CSUN’s Global Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Equity Innovation Hub celebrated Armenian Heritage Month on April 20 with a special event that included high-tech celebrations of Armenian innovators.
The event took place at CSUN’s Autodesk Technology Engagement Center and was made possible through the generosity of Varoujan Chakarian ’86 (Physics), M.A. ’88 (Physics). Chakarian has been a longtime supporter of CSUN, funding equipment in the ATEC, which opened last year, and scholarships in the Department Physics and Astronomy in the College of Science and Mathematics.
The Equity Innovation Hub, which is located in ATEC, aims to inspire students from historically underserved groups to pursue degrees and develop the skills needed to succeed in careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).
Guests at the Armenian Heritage Month event experienced immersive and interactive displays developed through Apple’s creative technology ecosystem and other emerging platforms. These included:
- Three augmented reality activations exploring Armenian art, music, and cultural identity.
- A Prism Conversation Table hands-on activation with immersive and future-focused technology.
- GeoBeats digital creative experiences at the intersection of identity, culture, and emerging technology.
- A mixed-reality experience about STEAM contributions through Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
The evening featured a special video unveiling featuring Armenian innovators whose contributions to STEAM and social impact have left a lasting mark on science, culture, and history.
