Visualizing Sex Work & Trafficking: Ethical Maps & Modeling

The event will feature presentations by two distinguished researchers: Dr. Kayse Lee Maass, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University, will share insights on ethical approaches to collecting sensitive data and innovative techniques for anonymizing location data while preserving analytical value. Dr. Elena Shih, Manning Assistant Professor of American Studies and Ethnic Studies at Brown University, along with her students, Shravya Sompalli and Arman Deendar will discuss participatory mapping methods that center the voices of affected communities and frameworks for differentiating between consensual sex work and human trafficking. Panel, and Q&A Session: Following the presentations, there will be a panel discussion moderated by Alessandra Jungs de Almeida, Postdoctoral Associate in the MIT Women’s and Gender Studies Program. The panel will be followed by an interactive Q & A segment that will provide opportunities to engage directly with the researchers, addressing methodological questions, ethical considerations, and potential applications of these approaches.