From studio to study: artistic research on AI and Society. Thursday April 16, 2026 Hosted by NEW INC in partnership with the Social Science Research Council's Just Tech program, this program brings together artists Romi Morrison, Lauren Lee McCarthy, Dorothy Santos, and X.A. Li for a public conversation on art, inquiry, and artificial intelligence, moderated by Mozilla Foundation president Nabiha Syed. As AI is inserted into everyday life, from how Newinc communicate and work to how Newinc interact with one another, artists are using their studios as sites of investigation. They pursue questions about social life through inquiry, using artistic practice to explore how new technologies shape intimacy, labor, and power. The artists on this panel will share how they study technology not as something abstract and distant, but as something experienced, negotiated, and tested in everyday contexts. Through making and experimentation, the artists use their work to reveal how recent innovations shape everyday life, opening up ways of thinking that go beyond scale, speed, and data. Their practices use automation and computation to surface questions of context, responsibility, participation, and uncertainty. After the panel there will be a lively reception, an opportunity for the speakers to have open conversations with the audience! Access Plus Members and New Museum Fellows can reserve free or discounted tickets for public programs by emailing [email protected]. About Just Tech. The Social Science Research Council's Just Tech program supports research and dialogue that highlight how technology is developed, used, and governed, with a focus on approaches that reflect public needs and values. About the speakers. Romi Ron Morrison. Romi Ron Morrison is an interdisciplinary artist, scholar, and writer. Using maps, data, sound, performance, and video, their installations center Black diasporic technologies that challenge the demands of an increasingly quantified world - reducing land into property, people into digits, and knowledge into data. Their current projects explore theories of Black Computational Thought, entropy, and forms of kinship that thrive in the face of uncertainty and unpredictability. Romi has exhibited work and given talks at numerous exhibitions, conferences, and workshops around the world including Transmediale (Berlin), The Kitchen (New York), ALT_CPH Biennial (Copenhagen), the American Institute of Architects (New York), Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), Queens Museum (New York), and the Walker Museum of Art (Minnesota). They are currently an Assistant Professor at UCLA Design Media Arts and a 2024-26 Just Tech Fellow. X.A. Li. X. A. Li is an artist and computer scientist living in Chicago. Drawing from a background in "artificial intelligence" research, she uses video, sound, text, and code to construct installations and performances as unpredictable environments composed of volatile systems. Her work induces dominant ideologies and protocols beyond familiar utility, unsettling default notions of the correct and inevitable. She is an Art & Code member of NEW INC and participant in Agora: A Gathering of Art & Philosophy at the Centre d'Art Contemporain Genève. Lauren Lee McCarthy. Lauren Lee McCarthy is an artist examining social relationships in the midst of automation, surveillance, and algorithmic living. Her work is in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her work SOMEONE was awarded the Ars Electronica Golden Nica and the Japan Media Arts Social Impact Award, and her work LAUREN was awarded the IDFA DocLab Award for Immersive Non-Fiction. McCarthy's work has been exhibited internationally. She is also the creator of p5.js, an open-source art and education platform that prioritizes access and diversity in learning to code. She expanded on this work in her role, from 2015-21, on the Board of Directors for the Processing Foundation. She has received grants and residencies from Creative Capital, United States Artists, LACMA, Sundance, Eyebeam, Pioneer Works, Autodesk, and Ars Electronica. McCarthy is a professor at UCLA Design Media Arts. Dorothy R. Santos. Dorothy R. Santos is a Filipino American storyteller, poet, artist, and scholar, and she is an assistant teaching professor in the art department and Principal Founding Faculty for Creative Technologies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her creative and research interests include voice recognition, speech technologies, assistive tech, radio, sound production, feminist media histories, critical medical anthropology, race, and gender. Santos's work has been exhibited at Ars Electronica, Rewire Festival, Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Southern Exposure, the Natalie and James Thompson Gallery, and the GLBT Historical Society. Santos is also a steward and mentor to Collective Action School, an online, experimental school for tech workers. She also cofounded REFRESH, a politically-engaged art and curatorial collective, and she currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Processing Foundation, a member of the Governance Board for Gray Area, and as an advisor to art and culture organizations, including slash art, POWRPLNT, Looking Glass, and House of Alegria. Nabiha Syed. Nabiha Syed leads strategic initiatives at Mozilla Foundation across programs, products, and grant-making investments, impacting a global movement of millions actively building a better digital future. Prior to the Markup, Nabiha was a highly acclaimed media lawyer with a legal career spanning private practice and the New York Times's First Amendment Fellowship. She led BuzzFeed's libel and newsgathering matters, including the successful defense of several high-profile libel lawsuits. Nabiha sits on the boards of the Scott Trust, the $1B+ British company that owns the Guardian newspaper, the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, and the New Press. She also serves as an advisor to ex/ante, the first venture fund dedicated to agentic tech, and she is a current member of the World Economic Forum's AI Governance Alliance. In 2023, Nabiha was awarded the NAACP/Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award for her work.

