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91��ɫ leads groundbreaking research to ensure technology revolution leaves no one behind

egamulin — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000

$318-million Connected Minds initiative to bring equity and inclusion to murky waters of AI

April 28, 2023

A massive seven-year interdisciplinary research initiative led by 91��ɫ – backed by substantial federal research funding — is setting out to tame the unruly world of AI and other disruptive technologies, so humans can benefit equitably from advances in a machine-driven world.

Along with marvellous innovations in medicine, education and entertainment, rapidly emerging technological advancements are also delivering unintended consequences, and some communities are being left behind. Making sure everyone benefits from the technological boom reflects 91��ɫ’s signature mission to create positive change in the world, both locally and globally.

“We don’t want to slow progress in technology, but rather, work together to be more thoughtful about the consequences – and try to mitigate the negative outcomes and optimize the positive ones,” says Doug Crawford, a 91��ɫ Distinguished Research Professor in Neuroscience who is the inaugural scientific director of the first-of-its-kind enterprise.

The Connected Minds project will bring together experts from 91��ɫ and Queen’s University who are working across many different fields including liberal arts, engineering, health, law, life sciences, and the arts to develop a framework to guide future innovations in technology with a focus on inclusivity.

“Receiving this second CFREF award in the last two competitions reflects 91��ɫ’s leadership as a research-intensive university that from its inception has understood the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in tackling complex, global problems. Connected Minds is particularly timely as we consider the implications of AI for creating a more equitable and inclusive world,” says 91��ɫ president and vice-chancellor Rhonda Lenton.

The researchers say putting some parameters around technological disruption would avoid the type of headline-grabbing pitfalls experienced by the AI text generator ChatGPT, almost as soon as it hit the market. Guidelines would also ensure underrepresented groups could enjoy the benefits of our shifting and evolving technologies and play a role in their creation.

“91��ɫ is an international leader in interdisciplinary research. The federal government’s substantial investment will unite 91��ɫ’s incredible strengths with Queen’s health specialties to chart new territory in socially responsible research for a rapidly changing digital world,” says Amir Asif, 91��ɫ’s vice-president research and innovation.

“We’re seeing a changing society with increasing intermingling between humans and machines and a host of different technologies,” says Pina D’Agostino, vice director and founder of 91��ɫ’s IP Innovation Clinic at Osgoode Hall Law School and vice-director of Connected Minds. “The social framework – the law – hasn’t kept pace. What we’re trying to do is develop technologies and frameworks that are socially responsible before they are disseminated in society, so we get ahead of the biases that may arise. That way underrepresented communities don’t get sidelined as technologies progress.”

The initiative’s equity focus will be applied to many projects that are already underway at the two universities, and also to the issue of Indigenous data sovereignty. Through an Indigenous Advisory Circle and partners, researchers hope to explore a framework for use of Indigenous Peoples’ data in a digital environment.

“Our work will seek to address the unexpected consequences of technological innovation, like the growing digital divide between broader society and Indigenous Peoples in terms of access to internet and also the colonization of it as well,” says Sean Hillier, associate director of 91��ɫ’s Centre for Indigenous Knowledges & Language and associate director of Connected Minds.

“We continue to see researchers in Indigenous communities saying, ‘how do we implement ownership, access, control and possession of our knowledge in a virtual world?’ We don’t have the capacity to do so.”

Already, more than 50 community groups are stepping up to engage in the research, a signal that the initiative is tapping into a recognized need. The City of Vaughan, for example, has contributed $36 million in land. Mitacs, which funds research and innovation, has contributed $1 million for internships and trainees. The Baycrest Health Centre – Rotman Research Institute, which studies aging and the human brain, is giving $2 million.

Potential projects include explorations into a more inclusive metaverse, virtual reality and community organizing, technologies for healthy aging and how the human brain functions when people interact with AI versus each other.

“We’re trying to figure out the way machines work, but we also need to understand the way the human brain works,” explains D’Agostino. “That’s the secret sauce in the machines and the technology. As we try and blossom machines, we have to link them up to the way we think. Something like empathy, for instance, will they ever have that?”

Another project is an Indigenous online gaming metaverse in which Indigenous Peoples can learn traditional language and gaming at the same time by engaging in land-based learning that recognizes the physical, mental, and spiritual connection to the land that is part of Indigenous identity.

“We hope that with our checklist, anytime someone innovates they won’t only think from a mainstream perspective,” says D’Agostino.

Technological disruption is only going to grow, adds Crawford, and it’s not too late to create guidelines to shape the future in a way that incorporates the values of equity, diversity and inclusivity.

“Here at 91��ɫ and at Queen’s, we have engineers and scientists involved in a number of technologies, some of them related to health, transportation, communications and computer vision,” Crawford notes.

