The UNM Student Activities Center, in partnership with ASUNM Student Special Events, will host Cecilia Aragon for a guest lecture on Thursday, March 6, at 2:30 p.m. in Woodward Hall 147. The event is free and open to UNM students, faculty and staff.
Aragon is a professor in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) at the University of Washington, where she also directs the Human-Centered Data Science Lab. Her research focuses on human-centered data science, emphasizing both algorithms and the interactions between individuals, society, and technology. Her research group develops software that helps people gain insight into large, complex data sets through methods like visual analytics, ethnography, and the study of sociotechnical systems, including informal text communication and social media.
Aragon made history as the first Latina full professor at the University of Washington and became the first Latina pilot on the United States Unlimited Aerobatics Team. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her work, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2008.
Her awards include six Best Paper awards, the HCDE Faculty Innovator in Research Award (2015), and recognition as one of the Top 25 Women of 2009 by Hispanic Business Magazine. She has secured more than $27 million in funding from prestigious institutions such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Microsoft, and the Department of Energy (DOE).
In discussing her research, Aragon emphasizes the importance of addressing societal impacts in data science and AI.
"Data science and artificial intelligence (AI) involve processing vast amounts of often human-generated data such as text or personal information,” Aragon says. “But it’s important to look beyond statistical and computational approaches to consider societal impacts of data science and AI. Systemic racism and sexism are often embedded within automated tools, and it’s critical to address the human context of the increasing levels of automation in our society today.”
During her lecture, she will share insights into her groundbreaking research, her journey to overcome a fear of heights to become a champion aerobatic pilot, and her experiences as a Latina in STEM.
For more information about the event, contact the Student Activities Center.
