Alicia Julia Wilson Takaoka
About
Hi! I'm alicia jw takaoka :)
I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in Information Systems and Software Engineering in the Software for a Better Society Research Group (SBS) under Letizia Jaccheri. In SBS, I examine the Gender- Climate Change-ICT Nexus and the intersections of gender, mental health, and computing education. My mission is create inclusive spaces to improve diversity in the digital landscape. My vision is to prioritize AI ethics and inclusive HCI by amplifying marginalized voices, indigenous knowledge, and the experiences of women by improving participatory design processes, data driven decision making, and data literacy competencies.
I have a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Information and Communication Sciences (ICS) from University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, where I focused on social informatics, ICT theory, and ICT policy. My disssertation also included community informatics and data feminist principles to examine information and perceptions about marginalized groups with concealable stigmas.
In Across the Generational Divide: Exploring Stigmas about Voluntarily Childless Women, I found that people process information about marginalized groups with concealable stigmas tangentially, meaning that they do not necessarily go out seeking information about groups. Instead, they passively internalize information about marginalized groups and concealable stigmas from influencers and media they already like and follow. This work also laid the foundations to update image libraries for the concept "family." These are just two of over 30 findings and contributions that can be tested hypotheses to advance current knowledge of designing for and with participants across domains.
During my PhD, I worked as an Academic Specialist for the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Office at University of Hawai`i- West O`ahu, Educational and Program Specialist in Chemistry at University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, and a Lecturer and Instructor at University of Hawai`i at Hilo and Chaminade University. In this capacity, I have taught courses across the disciplines including Human Computer Interaction, Writing for Science and Technology, Gender Leadership, and Directed Research. After my PhD, I also taught at University of California Berkeley in the Masters in Data Science Program.
In my current role, I am a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Management Team for the Horizon Europe project Creating Actionable Futures (CrAFt). I also contribute to the Horizon Europe projects New European Bauhaus and Re-Value. I also supervise Masters students and have been identified as a supervisor for an incoming Erasmus+ PhD student. I also serve on the Management Board of INCLUDE @NTNU, the group for faculty and staff "living with or affected by disability, neurodivergence, mental health issues, or chronic illness."
Some additional highlights over the past few years include:
- 2024 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for my lectures on the ethical construction of publicly available datasets and defining and operationalizing the term Reality Pregnancy
- Best Community Engagement Initiative for URSA Major in 2022
- 2022 Distinguished Fellow in Data Science for All, Maternal morbidity in the United States
- 2021 Future Digischolar for Digitize Stockholm
- 2021 New Leader for Association of Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)
Membership: I am an active member of ACM-Women Europe, Association of Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), COST Action EUGAIN: Gender Balance in Informatics, Informatics Europe' Working Group on Green ICT, and COST Action DIGI-net.
Land Acknowledgment: Hawaii- land of the Kanaka Maoli people, ceded without protest by Queen Liliuokalani to the United States, where it is still occupied without a treaty today. Trondheim- located in Åarjelsaepmie or southers Sæpmie/Sápmi/Sábme. Sámi people have lived on this land since time immemorial. I am humbly honored and privileged to have connection to these lands.
Competencies
Research
Alicia examines the intersections of climate neutrality, access to technology, and marginalized communities. This is achieved by using social data to amplify marginalized voices and prioritize indigenous knowledge in the digital landscape through interdisciplinary informatics and feminist data science. Alicia also researches the intersections of mental health, gender, and ICTs.
Publications
2023
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Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson;
Ahlers, Dirk;
Ådlandsvik, Ferdinand Ward;
Dovland, Eivind Syrdalen;
Jaccheri, Maria Letizia.
(2023)
Towards understanding digital support contributing to climate neutral, inclusive, and beautiful cities: A systematic literature review.
IEEE conference proceedings
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson.
(2023)
Reality Pregnancy and the Online Recolonization of the Female Body.
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)
Academic article
2022
-
Jaccheri, Maria Letizia;
Cutrupi, Claudia Maria;
Diaconu, Mara Gabriela;
Lenarduzzi, Valentina;
Szlavi, Anna;
Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson.
(2022)
Where are the female professors in STEM?.
techrxiv
Report
Journal publications
-
Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson.
(2023)
Reality Pregnancy and the Online Recolonization of the Female Body.
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)
Academic article
Part of book/report
-
Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson;
Ahlers, Dirk;
Ådlandsvik, Ferdinand Ward;
Dovland, Eivind Syrdalen;
Jaccheri, Maria Letizia.
(2023)
Towards understanding digital support contributing to climate neutral, inclusive, and beautiful cities: A systematic literature review.
IEEE conference proceedings
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
Jaccheri, Maria Letizia;
Cutrupi, Claudia Maria;
Diaconu, Mara Gabriela;
Lenarduzzi, Valentina;
Szlavi, Anna;
Takaoka, Alicia Julia Wilson.
(2022)
Where are the female professors in STEM?.
techrxiv
Report
Teaching
I have helped over 50 former students get accepted into graduate programs, receive grants, publish papers, earn awards, and achieve gainful employment. A list of previous courses taught as lead instructor is available on request.
Supervision
Co-supervise Masters Students in IT3915 and TDT4501.
Design learning activities and lectures for Software for a Better Society group. Some topics include:
- Empirical Research
- Vancouver Rules and Authorship
- Academic Writing
- Storybuilding
- Research Process
- Theoretical Framework
I have also designed a learning activity and lecture about theoretical frameworks for DT8111 Empirical research methods in IT and digitalization and Design, Creation, and Participation for Experts in Teams.