One of the top conferences for AI and computer games is recognizing a School of Interactive Computing professor with its first-ever test-of-time award.

At its event this week in Alberta, Canada, the AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment (AIIDE) is honoring Professor Mark Riedl. The award also honors University of Utah Professor and Division of Games Chair Michael Young, Riedl’s Ph.D. advisor.

Riedl studied under Young at North Carolina State University.

Their 2005 paper, From Linear Story Generation to Branching Story Graphs, highlighted the challenges of using AI to create interactive gaming narratives in which user actions influence the story’s progression. 

In 2005, computer game systems that supported linear, non-branching games were widely used. Riedl introduced an innovative mathematical formula for interactive stories ranging from choose-your-own-adventure novels to modern computer games.

“We didn’t use the term ‘generative AI’ back then, but I was working on AI for the generation of creative artifacts,” Riedl said. “This was before we had practical deep learning or large language models.

“One of the reasons this paper is still relevant 20 years later is that it didn’t just present a technology, it attempted to provide a framework for solving a grand challenge in AI.”

That challenge is still ongoing, Riedl said. Game designers continue to struggle with balancing story coherence against the amount of narrative control afforded to users.

“When users exercise a high degree of control within the environment, it is likely that their actions will change the state of the world in ways that may interfere with the causal dependencies between actions as intended within a storyline,” Riedl and Young wrote in the paper.

“Narrative mediation makes linear narratives interactive. The question is: Is the expressive power of narrative mediation at least as powerful as the story graph representation?”

AIIDE is being held this week at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. Riedl will receive the award on Wednesday.

The second Wearable Health Equity Workshop was held on October 30, 2025, at the Georgia Tech Marcus Nanotechnology Building. The workshop presented some of the latest wearable health technologies and offered practical solutions for advancing rural healthcare.

The all-day workshop was sponsored by the Georgia Tech Wearable Intelligent Systems and Healthcare Center (WISH Center), the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT), and the Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS). 

Academic, clinical, and industry leaders gathered to learn about some of the most exciting wearable technologies and explore proven, practical solutions for improving health in underserved rural areas. Medical professionals from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Albany, Georgia shared real-world solutions to providing more effective healthcare in their regional, rural areas.

The morning keynote speaker was Philipp Gutruf, Ph.D., an associate professor and associate department head of biomedical engineering at the University of Arizona. Gutruf’s research focuses on creating devices that intimately integrate with biological systems, developing wireless, battery-free, and fully implantable platforms for biosignal monitoring, neurostimulation, and biointerfaces.

The afternoon keynote speaker was Kimberlee McKay, M.D., with Avera Medical Group in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. McKay is a physician-leader in women’s health who has redefined how obstetrics and gynecology are delivered across rural and underserved communities. 

A technology panel moderated by Alexander Adams, Ph.D., assistant professor, in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech included:
* Andrea Braden, M.D., Founder & CEO of Lybbie and medical director of the Atlanta Birth Center
* Farrokh Ayazi, Ph.D., director of the Georgia Tech Analog Consortium, Regents Entrepreneur, and Ken Byers Professorship in Microsystems
* Rosa Arriaga, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing at Georgia Tech
* Steve Xu, M.D., CEO Sibel Health, medical director at Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics Northwestern University was scheduled, but was unable to attend.

In the afternoon, a rural health panel was moderated by Rudolph Gleason, Ph.D., professor in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech. 
Those panelists were:
* Shelly Spires, M.S.M., CEO Albany Area Primary Health Care, Inc.
* W. Brad Jones, Ph.D., CEO Life Well Promotions
* Ruwanthi Ekanayake, M.D./Ph.D. candidate, Emory University - Rollins School of Public Health and Emory School of Medicine

The best poster awards were won by postdoctoral research fellow Jimin Lee, Ph.D., and mechanical engineering doctoral student Garan Byun. The best rapid talk award winner was Ramy Ghanim, a doctoral student in chemical engineering.

Key faculty organizers of this year’s event included W. Hong Yeo, director of the WISH Center and professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering; Clint Zeagler, director of strategic partnerships in IPaT; Josh Lee, research program manager in the WISH Center; Alexander Adams, assistant professor, School of Interactive Computing; and Rudy Gleason, professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The Foley Scholar Awards recognize the achievements of top graduate students whose vision and research are shaping the future of how people interact with and value technology. Previous finalists have originated from the College of Engineering, College of Computer Science, College of Design, and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.

Winners and finalists for the 2025 Foley Scholar Awards were celebrated at Georgia Tech's hotel and convention center on November 5, 2025. The event was hosted by the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT) with its executive director, Michael Best, serving as the master of ceremonies as each finalist was recognized for their innovative research. 

Many winners of this scholarship have moved into faculty positions or became industry leaders in their research areas. 

"Both the winners and the finalists represent the brightest minds that Georgia Tech has to offer," said Michael Best. "Our finalist candidate pool is always composed of truly outstanding researchers. Selecting the winners is never easy," said Best.

James Foley, professor emeritus and computing pioneer in graphics and human-computer interaction for whom the awards are named, once again delivered inspiring and valuable insight at the conclusion of the evening's festivities celebrating the achievements of all finalists.
 

Congratulations to the 2025 Foley Scholar winners who are:

Joon Kum, M.S. student in human-computer interaction was awarded $1,000.

Rachel Lowy, Ph.D. student in human-computer interaction was awarded $5,000.

Niharika Mathur, Ph.D student in human-centered computing was awarded $5,000.

Mohsin Yousufi, Ph.D student in human centered computing was awarded $5,000.

