UC Berkeley School of Information

06/11/2024

The I School's very own Mary McHale penned an article about how to deal with rejection during the job search process, and how to come out a better candidate.

Read more:

By Mary McHale

06/11/2024

Meet Ph.D. student ✨ Kent Chang ✨

Kent's research focuses on natural language processing to understand and facilitate the process of meaning-making and social interaction in cultural texts, with particular interests in dialogue and narrative understanding.

"The historical aspect of q***r culture is always important to me, so for me, it’s a time to reflect on where we are and where we started. As I look back, I see Larry Kramer and his Ned Weeks in The Normal Heart: “The only way we’ll have real pride is when we demand recognition of a culture that isn’t just sexual.” Recently, Nymphia Wind, having emerged victorious in RuPaul’s Drag Race, performed at Taiwan’s presidential office. For me, Pride means to appreciate such culturally and historically significant moments." 🏳️‍🌈



Read more about Kent here:

Ph.D. Student — Kent Chang is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in information science from the School of Information, advised by Assistant Professor David Bamman.

06/07/2024

By popular demand, the I School Littlest Bear 5K is back for the sixth year! 🏃 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️

Join us this summer for the I School Littlest Bear Virtual 5K, where we race toward a more inclusive tech world.

Since we launched the Littlest Bear 5K in 2018, over 850 I Schoolers have joined together from all over the globe, traversing more than 2600 miles from as far away as Australia, Japan, India, Brazil, and over 20 US states!

This year, you can run/walk/roll from wherever you are between July 29 – August 4, 2024!

Registration opens soon! Until then, check out event details:

Jul 29, 2024, 12:00 am — A fun run/walk/roll for the I School community.

06/07/2024

Andy Vo, Natalie Chen, Emily Ton, Grace Roseman, and Zoya Abdullah, the team behind the Chen Award-winning project Playscape, spoke to the I School about how they built their app and why they want to help children reconnect to nature. 🏆

Read the Q&A here:
https://bit.ly/3yGkdow

06/06/2024

OceanWatch won the 2024 Hal R. Varian Capstone Award this past semester! 🌊

Check out this Q&A with the team where they discuss the inspiration behind their project and how they built their product!

Read more:
https://bit.ly/3Ri7WNx

06/03/2024

Eric T. Meyer has been appointed dean of the UC Berkeley School of Information and will begin his new job on Aug. 1. He comes to UC Berkeley from University of Texas at Austin, where he has been dean of the School of Information since 2018.

Throughout his career, Dean Meyer has championed interdisciplinary scholarship, effectively bridging gaps between diverse academic fields and uniting researchers from various disciplinary backgrounds. Meyer’s ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration will be a cornerstone of his leadership as dean of the I School.

“His dedication to DEI efforts, mentoring, collaborative approach to decision making, and leadership experience at a large public state university distinguished him as the standout candidate for the deanship,” said Chancellor Carol T. Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Benjamin E. Hermalin, in announcing Meyer’s appointment on Monday, June 3.

More — https://bit.ly/3wRlBEt

Eric T. Meyer has been appointed dean of the UC Berkeley School of Information and will begin his new job on Aug. 1. He comes to Berkeley from the University of Texas at Austin, where he has been dean of the School of Information since 2018.

05/28/2024

Missed out on the Commencement keynote speech by renowned lawyer Gigi Sohn? 🎤

Check out our video and the transcript to hear all about her accolades, time spent in politics, and the lessons she learned in the process!

More:

Gigi Sohn gave the keynote speech at the UC Berkeley School of Information May 2024 Commencement.

05/28/2024

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the School of Information welcomed 423 of 670 total graduating students to the UC Berkeley campus.

Adorned with bouquets, leis, and bright smiles, graduates and their families filed into Zellerbach Hall, filling the venue to capacity. 💐

Graduates walked the stage after listening to great speeches by keynote speaker Gigi Sohn and student speakers Tanay Mahindru (MIMS), Alvin Ng (MIDS), Sudip Kar (MICS), and Sijia Xiao (Ph.D.).

