Cyber-AI for Sustainable Planetary Ecosystem Resilience (CASPER)
Lei Qian, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Curriculum Evaluation and Effectiveness
Associate Professor of Computer Science and Data Science
lei.qian@mmc.edu
The Cyber-AI for Sustainable Planetary Ecosystem Resilience (CASPER) initiative is a forward-thinking program designed to address ecological risks and sustainability challenges through advanced AI, cyberinfrastructure, and extended reality (XR) technologies. CASPER integrates geospatial intelligence, predictive analytics, and cyber-secure digital twin ecosystems to provide real-time insights, proactive risk management, and resilient sustainability strategies. By fostering collaborative innovation through community engagement, academic research, and interdisciplinary partnerships, CASPER aims to build intelligent, secure and adaptable solutions that safeguard planetary, societal and ecological wellness.
Mission
CASPER is committed to leveraging cutting-edge Cyber-AI technologies to enhance planetary and ecological resilience. Our mission is to develop secure, AI-driven solutions that empower communities and researchers to predict, mitigate and respond to ecological and sustainability challenges. Through the integration of cybersecurity, human security, artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence and extended reality (XR), CASPER aims to create a safer, more sustainable future for our planet.
Vision
Our vision is to position Meharry SACS as a global leader in AI-driven planetary resilience, pioneering secure, intelligent, and adaptive cyber-physical systems to safeguard ecosystems, support renewable energy integration, monitor wildlife populations, enhance disaster response and promote sustainable development. We aim to develop a robust digital infrastructure that fosters planetary well-being, ensures the long-term sustainability of natural and built environments, and empowers communities through active engagement.
Events and Activities
The MS-CC Undergraduate Summer Research Internship is a 10-week, paid summer internship for undergraduate students that will be hosted at Fisk University in partnership with Meharry Medical College. The internship will provide students with the opportunity to work with faculty mentors to apply computational and data-intensive research.
Team
Uttam Ghosh, Ph.D.
Professor of Cybersecurity
Director, SACS Cybersecurity Research Center
Pushpita Chatterjee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Data Science
Eugene Levin, Ph.D., CP
Professor, Spatial Data Science
Director of International Programs