Lowell Lecture: AI and Civic Engagement with Nathan Sanders, Dr. Avijit Ghosh, and Jessica Chapel

Avijit Ghosh is a Lead Technical AI Policy Researcher at Hugging Face , a central platform for open AI models, datasets, and research tools used by industry, government, and academic developers worldwide. He is also a Research Affiliate at the University of Connecticut . His work sits at the intersection of AI research and policy, with a central focus on how we measure and benchmark AI systems, and whether those measurements can actually be trusted.

He founded and leads the EvalEval Coalition , a multi-stakeholder initiative bringing methodological rigor and accountability to AI evaluation. His broader research spans algorithmic bias , agent autonomy , AI for science , and third-party flaw disclosure , with coverage in The New York Times , Forbes , The Guardian , ProPublica , Wired , and MIT Technology Review . He represents Hugging Face in technical engagements with legislators and regulators in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Singapore on open-source AI governance and evaluation standards.

His work has helped shape AI regulation in New York City and prompted Facebook to remove its biased ad targeting algorithm . Nathan E. Sanders is a data scientist focused on making policymaking more participatory.

His research spans machine learning, astrophysics, public health, environmental justice, and more. He has served in fellowships and the Massachusetts legislature and the Berkman-Klein Center at Harvard University. You can find his writing on AI and democracy in publications like The New York Times and The Atlantic and at his website, nsanders.me.

After the main program, in-person audience members can meet the speakers in the Connector Space located just outside of Rabb Hall. This program will happen in-person and over Zoom Webinar. We plan to open doors twenty minutes in advance for our in-person audience.

Please note: registration will open on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 PM. This program is part of the Lowell Lecture Series generously sponsored by the Lowell Institute through the Boston Public Library Fund . Accessibility Notice : We strive to make our events accessible.

To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.