Milstein program offers events on data privacy, virtual reality

The Milstein Program in Technology & Humanity is hosting two events this semester open to the public.

“A Life Making Your Software Secure and Your Data Private… or Trying To,” an “In Focus” talk with Ulfar Erlingsson PhD ’04, is scheduled for March 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Erlingsson is the former head of security research at Google Brain and Machine Learning Privacy Technologies at Apple, now chief architect at a cloud security company called Lacework. He is also a Milstein Program advisory board member.


Black and white composite of two people

Ulfar Erlingsson (left) and Nonny de la Pena

Erlingsson focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence to design secure, dependable software and privacy protections. With a long-time interest in programming languages and systems, he holds a PhD in computer science and a PhD minor in English literature with a focus on modernism, both from Cornell. This event is powered by eCornell. Register here.

An “In Focus” talk with Nonny de la Pena, is scheduled for April 8, 5-6:30 p.m. de la Pena, founder of Emblematic Group, was named Wall Street Journal Technology Innovator of the Year in 2018 and one of CNET’s 20 Most Influential Latinos in Tech in 2017, as well as being called “The Godmother of Virtual Reality” by Engadget and The Guardian for her leadership using cutting edge technologies to tell important stories.

de la Pena will talk about her career in immersive journalism and virtual reality. Her latest breakthrough is Emblematic’s WebVR platform REACH, a no-code toolset that empowers new voices to share their stories. This event is also powered by eCornell. Registration coming soon.

Students chosen for the Milstein Program are interested in a cross-disciplinary experience combining their interests with technology and innovation. They spend their academic years at Ithaca campus pursuing rigorous coursework in the liberal art and sciences. Then up to two summers at Cornell Tech in New York City in an immersive, engaged learning experience focused on bridging between technological and humanistic understandings of our world through mentored workshops, independent projects, and collaboration with diverse communities and real-world engagement in NYC.

Read the story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.

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