Q&A: SC State student Joshua Taylor hopes to develop AI to clean the world’s oceans
The 29-year-old Cheraw, South Carolina, resident is majoring in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity. He is one of four SC State students who recently attended a recent national artificial intelligence conference at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
University Relations asked him to answer a series of questions about his experience at the conference and his education at SC State.
Q: How did your visit to Harvard and MIT contribute to your professional development?
Taylor: Visiting Harvard and MIT for their artificial intelligence conference really opened my eyes to the possibilities of everything about both the computer science and cybersecurity fields. I was able to better inform myself of the capabilities of artificial intelligence as well as make solid connections that will boost me even further along the path of my career. Although there aren’t that many people of color at Harvard or MIT, I met some outstanding individuals who informed me that they were on a constant mission to further the representation of people of color at their schools and encouraged my peers and myself to apply and to use their names as a reference. That experience alone helped me realize that anything is possible, regardless of who you are or where you come from.
Q: Why did you choose your major?
Taylor: Growing up I was always tech savvy. From modifying toys and video game systems to helping my elders solve electrical problems around the house. While in high school, I decided to mostly take computer classes as my electives and in turn I fell in love with programming and design aspects of the computer world. The two classes that really pulled me piqued my interest during high school were my 3D computer design class and my senior year programming class. Ever since then I have always had an interest in building my own little worlds out of thin air.
Q: What are you goals for using your degree?
Taylor: One of my two main goals for using my degree is to get in a position where I can help young children of color receive the resources they need to get into computer science and cybersecurity. Coding is a loved art all around the world, but with the advancement of technology, a lot of communities fall short when it comes to keeping up with the world. My other main goal is to help build a system that will help autonomously clean bodies of water, specifically our oceans. Climate change is very real, and we all need to do our part to save the earth.
Q: Tell us about your campus involvement at SC State.
Taylor: I am an independent student who also lives off-campus, so my first two years had very little campus involvement. After my freshman year where no one was allowed on campus due to Covid, and my sophomore year where everyone was still somewhat social distancing, I asserted myself throughout our engineering complex and made my name known through my hard work. In doing so, Dr. Nikunja Swain and Dr. Jagruti Sahoo made sure to recruit me for any computer science and cybersecurity club and event that they could find. Through stepping up for the opportunities, I became a leader for my computer science and cybersecurity peers. My greatest feat so far has been leading our school, along with alum Jordan Brown, in the Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition for the year 2022.
Q: Please share a personal story that has helped shape your life.
Taylor: As a first-year college student, it has been a very difficult path to find the drive to keep pursuing a better life. When I stepped out on faith and decided to start my academic career with little to no help, it really showed me that anything was possible. Through the grace of God, I have been able to start my desired career path all from deciding to better my life by taking classes at Florence-Darlington technical college. Ever since my start there, each year has been better than before. Although the years have been tough, the hard work that I have I have been outputting has shined through and allowed me to strive.
Q: Who in your life or education has shaped your world view and how?
Taylor: My mother has shaped my world view tremendously by being there for me whenever she could. Growing up poor, we never had much but that woman made sure we never wanted for anything. She always encouraged me to chase my dreams, no matter how outlandish they may seem. She is truly my inspiration.