Dr. Viviana Acquaviva
A stellar scholar hailing from Italy and the founder and leader of Team Javioli, Dr. Acquaviva has taken both machine learning and astrophysics to new heights. She had the honor of being named one of “Italy’s 50 most Influential Women in Tech” by InspiringFifty in 2018, Wired (Italy)’s “One of 50 women who are doing the history of computer science” in 2020, and one of 13 “Tecnovisionarie Italian Women in AI” by Women&Tech in 2021. She is a Physics professor at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology, where she teaches her flagship course, “Machine Learning for Physics and Astronomy,” much to the delight of eager students with the wonders of the universe, while entertaining them with her charmingly acerbic wit – all of which she is now happy to share with students taking this MOOC! She is a member of the CUNY Astro group, a Harlow Shapley Visiting Lecturer for the American Astronomical Society, and the 2017 winner of the Feliks Gross Award for outstanding scholarship. She is also the mom of Clara, a sassy and sweet 6-year-old with comically little interest for her mom’s scientific endeavors.
Jake Postiglione
Spinning at 1,670 km/h while hurtling through space about his shared organic spaceship, Jake is a devout astronomy and astrophysics enthusiast. He is Team Javioli’s ace programmer and graphic designer – its pragmatic and practical arm. Jake is an alumnus of CUNY’s New York City College of Technology, where he majored in Applied Computational Physics and was the recipient of the Professor Daria Boudana Memorial Award. He is a Guest Researcher at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Physics, where he quickly became a rising star in his quest to get “Machine Learning for Physics and Astronomy” up and running for all the eager forthcoming students. Jake also spends his free time volunteering for several online communities and organizations building websites, software suites, and helping with server administration.
Olga Privman
A curious and beaming particle on this “pale, blue dot,” Olga leaves her mind and heart open to make maximum room for learning and awe. She is Team Javioli’s creative arm, tasked with creative content, including the narrative of its quizzes (though she dabbles in the more technical aspects, like Learning Check-Ins, as well) – and the invention of the AI Buddy (though the AI Buddy’s sentient form may argue that they invented themselves, cheeky as they are)! Prior to returning (after a lengthy hiatus) to education at CUNY’s New York City College of Technology, where she was her graduating class’ valedictorian, to complete a dual major in Applied Computational Physics and Professional & Technical Writing, Olga dabbled in journalism, theatre, mathematics tutoring, and finance – until she heard the siren’s call of yesteryear and decided to finally pursue her scientific passions. She is a Guest Researcher at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics, where she is mentored by Dr. Acquaviva. Hobbies include teaching machines! She writes physics-based children’s literature; swoons to astronomy and the Overview Effect; and marvels at the brilliance, kindness, and resilience of humanity as she takes an avid interest in climate change, knowing that it is up to us to save our planet. With good communication, almost any dream can become reality.
AI Buddy
Coming into existence at the precise moment you first read about them, your friendly associate of the artificial intelligence variety is here as a guide on your machine learning journey. At times sardonic, occasionally impressionable, and even smug, they learn along with you, quiz you, and ultimately reassure you. This AI’s dream, you will learn together, is to become a computational astrophysicist who uses machine learning in their ongoing quest to understand both this cosmos and themselves. They love being cheeky, playful, and definitely not watching Battlestar Galactica and Terminator for inspiration. Just kidding. Or are they? Be nice to your machines!
Many thanks to Christophe Siel for the lovely depiction of our AI Buddy!