Organizer(s):

Margaret (Midge) Cozzens, DIMACS

Vivek Singh, Rutgers University

Contact(s):

Isha Cole-Glaster
CoRE Building
96 Frelinghuysen Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854
E: ishadc@dimacs.rutgers.edu
V: 848-445-4521

Description

Reconnect workshops expose faculty teaching undergraduates to current applications of mathematical and computational sciences and provide an opportunity for government or industry professionals to learn about recent research in related areas. The topic will be presented over the course of 3 days in a series of lectures and activities. Participants will be involved in activities that they and their students can continue to use and explore after the workshop. They will begin to draft modules that can be used in their classrooms and others around the country.

The featured topic for Reconnect changes each year. This year’s topic is a two-way exploration of AI for Security and Security for AI.

The interplay between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and security is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field with the potential to transform our approach to cybersecurity. AI can be harnessed to bolster security measures, enabling the detection of threats and anomalies with unprecedented accuracy and speed. For example, the automatic flagging of suspicious activity on a credit card is a crucial safeguard for an individual’s financial well-being.

However, like any technology, AI itself requires robust security measures. Technical and socio-technical vulnerabilities in AI models can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate outcomes or make harmful societal decisions. It’s crucial to recognize these potential pitfalls and take proactive steps to mitigate them.

Reconnect 2024 will delve into these topics, exploring the symbiotic relationship between AI and security. We will discuss various technologies and practical use cases, shedding light on the two-way interactions at this intersection. This comprehensive exploration aims to equip participants with a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this exciting field.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Vivek Singh, Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rutgers University

Speaker Bios:

Vivek Singh is an Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University. He is also Director of the Behavioral Informatics Lab and a member of the graduate faculty in the Department of Computer Science and in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research lies at the intersection of Computational Social Science, Data Science, and Multimedia Information Systems, developing new algorithms, interfaces, and frameworks that aim to maximize the good of technology (e.g., predicting mental health issues) while minimizing the potential harms (e.g., privacy loss). Before joining Rutgers, he was a post-doctoral researcher at the MIT Media Lab. He holds a Ph.D. in Information and Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine. His work has appeared in leading disciplinary and interdisciplinary publication venues (e.g. Science, ACM CHI, JASIST) and has been covered by popular media (e.g. New York Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal). Singh's research is supported by the US National Science Foundation and Google.

View Reconnect flyer: PDF

Call For Participation

Anyone may apply to attend Reconnect. Preference will be given to Community College faculty.

Accepted participants from US academic institutions receive lodging in a single room and meals at no charge.

The deadline to apply is March 15, 2024 or until all slots are filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Applicants who are selected to attend are expected to stay for the entire duration of the program. To apply to attend, complete and submit the online Reconnect 2024 application.

Go to Reconnect application.

Sponsored by SENTRY DHS Center of Excellence and DIMACS, in association with the Reconnect Program.