The Silicon Valley of the East - Virginia as a Hotspot for Data Centers and AI
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2/11/25 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm FOJG Program - The Silicon Valley of the East - Virginia as a Hotspot for Data Centers and AI with University of Richmond Faculty Dr. Mary Finley-Brook, Dr. Kyle Redican, Annie Evans, Kyle Jenkins, Beth Zizzamia, and Students Sophie Tanner, Sydney Cassady, and Wenyi Liu.
Due to the forecast of snow, the in-person program at the Science Museum of Virginia has been cancelled and the event will be virtual. Sign up here for the Zoom link. The Silicon Valley of the East - Virginia as a Hotspot for Data Centers and AI
Virginia has been referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the East” due to its high concentration of hyperscale data centers. Working alongside community partners, a team from the University of Richmond have been exploring the economic, political, social and ecological ramifications of Virginia hosting hundreds of data centers. The geographies and ecologies of cloud computing are important to understand with rapid growth projected as a result of prolific AI use. The uptick in energy, water and land use and the uncertainty of supply chains for chips and other components creates uncertainty, perhaps even looming shocks according to experts. Policymakers and community advocates who become more informed about this sector can better serve to mitigate harms for society and ecology. Analyzing recent trends and unpacking predictions improves capacity to make informed decisions for responsible use of technology.
Thus, our team aims to support the public to obtain information, resources and skills. For example, researchers in the Spatial Analysis Lab launched an app for the public to see distances from data centers to cultural sites, parks and schools. The University team partnered with the Virginia Geographic Alliance and New American History to host a virtual academy about data science sustainability for teachers and educators in sciences, technology and the arts. Meanwhile, staff with the Boatwright Library have compiled data center and AI subject guides to share helpful resources, while professors in the Department of Geography, Environment and Sustainability have engaged students and community partners in research projects. Our team will share an interactive display of research results from the past two years during which time project collaborators included Sierra Club, Henrico Conservation Action Network, and the Mattaponi Nation.