Cogan Shimizu Candidate Statement
Candidate for Semantic Technologies Committee Chair
I am honored to be considered a candidate for the Semantic Technologies Chair. I am an assistant professor of computer science at Wright State University, in Dayton, Ohio, where I direct the Knowledge and Semantic Technologies (KASTLE) laboratory. I received my Ph.D. (also in computer science) from Kansas State University in 2020. I completed my postdoctoral work under Pascal Hitzler, and I worked as the principal ontologist for the KnowWhereGraph project from 2020-2022. My lab's research program focuses on the development of knowledge graphs (KGs) and ontologies, primarily using pattern-based and modular design. Recently, I have had significant focus on methods and resources for teaching knowledge engineering (KE), as well as the principled and deep integration of AI/ML into KE practices (which we call Neurosymbolic AI). Of particular interest to this community, we are starting the construction of a KG-powered digital twin of Ohio. A full breakdown of my research can be found on my lab's website (kastle.cs.wright.edu/).
I am new to the ESIP community, having recently engaged via an invited talk to the Semantic Technologies group. However, I have been in the periphery for some time, using and extending SWEET, and interacting with other members on pertinent topics. Similarly, I've been working with the SPASE 3.0 effort on ways to harmonize across other (geospatial) phenomenological vocabularies. I am very interested in how knowledge graphs, paired with GIS, can affect change in local policy. The mission of ESIP falls directly in line with my own personal mission, and I envision a successful partnership in this line.
