Georgia Tech News Center

STUDENTS AT CONVOCATION 2019

3,100 Yellow Jackets Begin Careers at Tech

By Kristen Bailey August 19, 2019

The 3,100 first-year students who begin classes at Tech this week came from a pool of nearly 37,000 applicants for admission this year — an all-time high, and a 4% increase over the previous year.

This year’s incoming class is 43% female. The group comes from 77 countries, 47 states, 1,425 high schools (350 within Georgia), and 96 Georgia counties.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CLASS

Spotlight

Ramble In to a New Year

The first day of fall marks a new beginning for Tech students new and old — so why not say hello to someone new?
Smartphone Apps May Connect to Vulnerable Backend Cloud Servers

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered vulnerabilities in the backend systems that feed content and advertising to smartphone applications.
Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering Graduate James McConville Sworn in as Army’s Top Officer

A decorated helicopter pilot who earned a master's in 1990, McConville is the first aviator to serve as the Army’s chief.
'MacGyver'-like Robot Can Build Own Tools By Assessing Form, Function of Supplies

The breakthrough is a significant step toward enabling intelligent agents to devise more advanced tools that could prove useful in hazardous and...

Campus and Community

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GTPD Offers Training, Smartphone App to Help Campus Prepare for Active Shooter Scenario

Police encourage everyone to think about their response ahead of time and follow the run, hide, fight approach.
Scooter Riders: Follow the Law, Wear a Helmet, Don’t Ride at Night

Fall semester begins with a new scooter curfew in Atlanta after four deadly accidents in the metro area.
Celebrate Tech Traditions at T-Night

Whether you’ve grown up a Yellow Jacket your whole life or arrived on campus for the first time this week, Traditions Night will help you be prepared...
New Mental Health Intake Center Now Open

Today, Georgia Tech opened the doors to the new Center for Assessment, Referral, and Education (CARE).
Ramble In to a New Year

The first day of fall marks a new beginning for Tech students new and old — so why not say hello to someone new?
Alavi Reappointed as Dean of Scheller College of Business

Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair Maryam Alavi has been reappointed to a five-year term in the Scheller College of Business.

Weiss Named SVP at Penn State

The Pennsylvania State University has named Georgia Tech Regents Researcher Lora G. Weiss, interim senior vice president and interim director of the...
Campus Construction Progresses through Summer

As the Georgia Tech campus continues to evolve, students, faculty, and staff will see noticeable change on Georgia Tech’s campus.
How to Prepare for Move-In Day

Know what to bring, how to get settled in, and how to find what you might forget.
Fall Move-In on the Horizon

Regular move-in for first-year students will take place Thursday and Friday, Aug. 15–16, which is when traffic will be at its peak.
Mark Your Calendar for Fall Institute Events

Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to mark their calendars, share within their colleagues and groups, and note these dates for the timing of...
WSJ: Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building Pits Latest Sustainable Tech Against Atlanta’s ‘Swampy’ Climate

The Wall Street Journal highlights Georgia Tech and the Kendeda Fund’s efforts to create a self-sufficient building.
GTPD Forensics Science Camp
Georgia Tech Police Department Introduces High School Students to Forensic Science

GTPD opened its crime lab lab to area high school students during the “CSI” Forensics Science Day Camp.
TechWorks and TimeOut Access to Be Limited to Campus Networks and VPN

Georgia Tech’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) will soon allow for access to TechWorks and TimeOut through only the Georgia Tech campus...
Howey Physics Building Lecture Halls Undergo Multiphase Renovation

Originally constructed in 1967, the Howey Physics Building is undergoing a major renovation for the first time in more than 50 years.

Georgia Tech Police seal
GTPD Makes Arrest in Off-campus Armed Robbery

Arrest made in recent armed robbery
SLS Interns Help Build Sustainable Communities

This summer, 27 students were placed with 23 different government, non-profit, and community host organizations.
New Software Helps Track Promotion and Tenure Process

This year the promotion and tenure process will be tracked from beginning to end in PROMOTE, a new software that allows candidates to upload their...
Table Tennis Club Dominates at Georgia Games

The team medaled in all of the major events in their first-ever appearance at the competition.
RoboJackets Achieve Highest IGVC Finish in Team History

The team placed first in the design competition and tied for third overall.

