{"id":91511,"date":"2024-03-19T11:32:12","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T15:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&#038;p=91511"},"modified":"2025-10-17T18:49:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T22:49:50","slug":"data-science-at-carleton","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/data-science-at-carleton\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Science at Carleton: Researchers Use Big Data to Address Real-World Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-max  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n                    \n                    \n            \n    <div class=\"cu-wideimage relative flex items-center justify-center mx-auto px-8 overflow-hidden md:px-16 rounded-xl not-prose  my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 bg-opacity-50 bg-cover bg-cu-black-50 pt-24 pb-32 md:pt-28 md:pb-44 lg:pt-36 lg:pb-60 xl:pt-48 xl:pb-72\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1421039128-1.jpg); background-position: 50% 50%;\">\n\n                    <div class=\"absolute top-0 w-full h-screen\" style=\"background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0.600);\"><\/div>\n        \n        <div class=\"relative z-[2] max-w-4xl w-full flex flex-col items-center gap-2 cu-wideimage-image cu-zero-first-last\">\n            <header class=\"mx-auto mb-6 text-center text-white cu-pageheader cu-component-updated cu-pageheader--center md:mb-12\">\n\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold mb-2 text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] cu-pageheader--center text-center mx-auto after:left-px\">\n                        Data Science at Carleton: Researchers Use Big Data to Address Real-World Issues\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                            <\/header>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"absolute bottom-0 w-full z-[1]\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 1280 312\">\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M26.412 315.608c-.602-.268-6.655-2.412-13.524-4.769a1943.84 1943.84 0 0 1-14.682-5.144l-2.276-.858v-5.358c0-4.876.086-5.358.773-5.09 1.674.643 21.38 5.84 34.646 9.109 14.682 3.59 28.935 6.858 45.936 10.449l9.874 2.089H57.322c-16.4 0-30.31-.16-30.91-.428ZM460.019 315.233c42.974-10.074 75.602-19.88 132.443-39.867 76.16-26.791 152.063-57.709 222.385-90.663 16.7-7.823 21.336-10.074 44.262-21.273 85.004-41.688 134.719-64.193 195.291-88.413 66.55-26.577 145.2-53.584 194.27-66.765C1258.5 5.626 1281.34 0 1282.24 0c.17 0 .34 27.596.34 61.3v61.299l-2.23.375c-84.7 13.718-165.93 35.955-310.736 84.931-46.494 15.753-65.427 22.076-96.166 32.15-9.102 3-24.814 8.198-34.989 11.574-107.543 35.954-153.008 50.422-196.626 62.639l-6.74 1.876-89.126-.054c-78.135-.054-88.782-.161-85.948-.857ZM729.628 312.875c33.229-10.985 69.248-23.523 127.506-44.207 118.705-42.223 164.596-57.709 217.446-73.302 2.62-.75 8.29-2.465 12.67-3.751 56.19-16.772 126.94-33.597 184.17-43.671 5.07-.91 9.66-1.768 10.22-1.875l.94-.161v170.236l-281.28-.054H719.968l9.66-3.215ZM246.864 313.411c-65.041-2.251-143.047-12.11-208.432-26.256-18.375-3.965-41.73-9.538-42.202-10.074-.171-.214-.257-21.38-.214-47.046l.129-46.618 6.654 3.697c57.313 32.043 118.491 56.531 197.699 79.143 40.313 11.521 83.459 18.058 138.669 21.059 15.584.857 65.685.857 81.14 0 33.744-1.876 61.306-4.93 88.396-9.806 6.396-1.126 11.634-1.983 11.722-1.929.255.375-20.48 7.769-30.999 11.038-28.592 8.948-59.288 15.646-91.873 20.147-26.36 3.59-50.015 5.627-78.35 6.698-15.584.59-55.209.59-72.339-.053Z\"><\/path>\n                <path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M-3.066 295.067 32.06 304.1v9.033H-3.066v-18.066Z\"><\/path>\n            <\/svg>\n            <\/div>\n\n    \n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<p>Data science is like detective work for information. It uses scientific methods to collect, organize, and analyze data, uncovering useful patterns and insights. As a national hub of data sciences, Carleton University is deeply engaged in data research. With more than 170 data researchers, across five faculties and 26 departments, Carleton is addressing real-world issues including social movements, accessibility, finance, human behavior, and health and wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read how Carleton data science researchers are making an impact below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#1\">Mohamed Al Guindy, Media Coverage Effect on Cryptocurrencies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#2\">Jim Green, Non-Contact Monitoring for Neonatal Care<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#3\">Majid Komeili, AI Assistive Tools for Students with Disabilities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#4\">Merlyna Lim, Understanding Technology and Society<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#5\">Jennifer Schellinck, Simulations to Understand Exploitation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"mohamed-al-guindy-business\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mohamed Al Guindy, Business<a name=\"1\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"uncovering-the-effect-of-media-coverage-on-cryptocurrencies\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Uncovering the Effect of Media Coverage on Cryptocurrencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have garnered significant attention from the media due to their innovative technology and the potential for high returns on investment. However, this media attention can distort market perceptions, create instability, and increase the risk for investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/story\/economy-social-medias-influence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mohamed Al Guindy<\/a>, a leading researcher in <a href=\"https:\/\/sprott.carleton.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">business<\/a> and financial technology, is spearheading this research to shed light on the relationship between media attention and cryptocurrency price fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter wp-image-87120 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a suit and tie sits at a desk in a classroom with his hands folded.\" class=\"wp-image-87120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1-400x227.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1-768x435.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1-700x397.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/mohamed-al-guindy-1200x680-1-200x113.