Following the resignation of two-term District 2 Atlanta City councilmember Amir Farokhi, an interim council member will be appointed to Atlanta’s City Hall this summer. 

Farokhi, who announced his resignation this past February, has decided to serve out the rest of his term until July before relinquishing his seat to serve as the Head of School at The Galloway School for the 2025–2026 academic year. 

The longstanding councilmember has served as a representative of District 2 since 2017 and is notably the first Iranian-American elected official in the American South. Farokhi leaves a legacy of policy and initiatives that include launching one of the largest guaranteed income programs, creating a public safety housing program and creating an arts and culture fund. 

“Today, I was named Head of School at The Galloway School,” Farokhi stated in a note regarding his departure. “It’s a humbling moment. Yet, it’s also bittersweet because it means that I will not run for re-election this November.” 

In accordance with the Atlanta City Charter, the seat will be filled within 30 days of the vacancy by a resident of District 2, which includes Candler Park, Downtown, Inman Park, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward and Poncey-Highland, who is at least 18 years of age. 

The appointment procedure, which follows an advertisement of the vacancy, collecting applications and a review by the Committee Council, will have the remaining council members vote on a new official to serve until January 2026. 

Following the conclusion of the interim appointment, voters will decide upon a permanent successor during the November 2025 election. With qualifying races scheduled this August, several candidates have already placed their names in contention for the seat.

Among this year’s candidates are Alex Bevel Jones, Courtney Smith MGT ‘00, Jacob Chambers CS ‘21, MS CS ‘25 and Kelsea Bond.

Jones, a former small business owner and Industry Engagement Manager at Tech, places his stance as a public servant of Atlanta, motivated by a family background of educators, ministers and civil rights activists. Behind his platform, he pushes for economic development, education and community investment and smart and sustainable growth. 

Smith, a Tech graduate, presents extensive civic service experience through her work as a former chair of the Neighborhood Planning Unit-E (NPU-E) and President of the Midtown Neighbors’ Association. At the forefront of her campaign’s initiatives, she stands to continue the modernization of alcohol policies, ensure a permit balance between for-profit and non-profit events and disclose an updated audit regarding Renew Atlanta and Moving Atlanta Forward road infrastructure projects. 

Chambers, a recent double-Jacket graduate, credits his campaign to an engineering-focused approach that prioritizes “solutions, not talk.” At the foundation of his platform, Chambers emphasizes affordable housing, safe transportation and livable neighborhoods.

Bond, a union member, community organizer and former education policy worker, has emboldened their campaign with a need to break off from the status quo. Here, they prioritizes affordable housing, green new infrastructure and a people over profits idealism that involves workers’ rights, ending homelessness and public health and safety. 

As candidates continue to announce their campaigns and begin their funding process, Atlanta residents are set for a defining time in municipal politics amid this year’s election.  

Farokhi’s resignation now marks the third district representative to give up their seat within Atlanta’s City Hall, following Marci Collier Overstreet’s departure from District 11 and Howard Shook’s retirement from District 7.

In total, residents will be available to vote on 16 seats within City Hall, including the council president, 12 district representatives and three members-at-large. 

Of these 16 seats, three district representative seats on the ballot are absent of an incumbent, as well as the council president, with current president Doug Shipman announcing his plans not to run for re-election earlier this year. 

Elections will occur on November 4, 2025.

The post Atlanta City Council to Appoint New Interim District 2 Representative appeared first on Technique.

Following the resignation of two-term District 2 Atlanta City councilmember Amir Farokhi, an interim council member will be appointed to Atlanta’s City Hall this summer. 

Farokhi, who announced his resignation this past February, has decided to serve out the rest of his term until July before relinquishing his seat to serve as the Head of School at The Galloway School for the 2025–2026 academic year. 

The longstanding councilmember has served as a representative of District 2 since 2017 and is notably the first Iranian-American elected official in the American South. Farokhi leaves a legacy of policy and initiatives that include launching one of the largest guaranteed income programs, creating a public safety housing program and creating an arts and culture fund. 

