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unipi
Pisa in October: a TNA visit on data, ethics and AI

It is two weeks since I returned from Italy on a visit to Università di Pisa supported by the SoBigData++ Transnational Access Program. I am now gazing out of the window into the Welsh mist and drizzle.  While everyone there told me how unusually poor the weather was in Italy this October, including the occasional torrential downpour; it was still more like a typical UK summer!

 

Urban
Understanding the impact of AI on the urban environment: what’s next

When we open Google Maps, book an Airbnb, or call an Uber, we're shaping our cities in ways we're just beginning to understand. These digital platforms have transformed urban life, but they've also created feedback-loop effects that are surprisingly hard to study in the real world. What's fascinating: most of what we know comes from computer simulations, not actual data. [1]

 

University of Tartu
Artificial intelligence and technological tools for societal challenges

During my recent Transnational Access (TNA) visit to the University of Tartu, I explored two highly relevant research areas: applying artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and innovative methods to tackle misinformation online. The university’s strong support and welcoming environment enabled valuable collaboration and knowledge exchange, fostering academic growth in a vibrant, home-like setting.

 

PSE
Visit in PSE Working on Minority Political Representation and Immigrant Integration

The TNA experience at the Paris School of Economics allowed me to work notably on two projects, one on discrimination against foreigners and another one on the minority political representation and immigrant integration with co-authors who were at the Paris School of Economics as well to work on the projects. 

 

Pisa
A Journey to the Capital of XAI

The rapid development and adoption of AI technologies are transforming various fields, and
with that comes an ever-growing demand for responsible AI systems. The need for
explainability in AI is more crucial than ever. When I came across the opportunity to visit Pisa
through the SoBigData program, I immediately applied. Pisa, for me, is the "capital of XAI"
due to the groundbreaking work being done by researchers in this beautiful city. The chance
to collaborate with some of the world’s leading experts in AI explainability was incredibly

Paris School of Economics
From Drought to Resilience: The Role of Irrigation in Curbing Migration Intentions

In recent years, climate change has brought new challenges to communities around the world, particularly those dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Droughts, often more frequent and severe, can cause crop failures, pushing individuals to migrate in search of better opportunities. This blog draws on research - conducted in collaboration with Katrin Millock, Lucile Dehouck and Alix Debray - in West Africa, investigating whether irrigation access can mitigate incentives to migrate when faced with climate-induced droughts.

 

KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Visit the KTH Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm, for research on data analysis techniques in Cognitive Buildings

In August 2024, using the TNA program of the SoBigData project, I visited the prestigious KTH Royal Institute of Technology of Stockholm, Sweden, and worked with Prof. Aristides Gionis and his staff on topics regarding formal approaches to data analysis for Cognitive Buildings and their possible application to problems of smart environments in general.

 

ISTI-AIMH
Quantification, Gelato, and Leaning Towers

Over the past two months, I have been conducting research at the Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISTI-CNR) in Pisa, Italy. During this time, my research focused on quantification learning, specifically on developing methods using deep learning. The SoBigData Transnational Access (TNA) program provided an exceptional opportunity to collaborate with some of the most renowned experts in the field of quantification and, without a doubt, I encourage other researchers to take advantage of TNA opportunities like this one.

University of Tartu
A Month at Tartu: My Experience with the SoBigData Transnational Access Program

Thanks to the generous support provided by the Big Data Research Infrastructure’s Transnational Access (TNA) program, I had the incredible opportunity to carry out a portion of my research at one of the prestigious nodes of the SoBigData Research Infrastructure, located in Tartu, Estonia. 

This program opens doors for researchers like me to collaborate with world-class experts, access cutting-edge technologies, and push the boundaries of big data research. Reflecting on my time there, I can confidently say it was a transformative experience.