March 2023

Happy (almost) spring!

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about what the CCT and our partners have to offer.

Questions about the Center for Computational Thinking?
Contact us at computationalthinking@duke.edu. 

Join a live Zoom webinar on March 23 from noon- 1 p.m. with Dr. Michael Pencina and Dr. Chuan Hong, who will discuss the need for a careful evaluation of risk prediction algorithms to avoid bias and propagation of health inequities.

The problem is illustrated in the most recent publication by AI Health and collaborators, Predictive Accuracy of Stroke Risk Prediction Models Across Black and White Race, Sex, and Age Groups, demonstrating how currently proposed risk prediction algorithms perform markedly worse on Black individuals and are not improved when employing advanced machine learning techniques.

The expert presenters will discuss the important implications of these findings as well as an overview of the methods, implementation, and opportunities for improvement in risk prediction.

Register now to connect with Duke AI Health, and join us as we work to redefine algorithmic standards for clinical practice.

DataFest is a data analysis competition where teams of up to five students attack a large, complex, and surprise data set over a weekend. Your job is to represent your school by finding and communicating insights into these data. The teams that impress the judges will win prizes as well as glory for their school. Everyone will have a great experience, lots of food, and fun!

DataFest is also a great opportunity to gain experience that employers are looking for. Having worked on a data analysis problem at this scale will certainly help make you a good candidate for any position that involves analysis and critical thinking, and it will provide a concrete example to demonstrate your experience during interviews.

DataFest 2023 is sponsored by Duke's Department of Statistical Science and will take place from Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26. Find out more and sign up.

Join Augustus Wendell, M.F.A., Assistant Professor of the Practice of Art, Art History & Visual Studies at Duke University, as he presents generative approaches to making drawings. What opportunities arise when procedural systems are incorporated into the drawing process? What pitfalls arise? Join on YouTube.

This learning experience is being produced in association with the Center for Computational Thinking's Computational Art Competition. The submission deadline has been extended to midnight on April 7. The competition is open to all Duke students, faculty, and staff. Artwork must be generated by computational methods, systems, networks, or algorithms. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded.

Read all the details about the competition and submit your entry!

While the technology of ChatGPT is rapidly evolving, AI chatbots have the potential to profoundly change the way we search for information and conduct research online. We will look at what sources ChatGPT is built on and discuss specific scenarios in which students are using ChatGPT to find sources and summarize research literature.

Presented by associate librarian Hannah Rozear. Co-sponsored by Duke Libraries and Duke Learning Innovation; registration required.

Join Duke Learning Innovation and invited guest Ashok Goel, Professor of Computer Science and Human-Centered Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology, along with Matt Hirschey, Director of the Center for Computational Thinking at Duke, for a discussion of the impacts, opportunities and challenges of AI in the realm of teaching, learning and educational research. 

Come interact with peers from across campus for a day of conversation and inquiry in three connected sessions:

11 - 11:45 a.m.: Dr. Ashok Goel keynote address, Teaching and Learning in the Age of AI

12 - 1 a.m.: Lunch with topical roundtable discussions

1:15 - 2 p.m.: Fireside chat with Dr. Ashok Goel and Dr. Matthew Hirshey, followed by audience Q&A. Moderated by Dr. Yakut Gazi.

Registration is required.

In case you missed the live event, Mine Cetinkaya-Rundel's learning experience on Quarto is available on YouTube.

Photos and videos from the thought-provoking Provost's Forum "Big Problems in Big Tech" held February 17 are now available. The keynote featuring data scientist and Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen requires Duke credentials.