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Events for April 16, 2020

  • Seminar will be exclusively online (no in-room presentation) - CS Colloquium: Hoda Heidari (Cornell University) - Distributive Justice for Machine Learning: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Defining, Measuring, and Mitigating Algorithmic Unfairness

    Thu, Apr 16, 2020 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Hoda Heidari, Cornell Universtiy

    Talk Title: Distributive Justice for Machine Learning: An Interdisciplinary Perspective on Defining, Measuring, and Mitigating Algorithmic Unfairness

    Series: CS Colloquium

    Abstract: Automated decision-making tools are increasingly in charge of making high-stakes decisions for people-”in areas such as education, credit lending, criminal justice, and beyond. These tools can exhibit and exacerbate certain undesirable biases and disparately harm already disadvantaged and marginalized groups and individuals. In this talk, I will illustrate how we can bring together tools and methods from computer science, economics, and political philosophy to define, measure, and mitigate algorithmic unfairness in a principled manner. In particular, I will address two key questions:

    - Given the appropriate notion of harm/benefit, how should we measure and bound unfairness? Existing notions of fairness focus on defining conditions of fairness, but they do not offer a proper measure of unfairness. In practice, however, designers often need to select the least unfair model among a feasible set of unfair alternatives. I present (income) inequality indices from economics as a unifying framework for measuring unfairness--both at the individual- and group-level. I propose the use of cardinal social welfare functions as an alternative measure of fairness behind a veil of ignorance and a computationally tractable method for bounding inequality.

    - Given a specific decision-making context, how should we define fairness as the equality of some notion of harm/benefit across socially salient groups? First, I will offer a framework to think about this question normatively. I map the recently proposed notions of group-fairness to models of equality of opportunity. This mapping provides a unifying framework for understanding these notions, and importantly, allows us to spell out the moral assumptions underlying each one of them. Second, I give a descriptive answer to the question of "fairness as equality of what?". I mention a series of adaptive human-subject experiments we recently conducted to understand which existing notion best captures laypeople's perception of fairness.

    This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium

    Biography: Hoda Heidari is currently a Postdoctoral Associate at the Department of Computer Science at Cornell University, where she collaborates with Professors Jon Kleinberg, Karen Levy, and Solon Barocas through the AIPP (Artificial Intelligence, Policy, and Practice) initiative. Hoda's research is broadly concerned with the societal aspects of Artificial Intelligence, and in particular, the issues of unfairness and discrimination for Machine Learning. She utilizes tools and methods from Computer Science (Algorithms, AI, and ML) and Social Sciences (Economics and Political Philosophy) to quantify and mitigate the inequalities that arise when socially consequential decisions are automated.

    Host: Aleksandra Korolova and Bistra Dilkina

    Location: Seminar will be exclusively online (no in-room presentation)

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Assistant to CS chair

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  • Astani Civil and Environmental Engineering Seminar

    Thu, Apr 16, 2020 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

    Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars


    Speaker: Dr. Oscar Lopez, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

    Talk Title: TBA

    Abstract: TBA

    Host: Dr. Qiming Wang

    Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Evangeline Reyes

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  • Undergraduate Admission Virtual Information Session

    Thu, Apr 16, 2020 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Undergraduate Admission

    Workshops & Infosessions


    Our virtual information session is a live presentation from a USC Viterbi admission counselor designed for prospective first-year students and their family members to learn more about the USC Viterbi undergraduate experience.Our session will cover an overview of our undergraduate engineering programs, the application process, and more on student life.Guests will be able to ask questions and engage in further discussion toward the end of the session.

    Please register here!

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: Viterbi Admission

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  • BAE Systems Virtual Trojan Talk

    Thu, Apr 16, 2020 @ 05:30 PM - 07:00 PM

    Viterbi School of Engineering Career Connections

    Workshops & Infosessions


    This Trojan Talk will be conducted virtually. View event details and register on Viterbi Career Gateway.

    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Trojan Talk.

    In this virtual company Trojan Talk, Brian Cortes, Senior Principal Systems Engineer at BAE Systems will be presenting on the engineering capabilities available throughout the country. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions about our company and opportunities, and learn more about what it would be like to work for BAE.

    Although the Collegiate Connections presentation will mainly target opportunities for undergraduates, we encourage masters students to also attend.

    Majors recruiting for: Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Software

    About BAE Systems - Electronic Systems
    BAE Systems Electronic Systems is the global innovator behind game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere "from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact" for our customers and the communities we serve.

    Location: Virtual

    Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

    Contact: RTH 218 Viterbi Career Connections

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