The Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy

Cal Poly’s Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy (IATPP) offers a platform for interdisciplinary research that truly embodies Learn by Doing. Through the IATPP, students from across campus collaborate on meaningful projects that create real-world impact — and your support plays a vital role in strengthening the cross-departmental partnerships that make it possible.

Funds raised will go toward compensating our student researchers for their time and supporting travel to conferences and archives, enriching their learning and preparing them for their future careers.

Currently, IATPP students are working on the African Californios research project, which brings together faculty and students from the history department and the computer science department, representing an exciting collaboration between the two colleges. By working across disciplines, students gain hands-on experience collaborating outside of their academic programs while contributing new perspectives and technical expertise toward a shared goal.

Led by history lecturer Cameron Jones, Ph.D., and computer science professor Foaad Khosmood, Ph.D., students on the project are applying historical research methods and developing digital tools that analyze archival records to identify early Californians of African descent. 

“We are uniquely situated in a place where we can bring liberal arts and computing together to do very interesting projects, and this has many benefits. I'm personally interested in all these things that I'm not an expert on — history, philosophy, narratives. Being able to brainstorm with some of the brilliant faculty in the College of Liberal Arts is very exciting, and I just hope that we can do more of this.”  

— Foaad Khosmood, computer science professor

This project seeks to unearth the largely untold history of settlers of African descent in early California and build resources that will help shine a light on their history. These resources will include biographies, photos, sample lesson plans, and a database of African Californios from 1769 to 1850. Beta versions of these resources are available at AfricanCalifornios.org.

The Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy:

The Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy tackles today’s most complex challenges — spanning energy, the environment, agriculture, and government transparency — by leveraging emerging technology to inform and shape public policy. Through partnerships with industry and government leaders, interdisciplinary teams of Cal Poly students and faculty develop practical, real-world solutions grounded in the University’s Learn by Doing tradition and designed for meaningful impact.

Learn more about the IATPP by visiting our website: iatpp.calpoly.edu.