Encouraging diverse voices: AI4Good coming to YEG

Editor's note: due to COVID-19, the Edmonton iteration of this program has been delayed. Please stay tuned for more information.

Building on the momentum of our recent successful launch of AlbertaWomen.ai, we are pleased to take another step forward in encouraging gender diversity in artificial intelligence (AI) with the announcement of a two-week pilot of the AI4Good Summer Lab, an initiative originally launched in Montréal in 2017 by Angelique Mannella and Professor Doina Precup (Canada CIFAR Chair in AI at Mila).

Diversity and Inclusion in AI

Algorithmic bias is a key challenge in artificial intelligence (AI), and we know that investments in diversifying perspectives will enable us to develop more reliable models and more accurate algorithms for our learning systems. With women representing only 27% of researchers in computing science, we still have work to do to incorporate the voices and perspectives that will enable us to build robust algorithms that can provide benefits across all aspects of society.

That’s why we’re so excited to be part of this initiative.

AI4Good Summer Lab

The AI4Good Summer Lab is the first of its kind, focused not only on innovative approaches to teaching and learning AI, but also with the ambitious goals of tackling diversity and inclusion in AI research and development, and inspiring the next generation of technical leaders to develop AI as a force for social good.

The Edmonton pilot, hosted at Amii, takes place over two weeks (July 6 to 17) and brings together a cohort of women from some of Canada’s most engaged AI communities. The program consists of a mashup of lectures, workshops, self-directed team projects. Instructors and mentors include university researchers, graduate students, and practitioners from startups, corporations, inter-governmental organizations and city government. There’s also a strong emphasis on curiosity-driven learning and mentorship both from peers and industry experts.

Applications

The program is open to individuals who identify as women who are registered with a post-secondary institution at the undergraduate level (or have graduated within the last 2 years) in STEM fields and who have prior experience with coding and advanced math (calculus, linear algebra, stats).

Apply today and be part of this exciting cohort! Applications close February 29, 2020.

(Please note: This program is only open to those who identify as a woman.)