The USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies and the Armenian Society of Fellows are pleased to announce On the Cutting Edge of Science and Tech: CA and Armenia Together, an innovative conference to be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at USC’s Ginsburg Hall at 10:00 AM. 

The conference will feature world-renowned scientists from institutions such as Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology, and Meta, who will share their groundbreaking work in astrophysics, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence. These distinguished experts will provide insight into how their pioneering work is shaping the future of science and technology.

In addition to inspiring keynote lectures, the program will highlight the robust transnational networks between the California Armenian diaspora and the Republic of Armenia, showcasing the vital role that these collaborations play in advancing global innovation. Furthermore, the event will discuss the unique role of the university in addressing today’s most urgent challenges through science and technology.

The conference is co-sponsored by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and the ARPA Institute (Analysis Research & Planning for Armenia). 

The event is free of charge and open to the general public. The conference will not be live-streamed — RSVP is required.

9:00 AM  Check-in

9:30 AM  Doors Open 

10:00 AM  Opening Remarks

Dr. Shushan Karapetian, Director, USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies 

Prof. Ani Aprahamian, University of Notre Dame, Vice-Chair, Armenian Society of Fellows 

10:20 AM  Welcoming Remarks

Anthony Portantino, Former CA State Senator 

10:25 AM  Video Address 

Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California

10:30 AM  Keynote Lecture 

The Gut Microbiome as a Contributor & Therapeutic Target for Parkinson’s Disease 

Prof. Sarkis Mazmanian, California Institute of Technology

11:10 AM  Keynote Lecture

Gravitational Lensing: Measuring the Universe the Way Einstein Said Could Not Be Done

Prof. Vahe Petrosian, Stanford University 

12:00 PM  Lunch 

1:15 PM Panel Discussion

Outside the Ivory Tower: Bringing University Expertise to the World 

Dean Yannis Yortsos, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Kate Weber, Public Exchange at USC

Dr. Thomas Lee, Keck School of Medicine of USC 

Moderated by Dr. Shushan Karapetian, USC

2:00 PM  Keynote Lecture

The Intelligence Arbitrage 

Armen Aghajanyan, Perceptron AI

2:45 PM  Panel Discussion 

Beyond Words: Armenia-Diaspora Networks in Action 

Dr. Hagop Panossian, ARPA Institute 

Dr. Yervant Zorian, Synopsys 

Armen Aghajanyan, Perceptron AI

Moderated by Prof. Ani Aprahamian, University of Notre Dame

3:30 PM  Closing Remarks

Prof. Vatche Sahakian, Harvey Mudd College, Executive Director, Armenian Society of Fellows