Who We Are
The Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society (SRI) at the University of Toronto is a research and solutions hub dedicated to deepening understanding of technologies, societies, and what it means to be human.
SRI integrates research across traditional boundaries and builds practical, implementable solutions that really make a difference.
Founding Donors
“The notion of being associated with an Institute focused on exploring technology and the human experience is exhilarating for us. We’re thrilled that we can supercharge the University of Toronto’s ability to recruit and inspire the best talent in the world.”
— Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman
When they heard that the University of Toronto was planning a new centre dedicated to innovation, Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman knew they wanted to get involved. The couple sensed this was a transformational initiative and firmly believed it would lead to the creation of life-changing ideas and enterprises. Learn more about Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman.
Institute Leadership
David Lie
DIRECTOR, SCHWARTZ REISMAN INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
David Lie is a world-leading computer security expert who is known for his seminal work that led to modern trusted execution processor architectures. As professor at the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Toronto, Lie’s research goal is to ensure that the computing infrastructure our societies rely on heavily be secure, reliable, and trustworthy—especially at a crucial time when computer systems increasingly permeate our lives. Lie was one of SRI’s inaugural research leads when the institute was established in 2019, and has worked on a number of interdisciplinary research projects at the intersection of computing, policy, law, and the use, stewardship, and governance of data.
David Duvenaud
Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society
David Duvenaud is a leading researcher in AI safety and associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. His research has had a major impact in the field of probabilistic deep learning, through which he now focuses on artificial general intelligence governance and dangerous capabilities evaluation. Duvenaud is serving a five-year appointment as Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society until 2029, and currently works on the alignment science team at Anthropic.
Roger Grosse
SCHWARTZ REISMAN CHAIR IN TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Roger Grosse is a renowned expert in AI safety and associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto. His research applies understandings of deep learning to the safety and alignment of AI systems in order to understand and mitigate the risks posed by them and to determine how they can be safely and ethically integrated for the long-term benefit of humanity. Grosse is serving a five-year appointment as Schwartz Reisman Chair in Technology and Society until 2029, and is currently a member of technical staff on the alignment team at Anthropic through the summer of 2024.
Leadership Team
Monique Crichlow
Executive Director
Strategic management, public policy, data governance, privacy and trusted research infrastructure.
Lisa Austin
Associate Director
Law, legal theory, law and technology, privacy and transparency legislation.
Sheila McIlraith
Associate Director
Computer science, artificial intelligence sequential decision-making, human-compatible artificial intelligence.
Ashton Anderson
Research Lead
Computer science, computational social science, human-aligned artificial intelligence, social media and online social platforms, algorithms.
Beth Coleman
Research Lead
Science and technology studies, critical race theory, smart technology, machine learning, urban data, civic engagement.
Nisarg Shah
Research Lead
Computer science, algorithmic economics, algorithmic fairness, social choice, multiagent systems, game theory, mechanism design.
Anna Su
Research Lead
Law, international human rights, constitutional law, public policy, AI governance, human rights and AI, digital constutionalism.
Karina Vold
Research Lead
Philosophy of mind, cognitive science, philosophy of technology and artificial intelligence, AI ethics and risk, data, digital tools.