“Today, I was named Head of School at The Galloway School,” Farokhi stated in a note regarding his departure. “It’s a humbling moment. Yet, it’s also bittersweet because it means that I will not run for re-election this November.” 

In accordance with the Atlanta City Charter, the seat will be filled within 30 days of the vacancy by a resident of District 2, which includes Candler Park, Downtown, Inman Park, Midtown, Old Fourth Ward and Poncey-Highland, who is at least 18 years of age. 

The appointment procedure, which follows an advertisement of the vacancy, collecting applications and a review by the Committee Council, will have the remaining council members vote on a new official to serve until January 2026. 

Following the conclusion of the interim appointment, voters will decide upon a permanent successor during the November 2025 election. With qualifying races scheduled this August, several candidates have already placed their names in contention for the seat.

Among this year’s candidates are Alex Bevel Jones, Courtney Smith MGT ‘00, Jacob Chambers CS ‘21, MS CS ‘25 and Kelsea Bond.

Jones, a former small business owner and Industry Engagement Manager at Tech, places his stance as a public servant of Atlanta, motivated by a family background of educators, ministers and civil rights activists. Behind his platform, he pushes for economic development, education and community investment and smart and sustainable growth. 

Smith, a Tech graduate, presents extensive civic service experience through her work as a former chair of the Neighborhood Planning Unit-E (NPU-E) and President of the Midtown Neighbors’ Association. At the forefront of her campaign’s initiatives, she stands to continue the modernization of alcohol policies, ensure a permit balance between for-profit and non-profit events and disclose an updated audit regarding Renew Atlanta and Moving Atlanta Forward road infrastructure projects. 

Chambers, a recent double-Jacket graduate, credits his campaign to an engineering-focused approach that prioritizes “solutions, not talk.” At the foundation of his platform, Chambers emphasizes affordable housing, safe transportation and livable neighborhoods.

Bond, a union member, community organizer and former education policy worker, has emboldened their campaign with a need to break off from the status quo. Here, they prioritizes affordable housing, green new infrastructure and a people over profits idealism that involves workers’ rights, ending homelessness and public health and safety. 

As candidates continue to announce their campaigns and begin their funding process, Atlanta residents are set for a defining time in municipal politics amid this year’s election.  

Farokhi’s resignation now marks the third district representative to give up their seat within Atlanta’s City Hall, following Marci Collier Overstreet’s departure from District 11 and Howard Shook’s retirement from District 7.

In total, residents will be available to vote on 16 seats within City Hall, including the council president, 12 district representatives and three members-at-large. 

Of these 16 seats, three district representative seats on the ballot are absent of an incumbent, as well as the council president, with current president Doug Shipman announcing his plans not to run for re-election earlier this year. 

Elections will occur on November 4, 2025.

The post Atlanta City Council to Appoint New Interim District 2 Representative appeared first on Technique.

Ramadan, the ninth month on the Islamic calendar, marks the period Muslims believe the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Representing a time of sacrifice, spiritual reflection and self-discipline, Muslims dedicate this sacred month as a time for self-improvement and deepening their connection with God.

During this time, over two billion Muslims around the world come together for a month-long fasting period where they seek to abstain from any food or water from sunrise to sunset. 

Traditionally, Muslims begin their fast with an early breakfast called suhoor and a morning prayer (fajr) before breaking their fast with an evening dinner known as iftar, followed by nightly prayers (maghrib and isha). Additionally, Muslims may participate in an additional voluntary prayer called Taraweeh, where recitations of one of the 30 sections of the Quran are done until completion. 

To conclude this holy month, Muslims will participate in a celebration known as Eid al-Fitr. Generally seen as a day-long event, families and communities come together during Eid to spend time with relatives or close friends, prepare intricate meals, visit local mosques, and give children small notes of money or gifts.

With Ramadan set from March 1 to March 30 in the 2025 calendar year, Muslim students around the Institute have been observing this holy month throughout campus.

Tech’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) has worked to foster a supportive environment for Muslim students during Ramadan. By hosting weekly suhoors, iftars and taraweehs throughout the month, students can gather each day to participate in campus-hosted events related to fasting, prayer and festive activities as a community. 

