DataEthics4All Foundation is proud to spotlight Dr. Himel Dev, a remarkable volunteer who has made significant contributions to our mission of fostering ethical AI education. As a Senior Research Scientist in the AI Lab at The Trade Desk and former Applied Research Scientist at Snapchat, Dr. Dev brings a wealth of industry experience to our educational initiatives.

Making AI Ethics Accessible to High School Students

Dr. Dev has played a pivotal role in developing our AI ethics course: ‘Demographic Biases in LLM Interactions‘ for high school students, leveraging his deep understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. His experience in developing deep learning-based recommendation models and working with complex AI systems has proved invaluable in making advanced concepts accessible to young learners.

Global Impact Through STEAM in AI Championship

Beyond course development, Dr. Dev took his commitment to the next level by teaching a live workshop for our STEAM in AI Multimodal Championship Season 24-25. This workshop connected students from across the globe, providing them with hands-on experience in understanding and applying ethical AI principles and getting them ready for the Multimodal AI Championship where they had to design an ethical personalized AI tutor.

A Distinguished Background in AI and Education

Dr. Dev’s passion for education and technology innovation is evident throughout his career. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), where his research on content-based online platforms earned him a best paper honorable mention at ACM CSCW 2019. His experience extends to prestigious companies including Adobe, Visa, and Snap, where he developed innovative solutions in pattern mining, deep learning, and user behavior analysis.

Presidential Recognition for Outstanding Service

In recognition of his exceptional volunteer service, DataEthics4All Foundation, as a Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) Certifying Organization, proudly recommended Dr. Dev for the prestigious PVSA award. His dedication and impactful contributions were acknowledged at the highest level, resulting in a letter of appreciation from the President of the United States of America. This distinguished recognition underscores the significance of his work in advancing AI ethics education and community service.

We asked Himel about what his time and contribution to DataEthics4All meant to him and here’s what he said:

Q1. What inspired you to get involved with DataEthics4All Foundation, and how has the experience helped you grow personally or professionally?

When I was considering how I could make a meaningful contribution to society, I felt drawn to the idea of volunteering. I had two criteria in mind: first, I wanted to align with an organization whose mission resonated with my values, and second, I sought a role where I could leverage my skills effectively. DataEthics4All Foundation’s commitment to democratizing AI and reducing barriers for high school students felt like a perfect fit.

My involvement with the foundation has been incredibly rewarding. Personally, it has deepened my understanding of the ethical implications of AI and emphasized the importance of integrating ethics into research from the outset. Professionally, the experience of developing educational content for high school students challenged me to distill complex concepts into intuitive explanations, refining my own understanding in the process.

Q2. What is one meaningful project or moment you’ve been part of during your time with DataEthics4All Foundation, and why does it stand out to you?

While developing the course was a rewarding experience, the standout moment for me at DataEthics4All Foundation was conducting the live workshop for the AI Championship. Teaching students from around the world felt like a significant responsibility, and the live interaction made it especially inspiring. It was meaningful to realize that my representation of the field could influence their understanding and perception of various concepts in AI, potentially sparking a lifelong interest in ethical AI development.

Q3. How do you see the work you’re doing at DataEthics4All Foundation contributing to a more ethical future in tech?

I see my work at DataEthics4All Foundation as an opportunity to raise awareness and educate others, including myself, about the ethical considerations in AI. The key is intentionality—treating ethical implications as a core component rather than an afterthought in AI development. I hope the students participating in these courses gain a broader perspective on the importance, intricacies, and complexities of building ethical AI systems. If even a few of them choose careers in this field, it would be a significant step towards creating a more ethical future in tech.

Thank you Himel Dev for your involvement with DataEthics4All Foundation and your meaningful contribution to advance our Mission of Empowering 1 Million Youth through STEAM in AI! We appreciate YOU.

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