The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced nearly $10 million in funding last week to foster diversity and inclusion within the AI research community.
The new round of ExpandAI awards will benefit seven innovative projects aimed at enhancing AI research and education at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU).
“By fostering a diverse community of AI researchers and cultivating an inclusive workforce, we ensure that the voices of researchers across our country are represented in the development of this transformative technology,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan.
“This is not just about advancing AI; it’s about ensuring that AI innovation supports and benefits the entire nation, leaving no one behind,” he said. “Through these ExpandAI awards, we are taking significant steps toward a future where AI serves the needs of all communities, not just a select few.”
NSF announced its Expanding AI Innovation through Capacity Building and Partnerships program last year in collaboration with the departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Defense, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Four of the grants announced on June 25 will focus on establishing an AI research program at each school:
- Texas A&M International University will build a robust AI research infrastructure and curriculum, with a special emphasis on supporting underrepresented Hispanic and female researchers;
- Bowie State University will develop an AI infrastructure, provide training, establish a faculty learning community, offer research opportunities, and create AI-related educational modules for various disciplines;
- Savannah State University will establish an AI research center dedicated to monitoring environmental contaminants; and
- Clark Atlanta University will build an NSF AI Hub. The initiative will establish the first graduate degree programs in AI at an HBCU.
The funding for the other three universities will focus on expanding AI research:
- Alabama A&M University will enhance its ExpandAI Capacity Building Pilot by funding new AI capabilities, particularly in swarm computing. It aims to integrate advanced AI research areas like cybersecurity, image analysis, Internet of Things and intelligent robotics;
- San Diego State University will expand its AI research, education, and infrastructure capacity, focusing on cultivating talent from diverse communities in the San Diego area for the AI workforce; and
- Arizona State University will expand expertise in areas such as robust machine learning, reinforcement learning, and robotics specifically for health and wellness.
