The Department of Statistics holds weekly seminars every Wednesday from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM in Hardin Hall 228. A recurring calendar event and zoom link has been sent out to the stat-seminar@unl.edu email list. Most seminars will be in person in Hardin Hall unless other specified. Updates on seminars will be sent out to the email list. If you wish to be included on this email list please email abulger2@unl.edu .
Upcoming Seminars
Past Seminars
Guest Speaker
September 11, 2024
Statistics and Its Application in Forensic Science and the Criminal Justice System
Alicia Carriquiry, Distinguished Professor, Iowa State University, Director of CSAFE
Abstract: Forensic applications present unique challenges for statisticians. Until recently, it was difficult to find any relevant data that were non-proprietary and useful for research. Further, much of the data that arise in forensic problems are non-standard and include issues like low quality images, voice recordings, and stain patterns - to name a few. In consequence, it is often the case that traditional statistical approaches are not well suited to address the questions of interest to jurors, legal professionals, and forensic practitioners. In those cases, even defining analytical variables may require out-of-the-box thinking. In criminal cases, the question of interest is often one of source. Some evidence is recovered from a crime scene; was the defendant the source of that evidence? For example, did the defendant's gun fire the bullets embedded in a wall? Other forensic questions refer to the cause of an effect. Here, the difficulty arises because the standard causal framework is not appropriate to answer individual causation questions: we know that smoking causes cancer, but did it cause the cancer of the specific person who is suing a tobacco company?
This presentation introduces some of the statistical and algorithmic methods proposed recently that have the potential to impact forensic practice in the U.S. Some of this research is mature enough to be already undergoing pilot testing at actual crime labs, although no new technology has yet been implemented in real case work.
Guest Speaker
September 18, 2024
The Alchemy of AI: Sparking Creativity with Algorithmic Magic
Dan Novy (Novy San), Assistant Professor, Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, MIT Media Lab
Abstract: Explore the dynamic and rapidly evolving field of generative AI, exploring the latest tools, techniques, and advancements that are shaping its development. As generative AI continues to transform creative industries, scientific research, and technological solutions, understanding its capabilities and underlying mechanisms is paramount. We will examine current cutting-edge models that drive AI creativity, highlighting their applications in generating text, images, music, data visualization and more. By integrating examples from my own creative projects and research endeavors, this talk aims to showcase the practical implementations of generative AI and its potential to inspire new forms of artistic and scientific expression. Attendees will gain a comprehensive insight into how generative AI can be harnessed to enhance creativity and solve complex problems in various domains.
About the Speaker: Professor Dan Novy, PhD, also known as "NovySan," is an artist and engineer whose work spans the intersection of emergent media technologies and human experience, with a mission to bridge the divide between digital and meaningful tangible engagement. As an Assistant Professor at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts and a Research Affiliate at the MIT Media Lab, Novy leads the "Story Lab" and digital fabrication classes and has pioneered courses such as "Science Fiction-Inspired Prototyping" and "Indistinguishable from…Magic as Interface, Technology, and Tradition." Currently, Novy is involved in deep-ocean exploration, space analog mission simulation, synthetic characters, data visualization, and immersive experience design, working with prominent organizations such as NASA, JPL, NOAA, Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative, National Geographic, the Ocean Discovery League, and the Analog Astronaut Foundation.
More About Dan Novy