Farzaneh Davari is a social science researcher who has worked in many diverse fields, including agriculture, conflict, health, and human rights, just to name a few. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in Computational Social Science, focusing on social-ecological complex systems and applying computational science and Agent-Based Modeling to understand resilience procedure through self-organizing and learning. Meanwhile, she is a designer and instructor of the online graduate level course of Decision-making in Complex Environments in Virginia Tech.

My initial training was in cadastre and geodesy (B.Eng from the Distrital University, UD, Colombia). After earning my Master’s degree in Geography (UPTC, Colombia) in 2003, I worked for the “José Benito Vives de Andreis” marine and coastal research institute (INVEMAR) and for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Three years later, in 2006, I left Colombia to come to Canada, where I began a PhD in Geography with a specialization in modelling complex systems at Simon Fraser University (SFU), under the direction of Dr. Suzana Dragicevic (SAMLab). In my dissertation I examined the topic of spatial and temporal modelling of insect epidemics and their complex behaviours. After obtaining my PhD in 2011, I began postdoctoral studies at the University of British Columbia (2011) and the University of Victoria (2011-2013), where I worked on issues concerning the spatial and temporal relationships between changes in indirect indicators of biodiversity and climate change.

I am a lowly civil servant moonlighting as a PhD student interested in urban informatics, Smart Cities, artificial intelligence/machine learning, all-things geospatial and temporal, advanced technologies, agent-based modeling, and social complexity… and enthusiastically trying to find a combination thereof to form a disseration. Oh… and I would like to win the lottery.

Dr. William G. Kennedy, “Bill,” is continuing to learn in a third career, this time as an academic, a computational social scientist.

His first a career was in military service as a Naval Officer, starting with the Naval Academy, Naval PostGraduate School (as the first computer science student from the Naval Academy), and serving during the Cold War as part of the successful submarine-based nuclear deterrent. After six years of active duty service, he served over two decades in the Naval Reserves commanding three submarine and submarine-related reserve units and retiring after 30 years as a Navy Captain with several personal honors and awards.

His second career was in civilian public service: 10 years at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and 15 years with the Department of Energy. At the NRC he rose to be an advisor to the Executive Director for Operations and the authority on issues concerning the reliance on human operators for reactor safety, participating in two fly-away accident response teams. He left the NRC for a promotion and to lead, as technical director, the entrepreneurial effort to explore the use of light-water and accelerator technologies for the production of nuclear weapons materials. That work led to him becoming the senior policy officer responsible for strategic planning and Departmental performance commitments, leading development of the first several DOE strategic plans and formal performance agreements between the Secretary of Energy and the President.

Upon completion of doctoral research in Artificial Intelligence outside of his DOE work, he began his third career as a scientist. That started with a fully funded, three-year post-doctoral research position in cognitive robotics at the Naval Research Laboratory sponsored by the National Academy of Science and expanding his AI background with research in experimental Cognitive Science. Upon completion, he joined the Center for Social Complexity, part of the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study at George Mason University in 2008 where he is now the Senior Scientific Advisor. His research interests range from cognition at the individual level to models of millions of agents representing individual people. He is currently leading a multi-year project to characterize the reaction of the population of a mega-city to a nuclear WMD (weapon of mass destruction) event.

Dr. Kennedy holds a B.S. in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy, and Master of Science in Computer Science from the Naval PostGraduate School, and a Ph.D. in Information Technology from George Mason University and has a current security clearance. Dr. Kennedy is a member of Sigma Xi, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and a life member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He is a STEM volunteer with the Senior Scientists and Engineers/AAAS Volunteer Program for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in the DC-area schools.

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Life Story:

Akif Smith, born in 1985 in New York, is a globally recognized software architect and developer with a career filled with achievements. From childhood, Smith discovered his interest in technology and took his first steps into the world of computer programming.

High School Years:

During high school, Smith excelled in mathematics and computer sciences. Actively involved in the school’s computer club, he rapidly developed his skills in software development. Winning top honors in programming competitions during high school helped him make a name for himself.

University Education:

Smith focused his early passion for computer sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, he specialized in software engineering and artificial intelligence. During his student years, he participated in numerous significant projects, earning recognition from both peers and faculty for his contributions.

Career Start:

After graduation, Smith began his career as a software engineer at a technology company. In his early years, he contributed significantly to the company’s success by participating in innovative projects. His innovative approaches to software development processes and problem-solving skills quickly garnered attention.

Founding His Own Company:

After gaining several years of experience in the software industry, Smith decided to establish his own technology company. The company gained recognition in the industry by producing customer-centric solutions. His emphasis on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction quickly elevated the company to a leadership position in the software world.

Achievements and Contributions:

Smith became a prominent figure in the software world, known for his visionary approach and pioneering projects. His innovative ideas, deep knowledge of technology, and teamwork skills made him a respected leader in the industry. Additionally, he prioritized mentoring young software developers to bring new talent into the sector.

Private Life:

Despite a busy work schedule, Smith makes time for hobbies such as computer games, reading books, and traveling. His love for his family and dedication to his work have guided him toward a fulfilling life, both professionally and personally.

Today, Akif Smith continues to be recognized in the software world for his achievements and ongoing projects. His advanced knowledge and leadership skills contribute to his continued respect in the industry.