Interdisciplinary research in computing is vital for addressing complex societal challenges. However, despite its importance, fostering successful interdisciplinary collaborations remains a significant challenge. The Computing Research Association (CRA) and its Computing Community Consortium (CCC) gathered insights from 40 experts across academia, industry, and government through a series of roundtable discussions to identify challenges in interdisciplinary research. The results of these discussions are being published in a series of best practices documents. The first, published in July 2024, recommended best practices for researchers collaborating on interdisciplinary teams. This second paper of the series focuses on how these collaborations can be better supported by funders, including government agencies, industry, philanthropic donors, […]

    In early February, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) National Coordination Office (NCO) published a Request for Information (RFI) on the Development of an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. This RFI, released on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, sought to inform the “priority policy actions needed to sustain and enhance America’s AI dominance.”   An incredible 8,755 responses were submitted to this RFI, including many from large industry companies, such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthopic, as well as many start-ups and “middle tech” companies (you can find a brief summary of several of their shared recommendations here). The Computing Research […]

  The fields of Cybersecurity and Public Health possess many similar attributes. For one, both fields prioritize prevention over reaction in the case of cyber attacks or outbreaks, and both quickly begin focusing on tracking and containment when preventative measures fail. Experts in both fields strive to build resilient systems to mitigate vulnerabilities and rely heavily on communication and public awareness to mitigate cyber and health risks, especially during outbreaks or hacks.   Cybersecurity today, much like Public Health in the 19th and early 20th centuries, faces challenges in measuring and improving outcomes at a population level, and lacks a comprehensive framework to measure its effectiveness at a large scale. […]

  In the near future, robots may assist humans in a near-endless variety of applications — as teaching assistants in schools, in dangerous search and rescue efforts in disaster situations, and in ocean cleanup efforts, to name a few possibilities. In some areas, robots are already supporting humans in carrying out daily activities, such as robots assisting warehouse workers with retrieving and packaging products. While robotics research offers tremendous potential to improve our quality of life, a key challenge lies in developing a skilled workforce to drive these innovations.   CCC recently led the development of a CRA Quadrennial Paper on this topic, titled Imperative for Education the Next Generation […]

The National Academies of Engineering (NAE) recently announced their newly elected members list, and among the many distinguished new members is previous CCC Council member, Maja Matarić. Dr. Matarić, the Chan Soon-Shiong Chair and professor of Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics at the University of Southern California (USC), was elected for her pioneering contributions to human-robot interaction and socially assistive robotics. Matarić’s research focuses on developing socially assistive robots that provide personalized assistance through social interaction rather than physical intervention. Her research has led to applications that aid children with autism, elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke survivors, among others. The interplay between humans and machines serves as both […]

    We are excited to welcome Alina Gerall as a new Program Associate for the Computing Community Consortium (CCC) subcommittee!   In her new role, Alina will assist CCC staff with administrative tasks and logistical matters, such as organizing and coordinating workshops and research efforts. Most recently, she worked at USAID to support the launch of their Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning policy, developing engaging training modules that emphasize the value of knowledge sharing.     “We are thrilled to have Alina join the CCC staff. Her background in Knowledge Management and her ScrumMaster certification will prove incredibly valuable in shepherding our many upcoming reports, workshops, and other events. […]