The United States National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently announced a new round of their ExpandAI grant program, aimed at advancing diversity and inclusion in the field of artificial intelligence. Four ExpandAI grants were awarded to historically Black universities.
Bowie State University in Maryland will use their ExpandAI grant to support the “Expanding Use-Inspired AI Research and Instruction Across Campus” project. The initiative will develop AI infrastructure, provide training, create a faculty learning community, and offer research opportunities for students at Bowie State and other HBCUs in Maryland.
Savannah State University in Georgia will leverage their new funding to establish the “AI Research Center for Preserving the Environment.” The research center will be dedicated to monitoring environmental contaminants using various AI and machine learning technologies, including Tiny Machine Learning (TinyML) systems. The new technology will provide cost-effective methods for real-time environmental monitoring.
Alabama A&M University’s new grant will fund the “Expanding Education & Research in AI-ENabled Swarm Computing Evolution” project, aiming to enhance the university’s AI capabilities by integrating advanced research and educational opportunities in cybersecurity, image analysis, the internet of things, and intelligent robotics.
Clark Atlanta University in Georgia will utilize their ExpandAI grant to establish the “NSF AI Hub at CAU.” Through partnership with the NSF, the university will establish the first graduate degree program in AI at a HBCU. Students in the degree program will learn machine learning, reasoning, and mathematical optimization to prepare them for careers in various technology fields.
