Data Science Team Receives $70,000 Environmental Institute CoLab Grant
UVA Data Science research team received a $70,000 Environmental Institute grant to develop AI climate models that incorporate community knowledge for local decision-making.
From Climate AI to Post-Flood Health Risks: UVA Funds New Environmental Research Projects
Congratulations to DTD Lab members Mona Sloane, Chirag Agarwal, and Aashka Dave, who are among the team recipients of a $70k CoLab grant from UVA's Environmental Institute for a new interdisciplinary project, "Community Climate Knowledge and Multimodal Climate AI”. CoLab grants support projects that represent novel and interdisciplinary approaches required to address some of the most pressing climate crises with high potential for societal impact.
A Brazilian Startup Is Betting on AI to Fight Crime. Critics See a Surveillance State
Jess Reia, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, provided expert perspective on the risks of AI-enabled surveillance, noting that systems like Gabriel can support broader surveillance networks and may be vulnerable to misuse, emphasizing the importance of accountability and safeguards when deploying public safety technologies.
The Right to the City: Busking, Data, and Everyday Life
Jess Reia, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, discussed their research in a recent Lifetime Learning article, pointing out how it highlights disputes around concepts of rest, ownership, noise, culture, and accessibility. "It also shows the importance of responsible governance mechanisms that consider those who are less visible as data points in policymaking, and how significant certain practices can be in making our cities more enjoyable."
The Sad Legacy of the Bets
David Nemer, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, recently discussed the research he has been developing for the past two years on the impacts of online betting in favelas. The results show that bets have hijacked the passion for football and that, even if they are banned, they will leave a deep legacy of social dependence.
The parallel World Cup: fake news grows and affects the Brazilian national team
Rumors and conspiracy theories gain traction and generate wear and tear, as in the case involving Ancelotti's son. David Nemer, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, explains that fake news circulates in an environment where emotions outweigh evidence. Especially during the World Cup, when emotions are running high. creating a completely inflamed environment, more conducive to misinformation.
Environmental Impacts of AI
Lauren Bridges, DTD Lab faculty co-lead,'s latest reference article, is a comprehensive take on AI’s often contradictory environmental footprint. While AI is frequently touted as a panacea for climate change—optimizing smart grids, managing resources, and accelerating materials discovery—it is fundamentally extractive and consumptive.
The Fun Shortage Is Real, and It’s Making America Miserable
With fewer places to relax and socialize, and steeper prices for entry, having fun is quantifiably harder than it used to be. Jess Reia, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, emphasizes the need for local governments need to consider fun, leisure, and entertainment for publics of all ages.
The Future With AI: Policies, Ethics, and Governance
In the latest UVA Data Points podcast, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, Mona Sloane, joins Renée Cummings to explore the future of AI, how this technology is reshaping society and the responsibilities that come with it, and how we can guide AI development in ways that are responsible, equitable, and grounded in public interest.
AI’s Blank Space
In a recent article, Mona Sloane, DTD Lab faculty co-lead, explores how AI's prediction paradigm becomes embedded in the social infrastructure of everyday life.
