UT Public Health Coalition Spring Seminar Series

Brian McInnis, PH.D. | Assistant Professor, School of Information at UT Austin 

Dr. Brian McInnis is a Social Informatics professor at the University of Texas at Austin in the School of Information. Brian investigates the capability of computing systems to coordinate groups of people to problem-solve civic issues through informed discussion. This work involves a broad range of research methods, from system design and evaluation to expert interviews, data science, design speed-dating, as well as public policy analysis. Brian really enjoys asking students, “what civic issues matter to you?” and then working with them to explore socio-technical systems questions, like: (1) Where do people go to share experiences of this issue? (2) How have technologies helped to advance conversation about the issue? (3) What human labor and other resources are necessary to facilitate these conversations?