In This Story
George Mason University Professor Aditya Johri has received a Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communication Technologies award to conduct research in Finland during the 2021-22 academic year. Johri is a professor in the Department of Information Sciences and Technology in Mason's College of Engineering and Computing.
The Fulbright Distinguished Chair Awards comprise approximately 40 distinguished lecturing, research, and lecturing/research awards ranging from three to 12 months. Fulbright Distinguished Chair Awards are viewed as among the most prestigious appointments in the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program. Candidates should be eminent scholars and have a significant publication and teaching record. Johri’s Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies is jointly funded by the Fulbright Finland Foundation, Nokia Foundation, and Aalto University.
During his visit, Johri will be hosted by Professor Lauri Malmi of the computer science department at Aalto University and also work with colleagues at the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI). U.S. News ranked Aalto University the third best European university in computer science (2020) and 33rd in the world. Johri will conduct research on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics and prepare case studies to teach students about the topic using an international comparative perspective.
Many ethical problems in AI are a result of underlying data or analytical limitations, but another frequent source is the limited worldview of the creators—engineers, computer scientists, information technologists—who work as data scientists, programmers, or AI experts and researchers. To ensure productive use of AI-driven technology in the future, it is important to train the new generation of computing and engineering professionals to work responsibly and have the ability to productively engage with the uncertainty and complexity they encounter as they create and use increasingly AI-based systems. Johri’s joint work will tackle this problem by looking specifically at educational technologies that are in use in the United States and Finland.
“I am really honored to receive the Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair award,” said Johri. “Consistent with the Fulbright goals and objectives, I hope to exemplify the power of international academic exchange, share my knowledge and understanding of cultures with the intention of bridging the academic and cultural gaps between the U.S. and Finland and with the ultimate goal of contributing towards a more peaceful and prosperous world. The topic of AI ethics is critical for our global society and it is vital that we train the future workforce to think deeply about the development and implementation of AI-based technologies.”
About the Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. Fulbright Scholar alumni are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 86 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.
For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright. More information about the Fulbright Finland Foundation is available here: www.fulbright.fi/serve/fulbright-finland-nutshell.