Equitable Dynamic Systems Engineering

Abstract: Addressing the causes and finding solutions to the unequal distribution of societal resources requires a multidisciplinary and cooperative effort with all stakeholders involved. Recent advances in sensing and actuation in social systems underscore the need for a framework to develop evidence-guided data-based policies in dynamic cyber-physical-social systems aimed at improving social justice outcomes. This talk will present control theory and engineering strategies in social systems to empower people and improve their well-being. This work expands multimedia processing, stability theory, and controllability analysis of social systems. It also contributes to basic and applied behavioral and social science via interdisciplinary collaborations in diverse domains such as poverty, mental health, and inclusive education.

Bio: Hugo Gonzalez Villasanti is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His current work is centered around equitable policy design for dynamic sociotechnical systems that support child development. Previously, he was a postdoctoral scholar at the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at The Ohio State University. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The Ohio State University. His previous work focused on control theory and engineering for financial and mental health equity. He served in local and international humanitarian engineering projects as a member of the IEEE Humanitarian Activities Committee. He has received the Presidential Fellowship from the Graduate School at The Ohio State University.

***Event will take place in hybrid format. The location for in-person attendance will be room 1311 EECS.   Attendance will also be possible via Zoom. Zoom link and password will be distributed to the Controls Group e-mail list-serv.

To join this list-serv, please send an (empty) email message to [email protected] with the word “subscribe” in the subject line. To cancel your subscription, send an email to [email protected]  with the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.  Zoom information is also available upon request to Michele Feldkamp (careymrz@umich.edu).