Virtual humans speaking with museumgoers about their experiences surviving the Holocaust. A phone app giving soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder a mental health specialist in their pocket. Computer-generated actors populating many top Hollywood films and bestselling video games.

The USC Institute for Creative Technologies has been at the forefront of augmented and virtual reality technology such as these since its founding in 1999. The institute conducts cutting-edge research in key computing areas such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, geospatial sciences and many others.

These technological breakthroughs, positioned near Hollywood and the Silicon Beach tech corridor in west Los Angeles, have earned ICT numerous plaudits, including two Academy Awards, 29 patents and hundreds of thousands of citations. Three ICT researchers have been named fellows of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the world’s foremost AI research organization.

These accomplishments and more were on display at the ICT 25th anniversary event held Aug. 19 at the center’s headquarters in Playa Vista within Silicon Beach.

“ICT is truly one of the most wonderful beacons for exploration and innovation,” USC President Carol Folt said at the event. She noted the institute’s history of trailblazing work and its ability to evolve and expand its research areas, including in virtual reality, augmented reality, graphics rendering and artificial intelligence.

Innovative history

Demonstrations in the institute’s core areas of research drew attendees, who were able to engage with numerous technologies developed at ICT during its history. Of special interest was research in natural language processing, computer vision and machine learning, which culminated in the development of virtual humans capable of engaging in realistic conversations.

At the event, Folt noted that “ICT is a front line for USC in our new frontiers of computing,” referring to the USC Frontiers of Computing “moonshot,” a $1 billion-plus, 10-year initiative to fast-track developments in advanced computing and expand the impact of scientific discovery in Los Angeles County’s growing tech corridor that encompasses USC Silicon Beach.

Human-centric technology

From its beginnings, ICT has developed technology-driven solutions to real-world applications for all walks of life. “ICT came into existence because of the convergence of outstanding technology, creativity and commitment to national security and our enduring human values at USC,” said Yannis C. Yortsos, dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, which is home of ICT, at the event. Bill Swartout, chief science officer of ICT, noted ICT’s tremendous growth since its inception.

As one of only a handful of university affiliated research centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense in the country, ICT-developed technology spans a wide array of everyday applications as well. Louis Caldera, the former U.S. secretary of the Army who spoke at the event, said ICT’s standing as a university affiliated research center demonstrates how its creative and technological experts have a deep understanding of which kind of technologies to bring to the Army.

ICT’s proximity to Hollywood and tech startups in L.A. also positioned it to play a role in advancing computer technology in the entertainment industry. “ICT has leveraged the best Hollywood immersive techniques and the best creative processes to envision and integrate the future,” ICT Executive Director Randall Hill said at the event. Graphic-rendering innovations from ICT have led to creating lifelike computer-generated characters in films such as Avatar and other Hollywood blockbusters.

One example that blends ICT’s research areas is the BRAVEMIND project, led by Skip Rizzo, Arno Hartholt and Sharon Mozgai. A virtual reality therapy system, this project has produced meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms in clinical trials and has been adopted by Veteran Affairs medical centers and other sites that serve the needs of veterans.

“What we do here at ICT is look at what technologies are out there, and how can we apply those technologies to challenges in society,” said Rizzo, whose work in virtual reality-based PTSD exposure therapy received the American Psychological Association’s 2010 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Treatment of Trauma. Mozgai, the director of the Virtual Human Therapeutics Lab at ICT, said, “While we are excited about the recent advances in AI, a core value of our work is to responsibly integrate this technology into our applications.”

Bridging the past and future

Other work includes the New Dimensions in Testimony project, a collaboration with USC Shoah Foundation — The Institute for Visual History and Education that gives visitors the opportunity to engage with an AI-powered video display of Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter. The specialized video display utilized advanced filming techniques developed using ICT’s Light Stage technology.

“Conversations are a powerful learning tool,” said Ron Artstein, a research scientist who demonstrated the interactive technology to attendees, engaging in a real-time virtual conversation with Gutter that made an emotional impact on many attendees. “When you talk to a person, you build an emotional connection. New Dimensions in Testimony lets people talk with historical witnesses in an immersive way.”

Researchers from the Visions & Graphics Lab demoed Text to Avatar, which lab director Yajie Zhao describes as “the front line of human-avatar technology.” Pairing sophisticated facial geometry and texture data in a digital environment, the project will utilize a deep learning model to “create numerous avatars that could fill entire environments,” Zhao said.

