The Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT), centered at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, organized its 3rd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) conference held on September 27, 2024 at Purdue University's Discovery Park District in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The conference, themed “Technology solutions for a future of sustainable mobility,” brought together student researchers from 4 HBCUs – Benedict College, Bowie State University, Central State University, and Prairie View A&M University – to share their knowledge and ideas in various subject areas related to the conference theme. 

The event was addressed by Professor John Gates, Vice Provost, who challenged the students to work effectively towards exciting journeys of new frontiers and opportunities. Professor Phillip Dunston, Professor of Civil and Construction Engineering and Dean’s Faculty Fellow; and Dr. Vareva Harris, Visiting Research Scholar, University of South Carolina, also addressed the conference with messages of motivation.

The event included research product demonstrations by Professors Dr. Darcy Bullock and Yiheng Feng of the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering (LSCCE). The faculty host of the conference, Professor Samuel Labi of LSCCE, planned and organized the conference with Ms. Debby Bezzina and Mr. Calvin Tuttle of CCAT Michigan.