Thea Surya

Year in School
Sophomore

Major
Computer Science

Research Interests
Artificial Intelligence

Research Mentor
TBD

Research/Engagement Experience
During my first year, I was part of Women in Computer Science's Outreach Committee, where I worked with prospective high school students, helping to organize events such as ChicTech and the CS+X panel to stimulate and encourage women to consider a career in technology.

Interests
Responsible AI, machine learning, environmental sustainability

Project Title
TBD

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
One of the pivotal moments that led me to choose to major in Computer Science was when I worked on my culminating service project for Girl Scouts in my third and fourth years of high school. I chose to address the lack of technology literacy amongst the elderly, as it makes them especially susceptible to online scams and recognized that this was something they would be suffering from more during the COVID-19 pandemic, as much of everything transitioned online. The social impact potential of CS really appeals to me and stimulates my interest the field!

What social interests matter to me?
Technology literacy and equal access as well as environmental sustainability.

What is my most impactful college experience?
My most impactful college experience so far was when I studied abroad in Trinidad and Tobago as a Global Sustainability Scholar and worked with non-profit organizations there to learn about sustainable engineering and service work! The experience greatly solidified my passion for sustainability and the environment, as I got the chance to witness hands-on practices and interact with amazing individuals.

These are a few of my favorite things!
Tennis, cooking, reading, and my poodle Rafa!

Research Description
My research group aims to explore how security and privacy, and technology as a whole, is presented in television through web scraping of TV transcripts for frequency of certain key words. Through this data collection and analysis, we hope to draw ties between these representations and how they impact how intended audiences perceives security and privacy.

Biography
Thea Surya is currently sophomore majoring in Computer Science that is excited to explore ways in which she can connect computer science to her other extracurricular and service-related interests, specifically with regards sustainability and artificial intelligence. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring various cuisines in the kitchen.