We use natural language processing technique to construct sentiment index from social media; we link the sentiment index with extreme weather conditions and COVID-19 shocks to quantify their negative impacts on people’s expressed sentiment; we explore the heterogeneity across countries and different population groups, and the underlying mechanisms. Dr. Siqi Zheng is the Samuel Tak Lee Professor of Urban and Real Estate Sustainability at Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and Center for Real Estate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She established MIT Sustainable Urbanization Lab  in 2019, and MIT China Future City Lab in 2017 (which later became the “China Future City Program” under the new Sustainable Urbanization Lab), and is the faculty director of her Lab. She is the Associate Editor of China Economic Review, Journal of Regional Science, Journal of Economic Surveys, and is on the editorial board of Journal of Housing Economics and Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA). Part of the Smart Cities Consortium.

The Cyprus Center for Algorithmic Transparency's March seminar features a talk by Good Systems researcher,  Dr. Min Kyung Lee (Assistant Professor, School of Information). Min Kyung will present empirical findings on people’s trust and fairness around algorithms that make managerial and resource allocation decisions. Her research suggests that techniques for distributive fairness are not sufficient for gaining people’s trust in AI. Addressing this gap, Min Kyung propose two frameworks for achieving procedurally-fair and participatory AI: a procedural justice framework that lays out considerations for procedural fairness in algorithmic decisions, and a participatory framework called WeBuildAI that enables people to build algorithms for their own communities. Learn more and register. 

Panel: An International View of Smart Cities and Procurement Get details and register This international panel explores a variety of global perspectives that describe how procurement practices will influence the development of smart cities. Topics will include the ethical and practical implications of surveillance, social services, and autonomous delivery and transportation. Welcome from Jennifer Lyon Gardner (Deputy Vice President for Research, The University of Texas at Austin). Panel Chair is Junfeng Jiao (Good Systems Executive Team Chair, The University of Texas at Austin). Panelists include Maria De-Arteaga (Assistant Professor, Information, Risk and Operation Management, The University of Texas at Austin), Kay Firth-Butterfield (Head of AI & ML, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum and Fellow, Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, The University of Texas at Austin), Hwanyong Kim (Associate Professor, College of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University), and Tuan Nguyen (Deputy Director of Community & Brand, SGInnovate, Singapore).  Part of the Week with the World Economic Forum events taking place March 22 - 26, 2021.

Panel: Industry Response to Government Procurement Policy  Get details and register Companies that develop and sell AI technologies to governments discuss how procurement guidelines influenced or will influence product development. Before and after examples show how privacy, transparency, fairness, and other ethical considerations can be embedded into AI technologies.  Welcome from Lillian F. Mills (Interim Dean, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin). Panel chair is Joydeep Ghosh (Good Systems Research Director for Fair and Transparent AI, The University of Texas at Austin) Panelists include Steve Elmore (Head of Client Services, KUNGFU.AI), Will Griffin (Chief Ethics Officer, Hypergiant), and Shaoshan Liu (Chief Executive Officer, PerceptIn).  Part of the Week with the World Economic Forum events taking place March 22 - 26, 2021.

Panel: AI Procurement Policy for State, Regional, and Local Governments  Get details and register The WEF procurement guidelines were designed for national governments. But state, regional, and local governments will also purchase AI technologies. How can procurement guidelines be helpful to local governments as they think about purchasing AI technologies that will help them create smart cities?  Welcome from Michelle Addington (Dean, School of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin). Panel chair is Kay Firth-Butterfield (Head of AI & ML, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum and Fellow, Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, The University of Texas at Austin). Panelists include Coral Evans (Former Mayor of Flagstaff, AZ)), Alex Goldberg (Texas Strategic Engagement Lead, Defense Innovation Unit), Sherri Greenberg (Good Systems Research Director for Future of Work, The University of Texas at Austin), Jeff Merritt (Head of Internet of Things and Urban Transformation and Member of Executive Committee, World Economic Forum), and Kirk Scanlon (Capital Improvement Program Manager, Austin Transportation Department’s Smart Mobility Office)   Part of the Week with the World Economic Forum events taking place March 22 - 26, 2021

Workshop for Graduate Students Closed session This workshop for graduate students helps them understand how to advance technology policy generally, and AI policy specifically. Welcome from Eric Meyer (Dean, School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin), facilitated by Kenneth R. Fleischmann (Founding Chair, Good Systems Executive Team), and presentations from Kay Firth-Butterfield (Head of AI & ML, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum and Fellow, Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, The University of Texas at Austin), and Conor Sanchez (Project Specialist, World Economic Forum).  Part of the Week with the World Economic Forum events taking place March 22 - 26, 2021.

Fireside Chat: The Importance of Sharing Work Globally on AI and Ethics Get details and register Welcome: Jay Hartzell President, The University of Texas at Austin Fireside chat featuring: Kay Firth-Butterfield Head of AI & ML, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum Fellow, Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, The University of Texas at Austin  Panel Chair: Sharon Strover Good Systems Executive Team Member, The University of Texas at Austin Panelists: Christine Dixon Thiesing (Associate Vice President for Research Innovation and Economic Impact, The University of Texas at Austin), Junfeng Jiao (Good Systems Executive Team Chair, The University of Texas at Austin), S. Craig Watkins (Good Systems Research Director for Racial Justice, The University of Texas at Austin)  Part of the Week with the World Economic Forum events taking place March 22 - 26, 2021.

Event description forthcoming, you can learn more about the speakers and discussants now. This roundtable is part of the Institute for Historical Studies' theme in 2020-2021 on "Climate in Context: Historical Precedents and the Unprecedented."

Tara Zimmerman (Postdoctoral fellow, School of Information) will present on "Social Noise: How Relationships Influence the Spread of Disinformation. " Email goodsystems@austin.utexas.edu to request the meeting information.

The History Faculty New Book Series presents a book talk and discussion with C.J. Alvarez (Assistant Professor of History and Mexican American and Latina/o Studies) on Border Land, Border Water: A History of Construction on the US-Mexico Divide (University of Texas Press, 2019). Learn more.