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Where can you go to learn about topics from the many uses of AI, self-balancing robots and wildflower habitats for boosting wild bee abundance to exploring optimal treatments for Covid-19, and the impact of sleep disorders on insulin resistance and obesity in one afternoon? Hundreds of attendees learned about those and more during the 15th Annual Science, Technology and Research Symposium (STaRS), hosted by the School of Science and Technology at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC).

For GGC student Collins Ademola, ’26, an information technology major concentrating in cybersecurity, the event was a chance for him to explain how a script he wrote can help organizations ultimately make their websites less prone to hackers.

“It’s ethical hacking,” he said. “With the organization’s permission, I can test their website to discover how secure it is. The script I wrote automates the process to reduce the repetitiveness of manually testing a site. It will help an organization fortify its security.”

For Dr. Joseph Ametepe, SST’s interim dean, the event began in 2011 with just eight student research posters, a form of presentation common at professional scientific conferences. Today, there were 85 posters and 11 demonstrations on the three floors of GGC’s Allied Health and Sciences building.

“From first-year students to seniors, the posters provide a valuable exercise for students to reflect on the steps they took. Additionally, students learn to engage with people and explain their work. Some of those individuals are our community partners, and our students might even secure an interview for an internship or a job.”

GGC is unusual in that its science majors benefit from research opportunities throughout their college careers, not just in their final years.

In addition to GGC faculty, staff and students attending, several business leaders also attended.

“I really enjoy seeing the quality of the work that GGC students do,” said Harrison Finney, president and general manager of IndSpyre Solutions, Inc. in Lawrenceville. “I’m impressed with how well they present their work. Seeing all that they do gives me hope for the next generation of professionals.”

Finney, who also serves as an SST Board of Visitors member, said that he hopes to find the talent his company needs locally.

“I’m looking for interns and also hope to hire GGC graduates,” he said.

Ametepe added that the STaRS event could inspire future innovations.

“This event helps inspire students to see just how many career options they can have in the areas of research across a wide variety of industries,” he said.