Helena Lindgren, Professor in Computer Science at Umeå University, is Acting Program Director of the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program – Humanities and Society (WASP-HS) from October 1 to the end of the year.
The former Program Director, Professor Virginia Dignum, started 1 October as Senior Advisor with responsibility for policy issues within AI at Wallenberg Foundations, the appointment of a new Program Director is in progress, and Professor Helena Lindgren is appointed Acting Director for the period October 1 to December 31.
Helena Lindgren is passionate about multidisciplinary research and research in collaboration with societal organizations. Her research lies in the intersection between AI, interaction design and cognitive science, often applied to health-related domains. Rooted in her background in occupational therapy, ergonomics and occupational rehabilitation, she explores the conditions for development of capability in individuals, matching ability to the environment, and building an environment embedding AI that is social, person-tailored, collaborative, capability-building, and inspiring. Human-centered AI and Human-AI collaboration is at the core of her research, exemplified by the WASP-HS affiliated project on digital companions as social actors, which she is leading.
“As Acting Program Director, I will work for a smooth transition towards the new leadership from January 2024 and plan for the coming period of WASP-HS. As I am, and have been, a member of the WASP-HS Management Team since the start of the program. I am also very eager to continue what Virginia Dignum has started – developing the thriving WASP-HS network of groundbreaking research towards an AI-infused future which will align with humane values, and the visions of a healthy, human-friendly society”, says Helena Lindgren.
The transition period between the program directors will, for example, include the annual WASP-HS conference AI for Humanity and Society 2023 which Helena Lindgren will present.
“I look forward to the annual conference, it will not only be a meeting place for important societal discussions together with the international experts Professor Shannon Vallor, the WASP-HS Guest Professors Sofia Ranchordas and Sarah Cook and many more. The conference will also be an opportunity for all of us to meet the researchers within the WASP-HS network and beyond,” says Helena Lindgren.
