What We're Building: LIVE 2025-2026 Ignite Grant Projects

Wednesday September 9 | 12p-1p | 1400 18th Ave S A2009

Join us Wednesday where the final members from the 2025-2026 cohort of the Ignite Tech Grant winners show us the latest in their innovations. Read the previews of the their projects below to learn more about what they sought to create.

Exploring AI Ethics in the Classroom with Agents of ViTAL: Ethics Mission

Sarah Burriss & Namrata Srivastava | College of Connected Computing

 

This project aimed to transform an existing educational game for middle school students, (Agents of ViTAL: Ethics Missions, developed by the NSF supported EngageAI Institute), enhancing its approach to exploring AI ethics by incorporating a specially-designed conversational agent. Expanding on the current game, the new effort actively engages students through an innovative LLM-powered EthicsBot. 

Reality Remix: Integrating Technology & Emotional Insight

Eric Park | Owen Graduate School of Management

 

This project built upon the concept that augmented reality (AR) renders virtual content through egocentric spatial repositioning (ESR), which proposes that virtual content can be embedded within a user’s existing physical space increasing perceived consequentiality. It resulted in the creation of an application that enables continued exploration of how embedding virtual content in learners’ physical environments can support perspective-taking, empathy, and social responsibility.

Grant awardees received dedicated development time from LIVE’s Research Engineer, Albert Na, who helped turn their learning technology ideas into reality. Join us Wednesday to see the results and learn how these projects have a larger impact on education research. Pizza and drinks will be served.

LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grants

LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grants provide concentrated support from LIVE’s research engineer to bring innovative learning technology ideas to life or help existing tools take bold new steps forward. These grants are designed to support projects that demonstrate clear conceptual value, pragmatic goals, anticipated impact, and feasibility. 

 

A focus area for the 2026 application cycle is the Vanderbilt's Meta Virtual Reality CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment).

Vanderbilt faculty, research scientists, postdocs, and graduate or undergraduate students from any college are eligible to apply.

Ignite Proposals are due Wednesday Sept 16, 2026

Historical Fantastical Remix

New GenAI Writing Competition Theme

Join the Peabody Library each month for an exciting new challenge that brings together creativity and cutting-edge technology by inviting students to co-create short writing pieces using generative AI tools like Gemini, Amplify, ChatGPT, and Claude.

 

This month's challenge is Historical Fantastical Remix that invites students to create a philosophical stance that combines the wroldview of one nonfictional person and one fictional character. 

Meet & Greet with the Student Leadership Team

Calling All Students

Grad school is better with a crew! Come find yours.

 

The LIVE Student Leadership team is hosting an informal Meet & Greet for grad students across Vanderbilt: food, student-led demos, crafts, and a chance to meet people from other departments, plus an intro to LIVE and what's available to you.

 

Event Details: Thursday Sept 10 | 6p-8p

LIVE HIVE Lab Research Space: 1400 18th AVE S

This event is open to students new to LIVE or already involved; all are welcome.

Sep 16

Knowledge-Graphs & Curriculum Development

Tim Darrah, College of Connected Computing

Sept 23

When can AI strengthen human, relational skills?  Insights from testing AI-enabled training for novice therapists

Ryan Louie, College of Connected Computing | Peabody College

Oct 7

Against the Singularity Hypothesis: Why AI May Not Become Superintelligent

David Thorstad, College of Arts & Science

Explore the Fall 2026 LIVE Learning Innovation Seminar Series at the link below

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