative AI
Prompt engineering is the process of crafting and refining a specific, detailed prompt — one that will get you the response you need from a generative AI model. This kind of “coding in English” is a complex and tricky process. Fortunately, our faculty are engaged in teaching and research in this exciting emerging field.
Does the President Really Affect the U.S. Economy?
Americans consistently rank inflation and the state of the U.S. economy as the most significant issues in 2024. Research from the School of Public Policy finds many presidential traits correlate to a successful U.S. economy — just not the ones you might expect.