New ‘Thought Summit’ Series Invites Proposals on Data Science and AI
Cornell faculty have a fresh opportunity to lead interdisciplinary research in data science and artificial intelligence through the newly launched Thought Summits. This forum aims to foster collaborative projects that position Cornell at the forefront of these fields. Proposal submissions are open until June 16.
Following the success of earlier data science Thought Summits, the Center for Data Science for Enterprise and Society (CDSES) has teamed up with the Cornell AI Initiative to extend this effort. Upcoming Thought Summits will be fully funded events lasting three to five days, hosted at Cornell’s Ithaca campus.
Each summit will bring together a core group of Cornell faculty along with about 20 external experts from academia, government, industry, and nonprofits. These gatherings focus on exploring innovative research directions with practical impact. Funding for multiple summits ranges from $30,000 to $50,000, primarily covering travel, lodging, meals, and other logistics for visiting participants.
Fostering Collaboration Across Disciplines
“Cornell has strong expertise in AI and data science, and these Thought Summits are designed to convert this expertise into effective collaborations in areas where Cornell can lead,” said Thorsten Joachims, director of the AI Initiative and interim dean of the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.
The ultimate goal of each summit is to produce a public whitepaper that identifies promising research opportunities. These documents serve as a foundation for large-scale, multi-institutional funding proposals. David Shmoys, director of CDSES, emphasized that linking the Data Science and AI Radical Collaborations will broaden the summits’ impact and highlight Cornell’s role in advancing these fields.
Who Can Apply and How
- All full-time Cornell faculty members are eligible to submit proposals.
- Proposals must come from teams of at least three faculty members representing three different departments.
- Each faculty member may participate in only one proposal.
- Proposals that cut across disciplines and integrate multiple fields are especially encouraged.
Faculty interested in applying should review the submission guidelines and send proposals via the CDSES website. For questions, contact info@thoughtsummits.cornell.edu.
This initiative offers a focused platform for Cornell researchers to create meaningful, collaborative projects in AI and data science—fields that continue to influence many aspects of technology and society.
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