The finalists in the master's category were Umme Ammara, Jo Chung, Joon Kum, and Christine Taylor.

The finalists in the Ph.D. category were Grace Barkhuff, Rachel Lowy, Niharika Mathur, Shravika Mittal, Michelle Reckner, Mohsin Yousufi, Yilun Zha, and Qiao Zhang.

A short description of each finalists' unique research along with their Georgia Tech faculty advisor is listed below:

Umme Ammara is a master's student in human computer interaction advised by Michael Best and Carrie Bruce. Her research vision is using human-centered design to improve healthcare systems in underserved settings.

Jo Chung is a master's student in computer science advised by Betsy DiSalvo. Her research vision is to design interactive systems that empower users through meaningful engagement and equitable access.

Joon Kum is a master's student in human computer interaction advised by Ashok Goel. His research vision is closely aligned with IPaT’s mission and values. He believes in the power of interdisciplinary research to support teachers and students, especially for those who are marginalized and underrepresented.

Christine Taylor is a master's student in human computer interaction advised by Maribeth Coleman. Her core research vision is to design meaningful, human-centered technologies that address high-stakes problems in collaboration with the communities they serve. For example, one of her current research projects focuses on designing an AI predictive tool to detect patient deterioration at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.

Grace Barkhuff is a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing advised by Ellen Zegura. Her research vision centers around computing education and ethics. For example, her current research seeks to understand how instructors can ethically use GenAI in the higher education classroom.

Rachel Lowy is a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing advised by Jennifer Kim. Her research focuses on building accessible technologies that foster learning, agency, and inclusion for people with disabilities and neurodivergent people, whose cognitive and learning profiles differ from those of the broader population, through strengths-based understandings of their skillsets.

Niharika Mathur is a Ph.D. student in human-centered computing advised by Sonia Chernova and Elizabeth Mynatt. Her research vision involve building human-centered AI systems that not just perform reliably, but also explain themselves in user-aligned ways.

Shravika Mittal is a Ph.D. student in computer science advised by Munmun De Choudhury. Her research goal is to help create a safe, inclusive, and responsible online information ecosystem, one that empowers vulnerable groups with equitable knowledge, the freedom to communicate their struggles openly, and a supportive community.

Michelle Reckner is a Ph.D. student in civil engineering advised by Iris Tien. Her research vision is to develop the most effective decision-making methodologies possible utilizing available data to determine whether to repair old infrastructure or construct new infrastructure while considering the types of infrastructure that will most benefit a community. 

Mohsin Yousufi is a Ph.D. student in digital media advised by Yanni Loukissas. His research vision is to investigate and build creative technologies that address systemic epistemic injustices and reinvigorate democratic civic engagement.

Yilun Zha is a Ph.D. student in architecture advised by Ellen Dunham-Jones and Hui Cai. His research addresses food challenges by developing and applying geospatial computational methods to investigate how the design of the built environment and emerging technologies influence dietary behaviors and contribute to diet-related diseases.

Qiao Zhang is a Ph.D. student in computer science advised by Christopher MacLellan. Her research involves designing and investigating human-AI teaming studies—identifying suitable tasks, agent types, and natural paths for alignment and adaptation.

A collection of photos from the November 5, 2025, Foley Scholar awards dinner are available here.

Shazia, who uses one name, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Georgia Tech, has been named the recipient of The Carter Center Digital Democracy Fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year. The fellowship, jointly supported by The Carter Center and Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT), recognizes graduate students working at the intersection of digital technologies and democratic processes.

Open to all Georgia Tech graduate students, the fellowship provides $15,000 in support—disbursed to the recipient’s advisor—and offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with The Carter Center’s Democracy Program. Fellows are expected to engage in IPaT programming and contribute to ongoing research and communications efforts throughout the year.

Shazia’s research centers on the sociopolitical dynamics of the Hazara community in Balochistan, Pakistan. Her dissertation, titled “Assemblages of Security: Violence and (re)Construction of identities in the Case of Hazaras,” explores how digital platforms have reshaped traditional forms of resistance and identity formation. As part of the fellowship, she will focus on how Hazaras have used platforms like Facebook and Twitter (now X) to transform sit-in protests into new modes of democratic struggle.

Her study poses critical questions: How have digital technologies influenced local governance in Balochistan? In what ways have these platforms enabled global advocacy for Hazaras? And how has digital activism contributed to the shaping of Hazara identity both within Pakistan and on the international stage?

“These questions speak directly to the missions of both The Carter Center and IPaT,” said Shazia. “I have always wanted to bring digital democracy into my research because of the 2013 Hazaras protest in Balochistan, Pakistan, which incorporated the use of online digital platforms. Online posts and engagement eventually resulted in the dissolution of the local government.”

The concept of “digital democracy” has gained traction in recent scholarship, often described as a transformative force capable of revolutionizing governance and citizen engagement. Shazia’s work exemplifies this potential, offering insights into how marginalized communities leverage technology for political agency and global visibility.

Her selection as Digital Democracy Fellow underscores Georgia Tech’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and highlights The Carter Center’s ongoing efforts to support democratic engagement through technology.

Shazia will be working closely with Anthony DeMattee, Ph.D., a data scientist in The Carter Center Democracy Program. She is advised by Amit Prasad, professor of sociology in the School of History and Sociology.

“This Fellowship represents the significant partnership between IPaT and the Democracy Program at The Carter Center, centered on the digital transformations of democratic practice,” said Michael Best, executive director of IPaT. “Shazia’s research will focus on how social media platforms have reshaped the politics of a community that is too often overlooked.”