Science and Technology

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Smartphone Apps May Connect to Vulnerable Backend Cloud Servers

Cybersecurity researchers have discovered vulnerabilities in the backend systems that feed content and advertising to smartphone applications.
'MacGyver'-like Robot Can Build Own Tools By Assessing Form, Function of Supplies

The breakthrough is a significant step toward enabling intelligent agents to devise more advanced tools that could prove useful in hazardous and...
Antineutrino Detection Could Help Remotely Monitor Nuclear Reactors

Measuring the flow of subatomic particles known as antineutrinos from nuclear reactors could allow continuous remote monitoring designed to detect...
Pre-Life Building Blocks Spontaneously Align in Evolutionary Experiment

Defying expectations, life building blocks spontaneously linked up in an experiment on how prebiotic chemistry took steps toward becoming the early...
Reinvented Toilets Could Provide Safe Sanitation for 2.5 Billion People

Georgia Tech researchers are leading a $13.5 million effort, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to reinvent the toilet.
Hackers Could Use Connected Cars to Gridlock Whole Cities

Hackers could gridlock whole cities by stalling out a limited percentage of self-driving and other connected vehicles.
GTRI Wins $245M Air Force Contract for Engineering, Advanced Technology Support

Five-year contract will provide engineering, development and support for electronic warfare and avionics systems.
Apollo 11: One Giant Leap for Scientific Discovery

A group of Georgia Tech researchers, and an alumnus with a front-row seat to history, remember Apollo 11.
Georgia Tech CDAIT Hosts Forum to Explain Why IoT for Sustainability is Smart Business

Conference examined some key promises and challenges related to IoT technologies and building a sustainable world.
Peanut Plant’s “Chemical Breath” Could Give Clues to Drought and Other Stresses

Peanut growers could someday identify emerging threats such as drought, pests or disease by testing a plant’s “chemical breath.”

Metal Oxide-infused Membranes Could Offer Low-Energy Alternative For Chemical Separations

STAMI-CRĀSi and -GTPN researchers are working on membranes that could separate chemicals without using energy-intensive distillation processes.
Tiny Vibration-Powered Robots Are the Size of the World’s Smallest Ant

The size of an ant, the micro-bristle-bot moves by harnessing vibration.
Kazumi Ozaki and Christopher Reinhard
What Delayed Earth’s Oxygenation?

Photosynthesizers using water, which releases oxygen, could not compete with those using iron.
Tiny Supersonic Jet Injector Accelerates Nanoscale Additive Manufacturing

By energizing precursor molecules, researchers have dramatically accelerated the fabrication of nanometer scale structures.
Georgia Smart Communities Challenge Selects Four New Community Projects

Columbus-Muscogee, Macon-Bibb, Woodstock, and Milton will work with Georgia Tech to launch ideas in their communities.
Dashing the Dream of Ideal ‘Invisibility’ Cloaks for Stress Waves

Many have dreamt of building the perfect cloak to make buildings impervious to seismic waves caused by bombs or earthquakes. Sorry, it appears...
Slothbot Takes a Leisurely Approach to Environmental Monitoring

Slow and energy-efficient SlothBot will handle environmental monitoring and other tasks.
Ancient Toy Inspires Tool for State-of-the-Art Science

A childrens' toy has inspired an inexpensive, hand-powered scientific tool that could help field biologists and others.
Antibiotics, Taken Strategically, Could Actually Help Defeat Antibiotic Resistance

Those same antibiotics driving the rise in antibiotic resistant bacterial strains could help defeat them if used as part of an informed strategy.
Georgia Tech Internet of Things Research Center to Host International Conference on Sustainability

Georgia Tech to host conference on the Internet of Things and sustainability July 18.

Business and Economic Development

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Georgia Tech’s Technology Square Phase III to Include Scheller Tower

A new building in Tech Square Phase III to be named Scheller Tower
Georgia Tech’s Economic Impact on Atlanta Clocks in at $3.3B in 2018

Annual analysis shows the Institute's impact grew 8.5% and contributes 27,000 jobs to the region.
Forum Addresses Tech’s Role in Economic Development

Entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and political leaders gathered at The Biltmore Wednesday afternoon for an economic development forum.
karen fite
Karen Fite to Lead Enterprise Innovation Institute as Interim Vice President

Fite, who is EI²’s associate vice president, will lead the 12-program organization while Georgia Tech conducts a national search for a permanent vice...
Georgia Institute of Technology and Morehouse School of Medicine Announce Collaborative Effort for Health Technology Startup Development

Initiative aims to expand Morehouse School of Medicine’s research commercialization efforts, and support focus on the needs of underserved minority...
Georgia Smart Communities Challenge Selects Four New Community Projects

Columbus-Muscogee, Macon-Bibb, Woodstock, and Milton will work with Georgia Tech to launch ideas in their communities.
Finding the ‘Goldilocks’ Level of Enthusiasm for Business Pitches

