Grant: Collaborative Research and Training Experience

fD2D (From Data to Decision) is an NSERC CREATE program that will train highly qualified people to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in ethical ways that add societal value. Canada can gain AI's full human value only by meshing technical and ethical strands for fair and unbiased results. To achieve those results, Canada needs people working together from many areas: social sciences, humanities, medicine, education, law, and the more traditional areas of science and engineering. In those AI-focused teams, everyone must understand the work of their fellow team members. Industries from finance to healthcare need these people trained across areas to apply AI principles and methods in growing their businesses and building competitive advantages. Government agencies need these people to guide their policies and decisions with ethical uses of AI that add value for our society. We will train future leaders, managers, decision makers and policy makers across the spectrum of AI uses and societal impacts, from creating sensors such as wearable devices to countering problems with ethics, privacy, fairness and bias in applying AI.Key components of the fD2D training program are: 1) annual bootcamps that immerse trainees in learning and working as diverse multidisciplinary teams, 2) individual mentoring and tailored learning pathways that match each trainee's interests and career goals, 3) suites of AI-related courses in different disciplines for trainees to select for their learning pathways, 4) annual research exchanges with collaborators and experts, and 5) industry and government internships with trainees embedded in teams working on AI-related business or policy projects. In their internships, trainees will contribute their expertise in today's ethical and societal strands of AI. Our training approach builds skills and knowledge for trainees to collaborate effectively on ethical, fair and unbiased applications of AI.