Across the University of Iowa campus, researchers are using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to tackle pressing issues related to healthcare, space exploration, and public health, including the COVID-19 pandemic. For more than 30 years, this research has been made possible through expertise as well as logistical and financial support from the UI College of Engineering.

“Our ability to collaborate across disciplines, departments, and colleges demonstrates that the cutting-edge research done in our College of Engineering is tremendously important to the work of our entire campus,” said Harriet Nembhard, dean of the College of Engineering. “These partnerships exist in ways one might expect such as in medical imaging in the UI Carver College of Medicine and injury prevention in the College of Public Health but we also support work in the Tippie College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Education.”

In all, the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence, funded by the Office of the Provost, Colleges of Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Medicine, Business, and Education, as well as several UI departments and research centers leads 27 active projects across campus, many of which involve engineering researchers. Additional support is provided by an NSF grant focused on AI.

The college’s research expertise is also being deployed in the classroom, equipping graduates for careers that will require skills in AI and machine learning. Students in the college are introduced to the fundamental underlying techniques used in machine learning as well as their capabilities and limitations. This fundamental aspect is akin to the historic need for engineers to understand calculus, physics and chemistry.

“It is greatly important for students to understand the societal and ethical issues surrounding the field of data science such as privacy and fairness,” said Tom Casavant, director of the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “To answer this growing need, new core curriculum components have been in a process of evolutionary growth over the past five years.”

The work surrounding the incorporation of machine learning into the college’s core curriculum has been led by Nicole Grosland, associate dean for academic programs and professor of biomedical engineering, and an ad hoc group of faculty members from across the college. Central to this new curriculum is a pilot course “Introduction to AI and Machine Learning in Engineering” which was offered the first time in spring 2020. This course not only assures a baseline understanding for all students but will also serve as a key prerequisite for a sequence of upper level artificial intelligence and machine learning courses specific to individual programs of study.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is offering nine courses that have been developed around AI and machine learning including “Internet of Things,” “Foundation of Deep Learning,” and “Cryptography.” At least 11 faculty members across the department have received funding connected to AI and machine learning research.

“By investing in these early stage research projects and enhancing our teaching efforts in AI and machine learning, the college is positioning itself as a leader not just on the UI campus but globally,” said Milan Sonka, director of the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “We continue to build teams that will develop ground-breaking uses of AI and machine learning and will garner additional attention and funding.”