Expertise
iSchools accolades
Two papers from IST researchers were finalists for awards at iConference 2022, held in early March. “Facial Recognition Technology Interaction in a University Setting: Impression, Reaction, and Decision-making" by Yao Lyu, doctoral student at the College of IST, and Hengyi Fu, assistant professor at the University of Alabama, was a finalist for the Lee Dirks Award for Best Full Research Paper. A paper authored by Priya Kumar, assistant professor of IST, titled “Toward a Practice-Based Approach to Privacy Literacy,” was one of five finalists for the conference’s Best Short Research Paper Award.
iConference is presented annually by the iSchools, a worldwide association of information schools dedicated to advancing the information field and preparing students to meet the information challenges of the 21st century. Kumar was also named co-runner up for this year’s iSchools Doctoral Dissertation Award for her dissertation, “Oversharing to Sharenting: How Experts Govern Parents and Their Social Media Use.”
Why should humans trust AI?
John M. Carroll served as a distinguished speaker at the second International Conference on Information Technology (InCITe 2022), where he presented an invited talk, “Why should humans trust AI?” In the talk, he posited that explanatory artificial intelligence is an important idea in principle— to facilitate trust between humans and machines — but it won’t succeed unless what it offers is what humans recognize as explanation.
“This requirement is both stronger and weaker than explanation in the formal sense of positivist science and philosophy,” said Carroll. “I suggest that human-computer interaction, and its successful project of understanding and designing for the once-mysterious quality of ‘usability,’ provides a model for AI to empirically revolutionize how we think about explanation in computing.
Making course design more inclusive
Chris Gamrat, along with collaborators from Penn State’s learning design and technology doctoral program, co-authored an article, “INCLUSIVE ADDIE: Initial Considerations for DEI Pedagogy,” published online by EDUCAUSE Review earlier this month.
The Ukraine Crisis: Implications for U.S. Security
Peter Forster, retired senior lecturer at IST, recently led a discussion on the Ukraine Crisis for InfraGard Central PA. InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and members of the private sector, providing a vehicle for seamless public-private collaboration with government that expedites the timely exchange of information and promotes mutual learning opportunities relevant to the protection of critical infrastructure.
Standout students
Rocking on campus
IST students Eugene Ryoo and Andrew Gustafson were recently featured in The Penn Stater magazine for their indie rock band, The Willard Building.
College news
Latest iConnect now available
The Winter 2022 issue of iConnect magazine is now available online. This edition contains feature stories on IST alumni who have shared their diverse experiences to inspire and empower others through the college’s IST Identity Talks series; unique experiences and claims to fame from members of the IST community; and interdisciplinary collaborations that serve as the hallmark of the college’s research.
Events of note
Members of the IST community are encouraged to mark their calendars for these upcoming college events:
- Technology & Business Career Fair, 1 to 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 30 – Held at The Hyatt Place in downtown State College, the Technology & Business Career Fair allows Penn State students to explore internship and career opportunities, while also giving employers exclusive access to the colleges' impressive pool of talented students.
- IST Identity Talks: Strength in Diversity, 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 5 - Hear from diverse alumni about their experiences as entrepreneurs, navigating Penn State, and building their IST careers. Learn valuable tips about making your ideas come to fruition and what obstacles you may encounter.
- 2022 Be You in Tech Summit: Bringing Your Authentic Self to the Information Age, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 14 - Presented by the College of Information Sciences and Technology in partnership with RSM US LLP, the 2022 Be You in Tech Conference brings together Penn State students and corporate partners in an environment where they can connect, learn, share, and support each other while celebrating and recognizing the strength of diversity in the technology field. Registration required by April 1.