Danica is in the lead of AI and Robotics as part of the invitation-only #MTFLabs in the KTH Reactor Hall, a decommissioned experimental site 25 meters below ground where Sweden conducted its first nuclear reaction. From the 3rd of September, the week-long labs will bring together a diverse selection of innovators, artists and technologists from the MTF community to create with cutting-edge technologies and data sets from across industry sectors. The results will be showcased in a series of unique performances during the public festival weekend September 7th-9th.
Danica is a Professor at the School of Computer Science and Communication at KTH Royal Institute of Technology - the hosts of Music Tech Fest. She is currently the lead investigator on a groundbreaking 10-year, 1-billion kroner AI research project funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and bringing together academia and industry across a wide range of verticals.
Danica brings a unique perspective to innovation process, and the relationship between artificial intelligence, creativity and the human experience.
“I am a robotics scientist and a seamstress. Society expects us to be like robots. But we are human beings. We are more complex than robots. In order to be a good scientist I also need to spend my time on other things. When I sew during the weekend I focus better on lecturing. Finding solutions for challenges that are orthogonal, in relation to my profession, makes me a better scientist. It is important to stand up for the need of duality in life: Work and play. Research and sewing. Both are as important to me.”
Danica balances her creative talents and passions with an incredible CV in the hard sciences - including two doctorates, an Early Academic Career Award from the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society and visiting research fellowships at Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University and INRIA Rennes.
Danica’s research is in the area of robotics, computer vision and machine learning. Artificial Intelligence will also be one of the central themes at the #MTFResearch Symposium on Thursday 6th and 7th September, just before the public festival begins.
Registration for the #MTFResearch Symposium includes full membership of the global #MTFResearch Network, a VIP tour of the #MTFLabs in the underground Reactor Hall and free entry to the public Music Tech Fest Stockholm weekend event.
Photo: Niklas Johansson
