COSMOS Director Prof. Nitin Agarwal recently met with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin to discuss the ongoing research at the university. Prof. Agarwal shared COSMOS’ pioneering research on mitigating cognitive threats to make the Internet safer and on strengthening community resiliency. 

Going back several years, COSMOS has a history of working with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office to help fight cognitive threats, such as misinformation campaigns and scams. “We are excited to build on our ongoing collaboration with the AG’s office, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, to combat scams and misinformation,” said Prof. Agarwal. COSMOS worked with the Attorney General’s Office to create COVID-19 Misinformation Tracker, a tool that discovered, debunked, and raised awareness about misinformation relating to COVID-19, such as scam remedies, faux medicine, or conspiracy theories. On the progress that the meeting tracked, Tim Griffin reported “Their research is creating jobs, leading to breakthroughs in medical treatments, and increasing our ability to stay safe online.”

Prof. Agarwal commented, “Together, we aim to make a lasting, positive impact in Arkansas by showcasing how technology and innovation can effectively bridge science, society, and policymaking.”