Angie Raymond, Director of the Program on Data Management and Information Governance located within the Ostrom Workshop, has joined the Midwest Big Data Hub as the lead for Indiana in the Smart and Resilient Communities priority area.
The Midwest Big Data Hub, one of four regional Big Data Innovation Hubs launched in 2015 with support from the National Science Foundation, is a network of people from academia, industry, government, and nonprofits that is dedicated to using data-driven approaches to work through scientific and societal challenges. The hub’s data projects include working with aquatic invasive species data, agricultural production and food chain data, government data-related decision-making and artificial intelligence.
“IU is a leader in artificial intelligence, law, business and cyber environments. Using this knowledge and leveraging it in a specific area of impactful research and community developments is a wonderful opportunity for IU faculty, students and alumni,” Raymond, an associate professor of business law and ethics at Kelley School of Business, said. “Building our presence in an area such as Smart and Resilient Communities allows the IU community and local communities to bridge research to action. It’s simply a wonderful opportunity for the entire community.”
The Smart and Resilient Communities priority area that Raymond now leads works with multiple stakeholders on the ground to identify what they need in terms of computational resources and how use of data can assist in decision making to improve life and make society better for all. She will be working with the long-term co-PI and continuing participant Inna Kouper, research scientist at the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering and the Center for Survey Research.
“This priority area has a particular focus on rural areas because small and rural communities have additional challenges affecting access to expertise, capacity for using data, access to broadband and first- and last-mile connectivity gaps,” Raymond said. “We support the existing projects and partnerships and expand our reach to new institutions and organizations by getting information out, documenting best practices, engaging with stakeholders and providing education and training.”
Smart and Resilient Communities welcomes opportunities to discuss collaborations relevant to the Ostrom areas of environmental data, community technological innovation, governance of knowledge resources and equitable and accessible data science education.
Anyone who would like to learn more about regional stakeholders and engage in Smart and Connected Communities collaborations can register to attend the next MBDH Collaboration Cafe webinar, “Building Smart and Resilient Communities in the Midwest,” taking place April 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. The webinar will focus on the National Science Foundation Smart and Connected Communities solicitation.