- change - Mailing Lists

Change Seminar, Tuesday, May 7: Fahad Pervaiz, Understanding Challenges in the Data Pipeline for Development Data
by Galen Weld 06 May '19

06 May '19

Please join us for the Change Seminar next Tuesday, May 7, at 12pm in CSE 203. *Abstract:* The developing world is relying more and more on data driven policies. Numerous development agencies have pushed for on-ground data collection to support the development work they pursue. Many governments have launched efforts for more frequent information gathering. Overall, the amount of data collected is tremendous, yet we face significant issues in doing useful analysis. Most of these barriers are around data cleaning and merging, and they require a data engineer to support some parts of the analysis. This thesis aims to understand the pain points of cleaning development data. It also proposes solutions that harness the thought process of a data engineer to reduce the manual workload of the tedious process of cleaning such data. To achieve these goals, two research areas are critical: (1) to discern current data usage patterns and to build a taxonomy of data cleaning in the developing world; and (2) to create algorithms to support automated data cleaning, which target selected problems including matching transliterated names. With these goals, this thesis will empower regular data users to easily do the necessary data cleaning and scrubbing for analysis. *Bio:* Fahad Pervaiz <https://homes.cs.washington.edu/~fahadp/> is a graduating computer science PhD student at Paul G. Allen School, University of Washington, advised by Richard Anderson <https://www.cs.washington.edu/people/faculty/anderson> in the ICTD Lab <http://ictd.cs.washington.edu/>. Within the broad spectrum of developing technology for low income countries, his interest includes data processing, data infrastructure, HCI and public health. His research focuses on understanding the challenges in processing data collected in low income countries and explore solutions that are tailored to mitigate various issues in the data pipeline.

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Change Seminar, April 30: Rachel Heath - Working Conditions in Bangladeshi Garment Factories
by Galen Weld 29 Apr '19

29 Apr '19

Hello, Please join us for the Change Seminar, Tuesday, April 30, 12:00-1:00pm, in CSE 203. *Abstract*: Working conditions are difficult in garment factories in Bangladesh, as tragically illustrated by the 2013 collapse of Rana Plaza, which killed over 1000 workers. In this talk, I will first discuss research with Laura Boudreau and Tyler McCormick on on the relationship between migration, information, and working conditions before pre-Rana Plaza. I will then discuss research with Laurent Bossavie and Yoonyoung Cho that estimates the effects of the post-Rana Plaza reforms on working conditions and wages. Finally, I will describe work in progress with Laura Boudreau that will evaluate the effects of providing crowd-sourced information on working conditions to garment workers. *Bio*: Rachel Heath is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Washington in Seattle. Before joining the faculty at UW, she was a post-doc in the Research Group at the World Bank. Her research examines labor markets in developing countries. In particular, she has focused on the expansion of manufacturing jobs (such as the garment industry in Bangladesh) in developing countries, looking at women’s decision to work, how workers are hired and the effects these job opportunities have on women and their households. She holds a PhD in Economics from Yale University and a BS in Economics from Duke University.

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MD4SG workshop at EC'19
by Aditya Vashistha 26 Apr '19

26 Apr '19

Hello everyone, Please consider submitting your work to Mechanism Design for Social Good workshop <http://md4sg.com/workshop/EC19/cfp.html> at ACM Conference on Economics and Computation (EC ’19) to be held in Phoenix, AZ, USA on 28 June 2019. The submission deadline is tomorrow. New, ongoing, and previously published work can all be submitted. Submissions from all disciplines related to the theme of the workshop welcome! Best, Aditya

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Re: [change] Change Seminar, April 23: Jared Moore
by Jared Moore 24 Apr '19

