The Space Enabled research group celebrates the graduation of several students who completed their degrees between 2024-2025.  Congratulations to all!

Ufuoma Ovienmhada, PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Title: Opportunities and Limitations of Earth Observation Technology for Environmental Justice Advocacy: A Case Study of Toxic Prisons in the U.S.

Abstract: People of color and other socio-economically marginalized groups in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of environmental challenges such as air pollution and extreme heat; the Environmental Justice (EJ) movement aims to combat these burdens and promote collective well being. Earth Observation (EO) technology, such as satellites, can be used to monitor air quality, extreme heat, and other quantities relevant to EJ. However the application of this technology in measuring EJ, or supporting EJ advocacy efforts has not been widely explored. Satellite EO systems also historically have not been designed with EJ end users in mind. This application is increasingly more pressing as space agencies like NASA are seeking information on how their data can be used to support underserved communities. This dissertation brings together EO data science, systems engineering, and community- engagement to elucidate opportunities and limitations of Earth Observation Technology for Environmental Justice Advocacy. The dissertation is organized into three categories of contributions – Description, Evaluation, and Design/Prescription – that are each composed of multiple research efforts. In Description, I apply a three-pronged approach to provide insights on the opportunities and limitations of EO data for EJ. First, along with a team of researchers, I assess peer- reviewed literature on satellite data for environmental justice through a scoping review. The second contribution of this chapter is an interview study with a subset of grassroots EJ actors about how they can use EO data in their domain of EJ activism which contests the exposure of prisons and incarcerated people to environmental hazards. The third contribution of this chapter is a system’s engineering architectural description of NASA’s current satellite EO for EJ ecosystem. Using justice theory as an analytical framework, I reveal limitations of NASA’s current EO for EJ architecture for advancing holistic notions of EJ. In Evaluation, with support from co-authors, I measure spatiotemporal patterns of air pollution burden, and air and land surface temperature extremes in prison landscapes across the U.S. These studies contribute to a nascent literature documenting empirical evidence of environmental hazards in carceral landscapes. It also extends the literature on applications of satellite-derived and modeled geospatial data for EJ. In Design/Prescription, first, supported by 3 years of community engagement with prison EJ activists, I present the Design of a GIS decision support system that features EO data responding to expressed needs of prison EJ activists. Then, I present two essays that Prescribe recommendations for methodological innovations in the design and application of EO technologies and geospatial data for EJ advocacy. Together, these three chapters demonstrate the immediate relevance of EO and geospatial technologies for prison EJ advocacy, and broader implications for the EO community interested in supporting the aims of the EJ movement more holistically.

Neil Gaikwad, PhD 2024 in the field of Society-Centered Artificial Intelligence

Title: Public Interest Computing: a Pluralistic Design Language Foundation for Societal-Machine Alignment

Dissertation Committee: Danielle Wood, Julie Shah, Sally Haslanger, Bish Sanyal, and Nabeel Gilani

