Two decades after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans in 2005, its impact remains a defining chapter in American history. The storm’s unprecedented surge overwhelmed levees and devastated neighborhoods like the Lower Ninth Ward, exposing long-standing racial and economic disparities. The disaster displaced hundreds of thousands, with states like Georgia absorbing evacuees and undergoing lasting demographic and economic shifts. Experts reflect on Katrina as both a natural and social catastrophe, emphasizing the need for stronger infrastructure, inclusive evacuation planning, and long-term community resilience. As climate change intensifies future threats, Katrina’s lessons remain urgent — reminding us that the effects of disaster ripple far beyond the floodwaters and endure for generations.
The Institute accounts for more than 25% of the University System of Georgia’s total economic output.
Researchers from Georgia Tech have created a material inspired by seashells to help improve the process of recycling plastics and make the resulting material more reliable.
Feature Stories
Campus and Community
After winning the Governor’s Cup in 2024, the Charitable Campaign team is searching for volunteers to help spread the word for 2025.
On August 28, Demo Day 2025 will showcase of 100+ student and faculty-led startups solving real-world problems — no pitches, just interactive tech.
Whether you’re new to campus or need a refresher, this is your guide to Georgia Tech alerts and policies.
Health and Medicine
Microsurgeon Shao-Yun Hsu takes treating her patients all the way to Georgia Tech, where she’s getting a Ph.D. and developing biomaterials to restore function — and quality of life — for people with lymphedema.
Engineers use sodium bicarb to “self-pressurize” a pill able to deliver drugs that usually require injection directly to the small intestine.
Shriners Children’s will open a $153 million pediatric medical research facility at Science Square, becoming the largest tenant in the development and contributing to Georgia Tech’s growing role in Atlanta’s life sciences sector.
Science and Technology
A new study explains how tiny water bugs use fan-like propellers to zip across streams at speeds up to 120 body lengths per second
Researchers from Georgia Tech have created a material inspired by seashells to help improve the process of recycling plastics and make the resulting material more reliable.
Record-breaking numbers from the Office of Commercialization drive meaningful inventions, IP, and industry partnerships.
Earth and Environment
Liming, a centuries-old agricultural practice, can improve crop yield and greenhouse gas reduction.
Researchers have identified a record-long lightning "megaflash" that extended for 515 miles.
Experts say that more accurate depictions of sharks can help protect them and highlight their role in global ecosystems.
Society and Culture
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina’s catastrophic landfall, its legacy of destruction, displacement, and deepened inequality continues to shape communities and challenge disaster preparedness across the U.S.
Georgia Tech researchers have discovered persistent community-wide economic effects from school shootings.
What do Americans think of when they hear the words “general education”?
Business and Economic Development
Agriculture is the largest cause of deforestation. So, it follows that forest expansion efforts would displace agriculture — but new research from Georgia Tech's School of Economics reports that that’s not necessarily the case.
Record-breaking numbers from the Office of Commercialization drive meaningful inventions, IP, and industry partnerships.
Engineered stone has been in use for homes since the 1970s but creates serious health hazards for workers who produce them.
