Machines can generate content, but they cannot replicate the cultural memory and lived experience that give human creativity its meaning. Dr. Gaskins introduces the concept of Human Artistic Intelligence, the distinctly human ability to draw from identity, intuition, and experience to create work that connects with others. She explores how artistic expression becomes a form of problem-solving, cultural preservation, and innovation, particularly for communities whose voices have historically been overlooked. As artificial intelligence reshapes creative fields, Dr. Gaskins challenges audiences to consider what must remain human and why protecting authentic expression matters. This thought-provoking keynote invites audiences to recognize creativity not as a privilege reserved for a select few, but as a powerful human capacity that deserves to be developed and valued. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• What distinguishes Human Artistic Intelligence from machine-generated creativity

• How culture and lived experience shape meaningful artistic expression

• Why protecting human creativity is essential to innovation and equity Read Less ^

Algorithms are often treated as neutral systems, but they are also shaped by the people, patterns, and cultures behind them. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins introduces her concept of “algorhythms,” algorithmic processes informed by cultural memory, rhythm, and artistic expression. Drawing connections between ancestral design traditions and contemporary digital tools, she shows how quilting patterns, hip-hop, and other forms of cultural knowledge can inspire new approaches to creative technology. Dr. Gaskins challenges audiences to see code not as a cold or purely mechanical language, but as a medium capable of carrying identity, history, and meaning. This visually engaging keynote offers a fresh perspective on how artists can reshape technology by bringing culture into the creative process. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• What “algorhythms” reveal about the relationship between culture and code

• How ancestral knowledge can inform digital art and innovation

• Why technology becomes more meaningful when diverse creative traditions shape its design Read Less ^

Algorithms may appear neutral, but they often reflect the assumptions, priorities, and blind spots of the people and systems that create them. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins examines how algorithmic bias can shape facial recognition, digital platforms, and creative technologies in ways that reinforce existing inequities. Drawing on research, personal insight, and artistic practice, Dr. Gaskins reveals how these systems affect marginalized communities and how artists and technologists are challenging their harmful effects. She invites audiences to look beyond the surface of code and consider who benefits, who is overlooked, and whose perspectives are missing from the design process. This eye-opening keynote offers a clearer understanding of how bias becomes embedded in technology and why more inclusive approaches are essential to building ethical systems. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How bias enters algorithmic systems and influences real-world outcomes

• Why representation matters in the design and development of technology

• How creative and inclusive approaches can help challenge algorithmic harm Read Less ^

The future is shaped by who has the freedom to imagine it. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins explores Afrofuturism as a powerful framework for challenging limiting narratives and envisioning futures grounded in Black culture, creativity, and possibility. Through examples from art, music, design, and technology, Dr. Gaskins shows how creators draw on cultural memory while imagining worlds beyond the inequities of the present. She examines how Afrofuturist expression allows historically excluded communities to reclaim their stories, expand what feels possible, and participate more fully in shaping the future. This inspiring keynote invites audiences to see imagination not simply as an artistic act, but as a source of agency, innovation, and liberation. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How Afrofuturism connects cultural history with future possibilities

• Why imagination can be a powerful tool for challenging dominant narratives

• How art and technology can help communities envision and create change Read Less ^

The strongest ideas often emerge when technical knowledge and creative thinking come together. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins explores how STEAM education can help students become more confident problem-solvers while opening new pathways for those who have historically been excluded from STEM fields. Drawing on her experience as an educator and digital artist, Dr. Gaskins shows how art can make science and technology more relevant, engaging, and connected to students’ lived experiences. She also examines how culturally responsive approaches can strengthen participation and help learners see themselves as creators, not simply consumers, of technology. This inspiring keynote challenges educators and institutions to build learning environments where more students have the opportunity to imagine, experiment, and innovate. Read More >

Audiences will learn:

• How integrating art can make STEM learning more engaging and meaningful

• Why culturally responsive teaching can expand participation in technical fields

• How STEAM education can help students develop confidence as creators and innovators Read Less ^