Georgia Institute of Technology researchers found that how long an entrepreneur displays the highest level of excitement during a pitch plays a major...
GTRI Celebrates Grand Opening of Cobb County Research Facility South Campus

GTRI opens Cobb County Research Facility South Campus with ribbon cutting.
VentureLab works to commercialize liquid cooling system technology developed at Georgia Tech

Liquid cooling system lets microchips perform more operations per second, but at cooler temperatures than current commercial options.
National Search Launched for VP and Director of Enterprise Innovation Institute

Georgia Tech is beginning a search for a new vice president for the Enterprise Innovation Institute
Durability Vs. Recyclability: Dueling Goals in Making Electronics More Sustainable

Research released by a team at Georgia Institute of Technology looked into the impact of government policies put in place to reduce the amount of...
Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center Enters 33rd Year of Continuous Service to Georgia Businesses

Program helped Georgia-based firms win more than $14.1 billion in government contracts since 1986.
Applications now open for the 2019 Georgia Innovative Economic Development Internship Program

Graduate students have opportunity to further research in 10-week, paid summer internship at Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech Hosts State Legislative Leaders at ATDC HealthTech Summit

Georgia's lieutenant governor, state senators see how ATDC leads startup innovation in health technology
Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership recruiting companies to participate in new energy management improvement program

Federal award supports targeted focus on energy management system implementation and improvements for manufacturers in six southern states.
wally mlynarski
Elavon Invests in FinTech Innovation with Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center

Investment will create valuable partnerships to spur greater innovation in payments.
Georgia Tech taps John Avery to lead Advanced Technology Development Center

Technology veteran brings record of success in startups and corporate innovation.
The Business of Medicine: Georgia Tech and Morehouse School of Medicine Prescribe a Joint MD/MBA Degree

Georgia Tech and Morehouse School of Medicine are partnering to offer a joint, five-year MD/MBA degree.
GPA, Georgia Tech, Center for Innovation sign MOU

New agreement strengthens Georgia Tech's relationship with Ports Authority.
Lifting Communities with Smart Technology

Georgia Smart Communities Challenge helps small and large cities improve quality of life.

Earth and Environment

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Metal Oxide-infused Membranes Could Offer Low-Energy Alternative For Chemical Separations

STAMI-CRĀSi and -GTPN researchers are working on membranes that could separate chemicals without using energy-intensive distillation processes.
Instability in Antarctic Ice Projected to Make Sea Level Rise Rapidly

Instability hidden within Antarctic ice is likely to accelerate its flow into the ocean and push sea level up at a more rapid pace than previously...
Rising Tundra Temperatures Create Worrying Changes in Microbial Communities

Rising temperatures could affect the microbial communities in northern latitude tundra.
Scientists Discover the Biggest Seaweed Bloom in the World

Record-breaking belt of brown algae stretches from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico
Smart Sea Sensors Expo Highlights Accomplishments and Shares Future Plans

Smart Sea Level Sensors project marks first year successes.
Turner Foundation Awards Grant Supporting the Region’s First Sustainability Network

The Turner Foundation recently awarded the Georgia Tech Foundation a $40,000 grant.
Ocean Optimism

A four-day summit that will begin laying the foundation for establishing a united community of researchers focused on preserving a global resource
honeybee
Adhesive Formed From Bee Spit and Flower Oil Could Form Basis of New Glues

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology are looking at that mixture of ingredients as a model for a bioinspired glue because of its unique...
Georgia Tech to Launch State’s First Master’s Program Focused Exclusively on Sustainability

The degree program will help educate the next generation of sustainability leaders for corporations, government, and non-governmental organizations.

When Coral Species Vanish, Their Absence Can Imperil Surviving Corals

Off of Fiji, a Georgia Tech study elucidates a potential silent coral reef killer: Disappearing biodiversity appears to threaten the lives surviving...
The Helix, of DNA Fame, May Have Arisen with Startling Ease

An evolutionary enigma may have just been cracked: Explaining how the helix of RNA and DNA evolved.
Swapping Bacteria May Help ‘Nemo’ Fish Cohabitate with Fish-Killing Anemones

Why the fish-killing anemone spares the clownfish is a scientific mystery that Georgia Tech marine microbiologists are now tackling in fish mucus.
When Boy Fish Build Castles to Impress Girl Fish, Boy Genes Get a Rise

Instinctive behavior may be directly driven be gene regulation, at least researchers were able to match the two up.
Stripping the Linchpins From the Life-Making Machine Reaffirms Its Seminal Evolution

