Whole Communities–Whole Health’s (WCWH) annual symposium kicked off with good vibes by recognizing seven outstanding community partners. The awards, presented in two categories, honor organizations and individuals whose dedication has been instrumental in advancing WCWH’s mission to build research collaborations that benefit Central Texas families.

Two research teams won rapid-turnaround grants at the 2025 Whole Communities–Whole Health Research Symposium for projects tackling health and environmental issues in Central Texas.

Building trust is at the heart of Whole Communities–Whole Health’s research. By returning data, listening to feedback and engaging families as collaborators, WCWH is strengthening community connections and refining approaches to long-term, community-based studies.

Experts in AI, the humanities, and ethics gathered at Johns Hopkins for the Ethical & Responsible AI University Collaborative to explore how academic institutions can guide AI development

Led by Planet Texas 2050's Dev Niyogi, the UT-City Climate CoLab — a collaborative effort between the city’s Offices of Sustainability and Resilience and researchers at UT — made significant strides in its first full year in 2024.

Planet Texas 2050’s RISE project uses cutting-edge tools, from acoustic sensors to AI, to monitor and protect the state's increasingly endangered ecosystems.

After designating 2024 the “Year of AI,” The University of Texas at Austin had a record-breaking year in its efforts related to research, education and service involving artificial intelligence.

Good Systems' "Being Watched" project is tackling the ethical challenges of smart city surveillance by balancing public safety, privacy and equity through innovative frameworks and community-focused solutions.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson discusses how the city is exploring and deploying various AI technologies. Good Systems is a key partner in many of these endeavors, including the development of smart hand tools that might be useful to City of Austin workers, the use of digital twins to aid real-time fire tracking and smoke analysis, and the development of standards and guidelines that help ensure the city utilizes AI ethically and responsibly.

The University of Texas’ Speedway Mall was taken over Friday afternoon by parading robots, a mariachi band and community members flashing pictures in the culminating event of UT’s “Year of AI.”