“This month is really about building a closer connection to God,” said Renee Alnoubani, fourth-year CE and MSA President. “Fasting teaches us discipline and gratitude. It’s about recentering ourselves, focusing on our faith, and improving who we are as people.”

This structured environment is especially important for students balancing religious practices with heavy academic workloads. Due to the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is observed 10-11 days earlier each year. As a result, Ramadan falls earlier this semester than it has in years past, leading to overlap with midterms, projects, and the lead-up to final exams. 

“On one hand, we get spring break, which gives us a chance to rest and worship without academic pressure,” said Hamza Zahid, third-year CS and MSA treasurer. “But it also means managing early mornings for suhoor, late nights for prayers, and full academic workloads in between. It’s exhausting, but also deeply fulfilling.”

Beyond prayer and fasting, Ramadan also places a large emphasis on charity and service. In this, individuals are invited to donate their time or money (sadaqah) to help give back and support important causes represented throughout the month.

“It’s a beautiful way to bring people together and raise awareness,” Alnoubani said. “Ramadan teaches us to take responsibility for our global community, especially during times of crisis.”

This year, MSA has initiated a fundraiser in support of the ongoing humanitarian crises in Palestine and Sudan. Working off the generosity facilitated throughout Ramadan, close to $10,000 has been raised for related causes. 

“In previous years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars to build wells in different parts of the world,” Zahid said, “This year, we’re focusing on relief efforts for Palestine and Sudan.”

Additionally, MSA has chosen to host more nuanced events such as “Fast-a-Thons,” where they invite non-muslims to participate in fasting for one day. Aiming to bring Tech students together, the event offers a charitable incentive of one donated meal for every participant in the event. 

“For every non-Muslim who fasts with us, we donate a meal to someone in need,” Alnounbani explained. “It’s a great way for people to learn about Ramadan and also contribute to a charitable cause.”

As Ramadan comes down to its final days, Alnoubani emphasizes the importance of Ramadan and its implications for Tech’s broader campus. 

“I hope our actions during this month make everyone at Georgia Tech look forward to Ramadan each year,” Alnounbani ended. “It’s an open invitation to anyone, regardless of faith, to explore what it means to slow down, reflect, and grow.”

The post Muslim students give back during Ramadan appeared first on Technique.

As Republican Governor Brian Kemp nears the end of his term limit, the 2026 Georgia gubernatorial election is emerging as one of the most competitive races in recent history. Scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, this will mark the first open-seat race since 2018, in which both the Democratic and Republican parties have the opportunity to claim Georgia’s governor’s seat absent of an incumbent. 

“We’ve seen Republicans dominate statewide elections, yet Democrats have won key federal races,” said Charles Bullock, Chair of Political Science at the University of Georgia. “That tells us Georgia is still more Republican than Democratic, but Democrats can win under the right circumstances.”

Two candidates have already announced their bids: Chris Carr (R), Attorney General of Georgia, and Rev. Olujimi (Olu) Brown (D), founder and former lead pastor of Impact United Methodist Church in East Point. 

Carr was the first candidate to announce his campaign in the 2026 gubernatorial race from either party. Going into the race, Carr will look to build on previous state leadership through a platform set on public safety, economic growth and the continuation of Kemp’s current policies.

Alongside him are possible candidates, Burt Jones, Georgia Lieutenant Governor, and Brad Raffensperger, Georgia Secretary of State, who have each floated potential bids for the GOP primary. 

While little is known about each candidate’s potential campaigns, Jones is regarded as a firm ally of President Trump and may look for his endorsement in this race. In contrast, Raffensperger has garnered national attention for his resistance to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, a stance that could shape the current primary scope. 

“In Georgia, being closely associated with Donald Trump is not necessarily an asset,” Bullock stated. “What we’ve seen is that those who have won statewide races have either distanced themselves from Trump or maintained a more traditional conservative stance.”

On the Democratic side, Rev. Olu Brown is the first candidate to launch his bid in this race, although he lacks significant recognition as a political leader, making this his first run for office in Georgia. As a result, speculation continues about who may step up as a major nominee for the Democratic primary. 