24 Apr '19

Hi folks, Thanks for those of you that attended my talk yesterday. There were some great questions like how do we resolve axiomatic differences in values (recognizing that such differences exist is a start), how do approaches to the design of technologies apply to places with different value systems (I’m a fan of self-determination), and is there a trade-off between privacy-enhancing technologies and the spread of disinformation (maybe, but I worry that this is a red-herring that would discredit privacy-by-design technologies writ large and assumes a kind of benevolence in those who control the means of communication—there’s great work on this by legal scholar Tim Wu). I’ve uploaded my slides (jaredmoore.org/assets/state_of_ethics.pdf <http://jaredmoore.org/assets/state_of_ethics.pdf>) for those interested. My resources page (jaredmoore.org/resources <http://jaredmoore.org/resources>) lists a number of the organizations and newsletters I use to stay active in this space. Please follow up with me with any other questions or feedback you might have. Warmly, Jared jared(a)jaredmoore.org <mailto:jared@jaredmoore.org> > On Apr 22, 2019, at 12:25, Galen Weld <gweld(a)cs.washington.edu> wrote: > > Reminder - happening tomorrow! > > On Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 5:44 PM Galen Weld <gweld(a)cs.washington.edu <mailto:gweld@cs.washington.edu>> wrote: > Hi all, > Please join us next Tuesday, April 23, for a presentation by Jared Moore. > > Where: CSE 203 > When April 23, 12:00-1:00pm > > What: > abstract > In the past few years, the term “ethics” has increased in prominence with regard to computer science and related disciplines. It’s everywhere—in New York Times opinion articles, grants from the Mozilla Foundation, and in standards discussion groups at the IEEE. In many ways, this increased prominence tracks growing awareness with the ills of computational disciplines. It responds to privacy scandals at Facebook, flying killer robots assisted by Google, and in technological encroachment described as colonial. In this talk, I describe the state of ethics in computer science, why it matters, who is involved, and what it accomplishes. > > bio > Jared Moore <http://jaredmoore.org/> is a research fellow at the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence <https://www.wadhwaniai.org/>where he builds tools, writes policy, and forwards ethics. He has a master’s in computer science from the University of Washington where he worked with Richard Anderson on digital financial services and taught a course on computer ethics <https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse490e/18wi>. He has written for venues like TechCrunch. <https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/27/tech-employees-can-make-up-for-executives/>_______________________________________________ > change mailing list > change(a)change.washington.edu > https://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change

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Change Seminar, April 23: Jared Moore
by Galen Weld 22 Apr '19

22 Apr '19

Hi all, Please join us next Tuesday, April 23, for a presentation by Jared Moore. Where: CSE 203 When April 23, 12:00-1:00pm What: *abstract* In the past few years, the term “ethics” has increased in prominence with regard to computer science and related disciplines. It’s everywhere—in New York Times opinion articles, grants from the Mozilla Foundation, and in standards discussion groups at the IEEE. In many ways, this increased prominence tracks growing awareness with the ills of computational disciplines. It responds to privacy scandals at Facebook, flying killer robots assisted by Google, and in technological encroachment described as colonial. In this talk, I describe the state of ethics in computer science, why it matters, who is involved, and what it accomplishes. *bio* Jared Moore <http://jaredmoore.org/> is a research fellow at the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence <https://www.wadhwaniai.org/>where he builds tools, writes policy, and forwards ethics. He has a master’s in computer science from the University of Washington where he worked with Richard Anderson on digital financial services and taught a course on computer ethics <https://courses.cs.washington.edu/courses/cse490e/18wi>. He has written for venues like TechCrunch. <https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/27/tech-employees-can-make-up-for-executives/>

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Fwd: LensShift fellowship - know any Ruby on Rails developers?
by Sunil Garg 17 Apr '19