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mohamed Al Guindy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s crucial for investors to educate themselves on these issues prior to delving into the unknown. I think this is especially important at a time when there is so much &#8216;hype,&#8217; and so little fundamental or useful information,&#8221; Al Guindy explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Al Guindy&#8217;s research is motivated by the extensive media coverage of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, and its potential impact on investor behavior. By analyzing tens of millions of tweets, he has found that heightened media coverage and investor attention may contribute to greater price volatility (instability), posing challenges for small investors in the cryptocurrency market.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;It might appear easy to follow the crowd and jump on the bandwagon, but that may not be the most optimal choice,&#8221; Al Guindy says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Al Guindy&#8217;s work is paving the way for informed decision-making in the cryptocurrency market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I believe that many of the emerging and most important research questions in business and finance can be addressed using data science and big data.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-91536 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1032\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-400x161.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-1400x564.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-300x121.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-768x309.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-1536x619.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-2048x825.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-700x282.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1465618017-1-200x81.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"jim-green-systems-and-computer-engineering\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jim Green, Systems and Computer Engineering<a name=\"2\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"revolutionizing-neonatal-care-with-non-contact-monitoring\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Revolutionizing Neonatal Care with Non-Contact Monitoring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where every second is critical, traditional wired sensors can present significant challenges. These sensors \u2013 while vital for monitoring the health of fragile newborns \u2013 can be cumbersome for parents and clinicians, are prone to signal distortions and may irritate the baby&#8217;s delicate skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sce\/people\/green\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jim Green<\/a>, Carleton <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sce\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">systems and computer engineering<\/a> professor and leading researcher in biomedical informatics, is spearheading a groundbreaking project to transition neonatal care towards non-contact sensors. His research, conducted in collaboration with CHEO and IBM, harnesses the power of computer vision and machine learning to monitor neonatal health without the need for intrusive sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter wp-image-91519 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1666\" height=\"1106\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Jim-Green-4.jpg\" alt=\"A man in a grey sweater stands in front of a brown wall.\" class=\"wp-image-91519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4.jpg 1666w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-1400x929.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-1536x1020.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-700x465.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Jim-Green-4-200x133.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1666px) 100vw, 1666px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jim Green<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We have collected over 100 hours of sensor data from neonates, along with gold standard vital signs and detailed annotations of clinical events,&#8221; Green explains. &#8220;We are now mining these data sets to develop novel sensing solutions for multiple aspects of neonatal health monitoring.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Green is developing new techniques that don&#8217;t involve touching patients directly. Instead, he is using non-contact sensor modalities such as cameras that detect colour and depth as well as mats that sense contact pressure. These sensors can identify where the patient is in the bed, keep track of how they move, identify medical treatments they are receiving, and even estimate vital signs such as heart and respiration rates.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;Non-contact sensors can supplement and eventually replace wired sensors,&#8221; Green says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The significance of Green&#8217;s work extends beyond the NICU. By leveraging large datasets and innovative algorithms, he is paving the way for a new era of non-contact patient monitoring that includes healthy aging in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Two of my own children were treated in the NICU,&#8221; says Green. &#8220;I have always sought to apply engineering to solve problems in the biomedical field, but working with the NICU is especially important to me.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-91520 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1182\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-400x185.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-1400x646.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-768x355.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-1536x709.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-2048x946.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-700x323.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-486613280-200x92.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"majid-komeili-computer-science\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Majid Komeili, Computer Science<a name=\"3\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"developing-ai-assistive-tools-for-students-with-disabilities\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developing AI Assistive Tools for Students with Disabilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Living with disabilities poses daily challenges, impacting mobility, communication, access to information, and social participation, which can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/people\/majid-komeili\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Majid Komeili<\/a>, a computer science researcher and director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/iml.carleton.