Technology

What are the risks and rewards at the intersection of ethics and technology?

Technology

As the pace of technology keeps advancing at dizzying speeds, the Rock Ethics Institute is examining the intersections of ethics and tech from both research and pedagogical perspectives.

Principal Investigators:

Daniel Susser

Research Associate in the Rock Ethics Institute

Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology and Philosophy

dus1043@psu.edu

Eduardo Mendieta

Professor of Philosophy and Latina/o Studies

ezm5325@psu.edu

The Engineering, Technology, and Ethics Initiative further positions the Rock Ethics Institute as a thought leader in the ethics of technology and engineering education, as the Initiative examines the intersection of ethics, engineering, and technology by examining these topics from both research and pedagogical perspectives.

From a research perspective, researchers hope to better understand how the use of technology impacts student ethics, engineering students in particular, and to develop new methods to enhance engineering education. Co-convened by Daniel Susser, and Eduardo Mendieta, the initiative also focuses on faculty development and teaching aimed at fortifying ethics understanding and decision-making in the classroom.

Principal Investigator:

Sarah Rajtmajer

Research Associate in the Rock Ethics Institute

Assistant Professor of Information Sciences and Technology

smr48@psu.edu

Convened by Sarah Rajtmajer, the Rock Ethics Institute’s Ethics, Security, and Critical Network Project focuses on the inextricably intertwined critical infrastructure in the United States—systems and processes increasingly connected to the internet and increasingly at risk for cyberattack.

The project seeks to understand the interdependencies of critical infrastructure across time and space, while also seeking the best responses to ethical questions posed by the potential risks of disruption.

Principal Investigator:

Yael Warshel

Research Associate in the Rock Ethics Institute

Assistant Professor of Telecommunications and Media Industries

ywarshel@psu.edu

Children and youth are the largest populations in conflict zones. Since they are most impacted, this Initiative aims to shine the spotlight on media rights and uses that best aid and empower children and youth. Convened by Rock Ethics Institute research associate Yael Warshel (co-convened with Idan Shalevof Penn State’s Department of Biobehavioral Health and Oana Albuof the Copenhagen Business School), the Initiative established the Children, Media, and Conflict Zones Lab in the Bellisario College of Communication to achieve its aims.