Data Science Institute
Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination and Redesign

CNTR Graduate Seminar

We believe in a multifaceted exploration of technology and society research.
We read and discuss sociotechnical papers, invite guests to speak about their work, and share resources and strategies to meaningfully engage with the tech & society research community. 

Our topics include privacy, surveillance, algorithmic fairness, AI governance and policy, and participatory and community-centered AI.

The CNTR Graduate Seminar is led by graduate students, allowing format and content to reflect current graduate level research.

The Fall 2025 program is organized by Michelle Ding and Sybille Légitime.

Date

Topic(s)

Presenter(s)

9/4

Welcome  & Intros

 

9/11

1) Participatory ML in Practice: A Collaboration with Femicide Count Kenya

2) "Not in the Café": Older Adults’ Perceptions of AI Companions in Community Living Settings

1) Sybille Légitime

2) Alyssa Lanter

9/18

1) Integration of Overlapping Timeseries Networks

2) Testing LLMs in a Sandbox Isn’t Responsible. Focusing on Community Uses and Needs Is. [Presentation & Feedback Workshop]

1) Praveen Nair

2) Michelle L. Ding & Jo Kavishe

9/25

Founding the AI Research Institute on Interaction for AI Assistants (ARIA)

Prof. Ellie Pavlick

10/2

Research skills workshop

Facilitated by Sybille Légitime and Michelle L. Ding

10/9

New CNTR student research spotlight

Incoming CNTR researchers

10/16

Research Spotlights 

CNTR researchers

10/23

Research Spotlights

CNTR researchers

10/30

Brown Faculty Research Spotlight

TBD

11/6

Research skills workshop

Facilitated by Sybille Légitime and Michelle L. Ding

11/13

Brown Faculty Research Spotlight

Prof. Kim Fernandes

11/20

Brown Faculty Research Spotlight

TBD

12/4

Research skills workshop

Facilitated by Sybille Légitime and Michelle L. Ding

12/11

Semester wrap-up

TBD