Harnessing Responsible AI for Science Discovery, Innovation, and Impact

Manish Parashar, Professor and Director of Scientific Computing & Imaging Institute at University of Utah

ABSTRACT:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential engine for innovation and economic growth, providing new opportunities for scientific discovery in almost every domain. However, realizing AI's positive and transformative potential requires a transdisciplinary approach that ensures AI research and development (R&D) progress responsibly. In this talk, I will discuss the importance of democratizing AI R&D—including access to advanced cyberinfrastructure—to achieve the goal of responsible AI. I will then introduce the University of Utah's One-U Responsible AI Initiative, which aims to catalyze an innovation ecosystem at the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute to enable responsible, transdisciplinary AI development and use for societal impact in the areas of environment, health, and education.

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Manish Parashar is the Chief AI Officer at the University of Utah. He is also the Director of the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute, Chair in Computational Science and Engineering, and Presidential Professor at the Kalhert School of Computing. Manish’s expertise is in high-performance parallel and distributed computing and cyberinfrastructure. Manish is the founding chair of the IEEE Technical Community on High Performance Computing (TCHPC) and is a Fellow of AAAS, ACM, and IEEE.

Powering the Future: Innovation at the Heart of the Energy Transition

Rohit Nair, Managing Director of Grid Innovation & Strategy at PacifiCorp

ABSTRACT:

Technology and innovation underpin PacifiCorp’s strategy: it co-developed the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and is preparing to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) to optimize dispatch and cut costs across the West. In Utah, Rocky Mountain Power’s Soleil Lofts project aggregates 600 Sonnen batteries (12.6 MWh) into a utility-managed virtual power plant, providing backup power to residents and grid services during peak periods. PacifiCorp has supported installation of over 4,800 electric vehicle charging ports and leads U.S. Department of Energy funded initiatives like WestSmart EV@Scale—aiming to electrify freight corridors and build a durable EV ecosystem across seven Western states. The company is also using technology and innovation to improve grid resiliency from growing climate risks and proactively expanding high-voltage transmission and refining rate designs to equitably serve burgeoning data center customers.

BIOGRAPHY:

Rohit Nair is the Managing Director of Grid Innovation & Strategy at PacifiCorp, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary, where he leads the company’s advanced metering infrastructure, geospatial systems, grid modernization, and business transformation efforts. An accomplished engineer and strategist, Rohit has driven numerous technology and policy initiatives—most recently spearheading the evaluation of emerging solutions to mitigate wildfire risk and guiding PacifiCorp’s pursuit of multibillion-dollar federal grants and loans to improve resiliency and affordability.

Rohit holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering and business administration, blending technical expertise with strategic acumen. Outside of work, he treasures family time with his wife and young kids, shares his knowledge on Indian philosophy and meditation through Salt Lake City’s yoga teacher trainings, and enjoys outdoor adventures such as hiking and skiing.