About Dr. Bastias

TEDx Alfonso Bastias

I am an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Data Science Program, Department of Computer Science, at the University of Colorado Boulder. My academic and professional spirit is driven by the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and their ethical responsibilities. Through teaching and research, I strive to prepare the next generation of data scientists not only with strong technical expertise but also with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the rapid paradigm shifts shaping our global technological landscape.

My professional journey has included collaborations with a wide range of organizations, such as the National Regulatory Research Institute, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, the U.S. General Services Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the California Department of Transportation, the Construction Industry Institute, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. These experiences have deepened my understanding of how data science can be applied to solve complex, real-world challenges in transportation, energy, and regulatory compliance.

I am also the creator of the Strategic Decisions Method for Comparing Risks, Performance Outcomes, and Scenarios, a decision support system that helps organizations design and evaluate management strategies for ventures and capital projects. The framework integrates data analytics, expert judgment, structured methodologies, and simulation analysis to support effective, evidence-based decision-making.

Beyond the technical dimension, I am deeply engaged in exploring the ethical ramifications of AI. Drawing inspiration from philosophical works such as Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and psychological perspectives from Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow, I connect timeless concepts to contemporary challenges in AI. I believe that understanding cognitive biases and the human–AI interface is essential to developing and applying responsible, human-centered AI technologies.

As a Software Engineer, I created several software programs, some available for free use and others for commercial purposes. Some of them are:

  • ALBA AI is designed to empower companies by rapidly creating and evaluating strategic decision models, offering a significant competitive advantage. By seamlessly integrating into our proprietary decision-making methodology, Alba combines Large Language Models (LLM), advanced AI/ML algorithms, and the powerful Strategic Performance Engine (SPE) v3 to deliver highly accurate, context-specific decision support. This sophisticated AI engine understands the nuances of a company’s operational landscape, the complexities of its strategic choices, and the unique challenges it encounters.
  • CSRA interactive dashboard to calculate the Serious Injury and Fatality Exposure in a construction environment.  Technology: C#, Blazor, Syncfusion, .NET Core, Python (ML). See a video of the dashboard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o84d5DSdMc
  • The Construction Engineering Challenge: Inspiring Careers Through Artificial Intelligence. Prototype Technology C#, Xamarin.Forms, TensorFlow, NoSQL.
  • SPE: Strategy Performance Engine, a risk simulation tool to evaluate strategies, innovation in modeling of strategic decisions, and simulation process. Technology: C#, Blazor, Syncfusion, .NET Core, MongoDB, Proxmox Environment.
  • Arena:  A group management application for Android and iOS. Technology: C#, Xamarin.Forms/MAUI, NoSQL Cosmos DB, SignalR, Azure Functions, Python (ML).
  • Boulder Dashboard: Law Enforcement Data Dashboard for Boulder County, Colorado - USA. Technology: C#, Python, Tensorflow, Blazor, .NET Core, MS SQL Server, Proxmox Environment.
  • LEONARDO: Learning Organization Rapid Diagnostic Tool. Technology: ASP.NET, MS SQL Server. Research Paper, Outstanding Paper Award Emerald LiteratiNetwork - 2008.
  • GPM: General Performance Model, a desktop application with more than 160,000 lines of code. Technology: C++, MFC, Prof-UIS. Research Paper.
  • THE PROGRAMMER: Project Control System for Engineering firms to control man-hours used and estimated to complete a project. Technology: ASP, MS SQL Server. After a ten-year cycle, it was migrated to SAP and integrated into FI/CO Modules.

My multicultural background and lifelong commitment to education—rooted in innovation, creativity, leadership, and excellence—drive my academic and professional growth. Throughout my career, I have embraced significant challenges alongside my colleagues, always striving for excellence.

I am proud to be a TEDx curator in two events in Chile. TEDxUDP :