Google and Tel Aviv University (TAU) continue their collaboration and have launched a new program to promote research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science through the Center for AI and Data Science. TAU’s Data Feeder (Engineering) headed by Prof. Mir with $1 million financial support from Google.
The new three-year program primarily focuses on AI for Sustainability and Education Research. The presentation ceremony, held on 1 May, included a call for research proposals followed by a ceremony to announce the Fellows selected by the Scholarship Committee.
Scholarship faculty come from a variety of fields at TAU: environmental studies, life sciences, engineering, and from the Porter School of Education.
In addition, three scholarships were awarded to graduate students from groups that are underrepresented in academia in the field of AI. Awarded students come from Computer Science, Zoology and Education.
During the opening ceremony, TAU President Ariel Porat, Google Vice President of Engineering and Research and Professor Yossi Matias of the Google Israel Center, and TAU Director Professor Meir Fedor discussed the program and the long collaboration between TAU and Google:
TAU President Ariel Porat said: “Several years ago we started a fruitful collaboration with Google under the leadership of Professor Yossi Matias. The purpose of this association is to highlight the contribution of AI to the improvement of human society and the world in which we live.” In this new program, we are focusing on using AI tools to drive sustainability and education.”
» Sustainability is absolutely necessary for the continued existence of humanity, while education is vital to the health of our society. TAU excels in both areas, and the collaboration with Google will further strengthen them,” Porat said.
On the other hand, Yossi Matias, vice president of engineering and research at Google, said: “We have great opportunities to use AI to make a significant positive impact in many areas, and I’m excited about our continued investments to drive positive change.” Am.” Sustainability and Education”.
Through our continued and expanding partnership with TAU and its Center for AI and Data Science, we hope to unite industrial and academic research to advance science and technology in these important areas for humanity and society . “We are also committed to continuing our efforts to make academia and industry more inclusive for all sections of society,” Matias said.
Google also launched a mentoring program with ExactShe, which was founded by Professor Tova Milo, Dean of TAU Faculty of Exact Sciences, through which Google volunteers to create a community of support for female faculty students and integrate them into the research community. Will help integrate and industry.
In conclusion, TAU Director Professor Meir Feder thanked Google for its ongoing collaboration and support in these important areas of AI research at TAU. “Sustainability and education are both topics of growing interest and AI can greatly advance these areas to the benefit of the environment and society in general. AI can help address some of the biggest challenges, such as Innovation in Teaching and Learning for All, Climate Change, Water Resources, Renewable Energy and Biodiversity, etc.
» The collaboration with Google helps with another very important objective of the Center: supporting underrepresented groups in the field of AI in the academic world and fostering a diversity and inclusive environment at the university. We are delighted to join forces to promote all these important aspects”, concluded the director.
As part of this long-standing collaboration, TAU and Google have organized joint seminars over the past two years in the areas of AI for Environment and Health and AI.
Led by Dr. Deborah Cohen, Principal Scientist for Google Research, and Dr. Shiri Stumpler, TAU’s Director of Research Collaboration, the meetings included talks presenting established results as well as ongoing work by researchers from both TAU and Google Was and provided a platform to advance linkages between academia and industry.