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Intelligent Machines Lab<\/a>, is creating groundbreaking AI assistive tools for individuals with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter wp-image-91522 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Komeili02-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"A man in a plaid shirt stands in front of a concrete wall.\" class=\"wp-image-91522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-400x267.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-1400x933.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-700x467.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/Komeili02-200x133.jpeg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Majid Komeili<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of his flagship interdisciplinary projects, Ava (Accessibility Virtual Assistant), aims to use generative AI and natural language processing to provide personalized support for students with disabilities. Ava engages students in dialogue and uses their responses to train AI models, aiming to understand their specific needs and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Many students with disabilities face barriers in accessing educational resources and receiving support tailored to their needs,&#8221; says Komeili, who is working on the project with Carleton&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/accessibility-institute\/people\/boris-vukovic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Boris Vukovic<\/a>.&#8221;AI-enabled assistive tools, such as Ava, have the potential to level the playing field.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In another innovative project, Komeili and his team are using generative AI and computer vision to address the challenge of conveying graphical information to blind individuals. By converting map images into tactile representations, they are enabling visually impaired individuals to access and interpret information independently. This not only enhances their autonomy but also reduces the design time required for creating tactile maps, making them more widely available.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;This research is deeply meaningful to me as it represents an opportunity to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society,&#8221; Komeili says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Accessibility in education and information is a fundamental right, and leveraging AI to facilitate equal access aligns with my commitment to social impact through technology.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-91524 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1025\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-400x160.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-1400x560.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-300x120.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-768x307.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-1536x615.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-2048x820.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-700x280.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1316096169-200x80.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"merlyna-lim-communications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Merlyna Lim, Communications<a name=\"4\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"understanding-technology-and-society-for-a-better-world\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding Technology and Society for a Better World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding the connections between technology and society is crucial for informing policy, addressing inequalities and ensuring sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Carleton <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sjc\/communication\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">communications<\/a> researcher, <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sjc\/profile\/lim-merlyna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Merlyna Lim<\/a>, uses big and small data to analyze the relationship between technology and society, examining the societal implications of digital platforms like social media, automation, and AI. Her work explores how these technologies shape communication, connectivity, community formation, and collective actions among individuals, with a special emphasis on activism and social movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter wp-image-91525 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/MerlynaLim_2024.jpeg\" alt=\"A woman in a red shirt and shall stands in front of a back-drop of movie film.\" class=\"wp-image-91525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-400x225.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-1400x788.jpeg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-700x394.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MerlynaLim_2024-200x113.jpeg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Merlyna Lim<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My research aims to address real-world problems arising from the rapid usage of digital technology such as inequality, privacy protection, disinformation, algorithmic bias\/discrimination, citizen engagement, democratic participation, and social cohesion,&#8221; explains Lim who is Carleton&#8217;s Canada Research Chair in Digital Media and Global Network Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of Lim&#8217;s notable contributions is her research on the impact of social media on political discourse and polarization. Through data analysis of digital platforms, she has shown that while social media platforms themselves do not directly cause polarization, they can exacerbate existing divisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My work introduces &#8216;algorithmic marketing culture&#8217; concept which reveals how social media algorithms and marketing principles prioritize superlative content that evoke strong emotions like &#8216;love&#8217; or &#8216;hate,'&#8221; Lim says.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&nbsp;&#8220;This leads to the spread of simplified, one-sided, and extreme content, including conspiracies and radical posts.