UCI’s AI origin story; free speech class returns

Nov. 27, 2023

Southern California Shredding worker puts hard drives through the grinder.

At a data disposal event last month, Southern California Shredding’s Brian Sims puts hard drives through the grinder in parking lot 12A. By 11 a.m., about 1,500 hard drives and two truckloads of paper had been dropped off for destruction. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UCI)

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

How AI and UCI go waaay back

two men work in UCI’s information and computer science department

UCI’s foray into AI began in 1965, three years before the university’s interdisciplinary program in information and communication science became a pioneering, standalone computer science department. After Julian Feldman took the helm in 1968, the fledgling department expanded UCI’s original computing courses – which had mentioned artificial intelligence concepts – to include graduate seminars and workshops devoted to the subject. From those humble beginnings, ICS faculty and alumni helped pioneer some of the computing world’s most important advances, including HTTP and the domain name system (DNS), as well as a Machine Learning Repository used by AI researchers around the globe.

Chancellor’s free speech course – back by popular demand

Screenshot from Chancellor Howard Gillman and Michelle Deutchman video on introduction to free speech

Chancellor Howard Gillman is bringing back his class “Introduction to Free Speech and Academic Freedom” for UCI’s winter quarter. Gillman and Michelle Deutchman, who leads the UC National Center for Free Speech & Civic Engagement, introduced the class for the fall quarter as part of UCI’s effort to make the 2023-24 academic calendar the Year of Free Speech and Academic Freedom.

UCI Podcast: Managing media intake amid traumatic times

For the past two decades, Roxane Cohen Silver, a Distinguished Professor of psychological science, medicine and public health, has been researching how major tragedies – both mass violence and natural disasters – are depicted in the media and how that may affect the health – physical and mental – of consumers. In this UCI Podcast, Silver discusses her findings and why graphic images leave an indelible mark on those who see them; how social media adds a new layer to the availability of that content; and what people can do to decrease the negative consequences that too much exposure to gruesome photos and videos can have on their health.

EVENTS

What Students Can Teach Us About Free Speech and Inclusion: It's Complicated
Wednesday, 11 a.m. (sponsored by National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement)

Beyond the Book Author Series: The Skill of Humor Playbook: with (An)Drew Tarvin
Wednesday, noon (sponsored by Division of Continuing Education)

Stroke Prevention
Wednesday, 4 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Health)

UCI Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Claire Trevor School of the Arts)

Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.

#UCICONNECTED

Life-altering illness failed to thwart soccer star’s success

In the fall of 2020, UCI freshman Kiera Smeenge’s life was filled with uncertainty. She had been recruited as a defender to play for the women’s soccer team, but had just been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Having just arrived at Irvine, Smeenge moved back home to San Diego to recuperate and to get used to the routine of continuous glucose monitoring and insulin injections. Now in her fourth year, the psychology major and athlete is thriving. Smeenge was an All-Big West Honorable Mention in 2022 and selected for the Big West All-Freshman Team in 2021. Meanwhile, the UCI women’s soccer team has won the Big West conference two years running and, last year, made it all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16, the furthest the team has ever reached in the tournament.

#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

UCI IN THE NEWS

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