On March 15, 2025, CSTS at Missouri S&T co-hosted the 66th Annual Midwest Junto for the History of Science. Attendees from around the region gathered in the Innovation Lab Forum to discuss a wide range of topics.
 
In the evening, the keynote and annual Stuart Pierson Lecture was “ML Ultra: The Epistemic Imaginary of Generative Artificial Counterintelligence,” by Patrick Gamez from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Gamez, formerly of Missouri S&T, studies the philosophy of technology and addressed the challenges of GenAI from that perspective.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Health Care
In this MinerAI Seminar, Dr. Cihan H. Dagli, professor of systems engineering and founder of Missouri S&T’s Systems Engineering graduate program, outlined how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern health care. He highlighted current applications of machine learning in organ transplant allocation, showing how data-driven models can improve fairness and efficiency in matching donors and recipients. Dagli also discussed the challenges of moving AI systems from research settings into clinical practice, including validation, reliability and the need for responsible decision-support tools. His talk emphasized that real-world implementation—not just model development—is the key to delivering meaningful impact in medical decision-making.

AI for Science and Engineering Explored at MinerAI Seminar
Missouri S&T continued its MinerAI Seminar Series Oct. 1 with a presentation by Dr. Seung-Jong (Jay) Park, Kummer Endowed Professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science. Park’s talk, “AI for Science and Engineering: Use-cases on how to Apply AI Models to Biomedical Research and Robotics,” highlighted practical applications of artificial intelligence models in interdisciplinary domains, including biomedical research and robotic systems. The free seminar, held at 4 p.m. in Room 140 Toomey Hall, is part of a monthly series showcasing innovative AI applications across science and engineering. 

Seminar Examines Technology’s Influence on Partisan Rhetoric
The MinerAI Seminar Series continued Nov. 5 with a talk by Dr. Ryan Cheek, assistant professor of technical communication at Missouri S&T. In his presentation, “Prophecy, Persuasion, and the Incubation of Partisan AI,” Cheek explored how emerging technologies shape political communication, public discourse and ethical decision-making. He discussed the role of crisis messaging, apocalyptic rhetoric and persuasive design in influencing public action, emphasizing the need to understand how AI-driven communication tools may amplify or transform partisan narratives. 

Missouri S&T Hosts Conference on AI and Mass Persuasion

Missouri University of Science and Technology convened experts Nov. 6–7 for Artificial Influence and the Engineering of Mass Persuasion, a two-day interdisciplinary conference exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping persuasive communication. Co-hosted by the Center for Science, Technology and Society (CSTS), the Kummer Institute’s Center for AI and Autonomous Systems, and Miner AI, the event brought together researchers, faculty and students to examine topics such as algorithmic influence, ethical design of AI-driven messaging systems, and the evolving role of automated persuasion in society. Keynote speaker Dr. S. Scott Graham of the University of Texas delivered a talk titled “Science that Sells: How Methods Can Drive Promotional Language Use in Research on Health AI.” Sessions featured panels and papers on algorithmic nudging, cognitive sovereignty, and AI’s impact on public discourse.

Workshop Guides Campus Community in Effective AI Prompting

Missouri S&T hosted a hands-on MinerAI Seminar Series workshop on Nov. 19 led by Dr. Suman Maity, assistant professor of computer science. The session, “Prompt Engineering Workshop: Mastering the Art of Talking to AI,” introduced participants to strategies for communicating more effectively with large language models. Dr. Maity explained core and advanced prompting techniques—including few-shot, zero-shot and Chain/Program/Tree-of-Thought methods—to help users generate clearer and more reliable AI outputs. The workshop offered practical guidance for students, researchers and staff seeking to improve their AI-assisted work.

Seminar Explores AI’s Expanding Role in Higher Education

MinerAI at Missouri University of Science and Technology hosted a seminar, “Exploring AI and Learning in the Age of Generative Intelligence,” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Room 140 of Toomey Hall on the Missouri S&T campus in Rolla.

The seminar featured two speakers from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Dr. Alexis Petri, director of the Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence at UMKC, discussed “Critical AI Literacies: Navigating the Andragogical and Heutagogical Terrain of Generative AI,” examining how generative tools are reshaping teaching, learning and critical reflection in higher education. Dr. Larry Wigger, teaching professor of supply chain management at UMKC, presented “Pedagogy versus Heutagogy: Neuroscience-Informed Strategies for AI-Enhanced Classrooms,” connecting economic change, cognitive science and classroom practice to strengthen human reasoning in an AI-driven environment.

A reception followed the talks and included special guest Shu-Ching Chen, Ph.D., executive director of the Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center (dSAIC), a University of Missouri System–wide center.