AI Hopes & Fears Speaker Series

This virtual talk series explores the implications of artificial intelligence by tackling questions around ethics, democracy, social justice, environmental impact, and accessibility. These monthly sessions invite participants join a diverse field of experts to consider how AI is already shaping our world.

AI Hopes & Fears Speaker Series lineup:

Ethics and AI with Dr. Kathryn Norlock 

Dr. Norlock will discuss the moral challenges of integrating AI into teaching and the broader ethical landscape. 

Dr. Kathryn Norlock is the Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Trent University. An interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Norlock is also affiliated faculty in the Department of Gender and Social Justice, and in the English Public Texts graduate program. She joined Trent University in 2010 as the Kenneth Mark Drain Chair in Ethics.  


AI and the Future of Surrogate Decision Making with Dr. Michael Bruder 

Join Dr. Bruder for a thought-provoking discussion on AI's role in making critical decisions on behalf of humans, examining the philosophical and ethical implications. 

Dr. Michael Bruder is a sessional faculty member in the Department of Philosophy where he teaches courses on cyberethics and the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He is the host of The CyberEthics Podcast featuring interviews with scholars, professionals and industry experts. With research interests that span ancient Greek and Roman to 19th century philosophy, Dr. Bruder brings a unique perspective to discussions about the impact of AI systems on society. 

 
AI in the Library with Emily Tufts, Catherine Steeves, and Amy Greenberg 

This session will feature a discussion on the Ontario Council of University Libraries’ AI initiatives, aiming to make library services more accessible and responsive.

Libraries have always been early adopters of technology and play a critical role in helping library users navigate increasingly complex information ecosystems. Launched in 2024, the OCUL Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning program aims to promote responsible, ethical AI use in the academic library environment. 


Trust, Democracy, and the Arrival of AI with Dr. Cristine DeClercy 

Dr. DeClercy will explore the impact of AI on democratic processes, with a focus on political leadership and election integrity.

Dr. Cristine de Clercy is Trent University’s inaugural Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, and one of Canada’s foremost experts in the study of political leadership. Dr. de Clercy’s research focuses on the influence of information and power dynamics on leadership, as well as election law, federalism, women’s political participation, and Canadian politics.   

 

AI, Social Justice, and Equity with Dr. Karleen Pendleton Jiménez 

This talk will examine how AI can both reinforce discrimination and bias and also be used as tools for social and environmental justice. 

Dr. Karleen Pendleton Jiménez is a writer, filmmaker and Professor in Trent University’s School of Education and the Department of Gender and Social Justice.   

Dr. Pendleton Jiménez teaches courses that explore the intersection of gender, sexuality and education, and she has recently developed a new course that investigates critical approaches to AI as part of Trent’s new undergraduate degree program offerings in Artificial Intelligence. Her research involves creative writing methodologies to examine sociocultural influences on learning.  

  

AI is Trash: The Environmental Externalities of Machine Learning Tools with Dr. Anne Pasek 

Dr. Pasek, an expert in the cultural politics of climate change, will discuss the environmental costs of machine learning and deep learning technologies. 

Dr. Anne Pasek is the Canada Research Chair in Media, Culture and the Environment, and an Assistant Professor cross-appointed between the Department of Cultural Studies and the School of the Environment at Trent University.   

As an energy humanist, Dr. Pasek's research focuses on the cultural politics of climate change, with recent work examining the role of energy in shaping academic norms and research methods.   

  

Chatting with Claude, Teaching with Llama: Generative AI’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow’s Classrooms with David Riegert 

This session will examine practical approaches for integrating generative AI into education and how one Trent faculty member has been guiding students to use these tools effectively, balancing innovation with responsible application. 

Dave Riegert is a statistics lecturer at Trent University and (indefinitely) in the final year of his PhD at Queen's University. His research dives into statistical signal processing, applying Fourier analysis to uncover the connections between solar wind, Earth's geomagnetic field, and the induced currents that affect power lines and the Earth's crust. If you've ever read something like this Scientific American article on solar flares, you're in his research ballpark. An early tech adopter with a self-confessed 'gadget problem,' Dave has explored cloud-based language models from their early days and spent the last year also tinkering with local models that can run on consumer desktop computers. 

  

AI Hopes and Fears in Education

In this talk, Lisa Noble will explore the complex implications of using generative AI in educational settings, questioning its ethical and sustainable uses and its impact on critical thinking, creativity, and assessment.

Lisa Noble is a demonstrator at Trent University’s School of Education and brings 30 years of experience as a teacher and teacher-librarian in the K-8 school system. She leads the School of Education Makerspace, where she inspires future educators to develop digital and analog prototypes for classroom activities, emphasizing technology as a tool for creation over consumption.

 

AI for Accessibility with Briar Jamieson and Caleb Hunt from Trent Student Accessibility Services 

This session, presented by Trent’s Student Accessibility Services team, will explore how AI is enhancing accessibility and inclusivity in higher education.