a K-12 school, in the hand of every child, in every language, everywhere.
LET'S CELEBRATE!
MASi celebrates the launch of a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing educational access through innovative natural language processing (NLP) technology.
FOR IMMIDEATE RELEASE
ANTHROPOLOGI.AI has been awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to conduct research and development (R&D) work on cutting-edge technology that opens doors to digital education for neglected language communities, bringing high-quality learning to the world’s most underserved populations.
HOUSTON, TX – MASi (Multilingual Adaptive School for Inclusion), a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to advancing educational access through innovative natural language processing (NLP) technology, proudly announces its official launch as part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) SBIR Phase I project. This cutting-edge initiative addresses one of the most persistent barriers in education: the lack of high-quality schools in neglected or "low-resourced" language communities. MASi is set to revolutionize digital learning for multilingual students by creating an adaptive, culturally relevant school accessible in underserved languages.
MASi was one of only a select few projects nationwide to secure the NSF award, marking a significant milestone in educational technology development for low-resourced languages. “Our mission is not only to deliver educational content but to redefine how we do school,” stated Dr. Sharon Sochil Washington, Founder and Principal Investigator of MASi. “We aim to create a platform where students from low-resourced language communities are empowered with high quality education in their own languages and cultural contexts, bridging a vital gap in accessibility and relevance.”
The MASi project unites a team of linguistic experts, NLP developers, and cultural anthropologists, leveraging NSF’s investment to overcome the technological and cultural challenges of creating inclusive digital learning experiences. With the MASI platform, students will access a dynamic, contextually adaptive school that not only facilitate learning but also preserves linguistic heritage.
The initiative is particularly impactful given the current lack of digital resources for neglected languages. "Our team is deeply committed to ensuring that MASi reflects the cultural nuances and learning needs of the communities it serves," added Dr. Washington. "By integrating synthetic data generation and culturally relevant content, we’re creating a more inclusive, effective model for language preservation and education."
“MASi's launch is a dream that has been twenty years in the making,” remarked Dr. Washington. “When I initially had the idea, it wasn't even technologically possible. But today it is, and we're doing it!"
The MASi project is poised to make a lasting impact on multilingual education, and the team invites educational stakeholders, language preservation advocates, and technology innovators to support and collaborate in this mission.
To learn more about MASi's groundbreaking work or to inquire about partnership opportunities, please visit the MASI website at https://masischool.org.