Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

Recording coming soon.

How can people work with AI effectively, safely, and enjoyably? Combining ideas from Victorian railways with a dive into the mechanics of deep neural networks, Viégas and Wattenberg propose a new kind of AI instrumentation. They argue that if toasters and coffeemakers have displays that tell you their internal state, we should expect nothing less from modern machine learning systems. If we had an AI dashboard, what should be on it?

Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

Recording coming soon.

Contemporary drug policy challenges are multifaceted and rapidly evolving. Foremost among these pressing issues is the deeply disturbing surge in drug overdose deaths, particularly opioids, which is compounded by the pervasive prevalence of substance use disorders, particularly among our youth and young adults. This worrisome situation is further exacerbated by the glaring shortage of accessible treatment services. Equally noteworthy is the push for blanket legalization of all drugs. Amidst these formidable challenges, another noteworthy development has emerged—an advocacy movement focused on destigmatizing and normalizing all forms of drug use while concurrently rejecting abstinence as a treatment goal. Coupled with it is the growing momentum to medicalize psychoactive substances listed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Motivated in part by unmet needs for treating psychiatric conditions, in part by the potential for new sources of profit, these movements inherently carry the risk of expanding drug misuse and addiction, compromising public health, safety, and workplace dynamics. At the same time, the influx of new psychoactive substances remains on the rise, as efforts to curb their proliferation are hampered by the ease with which they can be swiftly designed and distributed. Effectively tackling these multifaceted challenges requires evidence-based public health strategies firmly rooted in common sense, to include robust prevention, timely intervention, comprehensive treatment and international cooperation. Solutions are more likely to succeed if they carefully balance individual needs with public health and safety imperatives, all within the broader interests of society.... Read more about Current and Future Challenges of U.S. Drug Policy

Monday, March 25, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

The pace of change in the development of Artificial Intelligence is breathtaking, and we are rapidly delegating more and more tasks to it. In this talk two philosophers explore some aspects of these trends: the role of AI in democratic decision making, and its role in a range of areas where human control has so far seemed essential, such as in the military and in criminal justice.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the Vice Provost Office for Advances in Learning present Harvard Speaks on Climate Change, a series featuring Harvard faculty working on different dimensions of the climate challenge. In this session, Professor Jody Freeman will discuss the EPA’s greenhouse gas rules for the auto, power, and oil and gas sectors and the SEC’s final rule on climate-related financial risk. Professor Freeman will also explore if these rules were weaker than expected and what lies ahead in the courts. Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director of the Salata Institute, Jim Stock, will host. This series is part of the collection of VPAL Signature Events and is co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

Although homelessness ranks as one of society’s most pressing and visible health equity challenges, the academic community has not actively addressed its health impacts, root causes, and potential solutions. Few schools and programs of public health even offer a basic course for students. Academia must demonstrate urgency to address homelessness and educate learners, motivate fledgling researchers, inform policy makers, offer community-engaged and evidence-based studies, and join in the growing national debate about best approaches. At a minimum, every public health student should understand the interdisciplinary challenges of homelessness, its implications for health equity, and opportunities to address the crisis. We call for academia, particularly schools and programs of public health, to engage more fully in national partnerships to care for members of society who are most marginalized, in terms of health and behavioral health outcomes, quality of life, and connectedness.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 4:30pm - 5:30pm ET

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the Vice Provost Office for Advances in Learning present Harvard Speaks on Climate Change, a new series featuring Harvard faculty working on different dimensions of the climate challenge. In this upcoming session, Harvard Graduate School of Design Professors Holly Samuelson and Jonathan Grinham will discuss how green building design is adapting and evolving in the context of renewable energy sources. The faculty will explore how renewable energy sources are integrated into building design to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimize carbon emissions. Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director of the Salata Institute, Jim Stock, will host. This series is part of the collection of VPAL Signature Events and is co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association.... Read more about Harvard Speaks on Climate Change: Green Building Design in the Age of Renewables

Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm ET

Joshua Greene will talk about the research behind two projects, Giving Multiplier and The Cooperation Game. They address different challenges but employ the same underlying strategy: To elevate social behavior, create an emotionally appealing upward pathway that begins with an attractive offer, not a lecture.... Read more about How to Build an On-Ramp: Making Charitable Giving More Effective and American Politics Less Toxic

Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 4:30pm - 5:30pm ET

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the Vice Provost Office for Advances in Learning present Harvard Speaks on Climate Change, a new series featuring Harvard faculty working on different dimensions of the climate challenge. In our upcoming session, Professor Meghan O'Sullivan will discuss the interplay between energy markets, the global clean energy transition, and the geopolitical factors shaping this shift. Professor O'Sullivan will also share key insights from the recent COP28 summit and what these developments mean for the future of energy. Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director of the Salata Institute, Jim Stock, will host. This series is part of the collection of VPAL Signature Events and is co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association.... Read more about Harvard Speaks on Climate Change: The Energy Transition and Shifting Geopolitics

Please join the Learning Spaces Affinity group for a tour of the Bok Center Learning Lab Studio, a space that thrives on innovation and adaptability. This unique setting offers faculty and students the opportunity to experiment and design interactive, engaging multimodal projects that bolster student-centered learning. We invite you to explore the studio, interact with the Learning Lab team, and gain deeper insight into the interesting work they do to support teaching and learning in the FAS. In addition, attendees will get to experience a hands-on group activity that demonstrates the tools and techniques used to create engaging projects.

