Physical Society Colloquium

Advancing Science for Society via Race-Conscious Algorithmic Approaches

Thema Monroe-White

Schar School of Policy and Government and Department of Computer Science
George Mason University

The increasing dependence on algorithmic systems across societal domains has underscored the need to address structural inequities encoded in scientific, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Dr. White will present her research on intersectional race and gender biases in large language models (LLMs) and scientific discourse. She will discuss why and how emancipatory data practices, empowering algorithmic design principles, and responsible innovation can help to mitigate systemic biases in scientific- and AI-driven decision-making. By embedding critical data science approaches in social science research, her research not only advances scientific discovery; it prioritizes the needs and well-being of marginalized and minoritized people. Her interdisciplinary approach highlights the value of centering lived experiences and personal identities in computational and quantitative methodologies to ensure the benefits of science and technology are equitably distributed.