Episode 65 – Season 5 Opener

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

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.@Dr_Kyla

.@jeremywaisome

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Episode Description:

Get ready ‘cause we’re kicking off Season 5 with 2 very special guests – hosts of the Modern Figures podcast – Dr. Jeremy Waisome and Dr. Kyla McMullen! Listen as they spill the beans on their quest to conquer the world of research – and they’re tackling it with a consortium focused on Black women and girls in computing. They even dish about wrestling with AI language models like Chat GPT and the wild world of ethical considerations. They’re tackling the resignation of Harvard’s prez, Dr. Claudine Gay, and the unique hurdles faced by Black academic leaders. Join the conversation on the work we’re doing and what we have next in the pipeline! #ModernFiguresPodcast

Key Takeaways:

The hosts aim to create a research consortium focused on black women and girls in computing to foster collaboration and avoid duplication of research efforts.

They emphasize the importance of compensating Black and brown scholars for their labor and expertise.

The hosts discuss the challenges and ethical considerations of using AI language models like Chat GPT in academic settings.

They highlight the unique challenges faced by Black academic leaders, using the example of Dr. Claudine Gay’s resignation from Harvard.

The hosts encourage listeners to focus on doing their job well and finding fulfillment outside of work, rather than solely relying on their job for passion and fulfillment.

Jeremy’s Bio–

Dr. Jeremy A. M. Waisome is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education. Her research focuses on effective mentoring strategies for underrepresented populations in Engineering. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and now serves on the UF Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Associate Provost’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UF. In 2018, she was awarded the Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) by the National Society of Black Engineers. In 2017, she was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Waisome was inducted into UF Hall of Fame (2010) and is a recipient of the UF Outstanding Leadership Award (2010).

Kyla’s Bio– –

Dr. Kyla McMullen is a tenured faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields, and is the leader of the SoundPAD Laboratory at the University of Florida, which focuses on the Perception, Application, and Development of 3D audio. Her current projects include: (1) psychoacoustic analysis of the quality of customized head-related transfer functions, (2) using 3D audio to sonify positional data for situational awareness, (3) discovering critical interface design techniques for developing virtual auditory environments, and (4) using 3D audio to increase immersion and realness in virtual and augmented reality.