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Meeting 2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
Symposium Preparing Undergraduate and Graduate Students - and the Faculty who Prepare Them - for Materials Careers (The Judson Education Symposium)
Presentation Title Why College? Rethinking Higher Education in the Age of AI
Author(s) Kelvin Yu Xuan Xie
On-Site Speaker (Planned) Kelvin Yu Xuan Xie
Abstract Scope During a recent undergraduate recruitment event, a high school student asked me: “Why should I go to college if AI can already answer everything?” This talk offers a personal response to that question. I will argue that the value of college lies not in the information it provides, but in the mindset it cultivates. College teaches students not just how to find answers, but how to ask meaningful questions — something even the most advanced AI cannot replace. Additionally, I will highlight the often-overlooked social dimension of higher education - the chance to form lifelong friendships and experience a transformative period of growth. In the age of AI, we should view these technologies as tools to enhance learning, not as replacements for the human-centered experience that college offers.
Proceedings Inclusion? Planned:
Keywords Machine Learning, Other,

OTHER PAPERS PLANNED FOR THIS SYMPOSIUM

A Case Study of Teaching Materials Informatics in an Undergraduate Environment With an Industrial No-Code Software Tool
An Innovative Study Abroad Version of “Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering”
AskSparks: A Virtual Teaching Assistant Using Retrieval-Augmented Generation to Support Materials Science Students at Scale
Cultivating Your Network for a Successful Faculty Career
Disruptors and Opportunities for the Materials Education Community- Insight From the University Materials Council
Don’t Fault the Students… Fix the Structure!
Entering the Tenure Track - Tips for Success
From Add-on to Essential: Authentically Incorporating Ethics in Materials Education
How Does an External Departmental Seminar Program Influence Student Career Goals?
Integrating Additive Manufacturing Simulations into Introductory Materials Science Courses
Integrating an Object-Based Project to Reinforce Core Concepts in Materials Science and Engineering Education
Lessons Learned Teaching a Hybrid Failure Analysis Materials Course on the Collegiate Level
Leveraging Creativity, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science to Train Graduate and Undergraduate Students in Materials Science and Engineering
Mastery Through Second Chances: Retake Policies in a Graduate Course
Mentoring: The Importance of Embracing “Mentoring” as a Dynamic Engine That Requires a Regular Maintenance Schedule
Navigating From Associate to Full: Tips on Making Your Own Path
Podcast Power: Strengthening the Materials Education Community
Preparing the Engineer of the Future: Why Interdisciplinary Education Belongs in Materials Curricula
Preparing Undergraduates to Contribute to Advanced Manufacturing- A Need for Raw Material Supply Chains Modules
Redesigning Materials Education Through Code and Generative AI
Satisfying ABET Along the Way
Superheroes to the Rescue! Turbocharging Engagement and Smashing Boundaries
Supporting Students With Varying Levels of Prerequisite Knowledge in Materials Science Courses
Teaching Sustainable Materials Design by Connecting TMS With Engineering for One Planet
The Impact of Facilitating Undergraduate Research on Faculty
Through the Looking Glass: Reflections on Hopping between Academia and Government Laboratories
Transfer Students in Materials-Intensive Engineering: Understanding the Impediments to Professional Development and Success
Why College? Rethinking Higher Education in the Age of AI

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