News at SDState

of Engineering at South Dakota State University. On the afternoon of March 13, just before spring break began, Todd Letcher, associate professor of mechanical engineering, was notified that all three of the SDSU teams he oversees had qualified for the finals of the Gateways to Blue Skies competition, which is managed by the National Institute of Aerospace on behalf of NASA. That means three of the eight finalists for the national contest are from South Dakota’s land-grant institution.

From health care to agriculture to education, artificial intelligence is reshaping the modern world, and college graduates must have the skills, knowledge and tools to meet the challenges and demands AI presents across nearly every industry. To ensure its graduates are ready to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world, South Dakota State University has announced the establishment of the Center for AI Innovation and Emergent Technologies.

Researchers in South Dakota State University's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering are developing algorithms that allow artificial intelligence to gather meaning from images and other data sources in support of technological advancement and scientific discovery.

Researchers in South Dakota State University's Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence utilized satellite data to better understand how destructive wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January 2025.  

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at South Dakota State University will host the Innovate AI 2026 Symposium, a one-day convening of leaders from academia, industry, government and the startup ecosystem to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming critical sectors of regional and national importance.

A new study from South Dakota State University's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering demonstrates a novel approach to target nasal spray deposition for vaccine drug delivery.

A collaborative project between South Dakota State University’s College of Nursing and College of Natural Sciences is improving medical imaging accuracy through the study of germanium, a chemical element found in the Earth's crust.

South Dakota State University's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering has increased its research expenditures, nearly doubled its doctoral enrollment and has implemented high-impact research programs to help move the university towards Research 1 designation.

Regionally and nationwide, South Dakota State University quietly has positioned itself as a leader in integrating artificial intelligence in higher education.

SDSU Robotics Club hosted its first-ever Carrot Cup Jan. 17-18 with eight university teams from across the region competing and 20 teams from three states competing in the high school division. “The teams showcased impressive engineering skills, creative designs and teamwork throughout the challenges,” according to South Dakota State University student Mason Jes, event partner for the Carrot Cup and Jacks VexU project manager. The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation presents the Vex Robotics World Championships each year for grades elementary through college. SDSU Robotics Club has had an entry the last few years. As a host team, SDSU was unable to compete for a world-qualifying entry, but will be able to do so at future contests.