USA
The U.S. Department of State has named four distinguished scientists to serve as new U.S. Science Envoys for 2024, including Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, Dr. Stephanie “Steffi” Diem, Dr. Sian Proctor, and Dr. Dawn Wright. This marks the first all-female cohort in the history of the U.S. Science Envoy Program.
Established in 2010 by the Secretary of State, the U.S. Science Envoy Program engages eminent U.S. scientists and engineers to foster international cooperation in addressing shared challenges, promoting innovation, and showcasing America’s scientific leadership. The 2024 cohort will join their 30 predecessors in traveling as private U.S. citizens to engage with civil society and government stakeholders worldwide.
The 2024 Science Envoys bring expertise in critical global issues, including Artificial Intelligence, Fusion Energy, Civil Use of Space, and Ocean Sustainability. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a data scientist and social scientist, serves as the CEO of Humane Intelligence, a technology nonprofit dedicated to AI model evaluations. She is also a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
Dr. Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi American data scientist, a business founder, and former responsible artificial intelligence lead at Accenture. She was born in Rockland County, New York. She is recognized for her contributions to the field of data science.
Chowdhury’s journey into the world of science was inspired by her love for science fiction, a passion that ignited her curiosity, often attributed to the “Dana Scully Effect.” This fascination with the intersection of science and fiction laid the foundation for her future endeavors.
Previously, Dr. Chowdhury directed the Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability (META) team at Twitter and led Responsible AI initiatives at Accenture Applied Intelligence. Her contributions have earned her recognition, including Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI and Forbes’ designation as one of Five Who are Shaping AI. Dr. Chowdhury holds degrees from MIT, Columbia University, and the University of California, San Diego.
In 2017, she was included in the 100 Women (BBC) in the “Glass Ceiling Team” category. In 2018, she was named one of five people who are shaping AI by Forbes. She was acknowledged by The Business Journals as one of the Bay Area’s top 40 Under 40. She has also been inducted into the British Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) to celebrate people who have made progress in social challenges.