Check out this recap of the event to relive all the best moments:

On May 18, 2024, the School of Information welcomed 423 of 670 total graduating students from the Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS), the Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS), the Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS), and the Ph.D. in Information Science programs....

05/27/2024

At Commencement, Ph.D. student speaker Sijia Xiao opened up about lessons learned from her degree. 🎓

“A Ph.D. is hard,” Xiao explained. “A successful paper comes after many late nights of work and rejections…To me, a Ph.D. entails more than an academic pursuit; it’s a journey of engaging in an inner dialogue toward self-acceptance.”

Read her full speech here:
https://bit.ly/3Ke5HqH

05/24/2024

Please join us next Wednesday, May 29, to celebrate our Outstanding Mentors!

This is our fourth year of recognizing great mentors, so join us to celebrate their amazing efforts.

🕔 5:00 pm to 5:45 pm
📍 Online

RSVP here:

May 29, 2024, 5:00 pm — Celebrate our student and alumni mentors.

05/24/2024

At Commencement, MICS student speaker Sudip Kar celebrated stories of persistence. 🎓

“Failures are disheartening but can also be a blessing. I hope we all persist in our dreams and never quit trying," he said.

Read his speech here:

Sudip Kar was the Master of Information and Cybersecurity student speaker at the May 2024 UC Berkeley School of Information Commencement

05/23/2024

The Lily L. Chang MICS Capstone Award winner is NFC Sentinel 🏆

NFC Sentinel works to improve on the security of keyless car key fobs by integrating a novel multi-factor authentification system using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. 🔑 🚗

Congratulations to Busher Bridi, Randy Escobedo, Adans Ko, Michael Patraw, and Neha Thigale, the team behind this amazing project.

Project details:

NFC Sentinel is a novel MFA system for keyless car key fobs, enhancing security against sophisticated hacks and ensuring universal compatibility.

05/23/2024

This Commencement, we were joined by...
✨ 62 MIMS
✨ 299 MIDS,
✨ 59 MICS students
✨ and 3 Ph.D.! (Not pictured)
This year was our largest graduation ever, with a total of 670 eligible graduates throughout all our degree programs!
Go bears! 🐻

For more pictures from Commencement, check out our Flickr account:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBrfwL

NOTE: Individual photos from Commencement will be posted later. 📸

Photos by Noah Berger for the School of Information

05/23/2024

At Commencement, MIDS student speaker Alvin Ng attributed lasting friendships to his degree. 🎓

“For the most part, I have always considered myself extremely fortunate — meeting the right people and joining the right profession at the right time. However, the one thing I am proud of is surrounding myself with people I admire,” he said. “Every single person I have met through MIDS has left me in constant awe and admiration and you guys motivate me to become better every day.”

Read his speech here:

Alvin Ng was the Master of Information and Data Science student speaker at the May 2024 UC Berkeley School of Information Commencement

05/22/2024

At Commencement, MIMS student speaker Tanay Mahindru described the diversity of the degree program and the future of information. 🎓

"What brings the MIMS cohort together is the appreciation of the nuances of technology, questioning its inevitability even as we contribute to its development," he said. "I rest assured in knowing that the people in this auditorium are now going to find themselves taking what we learned here into every kind of career in this developing landscape."

Read his speech here:

Tanay Mahindru was the Master of Information Management and Systems student speaker at the May 2024 UC Berkeley School of Information…

05/22/2024

The Hal. R. Varian MIDS Capstone Award winner is OceanWatch🌊 🏆

OceanWatch aims to provide a solution for swift and automated oil spill detection utilizing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and cutting-edge machine learning techniques to ensure timely and accurate detection, enabling precise response and the preservation of our invaluable marine ecosystems.

Congratulations to Ranadip Acharya, Snithika Reddy Kalakoti, Meng-Kang Kao, KT Norton, and Sameer “Sam” Shinde, the team behind this amazing project.

Project details:

OceanWatch provides a swift, accurate, and economical solution to detect ocean oil spill utilizing satellite imagery and cutting-edge ML algorithms.

