The Northwestern University has launched an institutional network dedicated to the integration of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) in all aspects of research and education.
The Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI) will bring together university data science experts and AI to allow all North West teachers and students to use and benefit from AI tools in their work. The NCI aims to create a solid collaboration ecosystem between northwest researchers and external organizations – including businesses, government agencies and non -profit organizations – to be taken from AI to meet societal needs. The network will also help to ensure that all students have access to basic education in data science and AI to prepare them for evolving workforce.
The NNCI is a result of the work of Data science management committee and artificial intelligencewho spent a large part of last year in interuniversary discussions to design the best strategy to support efforts in this rapidly evolving field.
“I am incredibly grateful to the steering committee for helping to define a new vision for the university in this critical field,” said Kathleen Hagerty, provost of the North West. “The Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence is a unique model that recognizes the immense potential of data science and AI to transform almost all aspects of higher education.”
The teachers of the northwest Abel Kho and VS subrahmanian were appointed founding co-director of the NNCI. Kho is a professor of medicine (general internal medicine) and preventive medicine (biostatistics and computer science) at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He is the founding director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and a leader in the development of new methods to integrate and analyze health data. SUBRAHMANIAN is the computer teacher of Walter P. Murphy at the McCormick School of Engineering in Northwestern and Boursière du Roberta Buffett for Global Affairs of Northwestern. He is an international leader in the use of AI for national and global security, as well as in various other applications, and is the founding director of the Northwestern Security and AI Lab.
“Data science and AI reshape all aspects of society,” said Kho. “Our goal is to promote an environment where all teachers and students feel confident using AI technologies to make progress in their respective fields.”
Installed in the provost’s office, the NNCI will act as a central center which connects and supports university units. This will include initiatives based in individual schools as well as research centers and institutes dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of specific subjects or needs. The model is designed to be adaptive over time, allowing new initiatives to occur and connect to the central network to promote innovative applications of these processing technologies.
From this summer and throughout the fall, NNCI will sponsor a number of events for the Northwest Community in order to explore the impact of AI on the news areas. NNCI will create experiential learning opportunities for North West students at all levels.
“With this effort, we believe that it is possible to establish the university as a world leader in data science and AI in many disciplines,” said Subrahmanian. “I can’t wait to connect with key leaders from the northwest community to help shape this exciting and interdisciplinary initiative.”