Two Carnegie Mellon University faculty members have been named Alan I. Leshner Leadership Institute Public Engagement Fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). They're part of a cohort of 12 researchers studying artificial intelligence who are being recognized for their demonstrated leadership and research excellence, and their interest in promoting meaningful dialogue between science and society.

Carolyn Rose, a professor in the School of Computer Science's Language Technologies Institute and Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), was recognized for a research program that spans AI, education and society. Her work focuses on AI technologies including machine learning, text mining, conversational agents and robotics.

John Zimmerman is the Tang Family Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction in the HCII. He was recognized for his research on interaction with intelligent systems, service innovation via social computing, human-robot interaction and how technical systems can help people become the person they desire to be.

The Leshner Leadership Institute is an initiative of the AAAS Center for Public Engagement With Science and Technology. This year's cohort of Public Engagement Fellows focusing on AI will convene in June for a week of intensive public engagement and science communication training and public engagement plan development.