Anonymous wrote:My kid would love that, but he saw on TV some of the protests there last year turn violent and he's scared of GWU.

Thanks for letting me know — that totally makes sense. I understand how those images could be unsettling. Just to reassure you, there haven’t been any protests near GWU for quite a long time now, and our sessions take place in a quiet, secure building on campus, far from any public areas ：）

Really appreciate your interest!

Anonymous wrote:Rats. My kid just turned 20. He'd have loved to participate.

Thank you so much for your message!
Although your son just missed the age range for our current study, we actually have another study for autistic adults coming up soon ：）

Hi everyone,

I’m a PhD researcher at George Washington University, and we’re currently recruiting teens aged 13–19 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to participate in a research study exploring how humanoid robots can support stress reduction and social interaction.

🧠 What’s Involved:

One 30–40 minute session at our lab (SEH Building, GWU Foggy Bottom campus)

Participants will chat with a humanoid robot (Pepper), try a guided breathing activity, and play a short game like charades
No invasive procedures, and parents are welcome to stay throughout

🎁 Compensation:
Participants receive a $30 Amazon gift card as a thank-you

📍 Location:
George Washington University – Science & Engineering Hall (800 22nd St NW, DC)

If you're interested or would like more details, please feel free to message me here or email me at zzhao98@gwu.edu. We would be incredibly grateful for your support!

Thank you so much,
Zhenhao Zhao
PhD Candidate, GWU Biomedical Engineering