Written by: Hannah Huston

Roya Green (25JD) and Isabella Siragusa (25JD) were chosen in their 3L year to represent the College of Law in the 2025 Dare to Discover campaign. Organized by the Office of the Vice President for Research, this annual initiative celebrates 80 exceptional researchers, scholars, and creators from across the University of Iowa, highlighting their dedication to advancing knowledge and innovation.

Here, Iowa Law spotlights Green and Siragusa’s inspiring work, which embodies the law school’s commitment to addressing critical global and societal challenges.

Roya Green: Analyzing AI's ability to prevent war 

Green’s research focuses on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to protect and save lives when used responsibly. She explores how AI can predict when and where conflicts will escalate. She also assesses proposals for establishing regulations that would guide the use of AI to prevent human rights violations. After graduation, Green hopes to pursue a master’s degree or certificate in AI and business.

What inspired you to explore AI and international law?

During my 2L fall semester, I studied at the University of Galway in Ireland, where I took courses on technology and human rights. While I was there, the October 7 [Hamas-led attack on Israel] occurred, and I began questioning whether technology could be used to predict and prevent atrocities. I was also aware that technology has been misused, and I believe the best way to combat this is to harness technology for good. When I returned to Iowa Law, I reached out to Professor [Brian] Farrell, who guided me in writing my paper, AI Powered Solutions for Atrocity Prevention.

What has been the most impactful discovery in your work?

The extent to which AI’s effectiveness in atrocity prevention depends on data access and quality. Its accuracy is often hindered by biased, incomplete, or manipulated data. AI must be paired with strong human oversight, transparency, and collaboration to ensure ethical and effective use.

Isabella Siragusa: Assessing immigrants' access to resources 

Siragusa investigates resources available in Iowa and Illinois for immigrants and the legal counsel who represent them. While Iowa Law’s Immigration Clinic works on legal issues of immigration, immigrants can also face a wide range of other concerns. Siragusa’s work aims to connect immigrants to resources beyond legal ones. After graduation, she hopes to continue representing immigrants as an attorney in Chicago or San Francisco.

What inspired you to focus on the various challenges immigrants face?

I have seen immigrants’ multidimensional issues. Our legal clinic focuses on legal problems, but for many immigrants, the issue they bring to us is not the most important part of their lives. For example, meeting [with us] is not important when there are more pressing issues like not being able to afford groceries or needing therapy to address the stress their life experiences have created.

What has been the most impactful discovery in your work?

The–maybe obvious–general premise that immigrants do not have the right to counsel seems extremely unfair and violative of basic due process. When a potential outcome of a case is removal from the country in which you sought safety or reunited with your family, immigrants should be afforded more protections than they have now.

Iowa Law is also proud to recognize undergraduate Emma Anderson for representing the Human Rights
Certificate program in the 2025 Dare to Discover campaign. Anderson’s research examines the practice
of “hostage diplomacy,” analyzing its use, effectiveness, and conditions that make states more likely to employ it. To explore the full list of 2025 Dare to Discover campaign honorees, visit the official campaign webpage.