Kudos: Zhai co-founds, chairs National AI-Involved Science Education Group; Alumnus named UGA associate vice president for student affairs
Zhai co-founds, chairs National AI-Involved Science Education Group
Xiaoming Zhai, an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Education, recently co-founded a research interest group (RIG) with Kent Crippen, the Irving and Rose Fien Endowed Professor at the University of Florida. Housed in the National Association of Research in Science Teaching (NARST), the interest group is called Research in AI-Involved Science Education (RAISE). NARST is a global organization for improving science education through research. The NARST board of directors approved Zhai to serve as the founding chair of RAISE for three years.
RAISE aims at employing AI to extend the landscape of science education, increase the capacity of all participants in the venture to face worldwide challenges, and significantly address the equity and ethical problems in the world broadly. RAISE will (a) support cutting-edge innovations using AI to address learning, teaching, assessment, equity, and policy issues in science education; (b) communicate cutting-edge research involving AI to all researchers, practitioners, and policymakers; and (c) encourage junior scholars in the field to pursue AI innovations in science education research as it is broadly practiced.
Alumnus named associate vice president for student affairs
Demetrius Smith, an alumnus of the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s student affairs leadership program, will begin his role as associate vice president for students affairs at UGA on Feb. 1.
Smith will oversee three departments within the office and engage students through diversity, equity, and inclusion work.