At the highest level of academic research, searching, cleaning, and sorting large amounts of data is often a daunting task. To shoulder this burden, a growing number of academics are turning to AI.
In an effort to integrate diverse AI experiences at the University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB Libraries isAI behavior”, a series of free presentations and discussions among campus scholars, students, and community members.
“This series aims to foster an open, interdisciplinary community that explores how AI can deepen understanding, expand access to knowledge, and inspire new forms of scholarship. ” University Librarian Todd Grapponeintroduced the first event in the series in February. “We will highlight how UCSB researchers are leveraging innovative applications of AI and machine learning in their research, and what those approaches mean for broader research.”
In this overview of AI applications, Earth Institute (ERI) Earth sciences professor Tobias Fischer reveals the lifesaving potential of using this technology to help predict the severity of wildfires.
“This type of hazard is an interesting application to explore what AI can do,” he said, outlining the process of feeding complex temperature, wind, and terrain data into an AI model to more accurately predict fire movement in Santa Barbara County, where wildfires are the most common natural disaster.
Citing another local example, Professor Brenskool ben halpern His team at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) used AI to successfully blend frequently used high-resolution images with frequently used low-resolution images to track ice plants. Dangermond Sanctuarynear Point Conception. Halpern said monitoring hundreds of acres of invasive succulents through difficult terrain is nearly impossible on foot. With the help of AI, researchers can more efficiently carry out eradication plans mandated by the California Coastal Commission, he added.
Halpern also spoke about the importance of transparency, human oversight of AI output, and using technology to accelerate and amplify critical thinking rather than replace it. “We definitely need humans involved,” he said.
“It was clear from these presentations that artificial intelligence relies on archival materials,” Grappone said. “How libraries preserve, manage, and diversify historical records fundamentally shapes the intelligence we build, which is why the UCSB Library is an integral part of the campus conversation about the future of AI in research.”
The next “AI in Action” event, which is free and open to the public, begins April 9th at 4pm on the first floor of the library. Guidance/Training Room 1312. Confirmed speakers include Eric Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science; Fabian Ofert, assistant professor in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies. The series event on May 18th will feature Nina Miolene from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and newly appointed Materials Professor Simon Billinge.