Several possible candidates for the 2026 race have floated their names, including Stacey Abrams, a former gubernatorial candidate; Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Mayor of Atlanta; and Lucy McBath, a U.S. representative. In a primarily Republican-dominated election, the Democratic nominee’s chances of competing in next year’s election are uncertain. 

“If you look at the statewide constitutional elections and any year since 2010, Republicans have won all of those,” Bullock said. “The Democratic Party in Georgia has made successes and some headway, but it’s still an uphill battle.”

Georgia has been at the center of national politics since former President Joe Biden’s (D) state win in the 2020 presidential election — flipping it for the first time since 1992. Soon after, Raphael Warnock (D) and Jon Ossoff (D) secured victories in the 2021 U.S. Senate races, while Brian Kemp (R) won the 2022 gubernatorial race, quickly cementing Georgia as a battleground state. 

Most recently, during the 2024 Presidential election, former President Donald Trump (R) narrowly recaptured Georgia, returning it to a Republican state going into the 2026 gubernatorial race.

Despite this, Bullock holds a contentious opinion regarding Georgia’s voter trajectory.

“Trump didn’t carry Georgia by much in 2024,” Bullock stated. “If the suburban trends that hurt him in 2020 continue, Republicans will need a candidate who can appeal beyond the hardcore MAGA base.”

Beyond party politics, several policy issues, including economic growth, healthcare and election integrity, stand to shape voter decisions in the upcoming election. Under Kemp, Georgia has seen strong job growth, which will likely be a focal point for Republicans in this race. 

“Voters tend to reward governors who deliver on economic promises,” Bullock said. “If Georgia’s economy remains strong, Republicans can run on continuity. If inflation rises again or economic conditions worsen, Democrats may have an opening.”

Healthcare access, specifically Medicaid expansion, has been a lasting issue in Georgia. With Medicaid yet to expand out fully, either party may be able to see this as a platform focus.

Finally, election integrity has been a polarizing topic in Georgia’s elections. Given Georgia’s continuously changing election laws, this can continue to be a point of contention going into the 2026 race. 

“Election laws mobilize both parties,” Bullock ended. “Republicans see them as ensuring election security, while Democrats argue they suppress minority voters. Either way, it’s an issue that will continue to resonate in Georgia politics.”

The post Georgia 2026 Gubernatorial Race Outlook appeared first on Technique.

For the first time in three years, High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) — better known as bird flu — has been detected in commercial poultry operations in Georgia. A news release by the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed that a positive bird flu case had been found in Elbert County, leading to statewide suspensions of poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets and sales. 

“For the first time since the ongoing, nationwide outbreak began in 2022, HPAI has been confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in the state of Georgia,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper stated in a recent press release. 

Two factors are responsible for the current spread of bird flu: contact with birds carrying the virus and the transportation of poultry. 

While biosecurity measures remain incredibly stringent within the poultry farm industry, breaches have occurred in the U.S. as recently as 2015. Additionally, further sources of exposure have been traced to backyard farmers who face a higher barrier of prevention when it comes to protecting flocks. 

“HPAI remains a serious threat to our state’s economy, Georgia’s #1 industry, and the health and safety poultry in our state, and our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture responded immediately,” Harper ended.

Unlike recent U.S. outbreaks such as COVID-19 or Norovirus, which primarily spread through human-to-human transmission, the H5N1 virus’s unique bird-to-human transmission has raised questions about its threat to human infection.

Peter Kasson, a professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, whose research delves into how viruses gain entry to cells and the physical constraints on viral evolution, spoke about the current situation.

“Essentially, we don’t know whether there are fundamental reasons why it cannot transmit efficiently between people, or we don’t know if we’ve just been lucky thus far,” Kasson stated.

Previously, experts considered human infection sporadic and usually only linked to direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. However, new cases in dairy cattle have given new cause for concern regarding the potential facilitation of human-to-human transmission.

“What’s, of course, concerned a lot of people recently has been the recent outbreaks in dairy cattle, which are mammals and much closer to humans, and that some of those viruses have had some of the mutations that are associated with adaptation to mammalian posts, and have missed some of those mutations,” Kasson ended.

