Hack for Human Impact brings engineering and arts students together to design AI solutions

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the College of the Holy Cross will co-host Hack for Human Impact, a new collaboration bringing students together to design AI that serves the common good.

Participating students will be given access to enterprise-grade data tools, working alongside mentors from government, academia and industry. 

Colleges and universities across Massachusetts will be invited to join, covering topics such as water quality, environmental sustainability, and community preservation.

“The liberal arts prepare students to see the world comprehensively, with awareness of ethical as well as technical dimensions of the problems we face,” says Daniel Klinghard, Dean of Education and Academic Experience at the College of the Holy Cross. 

“When you combine that breadth of perspective with the technical problem-solving of engineering, you empower students to use technology in ways that are not only powerful but purposeful, and most importantly, responsible.”

“At WPI, we see AI as an enabling technology critical for the careers of our students,” adds Elke Rundensteiner, Head of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. “When students apply data science to real-world civic challenges, they not only sharpen their technical skills but also learn that they can be agents for change for addressing pressing societal challenges. Hack for Human Impact embodies that spirit of purpose-driven innovation.”