What attracted you to the Keller Center?
As an international student who has lived in three continents and seven cities, I’ve been intrigued by how different people react to different problems and how we could dissect these problems with the use of technology. The Keller Center’s focus on human-oriented design to address societal issues was appealing in that I could merge my academic interests with my experience as a global voyager.
How are you involved with the Keller Center?
My team took part in the "Racist Everyday Technologies" Tiger Challenge during the summer of 2021 to target racism in technology by debunking prejudice in design and equity in its applications. By conducting interviews with academic professors, technology experts, and field developers, as well as receiving feedback from faculty members of the Keller Center, our team was able to address the technological blackbox that exacerbates biases and ignorance, focusing on project options such as affordable housing, targeted ads, and social campaigns.
What advice would you have for students about getting involved at the Keller Center?
You don’t need to be an expert, or even have certain experiences, to take initiative in solving a problem. My team was comprised of students from various academic backgrounds and interests, ranging from sociology and architecture to computer science and engineering. While many of us were foreign to addressing social issues or the applications of technology in our systems, such diversity proved to be a valuable asset in the problem-solving process, as an interdisciplinary commitment helped reduce the risk of biases and ignorance that often blind even the most knowledgable experts.
