Provost’s Office Announces Penn AI Council
Provost John L. Jackson, Jr. and Senior Vice Provost for Research Dawn Bonnell announce the establishment of the Penn AI Council. This initiative, designed to propel the University’s research in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science to new frontiers, embodies the goals of Penn’s new strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, to lead on the great challenges of our time by harnessing interdisciplinary innovation to achieve the most impactful research outcomes.
The council will provide strategic input, coordinate cross-disciplinary research, and catalyze new initiatives for Penn’s expanding leadership in AI. Its work will include engaging all twelve Penn schools, enhancing the visibility and impact of Penn AI research, facilitating networking and connections across all disciplines, and developing new programs, workshops, and other events across campus.
To kick off the initiative, the council has launched a campus-wide online platform, Exploring New Frontiers in AI at Penn, that brings together all Penn AI research while providing a central hub to expand the visibility of that research and catalyze new cross-disciplinary collaborations.
The council consists of senior faculty members who are leaders in AI research at Penn and around the world. They will partner with all twelve Penn schools, work closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, and report regularly to the Provost’s Council on Research. The inaugural council members are:
Duncan Watts, Stevens University Professor, department of computer and information science, School of Engineering and Applied Science; Annenberg School for Communication; and department of operations, information, and decisions, Wharton School
Eric Bradlow, K.P. Chao Professor, vice dean of AI and analytics; professor and chair of marketing, Wharton School
Bhuvnesh Jain, Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor, department of physics and astronomy, School of Arts & Sciences; co-director, Penn Center for Particle Cosmology; co-director, Data Driven Discovery Initiative
Marylyn Ritchie, Edward Rose, MD and Elizabeth Kirk Rose, MD Professor and vice dean of artificial intelligence and computing, Perelman School of Medicine; vice president for research informatics, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Rene Vidal, Rachleff University Professor, department of radiology, Perelman School of Medicine; department of electrical and systems engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science; director, Innovation in Data Engineering and Science (IDEAS) Initiative