While innovation is primarily considered beneficial, facilitating the creation of goods and services that improve the quality of human life, new technologies create great potential to accelerate progress. But how do ethical or moral issues shape the application of emerging technologies, and what role can public servants play in ensuring that innovation does not undermine equity, freedom, sustainability, and social justice? Should it be fulfilled?
Earlier this month, an interdisciplinary group of RIT alumni, scholars, researchers, and public policy experts met to discuss these and other issues. At the conference, sponsored and hosted by the Freedom Fund and directed by RIT College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean Lauren Hall, Ph.D., the group gathered for his focused, day-long session.
“How will technology shape the way we govern, now and in the future? That’s the fundamental question we explored,” Hall explained. “As rapid innovation leads to economic, political, and social disruption, we need to think deeply and seriously about how to build a just, secure, and sustainable future.”
The diverse group of conference attendees, from up-and-coming professionals to those just coming out of years in the civil service, brought a balanced range of expertise, perspectives, and passion to the discussions.
“In today’s increasingly divisive political climate, spend a day engaging in respectful and meaningful discussions about important social issues with people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and political viewpoints. It was refreshing to be able to do that,” said Brianna Albertson ’16 (International). Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Analyst, Global Studies and Political Science Double Major) “I gained a new perspective on these issues. I think it was valuable for comprehensive consideration.”
Albertson was joined by a former head of security at the World Bank, a senior analytics manager at Amazon Advertising, South Sudan’s water director, Wake Forest University’s director of bioethics, health and society, a computer scientist, and an entrepreneur. . , Faculty of Arts and Sciences, etc.
“Of course, we can’t solve these issues in a day, but it’s important to think deeply and intentionally, explore different perspectives, and keep them at the forefront,” Hall said. “And that’s something this group of conference participants, and RIT’s liberal arts faculty, are passionate about.”
The Freedom Fund is a private educational foundation that encourages thinking and discussion about the enduring questions of freedom. We organize dialogue about enduring questions around the world. Meanwhile, RIT’s College of Liberal Arts plans to continue to bring discussions about the social, ethical, and political implications of new technologies to the forefront through the MacKenzie Salon Series and other events and lectures. For more information on upcoming events, visit rit.edu/liberarts/events.