In response to the sudden outbreak, an estimated 130,000 broilers — chickens specifically bred for meat production — have been culled to prevent the further spread of disease. As a result, substantial economic shifts in grocery prices have been noted and seen most dramatically in the sharp increases in egg prices.

For Tech students on campus specifically, this means drastically higher costs for eggs and egg-based products in local grocery store chains. 

Pranav Viswanath, third-year CS, spoke with the Technique in an interview about the adverse effects he has felt in light of the growing egg shortage in Georgia.

“We live in a pretty expensive area, like downtown Atlanta, so you go to the local Publix, and your basic dairy, food, breakfast, products, everything’s expensive, so it really just adds on top of the cost of living,” Viswanath stated.

As an original California resident, Viswanath noted the disproportionate effects many out-of-state and international students felt in the wake of steadily growing grocery prices.

“I think there are certain groups of people that stay in like really nice apartments and don’t worry about it as much, but some people, especially like out-of-state students or international kids, we’re a bit more conscious about how much we’re spending,” Viswanath continued.

Ajani Harrison, fourth-year CE, repeated the same sentiment toward additional grocery items.

“I don’t frequently buy eggs. I buy eggs maybe once a month, but I do buy milk pretty often, and I have been noticing prices have increased quite a bit,” Harrison stated.

Looking forward, students have focused on further alternatives to supplement the rising costs impeding already strained college budgets.

“I need the eggs regardless, so you know, if I do buy them, it’s an investment,” Viswanath ended. “I’ll make myself a protein shake every day and, you know, often rely on beans or other sources of protein when it starts to get out of hand nowadays.”

The post Bird Flu Outbreak in Georgia Grinds Poultry Industry to a Halt appeared first on Technique.

Two Tech faculty members earned the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in early January, strengthening Tech’s reputation as a leading center for research and innovation. 

Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena, associate professor and Goizueta Early Career Faculty Chair in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Josiah Hester, associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing and associate director for Community-Engaged Research at the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems, were this year’s honorees from Tech.

Established in 1996 by then-President Bill Clinton, the PECASE Award is the highest honor the U.S. government grants scientists and engineers. The award, decided upon by several White House agencies, highlights the importance of scientific discovery and innovation in individuals opening their independent research careers. 

Spanning five different presidential administrations since its inception, the PECASE Award has grown from annually recognizing a cohort of 60 scientists and engineers to around 100 today. With the Biden administration’s term coming to an end, the White House chose a cohort of 400 scientists and engineers for the award.

The Department of Energy recognized Dr. Correa-Baena this year for his work in developing next-generation materials for photovoltaic applications and quantum technologies. 

“Personally, I’m really excited to be recognized for this, not just for me but also for those connections that I’ve forged with other faculty, other colleagues, and my students here at Georgia Tech,” Correa-Baena told the Technique. “Being only one of two recognized here at Georgia Tech and in the past having these awards only given every six or five years was very, very cool.”

With over 11 years of experience in his field, Dr. Correa-Baena partially credits his nomination to his specific research approach, identifying the root causes of problems and studying their fundamental concepts. He can then translate the knowledge into real-world applications. 

“We don’t just do experiments, but we also work with theorists who help us understand how these atoms interact with each other,” Correa-Baena explained. “Then we try to validate those models that my colleagues in the theory field have predicted.”

Dr. Hester, on the other hand, has been recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for his work in developing an emerging class of battery-free, embedded computing and sensing systems that operate using ambient energy. 

“It was always a far-reaching goal. I was shocked. It’s something you would never in a million years think you would win,” Hester told the Tech News Center. “For me, I always thought this was an unachievable, unassailable type of thing because of the reputation of the folks in computing who’ve won previously.”

Dr. Hester credits the work that earned him the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program award three years prior as the basis of his nomination. Here, his specialty in the intersection of interactive computing and sustainable technologies has garnered him wide-set acclaim. 

“I want everything to be an Internet of Batteryless Things — computational devices that could last forever,” Hester said. “I outlined a bunch of different ways that you could do that from the computer engineering side and a little bit from the human-computer interaction side. They all had a unifying theme of making computing more sustainable and climate-friendly.”

