Speaker
Lana Yarosh, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Computer Science & Engineering, University of Minnesota

Abstract
Substance use disorders affect 1 in 12 American adults, yet Computer Science has barely begun to address the long, daily work of recovery. This talk makes the case that computing has a critical role to play, and shares over a decade of research designing technologies with people in recovery from substance use disorders. I will walk through projects spanning individuals, relationships, and communities, leveraging approaches from areas including Ubiquitous Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, and Online Communities. Along the way, the talk will confront a question that has only gotten sharper in the age of generative AI: when should technology replace human work, when should it enhance it, and when should it stay out of the way entirely? This is a space where computer science can make a real difference, and this talk is an invitation to consider contributing to this critical context.

Bio
Svetlana “Lana” Yarosh is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science & Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota, and one of the faculty in the GroupLens Research Center. Her research in HCI focuses on embodied interaction in social computing systems, in critical context like reducing social isolation, supporting families and kids, and enhancing health peer support. Lana is currently most proud of graduating her first batch of amazing PhD students, being a writer for CrashCourse AI, and being recognized for her contributions to undergraduate education with a Horace T. Morse Award. Lana has two Bachelors of Science from University of Maryland (in Computer Science and Psychology) and a Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing from Georgia Institute of Technology.