GVSU Tech Talks highlight work by faculty, staff

GVSU experts in cybersecurity, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and extended reality gave a glimpse into their groundbreaking work and technology during the GVSU Tech Talks on September 20 at the John G. Russell Leadership Center in Grand Rapids. 

The event was part of Tech Week GR, showcasing the region’s tech community and its key industries and projects.

GVSU’s Zachary DeBruine, Luke DeMott and Julie Goldstein shared how they are experiencing technology either in their classroom, with their research or in their office. Milos Topic, vice president for Information Technology and chief digital officer, moderated the panel discussion.

“I really want to recognize the culture of Grand Valley faculty who are very open-minded and ready to test and explore new things,” Topic said.

DeBruine, assistant professor of computing, is leading research into bioinformatics and developing artificial intelligence algorithms to manage massive biological data files. DeBruine offered his son’s experiences with the health care system as a caveat and a prediction.

His son was diagnosed with epilepsy, but repeated trips to the emergency room could not determine the correct medication to alleviate his symptoms. 

The correct medication was finally discovered, and DeBruine said his son has been seizure-free for years, but coupled with his bioinformatic research, DeBruine said, artificial intelligence will eliminate that lengthy diagnostic process.

“We’ll be revisiting how we store electronic health records and process them,” DeBruine said. “We’ll be revisiting charting software and where it becomes intelligent.

“This is when clinicians can interface with their knowledge base and the history of that patient will have software that makes recommendations or software that provides insights.”

Goldstein, assistant professor of film and video production, is working in the classroom with extended reality. Her work in partnership with the GVSU Art Gallery digitally enhanced the artwork of Grand Rapids’ impressionist painter Mathias J. Alten. 

“The way I've used AI, and the way I'm trying to implement it into the classroom, is to get the students to really think about themselves,” Goldstein said. “Who they are in relation to the technology and to use it as a tool, something to have a conversation with, not something to replace.”

Luke DeMott, assistant vice president for Information Technology and chief information security officer, provided an overview of the privacy, security and ethics associated with AI, discussing the future of the technology and its implications. He reminded the audience to limit their personal data from AI interfaces, like ChatGPT. 

“It is important to realize how much impact artificial intelligence can have on how we work, how we make decisions and what we do,” DeMott said.