Computing in Action -- Summer 2026

Gabrielle Allen attended NAIR Pilot Classroom Expansion Conference

by Gabriel Allen

 

June 2026 — We had an energizing two days last week at the NAIRR Pilot Classroom Expansion Conference for Research-Emerging Institutions with Small-to-Medium Computing Programs in Denver! Some fifty faculty, administrators, and educators from across the country came together to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities around AI education, workforce development, research, and community building.

The conversations were thoughtful, practical, and forward-looking, covering everything from AI literacy and curriculum design to assessment, accessibility, and building sustainable communities of practice. Most importantly, the workshop highlighted the tremendous innovation already happening at institutions of all sizes and the value of learning from one another.

Thank you to the Computing Research Association (CRA) for coordinating this effort as part of their NAIRR Education Hub, and to the outstanding team whose hard work made the conference so successful: Raya Hegeman-Davis, PhD, Renée McCauley, George K. Thiruvathukal, Dr. Stephanie T. "DJ" Jones. A special thank you to Shelley Knuth and David Hart for their talks and sessions on NAIRR and explaining NAIRR resources and the allocation proposal process.

I am particularly excited by the enthusiasm participants showed for continued collaboration and the growing community focused on expanding AI education opportunities across research-emerging and smaller computing programs. The ideas, partnerships, and momentum generated this week will continue beyond the workshop itself.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared experiences, and helped make this such a successful event.

 

 

School of Computing Supports Native American Summer Institute

The University of Wyoming School of Computing was pleased to support UW’s Native American Summer Institute (NASI), a six-day residential pre-college program that introduces Native American high school students to the college experience while strengthening leadership, community, and cultural connections.

 

School of Computing faculty Dr. Raya Hegeman-Davis and Dr. Ramesh Sivanpillai, along with students Tyler Gallagher, Anais Canto Samudio, William Colin Maloy, and Korrin Sutherburg, hosted two interactive sessions featuring hands-on activities, including a giant interactive floor puzzle.

 

Through academic workshops and engagement with UW faculty, staff, and students, NASI helps participants explore higher education and future opportunities. The School of Computing is proud to contribute to this important UW initiative and help create welcoming pathways for Native American students to discover computing and its applications.

 

 

Computing Curiosity Starts Early

School of Computing faculty member Ramesh Sivanpillai recently visited third-grade students at Indian Paintbrush Elementary School for a hands-on lesson exploring how satellite images help us track changes on Earth. The students’ enthusiasm was unmistakable—and one student even sent Ramesh home with a memorable hand-drawn thank-you note.

 

These visits are a favorite way for Ramesh to close each academic year. Second- and third-graders bring tremendous curiosity, asking questions and eagerly exploring how technology helps us understand the world around us. Years later, when he encounters some of these students again in middle school, they have grown and changed remarkably.

 

For the School of Computing, outreach like this matters. Early experiences help students see that computing is fun, approachable, and already part of their everyday lives. Introducing computational thinking, data, satellite technology, and AI at a young age can demystify computing—and encourage students to keep asking, exploring, and discovering.

 

 

Bringing Computing Down to Earth

School of Computing faculty member Ramesh Sivanpillai recently introduced Wyoming middle and high school students to the power of satellite imagery and Earth observation. Students from nine schools learned about geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites—and how the data they collect help track hurricanes, floods, wildfires, crop growth, and forest health.

 

Ramesh brought the lesson down to Earth with an interactive activity allowing students to write their names using Landsat images through NASA’s website, connecting sophisticated technology with something personal, visual, and fun.

 

Middle school outreach is an important part of the School of Computing’s commitment to building curiosity early. Students may not yet describe what they are doing as computing, data science, or computational thinking, but they understand what captures their imagination. Age-appropriate, hands-on experiences help demystify computing and show young learners that it is already everywhere—helping us explore our planet, understand change, solve problems, and discover what’s possible. Ramesh keeps an comprehensive account of his outreach on his  Wyoming View blog.