Machine Learning Lab Talk: Algorithmic Foundations for the Diffraction Limit
Nov. 6, 2020, 12:01 p.m.
For more than a century and a half it has been widely-believed that the physics of diffraction imposes certain fundamental limits on the resolution of an optical system. However our understanding of what exactly can and cannot be resolved has never risen above heuristic arguments which, even worse, appear contradictory.
In this work we remedy this gap by studying the diffraction limit as a statistical inverse problem and, based on connections to provable algorithms for learning mixture models, we rigorously prove upper and lower bounds on how many photons we need (and how precisely we need to record their locations) to resolve closely-spaced point sources. Moreover we show the emergence of a phase transition, which helps explain why the diffraction limit can be broken in some domains but not in others.
This is based on joint work with Sitan Chen. Join us via this Zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85064165756
Social Media, Propaganda, and Elections
Nov. 2, 2020, 12:01 p.m.
Explore the ways in which social media and other digital platforms are used as tools for spreading propaganda, disinformation and politically motivated harassment. Good Systems Research Director Dr. Sam Woolley from the Moody College of Communication will provide examples from the 2020 election and other international political events to support his research and findings. Learn more and register.
Planet Texas 2050 Fall Research Showcase Series - Texas Metro Observatory, Texas Futures Virtual Reality, and Hurricane Predictive Modeling
Oct. 28, 2020, 12:01 to 1:01 p.m.
As part of the Planet Texas 2050 Fall Research Showcase Series, join us to hear talks on:
“Texas Metro Observatory (TMO)” [Team: Katherine Lieberknecht (project lead – Architecture), Patrick Bixler (LBJ School of Public Affairs), Juliana Felkner (Architecture), Fernanda Leite (CAEE), Michael Oden (Architecture), Steven Richter (Architecture); and Nicole Joslin and Marla Torrado (CPW)]
“Texas Futures Virtual Reality Experience” [Team: Fernanda Leite (project lead – CAEE), Megan (MJ) Johns (Arts & Entertainment Technologies), and Andrew Solis (TACC)]
“Hurricane-Resilient Healthcare Infrastructure Modeling with Integrated Flood Prediction and Stochastic Logistics Optimization” [Team: Erhan Kutanoglu (Mechanical Engineering), Zong-Liang Yang (JGS), and John Hasenbein (Mechanical Engineering)]
Register now.
Urban Health Risk Mapping--Measuring the impact of neighborhood environments on personal health
Oct. 27, 2020, 10:01 a.m.
This project developed an AI system that can measure the health effects of neighborhood environments in ten major US cities using citizen crowd-sourced data. The research team mapped the computed health risk scores at the census tract-level for all selected municipalities and also built an interactive website that allows users to understand how changes to their neighborhoods can affect their health. Register now.
Presentation hosted by the Smart Cities Consortium.
Disinformation Network Talks Fall 2020 - Audience-building for disinformation actors: How Russian IRA accounts use elite interactions to grow their followership
Oct. 22, 2020, 12:01 p.m.
The Good Systems Disinformation Network invites you to hear a presentation from Josephine Lukito (School of Journalism and Media). She will walk through how some of the most well-known and popular IRA accounts grew their followership, focusing specifically on engagement with partisan-aligned verified accounts and news media contributed to more followers for IRA accounts. This work builds upon her previous research regarding cross-platform disinformation spread (see CJR piece and Quartz piece). Register here.
AI & The Future of Work
Oct. 20, 2020, 6:01 p.m.
With AI emerging so rapidly, how will new AI applications and uses—including autonomous systems—change the workforce, and how do we ensure the future workforce is empowered, inclusive, and equitable? Join Sherri Greenberg and Chris Shenefiel as they explain how AI works, why it is revolutionary in terms of work, how work will be forever changed by it, and what we must do to develop ‘good’ AI systems for all our benefit. Learn more and register.
First Annual Symposium of Good Systems—A UT Grand Challenge
Oct. 19, 2020, 9:30 a.m.
Join us as we examine how our grand challenge work to date has brought us closer to our mission of designing ethical AI technologies, as well as what steps we need to take going forward.
Planet Texas 2050 Fall Research Showcase Series - Burkholderia Species and DOLCe
Oct. 13, 2020, 12:01 to 1:01 p.m.
As part of the Planet Texas 2050 Fall Research Showcase Series, join us to hear talks on:
“Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Suitability for Establishing Burkholderia Species in Texas” [Team: Stan Roux (Molecular Biosciences), Katherine Brown (Molecular Biosciences), Jessica Trelogan (Libraries), Michael Shensky (Libraries)]
“Digital Object Life Cycle (DOLCe)” [Team: Anna Dabrowski (TACC), Courtney Mumma].
Register now.
Ethics in AI - Austin Startup Week
Oct. 8, 2020, 11:01 a.m.
AI faces growing concerns about its applications and use, which have led to increased calls for regulation. With potential issues and concerns around its misuse becoming increasingly prevalent, how do we approach regulation, policy, and ethics to create a better world? Join Sherri Greenberg, Research Director for Good Systems Future of Work and LBJ professor, as she joins Hypergiant Chief Ethics Officer in conversation about these issues. Register now.
Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Tech
Oct. 1, 2020, 6:01 p.m.
In this special event on the topic of social justice, equity, and diversity, the Austin Forum on Technology & Society will address how and why technology companies can be be drivers of change in social justice, equity, and diversity—and why this will be good for their own success (products, services, profits, and more) as well as society. Register now.