05/21/2024

We are also ecstatic to announce our second winner of the 2024 James R. Chen Award for Outstanding MIMS Final Project, Magenta!

Created by Ivana Albernas, Donte Arrivas-Bedford, Nyah Mattison, Soorya Narayan Satheesh, and May Simpson, Magenta is a mobile application for young adults that provides them with highly accessible local political information.

Congrats! 🎉

Magenta is a mobile application for young adults that provides them with highly accessible local political information.

05/21/2024

Announcing the first winner of the James R. Chen Award for Outstanding MIMS Final Project is... Playscape!

Playscape is an outdoor play system for kids to explore local biodiversity with an interactive installation and a digital app for educational experiences.

Congratulations to Zoya Abdullah, Natalie Chan, Grace Roseman, Emily Ton, and Andy Vo! 👏 👏

Project details:

Playscape is an outdoor play system for kids to explore local biodiversity with an interactive installation and a digital app for educational experiences.

05/18/2024

Celebrating our today! 🎓 Beginning at 2pm PDT!

Today, we graduate:
✨ 62 MIMS
✨ 3 PhD,
✨ 299 MIDS,
✨ 59 MICS students!

Are you ready? 📣

Livestream now available:

May 18, 2024, 2:00 pm — Honor the class of 2024 with keynote speaker, student speakers, and student awards.

05/02/2024

Last week, our cyber community joined us on-campus for Immersion 🤩
Current students had the opportunity to meet alums at panels, ask industry experts questions about inclusion in the workforce, and meet others from similar roles or locations.
This byte-sized adventure left students with new friends and even newer insights about the cyber industry!
For more photos of the event, check out our Flickr page!
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBoFM3

04/30/2024

Please join us next Thursday for the MIMS Final Project Showcase!

Projects will be judged by an invited panel of professionals from outside of the School of Information who will select two outstanding projects for the James R. Chen Award. Awards will be announced during commencement on May 18.

Project posters will be on display during the reception and the break, with an opportunity to talk further with the members of the project teams.

Event details:
https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/events/2024/mims-2024-final-project-showcase

04/25/2024

TONIGHT:

Join us for the MIDS Data Science Capstone Project Showcase online from 5 - 7 PM 🤩

✨ PROJECTS: ✨
PathoGeneMap: tool that utilizes artificial intelligence to navigate the complex landscape of disease-causing genes.

OceanWatch: a solution for swift and automated oil spill detection.

Project IRVINE: an AI-driven tool designed to enhance probation officers' understanding of their cases.

MedFusion Analytics: harnesses the power of multi-modal data to empower physicians with deeper insights.

VertebrAI: tackle the healthcare challenge of identifying serious underlying conditions in patients presenting with lower back pain by developing a deep learning algorithm.

Juniper: a proxy interface for that enables individuals and organizations to unlock the vast potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) by upholding user or organization privacy.

More details:

Apr 25, 2024, 5:00 pm — Graduating MIDS students present their data science projects. A panel of judges will select an outstanding project for the Hal R. Varian MIDS Capstone Award.

04/24/2024

Check out this blog post by Veditum, a nonprofit partnering with Ph.D. students Ando Shah and Suraj Nair on their sand mining project.

This post features the two scholars as they traveled India taking note of sand mining sites!

Notes from a field trip to Chambal & conducting events, by Aishani Goswami & Rhea Lopez, associates at Veditum

04/18/2024

The Bancroft Library worked with Doxie.AI, a company started by MIDS alums, to extract fielded data from Japanese American internment records.

“There is great potential for machine learning and AI in libraries. There is a lot of discussion right now in library forums around what AI [and machine learning] can do to help us work better and faster,” said Mary Elings, the Interim Deputy Director and Head of Technical Services at the Bancroft Library.

More:
https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu/news/2024/data-science-helps-bancroft-library-organize-historic-japanese-american-confinement

When the Bancroft Library received over 100,000 Japanese-American internment “individual record” forms (WRA-26) from the National Archives and Records Administration after World War II, they had no idea these forms would become the only complete set left in existence.

