Catalyzing Computing

Khari Douglas interviews Natesh Ganesh, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Massachussetts at Amherst and a current Research Fellow at the University of Colorado, Boulder through the NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP), whose research interest lie in the fields of AI, neuromorphic hardware, thermodynamics, and the emergence of consciousness. In this episode they discuss some, though certainly not all, of the leading theoretical frameworks for studying artificial consciousness.

Khari Douglas interviews Vint Cerf, known as one of the “fathers of the internet” and a recipient of the 2004 ACM A.M. Turing Award at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum. In this episode, Cerf discusses net neutrality, how to combat spoofing, the future of Internet connected devices, and the challenges of developing interplanetary Internet.

Khari Douglas interviews Shwetak Patel, 2018 ACM Prize in Computing winner and Professor in Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington, at the Heidelberg Laureate Forum. In this episode we discuss how he got started in computer science, entrepreneurship, building a team, and the future of smart health systems.

This is part 2 of Khari Douglas' interview with Melanie Mitchell, a Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University, and External Professor and Member of the Science Board at the Santa Fe Institute. In this episode, Dr. Mitchell discusses genetic algorithms, complexity science, and the art of writing a book.

Khari Douglas interviews Melanie Mitchell, a Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University, and External Professor and Member of the Science Board at the Santa Fe Institute. In this episode, Dr. Mitchell discusses moving from physics to computer science, the development of Copycat, a computer program that makes analogies, and common AI fallacies.

This is part 2 of Khari Douglas’ interview with Dr. Daniel Lopresti, the Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Director of the Data X strategic initiative at Lehigh University. In this episode, Dr. Lopresti discusses a few of the courses he is currently teaching, the Code 8.7 conference on using AI and Computational science to end modern slavery, and the work of the CCC’s intelligent infrastructure task force.

Timestamps to jump to topics below:

Intro - 00:10

Women in Computing - 1:20

AI for Social Good - 3:35

Cybersecurity and Intelligent Infrastructure - 6:55

International Impact of AI and Intelligent Infrastructure - 14:04

Time Management Advice - 15:27

Outro - 17:58

In this episode Khari Douglas interviews Dr. Daniel Lopresti who serves as the Chair of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Director of the Data X strategic initiative at Lehigh University. In this episode Dr. Lopresti discusses his work applying computer science to molecular biology, pattern recognition, and voting machine security.

Timestamps to jump to topics below:

Intro - 00:10

Dr. Lopresti's Background - 1:07

Parallel Algorithms and Systolic Arrays - 5:19

Pattern Recognition and 2D Barcodes - 12:55

Defending Against Telephone-Based Robotic Attacks - 19:01

Electronic Voting - 21:56

Outro - 26:53

In this episode, Khari Douglas continues his interview with Peter Harsha, the Director of Government Affairs for the Computing Research Association (CRA), to discuss the impact of the 2013 budget sequestration on federal funding for science, the recent push for regulations on foreign research collaborations, and the history of CRA.

Timestamps to jump to topics below:

Intro - 00:10

Impact of Budget Sequestration on Federally Funded Research - 1:22

Restrictions on Foreign Researchers Receiving Federal Funding - 11:38

Growth of the Computing Research Association - 19:11

Outro - 31:50

In this episode Khari Douglas sits down with Peter Harsha, the Director of Government Affairs for the Computing Research Association (CRA), to discuss the federal funding landscape and it's impact on science research. He also highlights the CCC's Leadership in Science Policy Institute (LiSPI) and walks through the National Research Council's (part of the National Academies) Tire Tracks Chart of the IT ecosystem.

Timestamps to jump to certain topics:

Intro(00:10)

Peter’s Background and Working Capitol Hill (01:14)

How a Bill Gets Passed (07:58)

How Funding Agencies Prioritize(10:35)

CRA’s LISPI and Congressional Fly-in Programs (17:59)

Tire Tracks Diagram of IT Economy (22:28)

Outro (29:44)

This is part 2 of Khari Douglas' interview Dr. Beth Mynatt, the Executive Director of Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology (IPaT). In this episode Dr. Mynatt discusses the concept of digital self-harm, Shoshana Zuboff's "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism," and the history of the CCC.

Timestamps to jump to certain topics below:

Intro - (00:10)

Digital self-harm - (01:18)

Intelligent Infrastructure & “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism” - (09:31)

History of the CCC - (24:28)

Work/Life Balance - (28:49)

Wrap-up/Final Thoughts - (31:26)