The emerging and transformative field of artificial intelligence has international implications that require global collaboration. To help bridge the gap, Shuyuan Ho Metcalfe, an associate professor in the School of Information at Florida State University’s College of Communication and Information, took on research and a lectureship at the University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy, through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.
In addition to teaching at the University of Bologna, Metcalfe conducted research on the perception and traceability of anonymous communication for global cyber defense.
“It’s going to be an international effort across two different continents to study this very interesting problem,” she said.
One of the biggest highlights of Metcalfe’s experience was the countless comparisons she noticed between the United States and Italy, particularly among the students. She observed an eagerness to learn that transcended cultural differences.
“I feel like students were well prepared and there is no difference between the students in Italy and the students in the United States,” Metcalfe said. “Both are really eager to learn and jump onto and think about how to solve the problem.”
She noticed a similar eagerness for knowledge among faculty members as well.
“We are right in the same space thinking about the same issue, so this gave me confirmation of what we are thinking across different borders,” she said.
Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is the oldest university in continuous operation in the world. It’s noted as the first degree-awarding institution of higher learning.
“I am just thoroughly grateful for the opportunity to be here in this ancient space,” Metcalfe said. “This is a place that people were in many, many centuries ago and where they continue to exist.”
Living in the historic city of Bologna has provided Metcalfe with new ideas and ways of understanding.
“Our society, everything, the technology we learn, they are an accumulation of human wisdom,” she said. “In the 12th century or 14th century, they did not have the technology we have right now. People stay the same, yet we live in a totally different society.”
Given these new insights and perspectives, Metcalfe emphasized how important the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program can be in terms of faculty support and growth.
“It is really about growing something together for the future faculty,” she said. “Look into the future, instead of looking at past accomplishments.”
The experience fostered ongoing connections. In collaboration with faculty in Bologna, Metcalfe presented the paper “Defending Reality: Human-AI Collaboration to Unveil Deepfake Information Manipulation” at the 27th Annual Southern Association for Information Systems Conference in Tampa, Florida, on March 14.
And, with the support of the Council on Research and Creativity Seed Research Grant, Metcalfe and her colleagues have launched a “Deepfake Competition” this semester that will continue throughout the year.
“We’ve launched a deepfake research project between FSU and Bologna where approximately 300 of our students — doctoral, master and undergraduate — from across two countries are participating in studying the scope, variety and multitudes of multimodal deepfake information manipulation,” she said.
If you are a faculty member interested in applying for a Fulbright, reach out directly to Peggy Wright-Cleveland, director of Faculty Development, at mwrightc@fsu.edu. If you are an undergraduate studentinterested in applying for a Fulbright, contact Jesse Wieland, associate director of the Office of National Fellowships, at awieland@fsu.edu. If you are a graduate student interested in applying for a Fulbright, contact Keith McCall, assistant director of the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards, at kmccall2@fsu.edu.
To learn more about the College of Communication and Information at FSU, visit cci.fsu.edu.