Developing computer-generated imagery for Hollywood is a central theme in ICT’s history: Visions & Graphics Lab researchers earned an Academy Award in 2010 for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and the institute received a second award in 2018 for technical achievement. The applications stretch to other media as well. The hit video game The Last of Us also incorporated work developed through the institute’s motion-capture technology.

Creating the future

The two-day event and reception brought together key figures from the institute’s history to reflect on the progress made and to look to the future of ICT. Yortsos said the institute’s ability to bring together disparate industries including entertainment, academia, tech and the military has helped improved the lives of people worldwide.

Looking to the future, Hill said the institute would continue to bring together USC researchers and experts in immersive technologies to create the next generation of Department of Defense training tools and simulations: “The future is looking at how humans and machines can team together in all kinds of capacities.”

Jerre and Mary Joy Stead are dedicated to helping improve health and wellbeing globally, giving more than $400 million to nonprofit organizations as well as investing in innovative startups through Stead Impact Ventures and Foundation.

Philanthropic giving has been stitched into their lives since the earliest days of their marriage. As newlyweds, they lived on only $2,900 a year, yet still donated $250 of that. Since then, Jerre Stead has led 11 public companies as CEO, including Clarivate, IHS Markit and Ingram Micro — and the couple’s philanthropy has grown as well.

“When we were young, we didn’t know what we couldn’t do,” Jerre Stead said, “and we still don’t know what we can’t do—so we do it.”

“Generosity lifts us outside of ourselves, bringing us joy,” Mary Joy Stead added.

The Keck School of Medicine of USC has benefited from that can-do spirit. The Steads have invested $12.5 million in the Department of Neurological Surgery to support transformative clinical and research innovation and entrepreneurship. Their gift establishes the Stead Family Neurological Surgery Innovation Fund, the Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Family Chair in Neurological Surgery, and the Jerre and Mary Joy Stead Family Neurosurgical Innovation Lab.

“We share a vision with USC to create a neurological surgery center of excellence, led by the leaders in the field, to swiftly accelerate research and advance care,” the Steads said in a statement. “We believe USC will lead neurosurgical innovation and improve patient outcomes for decades to come.”

Support President Folt’s Health Sciences 3.0 “moonshot”

The gift supports USC President Carol Folt’s Health Sciences 3.0 “moonshot,” an ambitious expansion of health sciences work across the university. The initiative recognizes the university’s unique position as a place where Trojans can make scientific discoveries, cure diseases and design new models of care. It is focused on catalyzing team-based research, education and care for the communities surrounding USC’s campuses and health system as well as patients worldwide.

The Steads’ neurosurgery gift enabled USC to recruit one of the nation’s most highly regarded neurosurgeons, Aaron Cohen-Gadol. He joined the Keck School of Medicine in July as vice chair of innovation and professor of neurological surgery.

The education and innovation platform he founded, the Neurosurgical Atlas, features novel techniques and is used by more than 90% of practicing neurosurgeons.

“Neurosciences, including neurosurgery, comprise a major component of our plan to expand research and clinical impact in the coming years, and Dr. Cohen-Gadol is a perfect fit to help realize our vision for igniting discovery,” said Carolyn C. Meltzer, dean of Keck School of Medicine. “His deep expertise and focus as a physician-scientist-educator drives breakthroughs toward addressing real-world surgical and health challenges. His emphasis on furthering the practice of neurosurgery, translating discovery to patients, and educating students and other physicians is ideally aligned with our overarching goals as a medical school where innovative thinking combines with research and skill to optimize human health.”

Neurosurgery at USC: Cohen-Gadol’s Trojan roots

Cohen-Gadol earned his medical degree at USC in 1997, and since then has become a relentless innovator committed to technical excellence in neurosurgery and performing more than 7,400 complex brain surgeries. In 2022, he was awarded the Vilhelm Magnus Medal, the highest honor in neurosurgery granted by Scandinavian countries. Only a dozen people have received the award.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Cohen-Gadol returning to USC and bringing his clinical and research expertise to our patients and community,” said Steven Giannotta, chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery. “Dr. Cohen-Gadol’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit will provide immediate impact to the patients and families he will serve, and his research efforts through the Neurosurgical Atlas will surely draw additional talent and resources to the Keck School of Medicine research enterprise.”

