Kimberly Babiarz
Research Director, Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab, Stanford University
Talk Title: Bringing AI-driven technologies to the fight against human trafficking in Brazil
Abstract: The Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab is committed to fighting human trafficking through rigorous multidisciplinary research and data-driven policy interventions. Dr. Babiarz presents our team’s research to develop AI-driven tools to leverage unprecedented new data flows to enhance the work of anti-trafficking labor inspectors and prosecutors. Our decision support tool applies large language models to the task of pre-processing incoming labor trafficking tips, uses machine learning algorithms for improved inspection targeting and emergent hot spot identification, and trains object detection algorithms to identify illegal work sites from satellite images. Results from early version deployment demonstrate immediate success supporting frontline stakeholders in the fight against human trafficking.
Bio: Dr. Kimberly Babiarz specializes in large scale quantitative studies to evaluate the impact of public programs and interventions on health and well-being. As Research Director at the Stanford Human Trafficking Data Lab, she works on a large portfolio of projects, including the development and evaluation of new technologies to support anti-trafficking interventions and survivor support, quantitative research on trafficking markets and the protective role of public policy, and several direct collaborations with frontline anti-trafficking agencies. As an applied development economist, she has expertise in both quasi-experimental study designs and randomized controlled trials. Her work has also included studies on fertility and family planning programs, infant and maternal health, and the gender dynamics of global health. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis (2011).
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