How a USU Engineering Student is Contributing to AI Policy at the White House

In 2025, a Utah State University student submitted his ideas to the White House in hopes of contributing to the nation's artificial intelligence action plan. In 2026, he was invited to Capitol Hill to make those ideas a reality.

Abdulganiyu Jimoh was chosen for the unique opportunity to participate in the American Geophysical Union Geosciences Congressional Visits Day, or Geo-CVD, in Washington, D.C. in September.

After receiving science-policy training, he joined fellow scientists and researchers to meet with members of Congress and federal science leaders. Their initiative was to communicate the importance of scientific research to those responsible for creating AI policies.

Jimoh contributed to conversations focused on water resources, environmental monitoring, the Great Salt Lake, harmful algal blooms, drought resilience and the implications of emerging technologies, including AI.

"One of the main things I took away from this experience was the importance of translating highly technical scientific research into information that can be understood and used in policy and decision-making," Jimoh said.

As a doctoral researcher in civil and environmental engineering, his research has focused on combining AI, advanced light-based imaging and environmental sensing to better understand environmental conditions.

Jimoh is also a graduate researcher with the Utah Water Research Laboratory, a university-based lab providing research to advance Utah and regional water management solutions. He said meeting with congressional members aligned with his work pertaining to Utah water and the future of the Great Salt Lake.

"These discussions are relevant to my research because addressing complex water and environmental challenges not only requires conservation, infrastructure and policy, but also reliable information about environmental conditions," he said.

Jimoh's research has been developed under the supervision of Sierra Young, an associate professor in the Utah Water Research Laboratory and the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

Drawing from his experience, Jimoh supported discussions with policymakers facing active challenges involving natural resources and emerging technology.

"A researcher can generate detailed datasets and sophisticated models, but the value of that work depends on the resulting information being communicated clearly and applied to real-world decisions," Jimoh said.

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Writer: Libbie Anderson, libbie.anderson@usu.edu, 435-797-8361

Contact: Sierra Young, sierra.young@usu.edu, 435-797-1519