Dr. Correa-Baena’s and Dr. Hester’s achievements prove the ever-crucial role early-career scientists play in addressing today’s modern landscape. 

“I wanted to make sure that whatever I did would benefit society. And I thought sooner or later we’re going to have to replace fossil fuels for clean energy sources, whether that’s this decade or next or in the next 50 years, at some point, we’re going to have to do that,” Dr. Correa-Baena said.

As both scientists look to address the growing challenges posed by renewable energy, the contributions made by each look to pave the futures of their respective fields.

The post Georgia Tech Faculty Recognized for Presidential Early Career Award appeared first on Technique.

Originally founded in 1956, Executive Round Table (ERT) has long served as a platform for civil discourse between students, faculty, alumni and industry members. In open-forum monthly dinner discussions, ERT works to foster meaningful dialogue for students that closely mimics professional interactions.

Since its inception, ERT has featured an array of high-profile guest speakers including Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Nunn and Wayne Clough. Despite its history and prestige on campus, the organization’s presence slowly began to dwindle over time, and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it eventually disappeared altogether.  

Recently, through the efforts of several Tech students — Neal Damani, fourth-year ISyE, Lucia Touma, fourth-year ISyE and Sadie McIntyre, third-year BA — ERT has seen a resurgence on campus. Back with a renewed purpose and vision, ERT aims to bring back its nuanced take on professional development and connection.

Damani is the current President of ERT. He has worked to lead the organization’s revival process. Like many students at Tech, Damani hadn’t heard of ERT until very recently, when last semester, he was introduced to the idea through Tech’s Alumni Association, where he first got in contact with Matt Mason, ISyE ‘01 and Chair of the ERT Alumni Board. 

“Honestly, I hadn’t heard about it until last spring,” Damani said. “An alumni board member reached out looking for students to help lead ERT, and I decided to give it a shot.”

For Mason, a Tech ISyE alumni and former ERT member, the organization has always represented more than just dinner chats and guest speakers. Mason has always credited ERT’s uniqueness and success in its ability to create connections, leading him to want to bring back to the organization altogether. 

“A student once described ERT as ‘old-fashioned networking,’ but I see it as relationship-building,” Mason said. “It’s about sitting down, having a conversation, and creating a bond, something that’s often missing in a digital world.”

With Mason’s support, Damani and his team began their process of reimagining ERT to better fit the current state on campus. Emphasizing ERT’s core values of open-forum discussion in classic dinner set fashion, Damani focused on improving upon the shortfalls that once led to its previous diminishment on campus. 

Here, Damani and his team looked to transform their membership process, an issue that had previously restricted ERT’s success.

“In the past, ERT relied heavily on certain Greek organizations, which limited its reach,” Damani said. “We wanted to break that pattern and reach out to as many student groups as possible.”

Prefacing diversity in not only background but also thought, ERT began to reach out to students, where they would go on to amass over 140 applications. 

“Lucia [Touma] and I kind of built out our interview process all over again,” Damani explained. “You’ve got a group discussion going on that’s facilitated by an exec member, and we pull individuals one at a time for a one-on-one interview to get to know them in a more personal setting. Then we send them back in, and they rejoin the discussion because the goal is for it to mimic being at a dinner; you see someone you know, you go introduce yourself, you talk to them for a bit, and then you rejoin your table.” 

In ERT’s inaugural comeback semester, the organization’s return has been widely viewed as a success. Despite holding a rocky start with its opening dinner being canceled due to the external factors from Hurricane Helene, ERT has quickly gained its footing. 

Recruiting over 76 members on campus and featuring distinguished speakers such as Jimmy Etheredge, former North American CEO of Accenture and ERT member in 1980, ERT is beginning to once again cement itself as a guiding presence for the professional development landscape on campus. 

Looking forward, Damani and Mason hold ambitious goals for ERT’s continued growth on campus. Building up from past speakers and alumni, Mason wants to maintain the prestige of speakers while hosting a wide array of interesting speakers.

