UA Little Rock Hosts Dr. Jose Antonio Bowen: Thinking, Work, and Creativity in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we think, work and create, and UA Little Rock is bringing that conversation directly to our community.
Acclaimed scholar Dr. José Antonio Bowen will speak on AI, creativity, and the future of work in his free public talk, Thinking, Work, and Creativity in the Age of AI, on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. Open to students, faculty, staff, and the broader Little Rock community this event is part of the university’s ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue around the issues that matter most to our region and our world.
“Dr. Bowen is a dynamic, charismatic Renaissance man and a gifted speaker, so he is particularly well-suited to offer a public talk. We hope the community takes advantage of his visit and attends his talk,” said Dr. Elisabeth Sherwin, Chair and Professor of the Department of Psychological Science.
While the public talk is a highlight, it’s just one part of a broader visit designed to engage the campus in meaningful, practical ways. Dr. Bowen will deliver four presentations focused on AI.
On Tuesday, March 31, he will lead a full-day workshop, sponsored by the Department of Psychological Science and the Marie Wilson Howells’ Endowment, co-sponsored by the Academy for Teaching and Learning Excellence (ATLE), and supported by the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education. The workshop will cover AI literacy, tools, prompting techniques, and practical strategies for designing AI-informed assignments, while addressing issues such as grading and academic integrity. That evening at 5:30 p.m., in the Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) auditorium, Dr. Bowen will give a public talk on how AI is transforming work, communication and human creativity.
On Wednesday, April 1, Dr. Bowen will host a student session with the Student Government Association (SGA), on thriving in an AI-driven world, then conclude with a second workshop on redesigning online courses for the age of AI, covering strategies to improve learning, support academic integrity and integrate custom AI tools.
For Sherwin, who helped organize the visit, bringing Dr. Bowen to campus is a natural expression of what Trojans do — trying new approaches, forging unique partnerships and seeking creative solutions.
“We are UA Little Rock, that means we are part of the greater Little Rock metropolitan community,” Sherwin said. “To the Department of Psychological Science, that means that what we do should benefit the communities of which we are part, whether our students, faculty and staff or the larger public. In this instance, it includes a public-facing opportunity with speakers we invite. This maximizes impact and provides insight into the issues we engage with, which have recently included wrestling with the current disruptor — artificial intelligence.”
Bowen’s visit is one of several efforts the Department of Psychological Science has led to help campus and the broader community grapple with AI’s growing impact. Events like this public talk extend that work beyond campus walls, inviting the broader community to think critically and creatively alongside the campus. This talk is free and open to the public. At UA Little Rock, we believe that when our community learns together, everyone moves forward. Visit the event page for full event details, including date, time, and location.