Drs. Villanueva-Rosales and Mondragon Receive $1.5M NSF Grant
Computer Science faculty, Drs. Natalia Villanueva-Rosales (Project Lead) and Oscar Mondragon have received a $1.5 Million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop the Smart Social Connector (SSC): An Interdisciplinary, Collaborative Approach to Foster Social Connectedness in Underserved Senior Populations.
The SSC project and strategic partnership, are driven by integrative and interdisciplinary research among social sciences (i.e., anthropology and cognitive psychology); engineering (i.e., systems engineering, computer science, and civil engineering); and scholarship of engagement (i.e., awareness and education). The SSC project addresses social isolation due to age-related barriers by creating informed strategies for seniors to learn and adopt technology and aligning resources with community needs. The project promotes meaningful social connectedness among seniors that creates a sense of belonging within their community. The SSC goal is to develop and sustain the social connectedness of seniors to improve their quality of life. In collaboration with community stakeholders, this community-based participatory research project has two main objectives: (i) advance knowledge on the systemic and behavioral factors that increase social connectedness and bridge the generational digital divide in seniors; and (ii) increase social and technological connectedness for seniors through Smart City solutions. The SSC will involve the creation of human and technological infrastructure in the City of El Paso, including a Living Lab environment. This interdisciplinary, collaborative project is aimed at shifting attitudes and behaviors toward seniors by restoring their visibility, value, and equitable participation in their community.
Research Team: Natalia Villanueva Rosales (Computer Science, PI), Ashley Bangert (Psychology, co-PI), Oscar Mondragon (Computer Science, co-PI), Gina Nunez-Mchiri (Anthropology, Women’s and Gender Studies, Senior Personnel), Kelvin Cheu (Civil Engineering, Senior Personnel), Araceli Guerra (City of El Paso, co-PI), Mary Yanez (EPCC, Co-PI).