Curious Conversations

Andrew Katz joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Katz shares his insight related to the applications of AI models, such as chat GPT, in analyzing student responses and providing feedback, as well as the challenges of AI in education and hope it can provide a more individualized education experience.

Katz is an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Education and the director of the Improving Decisions in Engineering Education Agents and Systems (IDEAS) Lab at Virginia Tech. His current areas of interests include exploring how students learn and make decisions that affect the environment, how educators can use digital technologies, how engineers make design decisions for automated technologies that affect communities, as well as how education systems can promote a holistic student formation that fosters mental and physical health.

Chapters:

01:05 -- Establishing the IDEAS Lab

03:02 – Katz journey to Engineering Education

05:08 -- Exploring Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Education

08:22 -- Applications of AI Models in Education

13:02 -- Challenges and Limitations of AI in Education

18:56 -- The Potential of AI in Education

Rose Wesche joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the science behind the warm, fuzzy feelings that often accompany a new romance, the transition from infatuation to attachment, and how to maintain intimacy and passion in relationships. She also shared her research exploring the emotional outcomes of casual sexual relationships and provided advice for those in relationships.

Wesche is an assistant professor of the Human Development and Family Science department in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Her research focuses on how diverse interpersonal relationships, including friendships, romantic relationships, and casual sexual relationships, are associated with adolescents’ and young adults’ well-being. 

Chapters

01:39 -- The science of romantic feelings

02:50 -- The transition from infatuation to attachment

05:05 -- Maintaining intimacy and passion in relationships

08:39 -- The importance of communication in relationships

10:48 -- Understanding casual sexual relationships

14:15 -- Advice for those in relationships

Luiz DaSilva joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the evolution of wireless networks, the importance of advancing the next generation of wireless, and the critical role the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is playing in that

DaSilva is the Bradley Professor of Cybersecurity in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Executive Director of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. His research interests include wireless networks, with a focus on networks of adaptive and cognitive radios, and the application of game theory to network resource management.

Chapters

00:59: Exploring the generations of wireless networks

04:04: Importance of advancing to the next generation of wireless

11:22: Understanding testbeds and their role in tech development

14:26: Unique features of CCI's testbed

19:38: The importance of partnerships and collaboration

Ashely Dayer chast about her work at the intersection of birds and humans, including a new project that explores the positive impact bird feeding has on human well being and general tips for the hobby.

Dayer is an associate professor of Human Dimensions in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and is an affiliated faculty member of the Global Change Center. She also leads the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab, which is home to the National Bird Conservation Social Science Coordinator.

Chapters

03:02 – Research on Birds and People

07:26 – Project Feederwatch and investigating the positive impacts of bird feeding on humans

09:09 – Bird feeding habits and winter survival

12:15 – Tips for bird feeding

Harden is an associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Physical Activity Research and Community Implementation Laboratory, as well as an exercise specialist with Virginia Cooperative Extension. Her research focuses on the yoga kernels of mindfulness, breath work, and movement and how yoga can promote flourishing (personal, professional, and communal wellbeing) and longevity (healthy aging).  

Koeun Choi chats about the impact of media on young children. She shared insights from her research on screen time and young children and introduced a project she’s working on that explores the use of artificial intelligence to help children learn to read.  Choi is an assistant professor of human development and family science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and the director of the Cognitive Developmental Science (CoDeS) Lab.

Anna Zeide joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the history of foods traditionally connected to holidays occurring during the winter months, as well as the nature of developing personal traditions. 

Zeide is an associate professor of history at Virginia Tech. She is also the founding director of the Food Studies Program in the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences. She studies food as a way of understanding environmental change, dynamic cultural practices, consumer behavior, technology, health, and justice.

Feng Lin joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the chemistry behind creating better batteries for electric vehicles. He broke down some of the current challenges to mass producing an effective and affordable battery, and shared his thoughts on the potential for coal in helping overcome these hurdles. 

Lin is an associate professor in Virginia Tech’s Department of Chemistry and the Leo and Melva Harris Faculty Fellow in the College of Science. His research focuses on solid-state batteries, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, smart windows, and fuel cell catalysts.

Ismini Lourentzou chats about artificial intelligence and machine learning related to personal assistants, as well as her student team’s recent experience with the Alexa Prize TaskBot Challenge 2.  Lourentzou is an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and core faculty at the  Sanghani Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics. She is also an affiliate faculty member of the National Security Institute and the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture.

Roop Mahajan joined Virginia Tech’s “Curious Conversations” to chat about the value of international collaborations to research and innovation, as well as how they’ve contributed to his work advancing the “wonder material” graphene. Mahajan is the Lewis A. Hester Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of strategic research and innovation for Virginia Tech India.