Lab milestones
ELARA's First Year: Building Research Through Relationships
Park looks back on student-led projects, community robot demonstrations, and international exchanges, and welcomes new collaborators.
Original LinkedIn post:
Published on ELARA:
Chorong Park marked ELARA Lab's first year at the University of Houston with a look back at the people behind its research. Her September 8, 2026, update highlighted student-led work, hands-on robot demonstrations with older adults, and international talks and exchanges. [1]
Across those activities, the focus has been human-centered AI and social robotics for aging and care. Park thanked students, collaborators, and community partners for contributing the ideas, time, and experiences that help shape the work. [1]
Her reflection connects the lab's growth to a practical research priority: supporting people without taking choices away. Bringing community experience into robot research helps keep the discussion grounded in what assistance should mean to the person receiving it. [1]
Park also welcomed interest in voluntary collaboration from students at undergraduate through doctoral levels, industry professionals, clinicians, and care organizations. The invitation spans design, computing, robotics, psychology, and health, opening the next chapter to people with different perspectives on aging and care. [1]
Sources
Adapted from Chorong Park's LinkedIn post. LinkedIn images are presented in their original order.