Kennesaw State University held its annual PechaKucha Night on Monday, highlighting the variety and impact of research conducted across its nine academic colleges. The event, organized by the Office of Research, required presenters to use a visual storytelling format where each slide advanced automatically every 20 seconds.
Executive Vice President for Research Karin Scarpinato commented on the presentations: “Each researcher rose to the challenge of crafting a succinct, timely presentation that illustrated their research’s impact to the audience. We are proud of the work our researchers are doing to create new knowledge that advances society for all.”
Several presentations focused on health and wellness. Mitchell Zaplatosch, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, introduced a smart water bottle designed to track activity and improve hydration. Mahmut Karakaya, Associate Professor of Computer Science, presented a device that enables early detection of diabetic retinopathy using smartphones.
Srijeet Halder, Assistant Professor of Construction Management, discussed his research on robots intended for construction applications to help reduce physical strain on workers.
Technology was another key theme. Aaron French, Assistant Professor of Information Systems, talked about how making artificial intelligence more accessible could influence society in the future. Billy Kihei, Associate Professor of Computer Engineering, described an auto-doppler sensor project aimed at enabling communication with vehicles without radios.
Personal stories also shaped some projects. Jeremy Speed-Schwartz, Assistant Professor of Digital Animation, shared “The Paper Ecosystem,” which combines digital animation and origami and originated from activities with his daughter. Marrielle Myers, Professor of Mathematics Education, discussed her book “Operation Feed the Ducks with Marlee the Mathematician,” which is designed to help children learn math independently.
Vanessa Slinger-Friedman, Professor of Geography, addressed fast fashion’s global effects and described OwlSwap—a KSU clothing exchange program that supports students facing needs insecurity while promoting sustainable clothing donation practices.
Andrew Haddow, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, spoke about his virology research and experiences studying vector-borne diseases in Africa.
In addition to presentations, KSU’s research centers offered interactive demonstrations where attendees could engage directly with graduate students about their work in an informal setting.