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Lim&#8217;s upbringing in an industrial slum in Indonesia, marked by marginalization and limited opportunities for meaningful societal engagement, is the source of her passion for driving positive social change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I fully recognize that I alone cannot change the world,&#8221; says Lim. &#8220;But I aspire to be part of a larger network of individuals throughout history who strive to contribute to societal change, no matter how modest our individual contributions may seem and how daunting the present circumstances may be.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-91529 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"885\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-400x138.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-1400x484.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-300x104.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-768x266.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-1536x531.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-2048x708.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-700x242.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/iStock-1358777171-200x69.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"jennifer-schellinck-cognitive-science\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jennifer Schellinck, Cognitive Science<a name=\"5\"><\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"using-artificial-simulations-to-understand-human-exploitation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Artificial Simulations to Understand Human Exploitation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Exploitation refers to the unfair or unethical use of someone or something for one&#8217;s own advantage or benefit. It can occur in various forms, including economic exploitation, social exploitation, and environmental exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cognitivescience\/people\/schellinck-jennifer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jennifer Schellinck<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cognitivescience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cognitive science<\/a> researcher, is seeking to determine what conditions lead to the emergence of different types of exploitation through a unique approach: studying interactions between artificial agents in a simulated environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter wp-image-91559 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28.png\" alt=\"A woman in glasses and a black shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-91559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28.png 1200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28-400x267.png 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28-700x467.png 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/MicrosoftTeams-image-28-200x133.png 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jennifer Schellinck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;By studying this type of problem using simulations and data analysis I hope to make it possible to gain an understanding of the origins and underpinnings of exploitation,&#8221; she explains. &#8220;This in turn could help to reduce the amount of exploitation in the world.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Analyzing large datasets to understand complex connections between these agents, Schellinck is shedding light on what makes individuals more vulnerable to exploitation in various environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;What we have seen during the simulations is that both exploitation and cooperation are connected to goal seeking,&#8221; says Schellinck on her findings.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;This suggests that exploitation and cooperation can co-exist but the dynamics might change depending on the situation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Schellinck believes this research also has broader implications for understanding human behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I believe that cooperation and individual agency are both important components of human life, and I think that understanding them, as well as the ways they can cause issues, is important for how we continue to thrive as a species.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull wp-image-91541 size-full w-screen ml-offset-center cu-max-w-child-max px-4 md:px-6 lg:px-12\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2308\" height=\"915\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91541\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1.jpg 2308w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-400x159.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-1400x555.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-300x119.jpg 300w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-768x304.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-1536x609.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-2048x812.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-700x278.jpg 700w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/brain-exploitation-1-200x79.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2308px) 100vw, 2308px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>&#8211;<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/our-stories\/\">More Stories<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a national hub of data science, Carleton University is deeply engaged in data research, addressing real-world issues including social movements, accessibility, finance, human behavior, and health and wellness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":91546,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[54,13,19],"cu_story_tag":[1930,1920,1918,1921,1919,1922],"class_list":["post-91511","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-health-wellness","cu_story_type-research-discovery","cu_story_type-technology-innovation","cu_story_tag-equity-diversity-and-inclusion","cu_story_tag-faculty-of-arts-and-social-sciences","cu_story_tag-faculty-of-engineering-and-design","cu_story_tag-faculty-of-public-and-global-affairs","cu_story_tag-faculty-of-science","cu_story_tag-sprott-school-of-business"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":"blueprint"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/91511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/91511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97194,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/91511\/revisions\/97194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=91511"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=91511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}