An experiment way too bold delivers whopping evidence of the translational system's seminal appearance in evolution.
NASA Pushes Exploration of Oceans in Our Solar System in Georgia Tech-Led Alliance

Envision a yellow submarine on a rocket to Europa as a future highpoint of a research project led by Georgia Tech to search for life in our solar...
Pilot Project Will Use Campus Wastewater to Grow Vegetables

$5 million grant funds project to test sustainable hydroponic farming in urban areas.
Laughing Gas May Have Helped Warm Early Earth and Given Breath to Life

An eon ago, the sun was stingy with heat, but Earth stayed warm; maybe laughing gas in the atmosphere helped out. Here's how.
Previously Overlooked “Coral Ticks” Weaken Degraded Reefs

A previously overlooked predator could be increasing the pressure on endangered coral reefs.
Material Formed from Crab Shells and Trees Could Replace Flexible Plastic Packaging

STAMI Researchers have created a material derived from crab shells and tree fibers that has the potential to replace the flexible plastic packaging...
Lifting Communities with Smart Technology

Georgia Smart Communities Challenge helps small and large cities improve quality of life.

Society and Culture

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Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering Graduate James McConville Sworn in as Army’s Top Officer

A decorated helicopter pilot who earned a master's in 1990, McConville is the first aviator to serve as the Army’s chief.
$3M NSF Project Will Use Nature’s Designs to Spark High School Students’ Interest in Engineering

Four-year project will bring teachers into Georgia Tech labs and create new curriculum materials for them to use in class.
Associate Professor Willie Belton
New Georgia Tech Study Examines Diversity, Social Mistrust

Economist Willie Belton’s study finds suggestive evidence that social capital falls when diversity rises because we view such changes as a conflict...
NSF Invests $4 Million in Big Data for Southern United States

A $4 million NSF award will help apply data science and engineering to challenges of the southern U.S.
Innovative Career Course Features Cross-Cultural Studies, Importance of Humanities

'Career Design for Global Citizenship' uses a study-abroad metaphor for career exploration
humanTech Symposium Identifies Opportunities, Challenges for Humanities at Technological Universities

Paula M. Krebs, executive director of the Modern Language Association, spoke along with other humanities scholars.
Smart Communities Address Transportation, Housing, Flooding Challenges

Four Georgia communities are exploring innovative technologies and collaborating with Georgia Tech and local partners.
Mobile Phone Accessibility Improves, But Gaps Remain, Study Finds

Mobile phones are increasingly more accessible by people with disabilities, but significant gaps remain.
Will Moving to the Commercial Cloud Leave Some Data Users Behind?

A space policy researcher urges caution on the design of commercial cloud contracts for hosting federal agency data.
Flu Vaccine Supply Gaps Can Intensify Flu Seasons, Make Pandemics Deadlier

A tweak to our flu vaccine resupply logistics could save thousands of lives
Study Finds Dramatic Growth in Numbers of “Supporting Scientists” on Research Teams

A new study examines the roles of supporting scientists in the research enterprise.
How Communication Among Cells Affects Development of Multicellular Tissue

A new study shows how intercellular communication affects the differentiation of an embryonic stem cell colony over time.

Georgia Tech Places 34th in World University Ranking

A new study ranks Georgia Tech 34th among world universities.
Drones, Driverless Cars and Difficult Decisions

Georgia Tech hosts a panel discussion in Washington, D.C. about the emerging debate on ethics and robotics.
Georgia Tech, Georgia State University Establish $2.25M Atlanta Global Studies Center

The new foreign language center is supported funded by a $2.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Kosal: Space Force Unlikely to Improve U.S. Position in Space

The proposed Space Force is not the best way to assure U.S. dominance of space, professor argues.
texting while driving
Do Not Get Distracted by Georgia’s New Cell Phone Law, Georgia Tech Professor Urges

Robert Rosenberger, a professor in the School of Public Policy, said the law could induce some drivers to believe hands-free technology is safer than...
Georgia Tech Uses Nanotechnology to Create World’s Smallest Ad

Nanotechnology makes smallest advertisement on a sesame seed
Sam Nunn School of International Affairs Experts React to Singapore Summit

The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is a good start, but short on substance and fraught with peril,...
Han Solo
Why We Love Han Solo

Science fiction expert Lisa Yaszek explains the allure and backstory of Han Solo.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

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Cassie Mitchell Receives 2019 Award from the American Neurological Association

Awards recognize work in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease, the microbiome and stroke, clinical trial design, and more
Millions of Children Exposed to Opioid Misuse at Home, New Georgia Tech Study Reveals

The study is from Lindsey Bullinger of the School of Public Policy and a co-author from Indiana University.
Nanoscale “Glass” Bottles Could Enable Targeted Drug Delivery

