CM Seminar: “Digital Equity in Rural America: Learning from Rural Environments of (Non)use”
Presented by: Rebecca Jonas
Description: “When we think about ‘digital divides,’ many people think about their impacts in far away places. We think of high-tech smart cities compared against Internet cafés in towns with dirt roads. Through my work evaluating the presence of digital divides in rural America, I show the impacts of digital inequity that occur in our own backyards. In this talk, I discuss impacts of digital inequity on digital literacy, self-efficacy, and social cohesion, as well as assets-based solutions from within impacted communities to champion their own fight for digital equity.”
Bio: Rebecca Jonas is a human-computer interaction researcher focused on the impact of emerging technologies in rural environments of (non)use. Her research has been published and exhibited at top HCI conferences such as CHI and CSCW and honored with awards such as the Google Academic Research Award and Recognition for Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion at CSCW. Rebecca is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Authentic User Experience Lab at UC Santa Cruz and previously received her PhD from Penn State University.
Hosted by: Professor Norman Su
When: December 1, 2025 from 12:30PM to 1:30PM
Location:
IN-PERSON @ SVC 3212.
Viewing room @ UCSC Main Campus, E2-280.
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT BOTH LOCATIONS! Faculty and students are highly encouraged to attend.
Zoom info:
https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/99584811196?pwd=JVO3ILsatQ5QjCPUaPgM38VS8M3vnc.1
Meeting ID: 995 8481 1196
Passcode: 743978
