In preparation for the upcoming Chapman University Student Research Day, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (OURCA) would like to introduce you to our keynote speaker for this exciting event!

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Rob Akscyn

Meet Rob Akscyn. He’s been a leader in various fields, including the military, academia, and the tech industry. Rob gained his insights into leadership while serving first as an infantry sergeant in the US Army and continued his growth as a leader as an infantry officer after graduating from West Point.

He was a pioneer of hypertext research in the 1970s, where he co-created the ZOG hypertext system during his graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University. Hypertext is essentially how the Internet works, interconnecting various pages through embedded links. He even has a theory named after him, Akscyn’s Law. So the next time you jump from a news article to a cat video, thank Rob!

After co-leading the ZOG-Vinson Project, which was responsible for installing the hypertext technology aboard a US Naval nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Rob served as a founder and the president of Knowledge Management System (KMS). The company fostered widespread use of hypermedia technology to industries ranging from telecommunications to aerospace to defense.

Rob is currently a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Waikato in New Zealand, where he teaches and advises students in Computer Science. In his down time, Rob presents annually at mathematics conferences. We’re incredibly honored to be welcoming Rob to speak at Chapman University Student Research Day Wednesday, May 11th. The event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Rob’s keynote is at noon, coinciding with lunch for all invitees, student presenters, and special guests.

For more information about Chapman University Student Research Day and OURCA’s other events and funding opportunities, visit our site at chapman.edu/ourca