Tiny silica bottles filled with medicine and a special temperature-sensitive material could be used for drug delivery to kill malignant cells only in...
Soft Wearable Health Monitor Uses Stretchable Electronics

A wireless, wearable monitor built with stretchable electronics could allow comfortable, long-term health monitoring of adults, babies and small...
Aaron Levine, a bioethicist in the School of Public Policy.
Georgia Tech Expert Raises Concerns About Medical Crowdfunding for Advanced Cancer Therapies

Aaron Levine's new paper in 'The Lancet Oncology' examines crowdfunding for CAR-T cell therapy
$21.9 Million Gene Modulation Research Effort Targets Influenza Pandemics

A new $21.9 million research initiative will modulate gene expression to help protect against pandemic flu.
Study Ties Poor Sleep to Reduced Memory Performance in Older Adults

Variability in night-to-night sleep time and reduced sleep quality adversely affect the ability of older adults to recall information.
Hydrogel Offers Double Punch Against Orthopedic Bone Infections

Researchers have a developed a hydrogel that both attacks bacteria and encourages bone regrowth.
Antibiotics, Taken Strategically, Could Actually Help Defeat Antibiotic Resistance

Those same antibiotics driving the rise in antibiotic resistant bacterial strains could help defeat them if used as part of an informed strategy.
New Machine Learning Research ID’s Opioid Addiction Self-Treatments and Risks

Findings provide new insights into how people use clinically untested opioid recovery methods.
Saving Hand Crafts through Algorithms

Industrial Design's Lisa Marks wins Grand Prix for custom-crafted post-mastectomy bra.
Contraceptive Jewelry Could Offer a New Family Planning Approach

Family planning for women might one day be as simple as putting on an earring.
New Grant Award Supports Research on Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Research on the early detection of ovarian cancer will get a boost from a new award from the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
Novel App Uses AI to Guide, Support Cancer Patients

MyPath, an AI-based application that runs on tablet computers, is helping breast cancer patients.
Snaring Bacteria in DNA-based Nets the Way White Blood Cells Do

Like Spiderman, white bloods cells shoot NETs at bacteria, made mostly of DNA, and this synthetic microweb emulates it.
FDA Taps Georgia Tech to Help Reduce Cost of Making Antibiotics

A team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has kicked off a three-year federally-funded project to harness new manufacturing...
Long-Acting Contraceptive Designed to be Self-Administered Via Microneedle Patch

A new long-acting contraceptive designed to be self-administered by women may provide a new family planning option.
Flu Vaccine Supply Gaps Can Intensify Flu Seasons, Make Pandemics Deadlier

A tweak to our flu vaccine resupply logistics could save thousands of lives
No Bleeding Required: Anemia Detection Via Smartphone

This smartphone app can check hemoglobin levels with 97% accuracy.
'Demolition Handshakes' Kill Precursor T Cells that Pose Autoimmune Dangers

A mechanism tries to stop our T cells from causing autoimmune disorders, and it's like a tight handshake that kills overly aggressive T cells.

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Expert Voices

James Wray

James Wray (Photo Fitrah Hamid)

More Hints of Life on Ancient Mars
James Wray
School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Alex Hsu
Federal Rate Hike Predictions
Alex Hsu
Scheller College of Business

TECH IN THE NEWS

Feature Stories

hidden georgia tech - surplus property
Hidden Georgia Tech: Surplus Property
When a Georgia Tech department purchases new furniture or office equipment, what happens to the furniture and equipment that’s no longer...
irene daboin teaches a class about happiness
This Month in Photos: July 2019
Happiness classes, a new Police Department building, and tiny robots.
President Peterson and Val Peterson on the Georgia Tech Field in the sunshine
The Peterson Legacy
Through a decade of tremendous change, G.P “Bud” Peterson led Georgia Tech with a steady hand, a full heart — and an eye toward the future.
Designing for Curiosity with the Children’s Museum of Atlanta
Designing for Curiosity
The School of Industrial Design at Georgia Tech and the Children’s Museum of Atlanta collaborate to bring 6 interactive exhibits for youth...

Featured Videos

Jim Bridenstine, the Administrator of NASA and Congressman Tom Graves visited for a campus tour, taking the time to meet current students working on projects for NASA.  The BioSentinel Mission involves a briefcase-sized CubeSat that holds a Georgia Tech-built thruster and the Ranging and Nanosatellite Guidance Experiment designed by students was part of the SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket which launched in December 2018.

Economic Development Forum held at The Biltmore on July 31, 2019.