Announcements
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2026
"I’m with our CS study abroad in Japan group on the Shinkansen (“bullet train”) going 281 mph, and it feels like going 50 on fresh asphalt - smooth and quiet. It’s a fantastic example of what engineers collaborating across the disciplines can accomplish. It’s also taking us away from Fukuoka, where we participated in the centuries-old tea ceremony between visits to robot factories and the Toyota Lexus factory using thousands of them.
It’s a great reminder of the promise of innovation combined with a strong heritage. Over the last year, I’ve been pondering how we need to change and adapt to the AI-forward environment. I’ve talked with many grads, and it’s reassuring to hear unanimously how our CS core principles remain incredibly valuable, while the field reshapes itself on a daily basis.
We had our first faculty retreat in years, led by our fantastic CS Education faculty, to develop the set of requirements for today’s student, and we’ll spend the summer starting to reshape our degrees for today's challenges. Our MS in Artificial Intelligence Systems and their Applications should be approved shortly, and our corresponding BS will be introduced next year, while our Cybersecurity degree continues to grow. As a recent article in The Atlantic by Lila Shroff argues, " There’s Never Been a Better Time to Study Computer Science!"
See some examples below of our faculty’s success and innovation - like creating a film to educate kids on data and AI and renting the local movie theater for its premiere!
As always, please stop in to say hello if you’re in town, or reach out virtually. I’d love to catch up and pick your brains on how we can grow.
Go ‘Cats!
Dan"
DataFest is an event through the American Statistical Association (ASA) that has students use real-world data from research partners to analyze, organize, and build a presentation in a 48-hour session. K-State's DataFest is organized by the Institute of Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A). Winners from K-State included our own Supriya Bolla, Eder Martinez, and Arron Webber!
Read more about DataFest on K-State Today.
More than 100 children and parents gathered at AMC Manhattan 13 on May 23 for the premiere of A Data Science Tale: When Data and Pixel Met, an animated film created by Kansas State University computer science faculty to introduce young learners to artificial intelligence and data science.
The film was developed by Dr. Safia Malallah, teaching assistant professor of computer science, and Dr. Lior Shamir, professor and head of the Department of Computer Science. Designed for children ages 4-8, the movie follows the adventures of Data and Pixel as they explore concepts such as data, patterns and artificial intelligence through engaging stories and colorful animation.
The premiere marked a significant milestone for a project that aims to make emerging technologies accessible to young audiences. Families from across the Manhattan area attended the free event, filling all 100 available seats and demonstrating strong community interest in helping children understand the technologies that increasingly shape everyday life.
"Our mission is to help all children understand the meaning of AI and how it works," Malallah said. "We want children to see that data science and technology are not something to be afraid of, but something they can explore, understand and enjoy."
Following the screening, families had the opportunity to meet the creators and learn more about the educational goals behind the film. The event highlighted the growing importance of AI literacy and the need for educational resources that introduce complex concepts at an early age.
The premiere built on previous outreach efforts led by Malallah and Shamir. Earlier this year, the Data and Pixel team visited local schools, where students watched the film and participated in hands-on activities demonstrating how data can be used to ask questions, identify patterns and solve problems. The enthusiastic response from students helped inspire the public premiere and reinforced the value of introducing data science concepts through storytelling.
The project was supported in part through the Kansas NSF EPSCoR ARISE initiative, which promotes innovative research and educational outreach throughout Kansas. Collaborators on the effort included Ruth Huston and Lucas Shivers, who helped support educational programming and community engagement activities associated with the project.
For Shamir and Malallah, the film represents a new approach to broadening participation in computing by reaching children before they form perceptions about who can become a scientist, engineer or technology professional.
"Children are naturally curious about the world around them," Shamir said. "When we present data science through stories and characters they can relate to, they quickly grasp ideas that many people assume are too advanced for young learners."
The successful premiere is expected to be the first of many Data and Pixel adventures. The creators plan to continue developing educational content and outreach activities that help children, families and educators explore artificial intelligence and data science in engaging and accessible ways.
More information about Data and Pixel and future activities is available at pixelanddata.com.
Title: System and Method for an Agricultural Machine
Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Jeremy A. Amundon, Aryan Singh Dalal, and Ajay Sharda
Filed: April 4, 2024
Serial No.: 18/626,856
Docket No.: 26509/CNHW-791
US Patent No.: 12,490,733
Grant Date: December 9, 2025
K-State Ref. No.: 2024-042
Kevin Roy, a senior in computer science in the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, created an AI platform called "Revix AI" to help himself and other students study. More information is available on the story page for Kevin Roy.
2025
Rodney Howell's paper is available online.