17 Apr '19

[I'm forwarding the following opportunity upon request from a friend. Please reach out to LenShift directly if interested. -Sunil] I'm writing to ask whether you might know of any ruby on rails developers or groups they frequent! LensShift has just launched a fellowship and we're really hoping to attract interested, passionate talent. The deadline to apply is April 26th and I've copied a short description below. The full JD can be found attached! LensShift's Beta platform went live last year and we're now focused on improving engagement and usability. We're looking for somebody who can further develop the platform with the guidance of our CTO. Being an open source project, this is a great opportunity for newer developers since it is a live app that can be referenced when applying for other opportunities. The time commitment is flexible with a target of 1-3 hours each week depending on your schedule/interest. LensShift’s entirely remote and global team works on a volunteer basis. As such, we do not have any funds available to provide remuneration for this role at this time. The language knowledge we're looking for is Ruby on Rails and JavaScript. Would really appreciate if you could pass this on to anybody you think might be interested.

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Fw: Invitation to participate in Games For Our Future Game Jam: Creating a Green Tomorrow
by Isabel Carrera Zamanillo 15 Apr '19

15 Apr '19

Hi, Please share this information with students, staff, faculty, and friends who might be interested. [cid:9d23f5b1-b59b-4ad9-8bb8-6d2c9e8c4a3a] Seattle Indies<https://seattleindies.org/>, the University of Washington Earthlab<http://earthlab.uw.edu/>, Seattle Serious and Social Impact Games<https://www.meetup.com/Seattle-Serious-Social-Impact-Games-Meetup/> and Pacific Science Center<https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/> presents the second annual Games For Our Future Game Jam. This year's theme is Creating A Green Tomorrow. Legislation like The Green New Deal has brought Climate Change and its potential impact on society to the forefront of public discourse and once again we are going to be working with top researchers in the field to help translate their work into meaningful gaming experiences to help us build a better future for our environment. The Games For Our Future Game Jam brings game developers and researchers together for a weekend to learn from each other and show the power of games to translate complex environmental research into a medium that is both fun and educational. The jam is open to people of all skill levels, newcomers are always welcome and we will ensure that everyone finds a team to join that fits your skills and interests. Experienced mentors will be available throughout the weekend to help answer questions about game development tools, engines, and principles along with climate change researchers who will be there to answer your scientific questions. This event is open to all ages, participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. No alcohol or recreational substances are allowed on site. Date And Time Fri, May 10, 2019, 5:30 PM – Sun, May 12, 2019, 9:00 PM PDT Location Pacific Science Center 200 2nd Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 There is a registration fee of $20. For more information and/or if you are interested in participating, please RSVP following THIS LINK<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/games-for-our-future-game-jam-creating-a-green…> We are also looking for sponsors. For more information contact Tim Cullings at tim(a)seattleindies.org Best regards, Isabel Carrera Zamanillo Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist UW College of the Environment micz(a)uw.edu<mailto:micz@uw.edu> 1492 NE Boat St, Suite 210B Seattle, WA 98105 Diversity and inclusion are guiding principles of the College of the Environment. The University of Washington acknowledges the Coast Salish people of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations.

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No Change Seminar Next Week (April 16)
by Galen Weld 12 Apr '19

12 Apr '19

Hello Change community, Unfortunately, we will not be having a Change Seminar next week, on April 16. We look forward to seeing you the following week! Galen

