2022-03-31: Disinformation Detection and Analytics REU Program Funded by NSF CISE REU Site 2022

 

Disinformation that spreads on the Web and social media isn't just a nuisance, it causes real harm. There is a consensus that a significant amount of false or misleading information is deliberately made to confuse, influence, harm, mobilize, or demobilize a target audience. The widespread use of social media has provided more channels for disseminating disinformation. Disinformation also exists in the form of “fake news”, consisting of deliberate misinformation.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of understanding of the basic and/or the best available science, and the limited accessibility of credible information, a vast number of citizens are susceptible to disinformation.

We are excited to receive 2022 National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduate Site (REU Site) award worth $$324,000 for three years for this research towards "Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Disinformation Detection and Analytics." 

Our REU Site (http://reu.cs.odu.edu/) will engage motivated students in the rapidly growing research area of disinformation detection and analytics. With its focus on identifying disinformation, this program will broaden the views of the students, providing them with a holistic and in-depth understanding of disinformation and its viral spread across the Web. They will leverage knowledge and skills learned to discern and debunk disinformation, which could aid their families, friends, and social media contacts and eventually help prevent disinformation from spreading. Their knowledge and skills will not only prepare students for disinformation-related jobs in research or industry, it will encourage them to pursue graduate study and research in general. This program will also contribute to the development of a diverse, globally competitive workforce by providing research and education opportunities to an economically diverse group of students, including female, underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, and those from undergraduate institutions who may not have previous exposure to research or graduate school.

Our overarching goal is to train students to be independent, contributing, and functioning researchers.
To achieve this goal, we will involve and challenge undergraduate students, particularly including
members of underrepresented groups, as colleagues in ongoing graduate-level research topics
and encourage them to pursue graduate study in STEM disciplines.

Students participating in the REU Site project will learn:

• The concept of disinformation, its types, examples, and active research topics;
• Mainstream computational methods to detect disinformation on social media, including how to access, clean, preprocess, and visualize data and how to build analytical and predictive models using open source programming tools;
• Important metrics to evaluate research results, compare baseline models, and produce preliminary results for publication quality research products;
• Essential research skills including brainstorming discussion, programming experiments, forensics, trial-and-error, technical writing, and research presentation.

We are looking for diverse participants for a paid, hands-on summer research experience to learn more about the real-world impacts of disinformation. Students will choose topics that align with faculty expertise and pursue research projects that advance their skills in valuable STEM areas including data science, data analytics, information retrieval, applied machine learning, web archiving, and social computing.

Our mentors have diverse expertise relevant to disinformation studies. Four mentors are female faculty members (Drs. Weigle, Frydenlund, Poursardar, Perrotti). Three mentors are experienced facilitators of diverse learning environments (Dr. Perrotti on ADHD, Dr. Jayarathna on autism spectrum, Dr. Ashok on visual impairments). Also, Drs. Frydenlund and Perrotti have backgrounds in social sciences and education, respectively. REU scholars will be exposed to not only the relevant aspects of computer science, data science, and web science, but also the interdisciplinary linkages to social and educational issues resulting in a unique experience for students during the intensive 10-week summer program.

Submit Applications at https://www.nsfetap.org/search. Search the REU Site using keywords “reu disinformation”

Program Dates: June 6 - August 5, 2022
Qualifications:

• Must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Must be a student enrolled (during the program period) in a degree program towards a bachelor's degree
• Women, under-represented minorities, and students with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Ideal candidates would have some programming experience, but we encourage excellent candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Benefits:

• Stipend of $6000
• Free housing and meals provided on campus
• Up to $600 in travel support to Norfolk

Students will get a close mentorship experience with participating faculty, whose diverse expertise ranges from computer science and engineering to higher education and social sciences. The summer program also includes field trips to local scientific sites including NASA Langley and fun days at the beach.

Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the vibrant coastal cities of  Norfolk is home to a flourishing local culinary scene, rich history, a variety of arts and entertainment and attractions that keeps our locals and visitors entertained year-round. Located in the Coastal Virginia region, our unique districts are open and thriving year-round with residents ready to show you how we happily live the life. From the lively oceanfront area to remote Sandbridge (best kept secret of local beachgoers), the calming Chesapeake Bay to bustling Town Centers, or the eclectic ViBe creative district to our surrounding inland areas, your stay at Norfolk will be a great summer opportunity to make a life-long memory.

Sandbridge Beach

Downtown Norfolk Waterside District

Participants will leave the program having acquired stronger computer skills, a network of like-minded students across different universities, and a support group of faculty mentors. 

In addition to the main support from NSF REU Site program via Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), co-funding for this project is being provided by the Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program and the Cybercorps/Scholarship for Service (SFS) program in recognition of the alignment of this project with the goals of these two programs.

--Sampath Jayarathna (@OpenMaze)