Harvard Data Science Initiative Upcoming Events

Industry Seminar: Juan M. Lavista Ferres, Microsoft
Thursday, April 15, 2021  |  1:30pm to 2:30pm ET  |  Registration

Everything you always wanted to know about  AI and AI For Good* but were afraid to ask

The Microsoft AI for Good Research Lab is a philanthropic team of data scientists and applied researchers dedicated to using AI, Machine Learning, and statistical modeling to tackle some of humanity’s most significant challenges. We partner with leading nonprofits, research institutions, NGOs, and governments to accelerate work across the AI for Good program portfolio—Earth, Accessibility, Humanitarian Action, Cultural Heritage, Health—as well as other pressing issues such as affordable housing, broadband access, digital skills, justice reform, legal compliance, etc.​ This talk will describe the type of work we do, the lessons we learned, the impact, and the pitfalls.

Juan M, Lavista Ferres is currently the General Manager and Lab Director of the Microsoft AI For Good Research Lab, where he works with a team of data scientists and researchers  in AI, Machine Learning and statistical modeling, working across Microsoft AI For Good efforts. These efforts includes projects in AI For Earth, AI for Humanitarian Action, AI For Accessibility and AI For Health.

Bias^2 Seminar: Yeshimabeit Milner
Thursday, April 22, 2021  |  1:30pm to 2:45pm ET  |  Registration

Yeshimabeit Milner is the Founder & Executive Director of Data for Black Lives. She has worked since she was 17 behind the scenes as a movement builder, technologist and data scientist on a number of campaigns. She started Data for Black Lives because for too long she straddled the worlds of data and organizing and was determined to break down the silos to harness the power of data to make change in the lives of Black people. In two years, Data for Black Lives has raised over $3 million, hosted two sold out conferences at the MIT Media Lab and has changed the conversation around big data & technology across the US and globally.

As the founder of Data for Black Lives, her work has received much acclaim. Yeshimabeit is an Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow, an Ashoka Fellow and joins the founders of Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street in the distinguished inaugural class of Roddenberry Foundation Fellows. In 2020, Yeshimabeit was honored as a Forbes 30 under 30 social entrepreneur.

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