MIT Social & Ethical Responsibilities of Computing, and Women and Gender Services (WXGS)  invites you to join us on March 11 for an illuminating session on the intersection of data ethics, visualization techniques, and human rights advocacy. "Visualizing Sex Work & Trafficking: Ethical Maps & Modeling" brings together leading experts examining methodological innovations in this sensitive research domain. This interdisciplinary dialogue seeks to advance more nuanced understandings of complex social phenomena through responsible data practices and human-centered design principles.

This academic event explores the responsible use of data visualization and geospatial mapping to understand patterns of sex work and human trafficking while maintaining ethical standards. 

The event will feature presentations by two distinguished researchers: 

Dr. Kayse Lee Maass, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and Principle Investigator & Director of the Operations Research & Social Justice Lab at Northeastern University, will share insights on ethical approaches to collecting sensitive data and innovative techniques for anonymizing location data while preserving analytical value.

Dr. Elena Shih, Manning Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University, and author of Manufacturing Freedom: Sex Work, Anti-Trafficking Rehab, and the Racial Wages of Rescue, along with her students, Shravya Sompalli and Arman Deendar will discuss participatory mapping methods that center the voices of affected communities and frameworks for differentiating between consensual sex work and human trafficking.

Panel, and Q&A Session: Following the presentations, there will a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Alessandra Jungs de Almeida, Postdoctoral Associate in the MIT Women's and Gender Studies Program. The panel will be followed by an interactive Q & A segment that will provide opportunities to engage directly with the researchers, addressing methodological questions, ethical considerations, and potential applications of these approaches.