Queer in AI is throwing virtual social at ACL 2020 on July 8. People of all identities (including allies) are invited to attend! ACL registration is strongly encouraged but not required to attend the social. Please let us know if you need help with funding for registration (by emailing queerinai@gmail.com).
Overview & how to join
We are organizing two 1.5 hour socials in two different timezones. To join, fill in the quick sign in survey, and the zoom links will appear at the end:
Social A, July 8: 9 am Berlin / 12.30 pm Delhi / 3 pm Beijing / 5 pm Melbourne time, use this link to convert into your timezone.
Social B, July 8: 10 am Seattle / 1 pm New York / 6 pm London time, use this link to convert into your timezone.
The first half-hour of the social will include a presentation from the organizers, mini-speeches by the speakers and a word from our sponsors. The next hour of the social will consist of discussions (formal and informal) in the form of 20-30 minute zoom breakout rooms.
You can join our RocketChat channel here.
Speakers
Alex Hanna (she/her): Alex Hanna is a sociologist and research scientist working on machine learning fairness and ethical AI at Google. She also plays women's flat-track roller derby with Bay Area Derby. She will talk about the implications of gender and AI. Her talk is pre-recorded and will be streamed in Social A and B. Twitter: @alexhanna
Elin McCready (she/her): Elin McCready is LGBTQ+ activist and professor in the Department of English at Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo. Her research interests are in linguistics and philosophy, focusing mostly on semantics, pragmatics, philosophy of language, logic and game theory, and feminist philosophy. She will talk about ethical and queer issues in the state of AI in Japan, her research and activism in Social A. Twitter: @elinmccready
Robyn Speer (she/her): Robyn Speer co-founded Luminoso in 2010 and serves as its Chief Science Officer. At the MIT Media Lab, she led the development of ConceptNet, an open-source, multilingual knowledge base. Her M.Eng. thesis presented a new way for computers to understand semantics based on a dimensionality-reduced representation of ConceptNet. She will talk about the process of changing her name in research in Social B. Twitter: @r_speer
Call for Volunteers and Topics
Please use this form to submit topics for discussions (formal and informal):
on the experiences of queer researchers, especially those with intersectional and marginalized identities,
how AI is and can be affecting queer people,
how queer ideas can improve AI.
We are also looking for volunteers to moderate a break-out room for Queer in AI social. Please do sign up using that form.
Code of Conduct
Please read Queer in AI code of conduct which will be strictly followed in the social. Recording (screen recording or screenshots) is prohibited. All participants are expected to maintain the confidentiality of the members.
ACL2020 adheres to the ACL Anti-Harassment Policy and Queer in AI adheres to Queer in AI Anti-harassment policy. Any participant who experiences harassment or hostile behavior may contact any current member of the ACL Executive Committee or contact Queer in AI Safety Team. Please be assured that if you approach us, your concerns will be kept in strict confidence, and we will consult with you on any actions taken.
Platinum Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Credit for the Queer in AI @ ACL icon: Cassidy Henry and Emma Manning from this thread.