“ERT speakers cover a wide range of topics. One week, you might hear from the warden of the Atlanta jail; another week, you might hear from an executive of Bank of America talking about the future of banking. Another time we had the head of the Zoo Atlanta,” Mason said. “But I think my biggest takeaway to share with students is that it’s really a forum to kind of open your mind.”

Leading into the new year with a revamped membership process and refreshed partnerships, Damani hopes to once again restore ERT’s place as a leading organization on campus. 

“In classes, you learn technical skills, but you don’t necessarily get trained on the soft skills. ERT gives members a chance to build confidence, communicate effectively, and understand social cues in professional settings,” Damani ended. “When our members graduate, I want them to be well-rounded and ready to excel, whether they’re in a boardroom or a networking event.”

ERT will be offering admission for the Spring 2025 semester, with applications set to open back up this November.

The post Executive Round Table makes resurgence appeared first on Technique.

In today’s shifting energy landscape, the emphasis on the integration of renewable resources has stood at the forefront of continued innovation for a more sustainable future. However, this shift toward energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro to create renewable energy systems for national power grids has proved to be much more challenging. 

With the growing incorporation of sustainable technologies, a similar growth in cyber attacks has arisen. Recognizing this increasing vulnerability in energy infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has designated a $4.6 Million grant to Georgia Tech’s School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP). The grant, awarded last October, will fund the development of advanced cybersecurity measures for renewable energy systems.

The initiative, led by Associate Professor Saman Zonouz of both SCP and the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), aims for his project to employ a new form of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of a new cybersecurity lever named, Phorensics. 

Phorensics, spelled with a “Ph” to emphasize a focus on the more physical aspect of forensic analysis, is specifically designed for security analysis following cyber attacks on modern-day power grid systems. 

“After a security incident, you want to analyze what happened. You have data logs like in airplanes, a black box. In power systems, we have databases and data logs from the power system sensors and the computer logs,” Zonouz stated. 

Using Phorensics’ AI-driven approach to standard cyber-attacks, response times and measures have quickly been revolutionized. Combining traditional data-driven cybersecurity with physical-based forensics, Zonouz’ modeled AI works to sift through and fill in cybersecurity gaps.  

“Now, after the attack, you want to as best as possible analyze those logs to figure out what happened during the attack so that you figure out what was the whole code and code in your system that attackers penetrated through so that you can patch it and future, similar attacks from happening,” Zonouz ended.

Paired with the ever growing complexity of modern power grids in its shift toward renewable energy sources, Phorensics’ main promise stems from its adaptability and practicality. With the goal of total security presenting itself as an unrealistic expectation, Zonouz emphasizes his intention in the project. 

“The real challenge is resilience,” Zonouz stated. “It’s about making sure that even if a cyberattack succeeds, we can recover quickly and restore full system functionality. Phorensics will allow us to analyze the situation, identify what parts of the system were impacted, and figure out how to restore normal operations without delay.”

While advancing technologies in AI have been seen to increasingly affect and promote renewable energy systems, a concern regarding its own energy consumption remains relevant.

Seen in the growing use of AI data centers, large facilities specifically built to promote high-demand machine learning models and data processing, that are notorious for high-energy output costs and increasingly complex computational resource demands. The state of growing AI use in everyday life comes with a waning cost of how its carbon footprint may play a role in its future. 

In an interview with The Technique, Arjun Ramshankar, a PhD student at Tech whose research basis focuses on cybersecurity for renewable energy, discusses the importance of balancing the rapid progression of AI with its environmental impact. 

“While AI can optimize energy systems and predict electricity demand more accurately, it is also important to acknowledge the energy costs of running these AI algorithms,” Ramshankar said. “The challenge is to make AI more energy-efficient while ensuring it can still help improve sustainability.”

Despite the challenges, Ramshankar believes that the path to pushing for greater sustainable practices is more clear than people make it out to be.  

“One solution is optimizing hardware, such as using energy-efficient GPUs specifically designed for AI tasks. Another approach is to refine algorithms to be more efficient, minimizing the computational power required.” Ramshankar ended.

In this, both Zonouz and Ramnshankar acknowledge the careful management that comes with the reduction of a growing carbon footprint presented by AI. 

