EVENTS
PEAR hosts a variety of events, including seminars, workshops, and professional development sessions, designed to encourage interdisciplinary research, foster collaboration among researchers, and cultivate an environment where innovative ideas can thrive and grow.
05
September2024
PEAR: Welcome OrientationJoin us for the Pear Onboarding Orientation to kickstart an impactful year! This session will provide the essential information and resources for a smooth transition.
11:00am-1:30pmEgan 206
16
October2024
October Seminar: Professor Saiph SavageTitle: Unveiling AI-Driven Systems for a Worker-Centric Future
Abstract: In today’s dynamic gig economy, workers on platforms like Upwork, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and Toloka face daunting labor challenges. Despite the potential of collective action to significantly improve these conditions, its implementation is hindered by inadequate systems for identifying and resolving issues.
During the keynote, Professor Savage will unveil her Innovative AI. The worker Collective Action framework is deeply embedded in social theories. This talk will highlight how we can harness Large Language Models (LLMs), coupled with social theories and worker-owned data, to develop truly worker-centric technologies. These technologies not only empower workers to shape their futures but also enhance their working conditions and address existing harms. She will showcase case studies that exemplify the practical application of this framework, illustrating its potential to revolutionize the future of work. The session will culminate in a forward-looking discussion on a research agenda aimed at exploring the societal impacts of AI and crafting effective socio-technical solutions that consistently put worker wellbeing at the forefront.
Abstract: In today’s dynamic gig economy, workers on platforms like Upwork, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and Toloka face daunting labor challenges. Despite the potential of collective action to significantly improve these conditions, its implementation is hindered by inadequate systems for identifying and resolving issues.
During the keynote, Professor Savage will unveil her Innovative AI. The worker Collective Action framework is deeply embedded in social theories. This talk will highlight how we can harness Large Language Models (LLMs), coupled with social theories and worker-owned data, to develop truly worker-centric technologies. These technologies not only empower workers to shape their futures but also enhance their working conditions and address existing harms. She will showcase case studies that exemplify the practical application of this framework, illustrating its potential to revolutionize the future of work. The session will culminate in a forward-looking discussion on a research agenda aimed at exploring the societal impacts of AI and crafting effective socio-technical solutions that consistently put worker wellbeing at the forefront.
11:00-12:00pmCabral Center
21-23
October 2024
National Science Foundation ConferenceThe National Science Foundation (NSF) Annual Conference is a gathering that brings together researchers, trainees, and program coordinators involved in NSF-funded programs. The conference focuses on interdisciplinary research, training, and collaboration aimed at solving complex societal challenges through innovative science and engineering. Attendees share progress, best practices, and insights related to graduate education and workforce development in STEM fields, with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and training environments. The meeting fosters networking and the exchange of ideas to improve the effectiveness of research and training programs.
9:00 am – 3:00pmWashington D.C.
25
October2024
PEAR Session for Hampton StudentsWe are excited to welcome two fourth-year undergraduate students from Hampton University who will visit Northeastern to learn about PEAR and post-grad opportunities. These students are scheduled to attend the NU-GEM event on October 26th.
1:30-3:30pmTBD
13
November2024
November Seminar: Professor John Basl
Title: An Ethics Ecosystem for AI and Big Data: Why? What? How?
Abstract: Ethical missteps in the research, design, development, and deployment of AI and big data systems are not confined to ignorant or bad actors. Even well-meaning actors who deploy significant resources toward ensuring that they act responsibly frequently err. This talk discusses four recurring types of ethical mistakes in research, design, development, and deployment of AI and uses these mistakes to motivate the development of an ethics ecosystem, a system of coordinated components that distributes the tasks and responsibilities that lead to ethical practice. After motivating the need for such an ecosystem, the talk will take up the question of how to build an ecosystem and what to do in the interim.
Title: An Ethics Ecosystem for AI and Big Data: Why? What? How?
Abstract: Ethical missteps in the research, design, development, and deployment of AI and big data systems are not confined to ignorant or bad actors. Even well-meaning actors who deploy significant resources toward ensuring that they act responsibly frequently err. This talk discusses four recurring types of ethical mistakes in research, design, development, and deployment of AI and uses these mistakes to motivate the development of an ethics ecosystem, a system of coordinated components that distributes the tasks and responsibilities that lead to ethical practice. After motivating the need for such an ecosystem, the talk will take up the question of how to build an ecosystem and what to do in the interim.
10:30am – 11:30amDana 442