News and Events

The Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) researchers at The University of Georgia hosted its 2nd Symposium on Convergent Safety, convening researchers, industry leaders, and public-sector partners to explore cross-domain approaches to safety in transportation, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. The annual event, held on April 18, 2025, underscored a growing national need for integrated safety solutions that bridge human factors, data science, regulatory frameworks, and emerging technologies.

Convergent Safety is an emerging field that focuses on addressing complex risks that span traditional disciplinary boundaries. With the rapid expansion of automation, AI-driven systems, and distributed networks, speakers stressed that safety must be approached holistically — not in silos.

This year’s symposium highlighted a range of work underway at UGA and partner institutions, including new CR2C2 research.

One major highlight of the event was the recognition of CR2C2’s contributions to advancing safe and efficient mobility solutions in rural communities. As part of this ongoing work, Dr. Yang has been invited to present at the ITS World Congress, to be held August 24–28, 2025 in Atlanta. His presentation, titled “Elevating Safety with Generative AI,” will showcase key findings from CR2C2 Project P2-1, which investigates how generative AI can enhance safety decision-making, risk monitoring, and human-technology coordination.