Introduction

Data is heavily involved in every aspect of AI! The models cannot learn without data. But how do we decide what data to collect? How do we go about actually collecting it? How do we process it once we have data? How do we ethically share data? These are all critical questions! This book takes the viewpoint that data is power. Those who own the data have power. Those who collect the data have power. And it continues throughout the cycle! For this topic, we will focus on the Data Feminism book.

The book is arranged around a series of guiding principles (this is a common theme of our readings this semester!). Since the book is a bit long to get through the whole thing one chapter per class, we are going to let you choose the parts you are most interested in and report back to the class about them. Everyone will read the first chapter and then we will do a bit of an adventure for the next two assignments!  Read on to learn more.

Assignment 1

Read Chapter 1: The Power Chapter. Be prepared to discuss how this chapter relates to AI and Ethics for Earth Science as well as AI and ethics in general. If you want to learn a bit more about why they are setting things up the way they are, read the introduction as well. 

This chapter is full of great things!  But one specific thing I want you to come prepared to answer, think about something you are working on. It can be your thesis or your class project or anything.  Be ready to answer the following questions from the chapter:

This often means asking uncomfortable questions: who is doing the work of data science (and who is not)? Whose goals are prioritized in data science (and whose are not)? And who benefits from data science (and who is either overlooked or actively harmed)?

Note, there is a secondary assignment in the “Collect data ethically and responsibly” topic as well (Assignment 1, it is short!)

Assignment 2

Given that there are six more chapters and only 3 more classes to read the book, what I want you to do is to pick whichever one of chapters 2 or 3 that you are more interested in and read it in depth.  Be prepared to summarize the main points of that chapter for the rest of the class. If you enjoy the book, feel free to skim the other chapter you didn’t choose but I’m only asking you to pick one to read in-depth for the day. 

Note: There is a secondary related assignment on case studies in the “Collect data ethically and responsibly” topic as well (Assignment 2, it is short!)

Assignment 3

Today pick one of the chapters 4 or 5 and read it well for today’s discussion.  Be prepared to summarize the main points of that chapter for the rest of the class. As before, if you want to skim the other chapter, that is great too. Be prepared to summarize and discuss the main points of the chapter you chose to read in depth.

Note: There is a secondary related assignment on case studies in the “Collect data ethically and responsibly” topic as well (Assignment 3, it is short!)