03/28/2024

Cider, the software developed by Prof. Josh Blumenstock and his team in Togo to target humanitarian aid, has been nominated for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2024! Out of 1,000+ global submissions, Cider is among the digital projects selected for nomination.

Winning the WSIS Prize brings global recognition to the awarded projects, highlights their contributions to leveraging ICT for social impact, and increases the opportunity to scale the impact.

How to vote:
🔗 Visit the WSIS Prizes 2024 voting page: https://lnkd.in/gAbJ_bFd
🔍 Click the Vote button and find the Cider project under the category: Action Line C7. ICT applications: benefits in all aspects of life — E-government.
📣 Cast your vote by March 31st!

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

03/27/2024

WATCH: Artificial intelligence is a powerful new technology with seemingly endless, exciting possibilities—and risks. What’s the future of A.I.?

Prof. Hany Farid will speak to correspondent Miles O’Brien about the rise of A.I.-generated deep fake videos featuring false impersonations of any individual.

NOVA’s “A.I. Revolution” premieres TONIGHT at 9/8c on PBS.

📹

Explore the promise and perils of new A.I. technologies.

03/25/2024

Diving deep into the world of tech policy at ’s inaugural Tech Policy Summit 🤩
Engaging discussions and insightful panels led by industry leaders explored the future of technology both in the U.S and abroad.

“The UC Berkeley Tech Policy Summit exemplifies our dedication to harmonizing technology with responsible governance, aiming for a future where innovation benefits society,” said Brandie Nonnecke, associate research professor at the Goldman School and director of the CITRIS Policy Lab.

03/22/2024

On March 7, we co-hosted the UC Berkeley Tech Policy Summit & Awards Ceremony with UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy & the CITRIS Policy Lab. Across various talks and discussions, speakers navigated the challenges and opportunities of AI and policy. UC Berkeley School of Law

Read more about the event below to hear from experts in the field of tech policy👇

The Goldman School of Public Policy, the CITRIS Policy Lab, and the School of Information hosted the inaugural UC Berkeley Tech Policy Summit & Awards Ceremony, a daylong conference focused on navigating the complex landscape of tech policy and forging a path that fosters innovation while promoting....

03/14/2024

If you’ve made a gift or participated in Big Give social media campaigns, BIG THANKS! YOU'RE A SHINING STAR! Every gift makes a difference in supporting the I School’s incredible mission: to advance knowledge and practice wherever people interact with information and technology.

If you haven’t given yet, there’s still time! If you are able, please make a gift before 9 pm PST. 🌟

📹 https://bit.ly/3wMC4cr
Donation link: https://givingday.berkeley.edu/amb/berkeleyischool

BE A SHINING STAR Faculty who illuminate understanding with groundbreaking research. New friendships whose light will shine through a lifetime. Creating know...

03/14/2024

The stars are aligning and Big Give is in full swing! Today's the day that we ask that the community come together and support the potential of our gifted students; the retention of our extraordinary faculty; and the interdisciplinary teaching, learning, and research that make the I School unique. 🌟

Your gift toward any I School fund makes a BIG difference 💙 💛 Make your Big Give gift: https://givingday.berkeley.edu/amb/berkeleyischool

Our Funds:
*The I School Fund* is a general fund that is flexible and will be used when and how it is needed most. Gifts to the I School fund help provide a stable foundation for ALL of our programs!

*The I School Opportunity Fellowship* provides life-changing fellowship support to students who show leadership in DEIBJ initiatives or whose research addresses social inequities.

*The Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity Fund* helps us anticipate and address tomorrow’s information security challenges, train the next generation of cybersecurity leaders, and amplify the upside of the digital revolution.

* The Annalee Saxenian Graduate Student Support Fund* will assist students from a broad range of backgrounds and academic disciplines whose original research advances the I School mission.

* The Patrick Wilson Memorial Fund* will support the creation of student fellowships.

* The School of Information Student Experience Fund* will support all non-curricular activities that benefit the student experience such as career, stipends for travel to conferences, and networking events.