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 17, 2024, 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Location: Bok Center Learning Lab Studio, 50 Church Street, Suite 374

Space is limited. Please RSVP by January 11, 2024. Refreshments will be provided.

Thursday, December 14, 2023: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and the Vice Provost Office for Advances in Learning present Harvard Speaks on Climate Change, a new series featuring Harvard faculty working on different dimensions of the climate challenge. In this session, Professors Dustin Tingley and Gordon Hanson will explore the political, economic, and social challenges surrounding the energy transition. Dustin will share insights from his recently released book co-authored with Alexander Gazmararian, Uncertain Futures: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse, and Gordon will discuss his research on mitigating the economic impacts of the energy transition on workers, a key initiative of the Kennedy School’s Reimagining the Economy Project, which he co-directs with Dani Rodrik. Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and Director of the Salata Institute, Jim Stock, will host. This series is part of the collection of VPAL Signature Events and is co-sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Association.

Effective Learning Strategies: What Students Understand Versus What They Do

A Journal Club led by the Research-Informed Teaching & Learning TLC Affinity Group
 
Location: Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, 125 Mt Auburn Street, 3rd Floor
Date: Thursday, December 7
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
 
In recent decades, research has demonstrated that certain learning strategies—such as spacing, interleaving, pre-testing, and other “desirable difficulties”—can be particularly effective for knowledge retention and long-term transfer. In this session of our Research-Informed Teaching & Learning (RITL) TLC Affinity Group, we will examine a recent peer-reviewed article, “Students Can (Mostly) Recognize Effective Learning, So Why Do They Not Do It?” Here the authors investigate college students’ ability to recognize these effective learning strategies, and explore why students often struggle to apply these strategies to their own studying.
 
In this session we will first provide a brief overview of five evidence-based strategies for learning and collectively discuss key takeaways from the article. As a group, we will also brainstorm practical ways to leverage these research findings into our teaching practice and course design, seeking to maximize student learning and overcome barriers to effective student study habits. We encourage you to read the article prior to the meeting (but don’t let this be a barrier to your participation!) This event is open to members of the Harvard community. Join us in person on the Cambridge campus for an engaging discussion, as well as appetizers and refreshments.

Discover how FAS faculty are using the latest generative artificial intelligence technology in the classroom. Join us for dynamic live demos and discussions to exchange ideas and uncover practical ways to integrate Al into your work.

Introduction by: Latanya Sweeney, Harvard Kennedy School & Government.

Presentations by: David Malan, Computer Science; Eric Beerbohm, Government; Nicole Mills, Romance Languages & Literatures; Maria Dickcis, English.

When: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

Location: CGIS South Tsai Auditorium (S010)

For more information contact generativeAl@fas.harvard.edu or please visit ai.fas.harvard.edu... Read more about GENERATIVE AI FACULTY SHOW & TELL

The nuances of calculating "time on task"

Learning Data & Analytics December Event

Facilitator Patrice Torcivia Prusko, Director of Learning Design (HGSE)

Date: Tuesday, December 5th, 2023
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm ET


After the launch of How People Learn (HPL) we found that students were spending a disproportionate amount of time on tasks, as compared to what we estimated.  Join members of the TLL as we take you through our journey of starting with the original Rice University time on task calculator, incorporation of student feedback on actual time on task, and the Wake Forest workload calculator to estimate time on task in our online courses. We will share our process, the subtleties involved in calculation, and the challenges and limitations in calculating time on task. This session will include time for the audience to share their approaches, Q&A, and networking.

Monday, December 4, 2023 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm EST

Come learn how the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic is championing transgender inclusion in sports through regulatory advocacy and legal guidance. Clinical Fellow Maya Satya Reddy and HLS professor Alexander Chen will discuss their recent Title IX initiatives and comment on their letter calling on the Department of Education to clarify protections for trans students under the landmark law.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Oral health equity is a vital concern that is not often seen as a priority for the public and policy makers. Oral health and overall health are inextricably linked. The mouth mirrors the body. Inequities in oral health often reflect broader health and societal inequalities. Understanding oral health disparities empowers individuals and communities to advocate for policies and practices that promote equal access to dental care. Join Dr. Catherine Hayes and Dr. Hawazin Elani in a discussion of the complexities that surround oral health equity, public health policies, and cutting-edge research happening today.