“For the past 20 years,” Cohen-Gadol said, “I have had the honor of advancing the art of neurosurgery beyond what I imagined could be possible, influencing the training of thousands of neurosurgeons worldwide and the lives of countless patients across the globe. I am excited to continue this mission in partnership with my colleagues at USC.”

Arizona residents Jerre and Mary Joy Stead are inspired by USC’s vision for creating a neurological surgery department that will be a global center for innovation, entrepreneurship and education: “We believe that, with partners like USC, we can foster new levels of innovation and help bend the curve of some of the biggest health and wellness challenges we face today.”

Trojans learned important tips on Monday during USC’s Safety and Preparedness Fair. The event on the University Park Campus was presented by the USC Department of Public Safety, USC Environmental Health & Safety, USC Fire Safety & Emergency Planning, and USC Transportation.

USC President Carol Folt welcomed leaders in sustainability to the university for the 18th Annual Los Angeles Business Council Sustainability Summit.

The standing-room-only event was held at Town and Gown on the USC Unviersity Park Campus during the university’s fourth annual Green Week. The awareness week, started by Folt and her sustainability-focused working group, celebrates all that USC has accomplished in making campuses and operations greener.

It also heralds the collaboration between USC students, faculty and staff who are committed to the university’s sustainability mission, Assignment: Earth. Folt introduced the framework in 2022 to ensure the university remains a leader in sustainability operations, research and education.

“Because we are in L.A., our global platform and our global economy can really help set the pace,” Folt said, addressing a crowd made up of academic, business, government and nonprofit leaders. “Sustainability is deeply embedded in this city.”

(Story continues below video.)

Video — Learn about USC’s sustainability “moonshot” and the Assignment: Earth initiative:

“I am not filled with despair,” she said. “I carry feelings of hope together with urgency every day, and the reason I feel it is because of people like you, but also driven by the youth of our world.”

Los Angeles Business Council Sustainability Summit: Addressing challenges

The summit addressed numerous sustainability challenges including how to reach clean energy goals, the need for energy and infrastructure investment, and the future of the region’s water supply.

“California, in so many ways, is Exhibit A for the climate crisis,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, who previously served as the chair of the California State Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications. “Yes, it is real, we’re not in denial, and it’s not some risk far off in the future. It is here it is now.”

The summit also highlighted a newly completed USC study, commissioned by the Business Council, that examines the difficulties trucking companies serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach face in achieving zero-emission drayage fleets that can ship freight by land, water and air by 2035, as mandated by California’s Advanced Clean Fleets laws.

“I think there’s a large sector of the industry that is going to need more information and more support, and that is one of the recommendations that we are making,” said Marlon Boarnet, professor of public policy at the USC Price School of Public Policy and director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium. METRANS is a joint partnership between USC and California State University, Long Beach.

The report indicates that there are opportunities for policymakers to hasten the carbon-reduction effort such as providing subsidies that will help pay for the switch to zero-emission, hydrogen and electric trucks, as well as public-private partnerships with funds that back renewable energy projects including for transportation.

New Trojans Cielo Barroso Espidio and Fernanda Morales Soto were happy to find seats inside a crowded La CASA space on the fourth floor of the Gwynn Wilson Student Union building on Thursday. The twofreshmen from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences had only recently met, but they stuck together as they navigated a bustling open house event inside the space on the University Park Campus that for more than five decades has been a home away from home for Latino students at USC.

“It’s just nice to have an area to study with a community you feel comfortable with,” said Barroso Espidio, who is from Portland, Ore. “We are all at this prestigious university and can collaborate and accomplish things together.”

Morales Soto, who is from San Jose, had already visited La CASA during an orientation and connected with the vibe of the space. “It’s really important in higher education to be around other Latinos who are very well-accomplished and have such drive,” she said.

Student Equity and Inclusion Programs hosted the joint open house for its six centers — Asian Pacific American Student Services, Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs,First Generation Plus Success Center, La CASA, the LGBTQ+ Student Center and the Veterans Resource Center — and two Culturally Affirming Lounges — Native American and Pasifika Student Lounge and Middle Eastern North African Student Lounge. Staff members were on hand to answer questions, and fellow students who already frequent the spaces were also present for swag giveaways and to snack on an array of Sprinkles cupcakes.

“Today’s a fantastic day,” USC Vice President for Student Life Monique S. Allard said as she made her way around the various spaces. “It’s the start of the semester, so it’s a wonderful time for us to connect folks with each other, with university resources and with the communities. It’s good to see students wandering in and out of all of the cultural and resource centers, making friends, grabbing a cupcake and just having a good time.”

