The University of New Mexico's Office of the Chief Information Officer will host Tech Days 2024, a popular event that provides students, faculty, and staff with a unique opportunity to learn about campus technology. This year's event will be held in the Student Union Building (SUB) from Thursday to Friday, April 25th and 26th. This annual event provides a unique opportunity to engage the campus community in free sessions, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations about the University's current and future technology innovations.
Tech Days 2024 offers some important and timely themes for everyone to enjoy this year. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been exploding in the headlines lately. AI has the potential to positively transform science and society, but it also comes with risks. UNM plays a unique role in advancing the societal benefits of AI and mitigating its harms.
Professor Melanie Moses
Keynote speaker Melanie Moses, professor of computer science and biology at UNM, said the challenges already starting to impact everything and everyone: disinformation, encoding systemic bias, and invasions of privacy. The dangers of AI will be discussed in the lecture titled. AI (R) Evolution: How did we get here and where are we going? Learn about the dangers of AI that are already beginning to impact everything and everyone, including disinformation, encrypting systemic bias, and violating privacy. Moses is special advisor to the Dean of Engineering for Educational Initiatives and the Vice Chancellor for Artificial Intelligence Research.
Donna Caldwell, Principal Solutions Consultant at Adobe, will show attendees how to be more creative with Adobe AI. Generative AI gives us the freedom to create, explore, and push boundaries like never before, freeing us up to spend time doing what matters most. Creativity and intelligence can be amplified without replacing the beauty and power of human imagination. Join us as Caldwell delves into the impact of her Firefly and her GenAI on education and creativity. Microsoft will be on-site to demonstrate her use of Generative AI in education and academic healthcare settings. Dell and her ANM will discuss her AI framework and cyber resilience, respectively. Apple and many other companies plan to complete this program.
Many workshops for beginners are also held. Caldwell teaches beginners how to create and edit videos in Adobe. The UNM Office of Institutional Analysis reviews the free version of her Tableau, a data visualization tool used to create visuals and dashboards that can be easily shared on the web. Streamlyne presents “How UNM is implementing QuickForms – a no-code form builder.”
New this year, a special Career Readiness event for students (at all levels and career stages) connects Adobe, UNM Career Services, and top professionals with diverse STEM job opportunities around the world. It was planned in collaboration with STEM Boomerang, a local grant-funded organization founded in . New Mexico; RESPEC is an Albuquerque technology and business consulting firm. This student event will be held at SUB on Thursday, April 25th from 1pm to 4pm. Students will address career branding – how to brand yourself and level up your interview presence.
Additionally, Adobe will show students how to optimize their LinkedIn profile, create an Adobe Express portfolio, and share their knowledge about the changing landscape of the interview process. Industry panelists from RESPEC, Adobe, Build with Robots, Sandia National Labs, and Rubber Ducks will provide students with insight into successful career preparation from an employment perspective.
UNM Career Services and RESPEC staff will host workshops so students in small groups can practice good responses to the all-important “Tell me about yourself” and other common interview questions. Visit Tech Days for more information and to register. Pizza and snacks will be provided.
With over 30 hands-on and classroom presentations, attendees will learn about the latest technology and productivity tools. There's something for everyone.
As in past years, a vendor showcase will be held in the SUB Ballroom with representatives from most of the major technology vendors currently working with UNM. Staff are available to answer questions about the products and services UNM uses on campus. Booths and presentations often have treats and prizes available. A buffet breakfast is served daily, with lunch on the first day and various coffee breaks included.
Registration is now open and closes on April 15th. Admission is free, but capacity is limited for all events, so interested participants should register early.
For complete program, schedule and registration information, visit TechDays.unm.edu.
