AI4IA Colloquium Speaker: Fred Roberts

AI and Homeland Security

Fred S. Roberts

Distinguished Professor of Mathematics, Rutgers University

Director of Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence CCICADA: Command, Control and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis

Director Emeritus and Special Advisor of DIMACS, Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science

Friday February 18th, 2022, 12-1 PM (EDT), Virtual Zoom Meeting

Abstract: Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in almost all aspects of homeland security. This talk will give examples of homeland security challenges dealing with keeping sports and entertainment arenas and stadiums safe, protecting our supply chains, and preparing for and responding to disasters, and describe ways in which AI is already relevant or might be.

WATCH [HERE]

Biography: FRED S. ROBERTS is a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers University and Director of the Command, Control, and Interoperability Center for Advanced Data Analysis (CCICADA), which was founded as a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence (COE). For 16 years he directed DIMACS, the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science, which was founded as one of the original NSF Science and Technology Centers. He is Director Emeritus and Senior Advisor to DIMACS. Roberts is author of four books, editor of 25 other books, and author of over 200 scientific articles. His recent edited books include the first book on maritime cyber security in 2017, a 2019 book on “Mathematics of Planet Earth,” and a 2021 book on “Resilience in the Digital Age.” His work has been translated into Russian and Chinese and deals with such varied topics as decision making, measurement, epidemiology, sustainability, large venue security, supply chain resilience, disasters and pandemics, maritime cyber security, global environmental change, socially responsible algorithms, mathematical psychology, discrete mathematics, and precollege education. His recent contributions include best practices for stadium security widely used by the NFL, NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball; a ground-breaking simulation of the world’s busiest bus terminal in NYC; automated tools to help TSA adjudicate applications from aviation workers with a criminal record. He led the DHS COE-wide Initiative on supply chains during COVID, including distribution of vaccines, PPE, and food, and currently leads several research projects on complex disruptions of supply chains. Roberts has received the Commemorative Medal of the Union of Czech Mathematicians and Physicists and the Distinguished Service Award of the Association of Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory. He is a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society, received the NSF Science and Technology Centers Pioneer Award, and was awarded the title Docteur Honoris Causa by the University of Paris-Dauphine.

Complete colloquium schedule [HERE]