The University System of Georgia (USG) released its annual report highlighting the significant economic impact that Georgia’s higher education institutions had across the state between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The data calculated by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business includes a breakdown of Georgia Tech’s benefit to the state.

The study shows that the USG contributed a total of $19.3 billion to Georgia’s economy during the 2021 fiscal year. Georgia Tech’s economic impact is the highest of any USG institution, with nearly $4.2 billion — a 4.6% increase from FY 2020.

Two Georgia Tech faculty are contributing to the newly created Sustainable Building Material Technical Advisory Committee, a group focused on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in our state. Russell Gentry, director of the Digital Building Lab in the College of Design, was appointed chair and will lead the effort to track carbon for trees used in construction. Wood building materials will then be part of the state’s carbon registry, which will allow carbon credits to be bought and sold.

The committee also relies on Valerie Thomas, the Anderson-Interface Chair of Natural Systems in the H. Milton School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, to determine net carbon benefit of sustainable materials versus conventional construction materials.

Salt marshes cover much of Georgia’s coast and perform key "ecosystem services” for people. They clean the water, protect coastlines against storm surges, and provide a habitat for fish and shellfish. A new study by researchers in the Georgia Tech College of Sciences finds that a species of grass that dominates those marshes has bacteria in its roots and surrounding soil that affects productivity by providing nutrients, highlighting the importance of soil microorganisms in the entire ecosystem. The study was conducted at salt marshes near Sapelo and Skidaway Islands on the Georgia coast in 2018 and 2019.

Applications for the high-impact Smart Community Corps (SCC) internship are now open through Feb. 28 to all undergraduate and graduate students at any Georgia college or university. The program offers opportunities to apply acquired knowledge and skills to real-world challenges in communities throughout our state.

Paired SCC interns will work over the summer on projects that help Georgia cities become better, more connected places to live, work, and thrive. In addition to a full-time summer stipend, Corps participants are provided curriculum programming in sustainability, innovation, career development and mentorship.

Summer 2022 projects span from the Atlanta airport to the cities of Savannah, Valdosta and Woodstock. Read about the interns and projects from last year.

Georgia students can apply on the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation website, which includes descriptions of each new impact project and information about the projects supported by the 2021 cohort of interns.

MARTA announced plans for a pilot of on-demand rideshare services, in collaboration with Georgia Tech researchers. Beginning March 1, the 6-month MARTA Reach program will test how shuttles can better connect riders to bus and rail services across the West Atlanta, Belvedere, and Gillem Logistics Center service zones.

The Institute will also join MARTA to host a virtual rider workshop Feb. 8, offering the community additional information about MARTA Reach.

Two teams of researchers from the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering received $5.3M Department of Energy funding to collaborate with Georgia manufacturers to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of paper, tissue, board, nonwovens and gypsum board production.