Experts Highlight the Future of Research Software and Ethical AI at Loyola Event

Loyola University Chicago hosted two leading voices in research computing and cybersecurity on November 21 in the Simpson Living-Learning Center’s Multi-Purpose Room. The event, held from noon to 2 p.m., brought students, faculty, and staff together for in-depth discussions on the evolving roles of research software engineers and the growing challenges of secure and ethical crowdsourcing in an AI-driven world.

Sandra Gesing, Executive Director of the US Research Software Engineer Association (US-RSE), spoke on the essential but often overlooked role of Research Software Engineers in modern research. Gesing highlighted national efforts to strengthen community support, mentorship, and career pathways for students interested in computational research.

Dr. Weiping Pei, Assistant Professor at The University of Tulsa, discussed the security and ethical issues emerging in large-scale crowdsourcing. She outlined privacy risks in data collection, her team’s work on detecting GDPR compliance.