Abstract: The proliferation of algorithmic systems, including artificial intelligence (AI), in decision-making contexts necessitates a critical examination of their alignment with societal and environmental values. The reciprocal relationship between these norms and emerging AI technologies calls for a structural conceptualization of algorithmic systems that extends the scale of human-centered considerations. This dissertation introduces “Public Interest Computing, a Pluralistic Design Language,” which enables a novel design space for value-sensitive algorithmic ecosystems, fostering what we term “Societal-Machine Alignment.” The research is structured in three interconnected parts. First, we establish a comprehensive theory of Public Interest Computing, grounded in the planning and capability approach to human development. Second, we present a series of Public Interest Computing systems that instantiate and refine the proposed theoretical framework. These systems, co-designed with communities, demonstrate societal-machine alignment through five key design dimensions. Farm Pulse System exemplifies substantive fairness for at-risk farmers by enabling restorative justice through recourse in climate change adaptation decisions. Boomerang exhibits incentive alignment, promoting equitable designs of reputation systems in AI data markets. The Prototype Tasks System illustrates computationally mediated cognitive alignment, creating a level playing field for workers. The Beyond Boundaries framework enables environmental alignment, providing a platform for public discourse on climate change. Our analysis using Gobo focuses on value alignment, investigating ways to increase human agency in interactions with invisible algorithms on online platforms. Each system serves as an empirical testbed, providing critical design insights that shaped the theory and engineering of Public Interest Computing. The third part demonstrates the interplay between the developed Public Interest Computing systems and policy by applying the Pluralistic Design Language to real-world scenarios. We illustrate the bidirectional relationship between technology and policy, showing how Public Interest Computing informs policy decisions (“AI for Policy”) and, conversely, how policy shapes the responsible development of AI systems (“Policy for AI”). This symbiotic relationship opens new avenues for evidence-based policymaking, with Public Interest Computing serving as a foundation. By synthesizing the insights gained from this demonstration, we offer a principled approach for future research and practice, paving the way for a more informed and responsible design of algorithmic systems that aligns with societal values and priorities. Public Interest Computing and its Pluralistic Design Language serve as a guiding lens, leading us towards a future where societal values and algorithmic ecosystems are inherently aligned. Public Interest Computing is not an end in itself but a means for understanding, reflection, and adaptation, ensuring that as technology advances, so does our commitment to aligning it with the greater good.

Yiyun Zhang, PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Title: An Identity-Oriented Systems Engineering Framework for Complex Sociotechnical Systems: A case study of Zero Robotics

Abstract: Historical and ongoing discrimination of certain identity groups such as by racial, gender, social class, and other differences leads to persistent inequalities in various fields of society including socioeconomic, health system, political powers, education opportunities, etc. Technology however often entrenches or sustains the hierarchies and further strengthens these social inequalities. While there are many frameworks for studying complex systems, a framework with a focus on advancing social justice and an integration of technological and social considerations is missing. This work introduces the Intersectional Antiracist Technology Framework as a new tool and applies it to an existing complex system of Zero Robotics in STEM education. STEM education, with increasing importance in the modern world’s competitions, is one of the most popular methods to cultivate students’ interests and capabilities in solving complex problems. However, the disparities in access to quality STEM learning opportunities and inclusion in STEM activities remain significant challenges in promoting social equality. This work builds upon the systems engineering tools and uses the innovative Intersectional Antiracist Technology Framework to describe, explain, and evaluate an existing complex system of Zero Robotics. Zero Robotics is an education outreach program that is designed as an early intervention to enroll students in aerospace and related fields. The program aims to serve students across the pipeline and provide them with learning opportunities through interactions with a space robot. It is a perfect example of a complex sociotechnical system that has technological and social factors. Through the case study of Zero Robotics, data are collected through interviews, surveys, participant observation, and available documents. Qualitative program outcomes are assessed from student surveys before and after the Zero Robotics competition. This work is the first attempt to apply the Intersectional Antiracist Technology Framework to an existing complex system that is being managed by the author. The findings from this study demonstrate insights that can be gained about complex, sociotechnical systems by viewing them from multiple Stakeholder perspectives and blending the information about the technical and social design aspects.

Frederick Ajisafe, Master's in Aeronautics and Astronautics

Title:  Using Systems Architecture and the EVDT Framework for Monitoring Methane Emissions in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract:  Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has important implications for climate change. Over the past decade, satellites have rapidly improved their ability to detect this gas from above the atmosphere. This Thesis uses two Systems Engineering frameworks, Systems Architecture and EVDT, to examine a case study of methane monitoring in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data from one of these novel satellite systems, GHGSat, is taken over the Seropédica landfill near the city, and compared to Rio’s own IPCC- and GPC-derived greenhouse gas inventory. This is followed by a participant observation in the summer of 2024 involving interviews, discussions, and site visits. A near-doubling of methane was observed over Seropédica, raising questions about the cause of this increase. The direct engagement with Stakeholders provided by this study contributes to a literature gap in satellite monitoring of urban landfills in southeastern Brazil.