Join the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIAR) for the next event in its speaker series, featuring two presentations that explore collaboration, innovation, and the evolving landscape of academic research.
The event will be held at Slonaker House Living Room at 1027 E. 2nd Street.

In “Building Collaborative Research Partnerships in Schools,” Dr. Kelsey Nussbaum, assistant professor of music education and director of the University of Arizona String Project, will discuss the importance of building trust and fostering genuine collaboration when conducting research in school settings. She’ll share practical strategies for approaching partnerships, communicating effectively with educators, and honoring the needs of school communities. Participants will gain insight into the realities of working in educational settings and fostering reciprocal relationships in educational research.
Nussbaum received the 2025 Arizona Arts Excellence Award for her work as a faculty member.

Then, in “Using LLMs and AI to Streamline Research in the Humanities,” graduate student Lori Hennessy, a member of the University of Arizona’s “Roots for Resilience” (R4R) program, will demonstrate how large language models and AI tools can enhance humanities research. Her talk will highlight ways these technologies can analyze vast textual, visual, and auditory archives, supporting interpretation rather than replacing it.
Additionally, AI can reveal cultural trends, augment human insight, and expand access to sources. Learn how the R4R program trains graduate students to use these tools to enhance their research while advancing environmental and societal resilience across disciplines.
The R4R program mission is “connecting academic departments with data science, AI tools, and environmental and societal resilience-focused research.”