The Academic Minute for 2021.03.22-2021.03.26

The Academic Minute from 03.22 – 03.26

Monday, March 22nd
Selmer Bringsjord – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Ethical A.I.
Selmer Bringsjord is Professor of Cognitive Science, Professor of Computer Science, Professor of Logic & Philosophy, Professor of Management & Technology, and Director of Rensselaer AI and Reasoning Laboratory.  He specializes in the logico-mathematical and philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive science, and in collaboratively building AI systems on the basis of computational logic. Though he spends considerable “engineering” time in pursuit of ever-smarter computing machines, he says that “armchair” reasoning time has enabled him to deduce that the human mind will forever be superior to such machines.

Tuesday, March 23rd
Brian Schubert – University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Using Fossil Plants to Measure Climate Change
I have been at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette since 2013 and currently serve as the Coordinator for the Geology BS and MS programs, as well as an interdisciplinary PhD program in Earth and Energy Sciences.  The University is the leading institution within the University of Louisiana System, and the School of Geosciences offers five academic degree programs. The School includes 13 faculty members, four full time instructors, a research scientist, and approximately 200 total undergraduate majors and 85 graduate students.

​Within the Carnegie classification, UL Lafayette is designated as a Research University (high research activity)(RU/H). Located mid-way between New Orleans and Houston, Lafayette is a city of >126,000 people, and is one of Louisiana’s fastest growing areas and the hub of numerous cultural festivals and activities.

Wednesday, March 24th
Ji Ung Lee – SUNY Polytechnic Institute
A Potential Path to a Quantum Computer in Every Home
Ji Ung Lee received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  He is currently Professor of Nanoscale Engineering at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, a position he took in 2007. Previously, he was at Argonne National Laboratory from 1996-1997 as a post-doctoral scientist and at the General Electric Global Research Center from 1999-2007 as a Senior Scientist.  His interest is in measuring anything small.  His current focus is on fabricating and characterizing nanoscale devices using carbon nanotubes, graphene, transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductor, topological insulators, and DNA.  He is the inventor of the first carbon nanotube p-n diode, for which he was awarded the GE Global Research Hull Award, the highest individual honor for a young scientist, and the NASA Nanotech Briefs Nano50 Technology Award.  He is the recipient of two IBM Faculty Awards (2007, 2012). He holds 25 issued patents, has given over 80 invited talks in the area of nanoscale electronics, and has over 80 published articles.

Thursday, March 25th
Pawan Dinghra – Amherst College
After School Academics in an Era Of Remote-Learning
Dr. Pawan Dhingra (Ph.D. sociology) is Professor of American Studies and Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Amherst College. He is Former Curator and Senior Advisor to the Smithsonian Institution’s Beyond Bollywood project. His areas of expertise include immigration, education, parenting, entrepreneurship, race and inequality, identity, Asian America, and work.

Friday, March 26th
Brian Mailloux – Barnard College
Using Wastewater to Protect College Campuses during the Pandemic
Professor Brian Mailloux joined the faculty of Barnard College, the NYC women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, in January 2006. His research areas is groundwater microbiology with a focus on naturally occurring arsenic.  He has published widely and has taught courses on Big Data, ecotoxicology, environmental measurements, and water, sanitation, and health. He is a member of the Geological Society of America and the American Geophysical Union.