The National Science Foundation is investing $3 million over the next five years in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advancements and Convergence in Computational, Environmental, and Social Sciences (AI-ACCESS) program at Washington University in St. Louis.

“AI is quickly dominating the education and training space,” said William Yeoh, associate professor of computer science & engineering. “We envision it to be a tool that is going to be needed by anyone who graduates and entering the workforce in the future.”

AI-ACCESS draws from disciplines including computer science, environmental science and engineering, environmental justice, public health and social work.

“AI has been studied mostly in the computer science area. But we are starting to realize that it is now moving into all types of research and all disciplines.”

The goal is to build a cohort of new investigators trained at the intersection of AI, environmental science and social science to address global challenges.