As the summer season begins, Obvia is pleased to announce new appointments to its scientific leadership teamgovernance, with the arrival of new members on its Executive Committee and Scientific Committee.
We would like to warmly congratulate Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Full Professor at the Faculty of Nursing at Université Laval, on her appointment as Obvia’s new Scientific Director of Research.
We also welcome Emmanuelle Marceau, Professor of Philosophy at Cégep du Vieux Montréal and at the School of Public Health at Université de Montréal, as well as Hazar Haidar, Assistant Professor in the Department of Letters and Humanities at Université du Québec à Rimouski, as the new Co-Leads of the Ethics, Governance and Democracy research stream.
Finally, we are pleased to announce that Ann-Louise Davidson, Full Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia University, will assume the interim co-leadership of the Education and Empowerment stream during Professor Nadia Naffi’s study and research leave.
Citations
“I am delighted to continue the work of Philip Jackson as Obvia’s Scientific Director of Research and to collaborate with the entire Executive Committee team. During my term, I will be committed to promoting the co-production of open and useful knowledge to address the social challenges of digital technology and AI through rigorous, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral research.”
— Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Scientific Director Research
“I am excited to take on the co-leadership of the Ethics, Governance, and Democracy stream, to continue its activities in the coming years in a field that is rapidly evolving. Now more than ever, ethics is essential to responsibly deploy AI and to envision digital development in a responsible manner.”
— Emmanuelle Marceau, Co-Head, Ethics, Governance, and Democracy Axis
“I am motivated by the opportunity to explore and analyze the ethical, governance, and democratic challenges related to AI. I aim to foster interdisciplinary collaborations to deepen our understanding of the ethical and societal impacts of AI, while keeping humans at the heart of responsible innovation. My goal is to strengthen Obvia’s mission to support the ethical and socially acceptable development and use of AI in the service of the common good.”
— Hazar Haidar, Co-Head, Ethics, Governance, and Democracy Axis
“I wish to contribute to reflections on alternative pedagogies, innovation in education in the age of AI, as well as knowledge mobilization practices grounded in communities. I am particularly interested in transformative approaches that emerge from communities and open concrete pathways toward sustainable and regenerative transitions.”
— Ann-Louise Davidson, Interim Co-Head, Education and Empowerment Axis
Thanks to Our Outgoing Members
Obvia wishes to express its deep gratitude to Professor Philip Jackson for his sustained and ongoing commitment to the Observatory and its research programs. He has served as Co-Head of Research since 2019, and as Scientific Director of Research since 2023. He will continue in a co-director role during a one-year transition period before handing over the reins to Professor Marie-Pierre Gagnon.
A heartfelt thank you as well to Professor Bryn Williams-Jones and Professor Allison Marchildon, who have served as Co-Head, Ethics, Governance, and Democracy axis since Obvia's founding in 2019. Their contributions have greatly enriched the development of this research stream, and we are deeply grateful for all the work they have accomplished.
Learn more about Obvia’s Executive Committee
In collaboration with the General Management, the Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the scientific orientations established by the Scientific Committee and ensuring Obvia’s leadership in research on the societal impacts of AI and digital technology.
Executive Committee
Learn more about Obvia’s Scientific Committee
Tasked with overseeing Obvia’s seven research axes and overall programming, the Scientific Committee contributes to the development of strategic initiatives within the research community, in collaboration with various partners.
Scientific Committee
