Asst Prof Renwen Zhang Receives Prestigious Google Academic Research Award (GARA)

Congratulations to WKWSCI’s Asst Prof Renwen Zhang on receiving the prestigious Google Academic Research Award (GARA) — a global recognition that supports cutting-edge academic research shaping the future of technology.

Her awarded project, “Developing a Taxonomy and Assessment Framework for Socio-Emotional AI Harms,” aims to identify and mitigate the social and emotional harms arising from dynamic human-AI interactions, paving the way for more responsible and human-centred AI design.

The USD 100,000 award will support Renwen and her SWEET Lab team in developing assessment frameworks, open-source datasets, and audit protocols that guide ethical AI development and governance. This continues her lab’s pioneering research on the long-term effects of AI companionship and conversational AI on well-being, mental health, and relationships.

Renwen has also been recognised among the Stanford World’s Top 2% Scientists (2023–2025) for her impactful work in digital well-being, human-AI interaction, and communication technology.

Learn more about Renwen’s research here.