“We hope to bring this new perspective to that. The other part is developing the paradigm. If we are successful in that approach, then the aim is to beta test here at 91��ɫ and Queen’s and have a broader effect on the way research is done in Canada and the world,” he concludes.

when combined with the contributions from multi-sector partners, municipal governments, and collaborating partners is valued at $318.4 million, making Connected Minds the biggest 91��ɫ-led research program in the University’s history.

Connected Minds will also expand Canada’s research power and create opportunities for early career up-and-comers.

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91��ɫ drives interdisciplinary research with $3.5M investment

roshanp — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:43:04 +0000

TORONTO, Dec. 7, 2021 – 91��ɫ is investing more than $3.5 million in interdisciplinary research with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that could have real-world, global impact through its Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Clusters (CIRC) initiative.

The initiative will help fund research excellence for interdisciplinary projects in strategic areas, including artificial intelligence and society, digital cultures and financial technologies (fintech), disaster and risk governance, as well as 91��ɫ’s new Markham Campus and the proposed Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct.

Today, 91��ɫ announces the first recipients of the new CIRC funding valued at $150,000 per year over three years for each research cluster, through the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation.

Rhonda Lenton, 91��ɫ President and Vice-Chancellor

“91��ɫ is a dynamic, research-intensive university that is committed to enhancing the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Rhonda Lenton, president and vice-chancellor. “We work to address society’s most urgent demands by supporting research excellence, interdisciplinary knowledge translation, and collaborative partnerships that expand the influence of scientific discovery. The inaugural recipients of the Catalyzing Interdisciplinary Research Cluster grants are producing ground-breaking discoveries in a wide variety of fields; making impactful contributions towards 91��ɫ’s Strategic Research Plan and University Academic Plan, as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and driving positive change in our local and global communities.”

The projects are as follows:

Collaborative Technology for Healthy Living led by Professor Robert Allison of the Lassonde School of Engineering (Lassonde).

AI Systems: Engineering, Governance & Society led by Associate Professor Giuseppina D’Agostino of Osgoode Hall Law School (Osgoode) with co-applicants Associate Professor James Elder of Lassonde and Professor Marin Litoiu of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS).

Digital Justice led by Associate Professor Patricio Dávila of the School of Arts, Media Performance & Design (AMPD) with co-applicant Associate Professor Ganaele Langlois of LA&PS.

Digital Currencies led by Professor Joann Jasiak of LA&PS with co-applicant Associate Professor Henry Kim of the Schulich School of Business.

Indigenous Climate Leadership and Self-Determined Futures led by Associate Professor Deborah McGregor of Osgoode and the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC) with co-applicant Assistant Professor Angele Alook of LA&PS.

Partnership for Youth & Planetary Wellbeing led by Kate Tilleczek of the Faculty of Education with co-applicants Associate Professor Deborah McGregor of Osgoode and EUC, Professor James Orbinski of the Faculty of Health and Postdoctoral Fellow James Stinson of the Faculty of Education.

Disaster and Health Emergency Urban Systemic Risk Transformation Cluster led by Professor Jianhong Wu of the Faculty of Science with co-applicant Associate Professor Afshin Rezaei-Zare of Lassonde.

“91��ɫ is pleased to invest in interdisciplinary research clusters that will continue to facilitate our leadership in research that aims to have a transformative impact on society,” said Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. “The CIRC funding is bringing together talented researchers from across disciplines to address questions of global importance, such as health and the environment, enhancing the diverse socioeconomic impacts of our research.”

In addition, six other highly ranked proposals will each receive interim one-year funding of $75,000. These include proposals titled: Overcoming Epidemics: Transnational Black Communities Response, Recovery, and Resilience co-led by Associate Professor Sylvia Bawa and Assistant Professor Mohamed Sesay both of LA&PS, and Assistant Professor Oghenowede Eyawo of the Faculty of Health; 91��ɫ-Water Urban Sustainable Ecosystem Interdisciplinary Research Cluster co-led by Professor Satinder Brar and Associate Professor Pouya Reza both of Lassonde; Youth, Gender Violence, Health and Gender Justice led by Professor Annie Bunting of LA&PS; Catalyzing Collective Action at the Intersection of Global Health and the Arts co-led by Professor Caitlin Fisher of AMPD and Professor Steven Hoffman of the Faculty of Health and Osgoode; From Colonial Genocide to Just Relationships: Building Interdisciplinary Research Excellence for Indigenous Futurities co-led by Professor Luann Good Gingrich of LA&PS and Assistant Professor Heidi Matthews of Osgoode; and New Pathways for Youth Thriving in Intersecting Contexts of Marginalization led by Associate Professor Jonathan Weiss of the Faculty of Health.

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91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:
Sandra McLean, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-272-6317, sandramc@yorku.ca

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