A Student Symposium on Critical AI Studies in Canada
Organizers include Meaghan Wester, Sophie Toupin, Jonathan Roberge, Fenwick McKelvey, Maurice Jones, Nick Gertler and Guillaume Dandurand
June 16 from 1pm to 4:30pm and June 17 10am to 3:30pm
Online and in person at Milieux Institute
EV Building, 1515 Saint-Catherine St W
Montreal Quebec
About Us
We are excited about using this event to build community and care across the student of AI in Canada. Our objective is to accept all submissions and develop a form that ensures fair, supportive participation. We encourage work-in-progress, research at all levels, and all stages. As host, we will share guidelines for moderation before the event and facilitate constructive discussion. The world can feel a little stressful and we hope this conference might be something different.
We are guided by a desire to:
- convene critical researchers studying in Canada;
- support graduate research in-progress and imperfect; and
- develop a community of care and support for this research.
We are committed to equity, humility, and good relations in our research and among each other.
Ethos
We are only a few organizers with no professional support. Please be mindful of the gendered division of labor. When you arrive at the symposium, ask how you can help. Take initiatives that benefit the community of critical AI researchers we are creating.
Be aware of and reflexive of your own behavior. Support others to accomplish their full potential, don’t dominate the conversation and don’t interrupt others.
We encourage all to engage with and uplift the scholarship and voices of Black, Indigenous, Global South and other equity deserving groups. AI remains a white EurAmerican male ethnocentric field of research which needs to be enriched and troubled.
During the period of the conference, we have appointed “Angels” consisting of two individuals who serve as contact persons for the purpose of receiving and addressing confidentiality issues that might arise at the conference. We are committed to feminist, anti-racist and intersectional values in both the content of our research and the way we interact with each other.
Format
Each presenter has 20 minutes time in total including presentation and discussion. You can use your time as you prefer. We will enforce time limits to ensure everyone has equal time. You do not need to use all your time.
We ask that if you use slides to join the Symposium Zoom and present from your laptop. We will project the Zoom for participants in the room.
Presentations will not be recorded, only synchronous presentations
Wifi
Participants will have access to the Concordia-Guest wifi network. We will share the passcode at the event.
Masking
Procedural masks are required on Concordia campus. We ask all participants to wear a mask. Speakers may remove their masks while presenting at least 1 metre from others.
Technical difficulties
Should be expected 😉
Location
Our symposium is located at the Milieux Institute on the 11th floor of the EV Building at the Sir George William Campus of Concordia University.
How to get here
We are located at the Guy-Concordia metro station and off the Maisonneuve bike path. Milieux is easily accessible from the elevators closest to the Mackay street entrance. If you are coming from the subway, pass the first set of elevators you encounter, turn left at the security desk walking east toward Mackay Street. Elevators will be on your left.
Food and beverages
We encourage you to make your own lunch and meal arrangements. Here are some suggestions:
- Hinnawi Bros Bagel & Café (Bagel sandwiches | 2002 Mackay | Map)
- Misoya (Ramen | 2065a Bishop | Map)
- DonDonYa (Small, great rice bowls | 1433a Bishop | Map)
- Poulet Rouge (Chicken and rice bowls | 1623 Sainte Catherine | Map)
- Quing Hua (Dumplings | 1675 de Maisonneuve Ouest | Map)
- Boustan (Shawarma | 2020 Crescent | Map)
- Mandy’s (Pricey, tasty salads | 2067 Crescent | Map)
- Mama Bangkok (Thai food | Inside Le Faubourg Sainte Catherine | Map)
- Thali Cuisine Indienne (Indian food/thalis | 1409 Saint Marc | Map)
- MTLKFOOD (Takeout sushi | 1829 Sainte Catherine | Map)
- Nilufar (Inexpensive falafel and vege shawarma | 1923 Sainte Catherine | Map)
We will try to provide coffee and tea. Please bring a water bottle to drink on campus.
Moderation guidelines
During the conference, we will use the progressive stack to solicit comments and feedback after each presentation. Moderators will maintain a speakers queue, giving priority to new and marginalized voices.