More room for students to belong

During the 2023-24 academic year, the various centers and lounges saw 62,704 visitors. After a series of renovations last year, the spaces were tripled in size from 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. The changes have resulted in less cluttered areas for Asian Pacific American Student Services, La CASA, the LGBTQ+ Student Center and the Native American and Pasifika Student Lounge. The larger student spaces also now connect with shared kitchens and meeting rooms, an arrangement that has paved the way for more interaction between the different student groups.

Each area honors specific cultures and identities through artwork and other features, but all have one common design element: Stenciled on the wall of each space in large letters are the words “You Belong at USC.”

Student Gamma Posselt of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering sought a sense of belonging when they dropped into the LGBTQ+ Student Center on Thursday and chatted with a staff member and a fellow student. The nonbinary first-year student is part of the USC Trojan Marching Band but has been worried about finding “other people like me.”

“Finding this space has definitely helped assuage those fears,” Posselt said. “It makes me feel a lot better just knowing that there’s a place for me to be myself in a way that I can’t be in other places.”

Places to make memories

Graduate student Daniella Lake of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, who is new to campus, paid a visit to the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs open house for a cupcake and to socialize.

“I was really involved in my community back at UC Berkeley and I want to tap into the Black community here,” Lake said. “I only have one year here, and I want to meet people and feel a part of it. Even if it’s just coming here to do homework, this could be my way to feel connected to the community.”

Standing nearby, CBCSA student employee Annmarie Easy said Lake had come to the right place.

“I always say, ‘Don’t be scared to just walk in and say hi,’” said Easy, a USC Dornsife political science major. “This is where I’ve met all of my friends, including some who have become mentors. It’s meant a lot to me and all my best memories are here.”

Junior Sophia Hou of the USC Marshall School of Business dropped into APASS for some swag. A transfer student from Pasadena City College, she’s grateful the various Student Equity and Inclusion Programs spaces are located in the center of campus.

“They are very accessible, and I think I’ll be visiting a lot,” Hou said. “I feel like the more often I go, the more I will feel connected with the people. They also have phone chargers, which is very important.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off in their first and only scheduled debate tomorrow night.

USC experts are available for pre- and post-debate comment and analysis.

Contact: Nina Raffio, raffio@usc.edu or (213) 442-8464; USC Media Relations, uscnews@usc.edu or (213) 740-2215

Campaigns, Polls and Voters

Mindy Romero is a political sociologist whose research focuses on political behavior and patterns of voting and political underrepresentation, particularly among youth and communities of color in California and the U.S. She is the founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy.

Contact: msromero@usc.edu

###

Bob Shrum is the director of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in practical politics at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

A renowed political strategist, Shrum has served as speechwriter for Senator George McGovern and Senator Edward Kennedy, as well as a strategist in numerous winning campaigns at various levels of government, including for Joe Biden, John Kerry and Al Gore in presidential races.

Contact: shrum@usc.edu

###

Christian Grose is an expert on American government, political representation, polling and elections. Grose is a professor of political science and public policy at USC Dornsife and academic director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at USC Price.

Related article: Polls get a lot of hype, but what do they really tell us? A Q&A with polling pro Christian Grose

Contact: cgrose@usc.edu

###

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will face off in their first and only scheduled debate tomorrow night.

USC experts are available for pre- and post-debate comment and analysis.

Contact: Nina Raffio, raffio@usc.edu or (213) 442-8464; USC Media Relations, uscnews@usc.edu or (213) 740-2215

Campaigns, Polls and Voters

Mindy Romero is a political sociologist whose research focuses on political behavior and patterns of voting and political underrepresentation, particularly among youth and communities of color in California and the U.S. She is the founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the USC Price School of Public Policy.

Contact: msromero@usc.edu

###

Bob Shrum is the director of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in practical politics at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

A renowed political strategist, Shrum has served as speechwriter for Senator George McGovern and Senator Edward Kennedy, as well as a strategist in numerous winning campaigns at various levels of government, including for Joe Biden, John Kerry and Al Gore in presidential races.

Contact: shrum@usc.edu

###

Christian Grose is an expert on American government, political representation, polling and elections. Grose is a professor of political science and public policy at USC Dornsife and academic director of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at USC Price.

Related article: Polls get a lot of hype, but what do they really tell us? A Q&A with polling pro Christian Grose

Contact: cgrose@usc.edu

###