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Echoes and Algorithms, a Spelman College Podcast
Echoes and Algorithms, a Spelman College Podcast

Black Girls, Big Ideas: How Spelman Is Shaping the Future of Tech, Episode 3

28 February 2026 39:26 SpelmanEchoes

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About this episode

What happens when the most creative minds at an HBCU get access to cutting-edge technology — and the freedom to use it on their own terms?

In this episode of "Echoes and Algorithms," Dr. Mark Lee steps inside Spelman's Arthur Blank Innovation Lab — where students and faculty aren't just learning about the future, they're building it. Meet the team behind PlantGPT, using sensors and AI to revolutionize how we care for plants. Hear about the "Context of Curls," groundbreaking research exposing how AI gets Black hair wrong. Discover how Spelman students are partnering with Nourish + Bloom Market — the first autonomous grocery store with robotic delivery in the United States and the first African American owned autonomous grocery store in the world. And find out how a national HBCU Game Jam is putting Spelman women at the center of gaming culture.

From AI literacy to augmented reality, from CodeHouse mentorship to inclusive design that actually includes us — this is what innovation looks like when Black girls lead.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

  • PlantGPT — AI-powered, sensor-driven plant care
  • Context of Curls — research challenging how AI represents Black hair
  • Nourish + Bloom Market — a historic, first-of-its-kind autonomous grocery store
  • The HBCU Game Jam — Spelman women shaping the future of gaming
  • CodeHouse — mentorship that turns curiosity into careers

Guests:

  • Jaycee Holmes, C'2016, co-director of the Spelman Innovation Lab
  • Blanca Burch, C'2022, Spelman College's inaugural AI Innovation Scholar
  • Temple Dees, C'2027, computer science major / interactive media minor

"Echoes and Algorithms" is Spelman College's signature podcast series hosted by Dr. Mark Lee, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs.

Spelman isn't just keeping up with the tech revolution. She's shaping it.

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© 2026 Echoes and Algorithms, a Spelman College Podcast. All rights reserved.

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