Tandon's Agents of Optimism

In a world where dangers appear in the air and in the water, at macro levels and at nanoscale, the world needs heroes. Heroes to take on climate change, malicious Al, cybercriminals, and more. But no one hero can do it alone. This holiday season, a brave team is joining forces across disciplines to rise to the challenge ... to fight back ... to save our cities, our infrastructure, our health, and our planet ... The Agents of Optimism!


Metaverse Maven

Secret Identity: Carla Gannis, Industry Professor
Affiliation: TCS

SUPERPOWER
Creates incredible, immersive, and equitable worlds with her mind. 

View Carla Gannis's profile

"The Energizer"

Secret Identity: André Taylor, Professor
Affiliation: CSE, SEI

SUPERPOWER
Harnesses the power of the sun for chemical reactions.

View André Taylor's profile

The Carbon Clobberer

Secret Identity: Miguel Modestino, Director of Sustainable Engineering Initiative
Affiliation: CBE, SEI 

SUPERPOWER
Strips carbon out of chemical processes, one reaction at a time.

View Miguel Modestino's profile

wearables warrior

Secret Identity: Rose Faghih, Associate Professor
Affiliation: BME

SUPERPOWER
Senses your mental state at the slightest touch.

View Rose Faghih's profile

AI Illuminator

Secret Identity: Julia Stoyanovich, Associate Professor/ Director, Center for Responsible Al
Affiliation: CSE, R/AI, VIDA, CDS 

SUPERPOWER
Shines a light on algorithms allowing Al to be a force for good.

View Julia Stoyanovich's profile

Data Dominator

Secret Identity: Maurizio Porfiri, Director of Center for Urban Science & Progress
Affiliation: MAE, BME, CUE, CUSP

SUPERPOWER
Sees trends in data invisible to the human eye.

View Maurizio Porfiri's profile

The Hacker Halter

Secret Identity: Justin Cappos, Associate Professor
Affiliation: CSE, Center for Cybersecurity

SUPERPOWER
Stops cyber­criminals in their tracks.

View Justin Cappos's profile

Neurobozeus

Secret Identity: S. Farokh Atashzar, Assistant Professor
Affiliation: ECE, MAE, BME, CUSP, NYU WIRELESS

SUPERPOWER
Controlling robots around the globe with the power of the mind and commanding robots to democratize access to medicine even in the most distant galaxy of the universe.

View S. Farokh Atashzar's profile

"Nanoscale Sensation"

Secret Identity: Elisa Riedo
Affiliation: Professor, Director of Faculty Development

SUPERPOWER
Commands atoms to assemble into new forms of healthcare, electronics, & super­hard materials.

View Elisa Riedo's profile

Digital Defender

Secret Identity: Siddharth Garg, Institute Associate Professor
Affiliation: ECE, CCS, NYU WIRELESS

SUPERPOWER
Builds force fields to protect the digital world.

View Siddharth Garg's profile

 
professor J

Secret Identity: Jelena Kovačević, Dean, William R. Berkley Professor
Affiliation: NYU Tandon

SUPERPOWER
Strategic silo slashing to unleash unconventional engineers to create safer, healthier, more sustainable global urban communities.

View Jelena Kovačević's profile

 

Read the Comic Book


group of NYU and city officials at 3 Metrotech

NYU invests $1 billion in Tandon

NYU purchases 3 Metrotech Center as part of a long-term investment in engineering.

"Engineering Optimism" cover

Discover the power of optimism

Learn more about how our agents of optimism are changing the world for the better in our annual publication.