The strength of the College of IST is demonstrated through the successes and accomplishments of its students, faculty, alumni, and programs. Read more about how the college and its people are driving innovative change and taking on the challenges of the Information Age.
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IST researchers exploit vulnerabilities of AI-powered game bots
September 23, 2020
Researchers in the College of Information Sciences and Technology have designed an algorithm that was trained to defeat a world-class bot — an AI-driven program that plays on behalf of a human — in the award-winning computer game StarCraft II.
Wastewater sampling may give advanced warning of potential COVID-19 outbreaks
September 20, 2020
Wastewater sampling for coronavirus on campus and in the surrounding community could alert University decision makers to a potential outbreak several days before individuals exhibit symptoms of an infection.
IST alumnus helps drive a major city's data during COVID-19
September 18, 2020
As chief data officer for the City and County of San Francisco, Jason Lally carries the daily responsibility to help each of the city’s approximately 50 departments make the best use of its data. And that responsibility becomes especially critical in the middle of a global pandemic.
IST research aims to understand a global pandemic
September 16, 2020
Since the novel coronavirus began its spread earlier this year, College of Information Sciences and Technology faculty and students have been innovative in addressing a variety of challenges related to COVID-19, including how to equip researchers with the most up-to-date information, how to educa
Study reveals design flaws of chatbot-based symptom-checker apps
September 16, 2020
Millions of people turn to their mobile devices when seeking medical advice. They’re able to share their symptoms and receive potential diagnoses through chatbot-based symptom-checker (CSC) apps. But how do these apps compare to a trip to the doctor’s office?
Artificial intelligence takes center stage at Nittany AI Challenge Celebration
September 10, 2020
The Penn State community is invited to virtually attend the Nittany AI Challenge Celebration, where nine student teams will present their minimum viable product for a chance to share in the remaining pool of $25,000 in funding.
NSF-funded study to examine human-punishment interaction in online communities
September 9, 2020
With a new grant, Yubo Kou, assistant professor of information sciences and technology, will examine how users of online community platforms experience punishments in various forms, such as chat restriction and account suspension, and what can be done to help those punished users, through his aim
Center for Socially Responsible AI accepting seed funding proposals
September 8, 2020
Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence is now accepting proposals for its inaugural seed funding program. The program will provide grants to teams working on AI-related pilot projects that have the potential to secure additional external funding.
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IST alumna Isabella Webster named 2020-21 Young Alumni Ambassador
September 7, 2020
Isabella Webster, a 2020 graduate of the College of Information Sciences and Technology, was heavily engaged on campus during her time at Penn State — with leadership roles in Homecoming, Movin’ On, and the University Park Undergraduate Association.
Space Grant accepting grant applications for education, research and outreach
September 3, 2020
The NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium (PSGC) is accepting applications for its 2020-21 competitive mini-grant program. The program supports and enhances science and engineering education, research and outreach.
Summer Founders program showcases record number of teams
September 1, 2020
Invent Penn State’s 2020 Summer Founders program, a 13-week student startup accelerator, wrapped up Aug. 12 in a virtual showcase after funding seven student-startup teams with $15,000 each to work on their startup, nonprofit, or social good full time over the summer.
Internationally recognized human-computer interaction expert joins IST faculty
August 31, 2020
Shaowen Bardzell, professor of information sciences and technology, has joined the College of Information Sciences and Technology faculty this fall.
Alumna works behind the scenes at fast-food company on third-party integration
August 31, 2020
The last few months of pandemic-stricken quarantine have been anything but monotonous for 2013 Penn State alumna Lindsay Langley, as she has been staying busy with two new roles: working virtually in a new position at a new company and becoming a first-time mother.
Art history, IST faculty win NEH grant to use computer-aided image analysis
August 28, 2020
Elizabeth Mansfield, professor and head of the Department of Art History, and James Wang, professor of information sciences and technology, have received a Digital Humanities Advancement Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a project that will use computer-aided image analysis
IST research well-represented at Knowledge Discovery in Databases conference
August 28, 2020
The College of Information Sciences and Technology was well-represented at the 2020 ACM Knowledge Discovery in Databases Conference, held virtually Aug. 23-27.