Description:

The Computer Science Department invites you to a free public lecture on October 29, 2025 at 4:00PM in Cohen Commons. This new series aims to educate the Northwestern community about the core contributions of Computer Science to society. 

Professors Bryan Pardo and V.S. Subrahmanian will kick off the series with mini talks focusing on AI. Registration is recommended as seating is limited.

Speakers

Bryan Pardo, Professor of Computer Science
"Multimodal generative modeling: how does it work?"

Professor Bryan Pardo of Northwestern’s Computer Science Department studies fundamental problems in generative modeling of music, speech and sound effects, computer audition, content-based audio search and also develops inclusive interfaces blind and low-vision users of audio production tools. He is head of Northwestern University’s Interactive Audio Lab and co-director of the Northwestern University Center for HCI+Design. He received a M. Mus. in Jazz Studies in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2005, both from the University of Michigan. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications. He has developed speech analysis software for the Speech and Hearing department of the Ohio State University, statistical software for SPSS and worked as a machine learning researcher for General Dynamics. His patented technologies have been productized by companies including Bose, Adobe, Lexi, and Ear Machine.

V.S. Subrahmanian, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science
"AI for National Security: Risks & Opportunities"

V.S. Subrahmanian is the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Computer Science at the McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University and Buffett Faculty Fellow at the Northwestern Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs. He is also the head of the Northwestern Security and AI Laboratory (NSAIL). Prior to this, Subrahmanian was The Dartmouth College Distinguished Professor in Cybersecurity, Technology, and Society at Dartmouth College with tenure in the Computer Science Department and Director of the Institute for Security, Technology and Society (ISTS). Prior to joining Dartmouth, he was a tenured Professor in the University of Maryland's Computer Science Department. He served a 6.5 year stint as Director of the University of Maryland's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies where he co-founded the Lab for Computational Cultural Dynamics and founded the Center for Digital International Government. His work stands squarely at the intersection of data-driven AI for increased security, policy, and business needs. Prof. Subrahmanian has been an invited speaker at the United Nations, Capitol Hill, the Mumbai Stock Exchange, and numerous other prestigious forums.