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Next week events: Let’s celebrate Earth and Diversity
by Isabel Carrera Zamanillo 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Please share the following information with students, staff, and faculty: Summary: * Environmental Justice Workshop * Environmental Justice Conference: In-Reach before Outreach (agenda included) * Call for volunteers for UW Earth Day --- Environmental Justice Workshop WHEN: April 17, 2019; 12:00-1:30pm WHERE: Johnson Hall room 117 DESCRIPTION: Do you know what Environmental Justice is? What Environmental Hazards are in your community? Examine environmental and health concerns across Washington State, discuss Environmental Justice and learn what you can do about it! Facilitator: Melissa Banales [Front and Centered] [cid:a19d36b7-67ba-43a2-80ab-b89e9c407b83] --- 2019 Environmental Justice Conference: In-Reach before Outreach WHEN: April 19, 2019; 1:00-5:00pm WHERE: Maple Hall Great Room DESCRIPTION: The 2019 Environmental Justice Conference organized by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the UW College of the Environment will focus on issues of equity and inclusive collaboration to confront climate disruption. The main goal of this conference is to reflect on our outreach strategies and look into community-based solutions. Agenda 12:45-12:55pm Registration 1:00-1:10pm Welcome and Opening Remarks 1:15-1:45pm Environmental Justice: Reflecting on our Actions locally and globally * Debolina Banerjee [Puget Sound Sage] 1:50-3:20pm Community Engagement through Participatory Action Research * Branden Born [UW Built Environments] * Patrick Christie [UW International Studies / Marine & Environmental Affairs] * Megan Ybarra [UW Geography] 3:25-4:45pm Collaboration & Coalition Building in Environmental Justice * Bonnie Duran [UW Social Work] * Vanessa Galaviz [UW Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences] * Jill Mangaliman [Got Green] * Tiffany Mendoza [Front & Centered] 4:50-5:00pm Closing remarks and preparing for 2020 * Terryl Ross [UW College of the Environment; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion] Registration for the conference is open to all. If you plan on attending the conference, please RSVP Nicole David at nmd3(a)uw.edu<mailto:nmd3@uw.edu> or through our calendar<https://environment.uw.edu/about/diversity-equity-inclusion/news-and-events/>. [cid:5e82c95b-f5a1-4e22-98e1-593eeed3a06f] --- Call for Volunteers for UW Earth Day- April 22, 2019 WHEN: April 22, 2019 (various shifts) WHERE: HUB Lawn and Lyceum DESCRIPTION: We need volunteers to help us make UW Earth Day possible. We want everyone that will be a part of this event to acknowledge the importance of stewardship in regards to our social and physical environments. You don't need to volunteer for the duration of the event. There will also be food and swag packs for volunteers. Shifts include: - Set up: 9AM - 11AM - Morning: 11AM - 1PM - Afternoon: 1PM - 3PM - Take down: 3PM - 5PM Roles include: - Set up - Green room staffing (check-in guests, monitor room) - Event sign-in/information booth staffing - Photo booth staffing - Letter writing booth staffing - Giveaway table staffing - Take down For more information contact Emmanuel Salinas at emmanuelsalinas48(a)gmail.com<mailto:emmanuelsalinas48@gmail.com>. --- Best regards, Isabel Carrera Zamanillo Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist UW College of the Environment micz(a)uw.edu<mailto:micz@uw.edu> 1492 NE Boat St, Suite 210B Seattle, WA 98105 Diversity and inclusion are guiding principles of the College of the Environment. The University of Washington acknowledges the Coast Salish people of this land, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations.

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Impact Innovation Challenge - registration open!
by Frankie O'Rourke 11 Apr '19

11 Apr '19

Hey Everyone! Do you want to use your skills and innovate around some of the most challenging problems faced by our community today? Impact++, along with Dubhacks, is hosting the Impact Innovation Challenge on Saturday, May 4, 2019. This is a hackathon-styled event addressing the issues of homelessness & housing and health & safety in Seattle by leveraging technology for social good. Individuals from all backgrounds and fields of interest are encouraged to participate! To maximize the potential impact of your ideas and solutions, there will be mentors from notable tech companies and non-profit organizations, as well as highly reputed speakers and judges. The primary goal of this event is to build a community around technology for social good at UW. It’s a springboard for ideas and long-term projects focused on public-interest technology. To that end, Impact++ will provide resources such as mentorship and networking opportunities to the participants that continue with their projects after the event. Make sure to register at the link below and come to the event to meet some amazing people, network with recruiters, win exciting prizes, eat free food and bring about a change! Registration: http://tinyurl.com/y5ydbb8x More info here: www.impact-innovation-challenge.co We are proudly sponsored by Vulcan, Microsoft, Cisco, and NEO Tracker. --The Impact++ Team

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