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Fall 2024 Events

Alumni News
Congratulations to Science, Technology & Society (STS) 2024 graduate Kayla Turnage! Kayla achieved Research Distinction for her STS Senior Thesis, “Xenotransplantation:  An Alternative Solution to the National Organ Shortage,” awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Research. This award “recognizes students who have exhibited exceptional commitment to the research, scholarship, and creative activities communities and have embraced the ‘Learning-by-Doing’ culture at Cal Poly Pomona.” Xenotransplantation is a developing biotechnological process that involves grafting or transplanting organs or tissues between members of different species. In her thesis, Ms. Turnage argues that xenotransplantation “is a viable option for addressing the national organ shortage and extending the lives of those who are in need of organ transplants.” 

This summer, Ms. Turnage was an intern for U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. 

She reports:  My time in Georgia was absolutely amazing. I had the privilege of working in the Atlanta Office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock! I learned and experienced so much while working with the Senator’s Team! I was one of only five interns selected nationally for the Session II Summer Program. My primary duties included communicating with constituents, recording their concerns, and compiling reports for senior staff to review. I also developed a policy presentation with my fellow interns about establishing broadband infrastructure in rural Georgia to expand access to telemedicine.

During my internship, I had the opportunity to accompany senatorial Outreach Representatives on several field meetings with various organizations. On one of the outings, I met Dr. John Lipman of the Atlanta Fibroid Center. He is a leading expert in the Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) procedure and has saved thousands of women from potentially receiving unnecessary hysterectomies. He is currently communicating with Congress, advocating for legislation that could improve the lives of others with this procedure. I was lucky enough to observe Dr. Lipman perform the procedure and to have a one-on-one in-person interview discussing the impact of his work. I am currently writing an article to increase awareness about uterine fibroids, Dr. Lipman’s contributions the medical field, and the less invasive UFE alternative. 

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Albert Fattal was a nontraditional student at CPP, having numerous years of working experience before enrolling in Science, Technology & Society. He was drawn to STS because he realized it offered a good basis for exploring his research interests in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, while being supported by the program’s implementation of CPP’s “learning by doing” approach to undergraduate research. 

Albert valued the program’s focus on research on societal issues relating to technology along with a requirement of selecting a minor from a science or technology field that supported this research. He also learned a considerable amount from engaging with his cohort on their unique research topics.

 Albert’s work on his senior thesis enabled him to achieve his academic goals of presenting his research on AI and Blockchain at the 2019 International Data Engineering & Science Association (IDEAS) Global AI Conference and publishing a few papers in the CSU Scholar Works database. Following commencement, Albert completed an MBA at Cal Poly and has enjoyed an enriching public service career in Technology at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.  He is currently a Research Analyst III in the Program Directions section of the Division of Research and Statistics.

Spring 2024 Events

The STS Program presents:
On Crap and Writing with ChatGPT
Ava Thomas Wright  | Cal Poly SLO
Philosophy Department and Affiliate of Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering
Monday April 29, 2:00-3:30; Building 121, Room 1967-69
Abstract:  Some educators advise embracing the use of generative AI writers like ChatGPT in writing instruction. In this paper, I will argue that generative AI writers like ChatGPT pose a threat to practices of good communication in writing, and that we should in most cases avoid their use.  The reason, I argue, is that AI writers produce a form of speech that I will delicately refer to as “crap,” and crap is antithetical to good communication.

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