The Honors Think Tank

Be a part of something BIG with the Honors Think Tank!

Learn about and discuss a challenging societal issue with other engaged honors students and faculty members!

The UNH Honors Think Tank is non-partisan and non-ideological and focused on solving a problem from an interdisciplinary perspective. The first pilot took Artificial Intelligence as its subject. The students and faculty participants ended up learning so much that they created policy recommendations for UNH!

Every other week, faculty rotate in and lead a discussion/activity focused on the topic at hand through the lens of their discipline. Imagine discussions about a deep question (capitalism, climate, ethic, etc.) in Health, in Art, in Business, in Law. Imagine screening compelling episodes and discussing a current film. Student participants will gain leadership skills and be strong voices in thinking about the challenges that face our society. 

The Honors Think Tank meets weekly. Participants can earn 2 Honors Units* by attending and actively engaging during these weekly meetings. Stay tuned for the next iteration of the Think Tank!
*For students in the Honors College curriculum

Policy institutes or research institutes are commonly referred to as “Think Tanks.” These organizations work to solve complex problems by identifying policy issues, researching and evaluating ideas, and making recommendations that influence global, national, and regional public policy.

Professor Scott Smith

Scott Smith

Professor 
Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies
Hamel Honors & Scholars Faculty Fellow

Professor Nick Smith

Nick Smith

Professor 
Philosophy
Justice Studies

Momataz Begum

Momataz Begum

Associate Professor
Computer Science

Wheeler Ruml

Wheeler Ruml

Professor 
Computer Science
Integrated Applied Mathematics

Samuel Carton

Samuel Carton

Assistant Professor
Computer Science

Laura Dietz

Laura Dietz

Associate Professor
Computer Science

Otto Luna

Otto Luna

Digital Resources Curator
Art and Art History

Ivo van der Graaff

Ivo van der Graaff

Associate Professor
Art and Art History
Classics, Humanities, and Italian Studies

Ben Cariens

Ben Cariens

Associate Professor
Art and Art History
Department Chair

Inchan Kim

Inchan Kim

Assistant Professor
Decision Sciences
Business Administration
Center for Business Analytics

Bill Murphy

Bill Murphy

Professor
Franklin Pierce School of Law
Chair: Commerce and Technology Graduate Programs

January 28
Organizational Meeting, led by Scott and Nick Smith

February 11
Discussion of AI, facilitated by Nick Smith

February 25
AI and Machine Learning in Health, led by Momataz Begum and Kartik Trivedi
Watch this video!

March 11
A Technical and Accessible Overview of AI, led by Wheeler Ruml, Samuel Carton, Laura Dietz
Discussion to follow: The Promise of AI

April 1
AI: Art and Archaeology Perspective, led by Otto Luna, Ivo van der Graaff, Ben Cariens

April 15
AI and Data Analytics, led by Inchan Kim

April 29
AI: The Legal Perspective, led by Bill Murphy, UNH Law

May 6
Final Banquet
Student Position Papers