SSRC APDD Research Fellowships 2025: apply for African Peacebuilding grant. By Tech Naukary / November 19, 2025 African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) individual Research Fellowships - Social Science Research Council (SSRC). Africa is entering a transformative era marked by growing youth populations, innovative governance models, shifting political landscapes, and rising development challenges. In the middle of this historic transition, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) has opened applications for the African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics SSRC APDD Research Fellowships, one of the most respected research funding opportunities for scholars working on Africa-focused research. The 2025 - 2026 SSRC APDD Research Fellowships cycle arrives at a time when Africa is facing rapid changes in: * Governance and democracy * Climate stress and migration * Youth employment and innovation * Security and peacebuilding * Economic transformation * Social resilience This fellowship is more than a research grant it is a platform that empowers emerging African researchers, PhD candidates, policy experts, peacebuilding practitioners, and social science scholars to produce actionable, high-impact knowledge for the continent. What is the SSRC APDD Research Fellowships? The African Peacebuilding and Developmental Dynamics (APDD) Fellowship is a prestigious program under the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), designed to support researchers whose work explores: * Peacebuilding * Conflict resolution * Governance * Economic development * Public policy * Social justice * Security & community resilience * Climate, migration, and environmental transformation The APDD program funds independent research, offering scholars academic credibility, global recognition, and access to international policy networks. This program stands out because it emphasizes Africa-led frameworks, African voices, and African solutions creating space for young scholars from the continent to shape theories and policies that influence global development. Eligibility criteria (who can apply?). Unlike many research funding programs, APDD is specifically crafted to support Africa-focused scholars. * PhD candidates (any stage) * Postdoctoral scholars * Early-career researchers * Academics in African universities * Researchers at think tanks or NGOs * Policy analysts * Peacebuilding practitioners * Independent social science researchers Research must be rooted in the social sciences, including: * Political science * Sociology * Anthropology * Development Studies * African Studies * Economics * Public policy * Peace and conflict studies * Geography * Gender Studies * Environmental Governance Research Focus Requirements Projects must emphasize Africa and align with themes of peacebuilding or developmental dynamics. Open to applicants from all African countries, the African diaspora, and researchers working directly on African issues globally. Research themes for APDD 2025 - 2026 cycle. The SSRC APDD Research Fellowships accepts a wide range of topics, but the 2025 - 2026 cycle highlights the following priority areas: * Political reform * Youth participation * Electoral processes * Anti-corruption strategies 2. Peacebuilding & Conflict Transformation * Community-led mediation * Local governance * Post-conflict reconstruction * Women & youth in peacebuilding * Informal economy * Innovation ecosystems * Digital transformation * Economic inclusion * Environmental conflicts * Climate displacement * Food insecurity * Humanitarian governance * Education policy * Inequality * Gender-based violence * Ethnic inclusion * Smart cities * Urban safety * Public transport * Sustainable development This range of themes ensures that applicants from diverse academic backgrounds can participate. Benefits of the SSRC APDD Research Fellowships (why you should apply). The SSRC APDD Research Fellowships is designed to accelerate the careers of researchers working on Africa's most pressing challenges. Research Funding Awards range from $5,000 - $20,000 depending on project scale and methodology. Fellows gain access to leading scholars in peacebuilding, sociology, development economics, political science, and anthropology. * Publish your research * Attend international conferences * Connect with policy organizations * Build global partnerships Recognition by SSRC SSRC is one of the most prestigious research institutions globally, boosting your academic profile. * Travel * Survey costs * Research assistants * Archival access * Local data collection * United Nations * African Union * World Bank * Major think tanks * Leading universities This is a career-transforming fellowship for African scholars. Important dates for 2026 fellowship cycle. Tip: Apply before the priority deadline for stronger chances. Documents required. * Updated CV * Research Proposal (1,500 - 2,000 words) * Personal Statement * Academic transcripts (if applicable) * Writing sample * Letter(s) of recommendation * Proof of identity * Budget plan Your proposal should emphasize originality, feasibility, and policy relevance. How to apply - step-by-step guide. Step 1: Visit the SSRC Official Website Go to: Social Science Research Council - Fellowships Section Step 2: Select the APDD Fellowship Read the guidelines and eligibility criteria carefully. * Personal details * Academic background * Research overview Ensure your research proposal aligns with APDD themes. The review process is competitive only strong, policy-influential proposals are chosen. Selection Criteria (What SSRC Looks For) Your application will be evaluated based on: * Originality of research * Academic strength and clarity * Contribution to peacebuilding or development in Africa * Feasibility of fieldwork * Policy relevance * Potential for impact * Strength of methodology * Previous work or publications To boost your selection chances: | Highlight why your research matters for African peacebuilding and development. Why this fellowship matters for Africa (real-world impact). Africa is home to more than 1.4 billion people, with over 60% under age 25. This demographic shift is shaping new: * Political systems * Economic structures * Social movements * Cultural identities Yet, the continent still grapples with challenges: * Political instability * Youth unemployment * Environmental stress * Social conflict * Infrastructure gaps The APDD Fellowship helps tackle these issues by enabling researchers to produce insights that inform: * Government reforms * Peacebuilding programs * Development policies * Grassroots community action * International cooperation This fellowship produces Africa-centered knowledge a crucial factor for sustainable development. Policy Research UN, African Union, ECOWAS Independent Research This fellowship builds a long-term foundation for global leadership. FAQs (seo-optimized). PhD candidates, postdocs, academics, independent researchers, and NGO professionals working on African issues. Awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on project scope. It is open to African scholars and researchers working on Africa-related topics worldwide. Not required, but a strong academic writing sample is recommended. 5. What is the last date to apply for the 2026 cycle? Final deadline: March 2026 (priority deadline: February 2026). Key takeaways. * SSRC APDD Fellowship applications are officially open * Funding up to $20,000 * Supports peacebuilding & developmental research in Africa * Open to global scholars with Africa-centered proposals * Strong emphasis on policy impact & academic innovation * Great opportunity for early-career researchers Final thoughts. Want research grants, fellowship updates, government job updates, online internship programs 2025, AICTE GATE scholarship news, and career tips for students? Your next big career opportunity is just one notification away. | join its Tech Nauakry channel and internship updates,Tech updates, job updates and more info. 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