{"644122":{"#nid":"644122","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Serve-Learn-Sustain\u0027s New Program is Training the Next Generation of Public Interest Technologists","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003Eby Ruthie Yow, Jennifer Hirsch, Cory Hopkins | February 2021\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn January, Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s Serve-Learn-Sustain kicked off their newest program \u0026mdash; Public Interest Technology (PIT) Student Fellows \u0026mdash; with a cohort of ten multifaceted engineering students excited to put their technological chops \u0026mdash; and their other talents, skills, and energy \u0026mdash; to work to make a difference in their own backyard.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe SLS PIT Student Fellows program supports undergraduates, particularly underrepresented minority students, to partner with communities to scope and implement engineering capstone and senior design projects that use technology to advance the public interest. The program is funded by a grant from the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.newamerica.org\/pit\/university-network\/\u0022\u003EPublic Interest Technology University Network\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(PIT-UN) and the New America Foundation, which defines public interest technology as \u0026ldquo;the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest\/generate public benefits\/promote the public good.\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe SLS program, run in collaboration with the Career Center and Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, also aims to build the field of public interest technology by enticing students to consider public interest careers that use technology to create sustainable communities.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026quot;Becoming a Public Interest Technology Fellow is a unique opportunity at Tech,\u0026quot; explained program lead Ruthie Yow, a service learning and partnerships specialist in SLS. \u0026quot;Students have an extraordinary opportunity to learn how to scope a project with a partner, work in an interdisciplinary setting with other students, and understand how their skills can contribute to public interest technology and social impact when they graduate.\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;The Public Interest Technology University Network programs get right to the heart of Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s mission of developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition,\u0026rdquo; said Steven W. McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. \u0026ldquo;By training a new generation of innovators to combine their technological skills with knowledge of communities to improve structural inequalities, tackle environmental and social injustices, build sustainable transportation, and more, we are helping to realize the transformative potential of technology as a force for public good.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDuring this initial stage, the program is focusing on four majors: civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial and systems engineering, and electrical and computer engineering. Projects are intended to draw on students\u0026rsquo; disciplinary skills to support and amplify partner vision and impact. The challenge is to develop long-term projects, to be implemented in stages over multiple semesters and years, that are both technologically sophisticated enough to satisfy the requirements of capstone and senior design and advance important sustainability work happening in communities. Students and partners will scope the projects this semester and then pilot initial stages of implementation as part of SLS\u0026rsquo;s Summer Internship Program.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Our students are not only technically talented, but also passionate about having a positive impact on the world around them. This program allows them to pursue this passion, and I am personally really excited about seeing where this will lead,\u0026rdquo; said Magnus Egerstedt, chair of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. \u0026quot;This is a wonderful opportunity for like-minded students and faculty to explore the reality of working in and with a community,\u0026rdquo; added faculty mentor Jonathan Colton, a professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. \u0026ldquo;This will lead to greater engagement and impact.\u0026quot;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESLS community partners participating in the PIT program include\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PlantLANTA\/\u0022\u003EPlantLanta\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/wawa-online.org\/\u0022\u003EWest Atlanta Watershed Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E, the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/groveparkfoundation.org\/\u0022\u003EGrove Park Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atltransformationalliance.org\/\u0022\u003ETransFormation Alliance\u003C\/a\u003E, and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/csc-atl.org\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Sustainable Communities\u003C\/a\u003E. With faculty guidance, students and partners will jointly scope projects that support partners\u0026rsquo; ongoing efforts in Atlanta neighborhoods and in Hampton Roads, Virginia to mobilize youth for climate action, build racially equitable transit, install green infrastructure that benefits legacy residents, and, in partnership with Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s Global Change Program, mitigate urban heat islands.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EStudents see the PIT program as a way to shape their trajectories while at Georgia Tech as well as after graduating. \u0026ldquo;I wanted to participate in this program so that I could discover ways I could use my skills as an engineer to address the very important issue of sustainability and equity in our communities,\u0026rdquo; ISyE major Stella Carrasco said. \u0026ldquo;This program will help me use my career to improve the quality of life in communities,\u0026quot; said CEE major Jesus Gomez.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBoth the students and the partners are enthusiastic about learning from and with each other. \u0026ldquo;Being able to work alongside wonderful community partners and student fellows is an inspiring and motivating environment to be in,\u0026rdquo; said Sivalika Bagrodia, a second-year ISyE student from India.\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERelated Links\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sls.gatech.edu\/sls-launches-public-interest-technology-student-fellows-program\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ELearn\u0026nbsp;more about the\u0026nbsp;SLS\u0026nbsp;PIT Student Fellows\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu\/sls-public-interest-technology-student-fellowship\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPIT Program Structure\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu\/sls-internship\u0022\u003ESLS\u0026#39;s Summer Internship Program\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sls.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EServe-Learn-Sustain\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;is a unit of the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE). Learn more about OUE by visiting\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/oue.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Eoue.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and by following us on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/instagram.com\/gtoue\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInstagram\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/twitter.com\/gtoue\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETwitter\u003C\/a\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/facebook.com\/gtoue\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFacebook\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn January, Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s Serve-Learn-Sustain kicked off their newest program \u0026mdash; Public Interest Technology (PIT) Student Fellows \u0026mdash; with a cohort of ten multifaceted engineering students excited to put their technological chops \u0026mdash; and their other talents, skills, and energy \u0026mdash; to work to make a difference in their own backyard.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In January, Georgia Tech\u2019s Serve-Learn-Sustain kicked off their newest program \u2014 Public Interest Technology (PIT) Student Fellows."}],"uid":"28822","created_gmt":"2021-02-11 16:27:09","changed_gmt":"2021-02-11 16:28:09","author":"Cory Hopkins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2021-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2021-02-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"1182","name":"General"},{"id":"281961","name":"Office of Undergraduate Education"},{"id":"477091","name":"Serve-Learn-Sustain"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"166919","name":"SLS"},{"id":"168071","name":"serve-learn-sustain"},{"id":"4044","name":"internship"},{"id":"2634","name":"grant"},{"id":"183590","name":"PIT-UN"},{"id":"1071","name":"Undergraduates"},{"id":"623","name":"Technology"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Ecory.hopkins@gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["cory.hopkins@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}