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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Atlanta, GA | Posted: October 16, 2019
A. Maureen Rouhi, Ph.D.
Director of Communications
College of Sciences
Summary Sentence:
Fourth-year aerospace engineering Ph.D. student wins quiz 4 of ScienceMatters Season 3.
Full Summary:
Fourth-year aerospace engineering Ph.D. student Venkata Ramana Makkapati wins quiz 4 of ScienceMatters Season 3.
Venkata Ramana MakkapatiVenkata Ramana Makkapati has won quiz 4 of ScienceMatters Season 3. Venkata is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the School of Aerospace Engineering. He hails from Vijayawada, India.
"I apply optimal control, reinforcement learning, and differential games to address problems pertaining to autonomous vehicles," Venkata says about his research. In his work with aerospace engineering professor Panagiotis Tsiotras, Venkata's focus is safe path planning and airspace security.
"As an aerospace engineer interested in research, I chose Georgia Tech for its fundamental research in control systems and its amazing facilities," Venkata says. "I also like the weather here in Atlanta, which is similar to that of my hometown in India."
Venkata learned about the ScienceMatters podcast from his friend Vinodhini Comandur, winner of quiz 2. "Since then I have been following the podcasts and answering quiz questions."
Venkata considers the ScienceMatters podcasts "a much-needed learning experience for me." He says he enjoys listening during breaks from his research.
The quiz question for episode 4 was: What mathematical concept does Rafael de la Llave explain with the help of 15 ball bearings?
The correct answer is Arnold diffusion.
Episode 5 features Sally Ng, one of the top experts in the world on aerosol science, the study of tiny particles in our atmosphere and what they mean for our climate and our health.
Here’s the quiz question for episode 5:
Submit answer here by 5 PM on Monday, Oct. 21.
Stylish t-shirts, must-have beaker mugs, and textured posters perfect for dorm rooms are among the prizes offered to those who are picked at random from all submitting correct answers. Look for the challenge during each week’s new episode, dropping on Tuesdays from Sept. 17 to Nov. 19.