With renewable energies continuing to represent a definitive movement in the current global state, Zonouz’s initiative stands as just one of many different examples now of the dual role AI presents in both advancing and opposing sustainability goals. By continuing research and innovative practices regarding the interconnected roles AI plays, Tech researchers are paving the way for a more sustainable future. 

“Our project is essentially a support effort to make the whole grid more sustainable and environmentally friendly. And the way we’re supporting it is to also provide cyber security protection with these new facilities that are being placed in the real world,” Zonouz ended.

The post AI reinforces grid security and sustainability appeared first on Technique.

Starting on Sept. 30, Tech hosted its annual Wreck The Vote event on campus. Done in collaboration between the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Nu Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Wreck The Vote encapsulated a five-day event to inform, educate and encourage students in political action on campus. 

The event included a myriad of events such as a policy playbook workshop, the vice presidential debate screening, the Registered Student Organizations (RSO) political debate, capitol currents discussion and multiple voter registration tablings.

“The main goals were to inform people about what they’re voting for, who they are voting for… and how they are voting.  And then towards the end, we talked about your rights as a voter and how you can best use government services after you vote,” said Sultan Ziyad, third-year CE and SGA Rep. 

The highlight of this event was the return of Tech’s annual RSO Political Debate, which was last held in 2021.

Held at Cypress Theater in the Student Center, the debate brought together four student-run political organizations: Young Socialist Democrats of America (YSDA), College Democrats, Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) and College Republicans, to discuss the different policies and views from their respective parties.

Moderated by GT Debate Team and co-hosted by SGA and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the two-hour-long debate followed an open forum format to encourage equal speaking times from each party. 

“We started with two-minute opening statements from the four political RSOs. Then, we delved into five questions, giving each team two minutes to offer its perspective. We then opened the floor for a seven-minute open questioning period: Each team could clarify its position on the issue or question the other teams. Each team could speak for one minute if it chose to ask or answer a question. We concluded the night with two-minute closing statements from the teams.” stated Sai Machiraju, co-moderator and GT Debate spokesperson. 

During the debate, the discourse centered on the current state and the future of higher education, the economy, immigration, the public sector and healthcare.

While the debate was organized to ensure equal representation with two left-leaning organizations and two right-leaning organizations, political discussions were often contentious. 

Regarding immigration, economic and healthcare policies, speakers addressed the pressing issues while representing their political party’s views. This often led to focused rebuttal periods and clashing opinions. 

Not until the debate’s final topic, centered on public transit and infrastructure, did the organizations find common ground, with many agreeing on the importance of sustainable solutions

The RSO Political Debate serves as just one example of the growing political climate on Tech’s campus. While often seen as a polarizing topic to students and faculty, the debate allowed for civilized and cordial political discussion.

“I think that the questions were chosen in a way that gave every team a lot of chances to specifically address policy. It was kind of like how the vice presidential debate reflected a lot more civil discussion than the actual main stage presidential debates did this year,” said Andrew Herndon, third-year CE and College Republicans speaker.

During the debate, all the participating RSOs showcased their values on a scaled platform. Audience members learned how critical issues are being addressed and how their communities are being impacted in an enriching setting. 

“I would say it’s more just information as a way to persuade because I think we’re basically presenting our stance or our view of how government and policies should be shaped, and then we hope through that presentation that people would agree with us,” said Justin Bowen, third-year PSYCH and YDSA co-chair.

Looking forward, the RSO Political Debate and Wreck The Vote week highlighted the increasing need for political discourse on campus. As the national election looms, students have been increasingly encouraged to get involved with politics around them. 

Due to the debate’s recent success on campus, the event has once again cemented its place as a recurring feature. In the future, organizers plan to represent state and local politics as well.

“In the future, when this undeniably happens again, because we believe it was such a success, we’re definitely open to as many political organizations getting involved as possible,” stated Jeremy Leurart, third-year IE and SGA VP of External Affairs. “We called it the political RSO debate, so any political RSO is welcome to partake in it.”

The post Georgia Tech Brings Back Annual RSO Political Debate appeared first on Technique.