Digital Innovation, Sustainability, and Research Opportunities

Campus News & Innovation

Digital BuzzCards Arrive for New Students

Georgia Tech is stepping into the digital future with the rollout of mobile BuzzCards for incoming students. All first-year, transfer, and new graduate students on the Atlanta campus are receiving a digital BuzzCard as their primary credential this fall, eliminating the need for a physical card in most cases. The digital credential serves as official identification and campus access, with physical cards issued only when students have documented device compatibility issues or religious considerations. While current students will continue using traditional plastic BuzzCards until additional campus systems are ready to support the transition later this semester, this change represents a significant modernization of campus operations. Faculty and staff who activate digital credentials can use both versions simultaneously, but new students’ digital cards replace physical ones entirely. For questions, contact Swarm Support at 404.894.2470 or visit the BuzzCard website.

Small Bins, Big Impact: Young Learners Join Georgia Tech’s Sustainability Efforts

Georgia Tech is cultivating environmental stewardship from the earliest ages. Child-friendly waste stations have been installed at The Children’s Campus, Georgia Tech’s on-campus childcare center, enabling preschoolers ages 3 to 5 to participate in composting, recycling, and waste reduction. The project, led by the Campus Services Sustainability team in partnership with the Office of Sustainability’s Zero Waste Task Force, creates hands-on learning opportunities that connect classroom lessons about plants and natural cycles to real-world environmental action. Students sort waste after meals and snacks, reinforcing daily sustainability habits. In July, rising kindergarteners from TCC toured the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, the greenest building in the Southeast, where they explored solar panels, compost systems, beehives, and reclaimed materials. By introducing sustainable practices early, Georgia Tech is building a community-wide culture of environmental responsibility that extends across all ages.

Events & Professional Development

Avant South 2026: AI in Action

Atlanta’s premier tech and innovation event, Avant South, returns October 12-13 with a focus on “AI in Action”. Presented by the City of Atlanta in collaboration with local universities including Georgia Tech, this two-day conference brings together founders, executives, investors, policymakers, researchers, and students to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming industries from logistics and fintech to healthcare and media. Attendees will gain insights into how leaders across sectors are putting AI to work in practical, real-world applications. The event takes place at Tech Square in Atlanta, with registration at $25, and includes free food and freebies. This is an excellent opportunity for Georgia Tech students, alumni, and faculty to connect with the broader innovation ecosystem shaping Atlanta’s future as a national center of AI excellence.

Alumni in Accessibility: Nandita Gupta

On September 3rd from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM, Georgia Tech will celebrate alumna Nandita Gupta, an accessibility and AI product leader who is making a difference in inclusive technology. Gupta holds a master’s degree in Human and Computer Interaction from Georgia Tech and has led accessibility initiatives at Microsoft and Cisco, combining expertise in HCI, user experience, and inclusive design to create technology that works for everyone. A TEDx speaker and passionate advocate for inclusive technology, Gupta will share insights from her career advancing accessibility in digital products and developer tools. The event takes place at the Caddell Flex Space (280 Ferst Drive, 1st Floor), with a light lunch provided. Space is limited, so interested attendees should register in advance, with both in-person and online options available.

Georgia Tech Women’s Club Fall Open House

The Georgia Tech Women’s Club invites faculty, staff, and alumni to its Fall Open House on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the GTRI Conference Center. The event features Dr. Beth Cabrera, Georgia Tech’s First Lady since 2019, as guest speaker. Dr. Cabrera is a positive psychology expert, researcher, and author who has recently published Being Well: A Positive Path to a Healthier, Happier You. The gathering from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM offers community, lunch, and the opportunity to connect with fellow women in the Georgia Tech community. The event is free for GTWC members and guests; RSVP is required. Free visitor parking is available at the conference center located at 250 14th Street NW.

Research & Academic Opportunities

Fossil Friday: Join Paleontology Research

Every Friday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the Spatial Ecology and Paleontology Lab welcomes participants to join Fossil Friday sessions held in L1125 Ford ES&T. Participants become fossil hunters, sorting through 35,000-year-old rock matrix collected from Natural Trap Cave in Wyoming to recover and identify specimens. This hands-on research experience allows community members—students, faculty, alumni, and the public—to contribute to cutting-edge paleontological research examining how ecosystems surrounding Natural Trap Cave have changed since the extinction of North American megafauna including cheetahs, lions, dire wolves, mammoths, camels, and horses. No commitment or prior experience is required; participants can drop in whenever convenient and bring friends. Data collected during Fossil Fridays may be included in research publications. For more information, contact Katie Slenker at kslenker3@gatech.edu or visit the Spatial Ecology and Paleontology Lab website. Sessions are scheduled throughout the fall semester and into December.

Stay Connected

These stories showcase Georgia Tech’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, inclusivity, and groundbreaking research. Whether you’re a current student exploring digital transformation, an alumnus making an impact in your field, or a community member interested in supporting the next generation of Yellow Jackets, there are countless ways to engage with Georgia Tech’s mission. What’s exciting you most about Georgia Tech’s recent developments? Share your thoughts and stay tuned to gtjackets.com for more news from your Institute.