Northwestern Launches Network for Collaborative Intelligence to Advance Data Science and AI
Northwestern University has launched the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence (NNCI), an institutional network dedicated to integrating data science and artificial intelligence (AI) across all aspects of research and education. The initiative aims to empower faculty and students to use and benefit from AI tools in their work.
The NNCI will create a robust ecosystem of collaboration between Northwestern researchers and external organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits, to leverage AI in addressing societal needs. It will also ensure that all students have access to a baseline education in data science and AI to prepare them for the evolving workforce.
“Data science and AI are reshaping every aspect of society,” said Abel Kho, professor of medicine and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and founding co-director of NNCI. “Our goal is to foster an environment where all faculty and students feel confident using AI technologies to make advancements in their respective fields.”
V.S. Subrahmanian, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science in Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering and founding co-director of NNCI, added, “With this effort, we believe there’s an opportunity to establish the University as a world leader in data science and AI across many disciplines.”
Housed within the Office of the Provost, NNCI will act as a central hub connecting and supporting units throughout the University. It will sponsor events for the Northwestern community to explore AI’s impact on various areas and build experiential learning opportunities for students at all levels.
The NNCI is a result of work from the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Steering Committee, which spent the last year devising a strategy for supporting efforts in this rapidly changing field. Northwestern Provost Kathleen Hagerty praised the committee’s work, saying, “The Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence is a unique model that recognizes the immense potential of data science and AI to transform nearly all aspects of higher education.”
