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Background
Today, those creating new technologies wield tremendous power. The technologies they create influence everything from which news stories billions of people read to what personal data companies collect. While many of these technologies have facilitated new forms of connection and creativity, the benefits and harms of these technologies have not been distributed equally.
Through the Responsible Computing for Just Futures Initiative (RC4JustFutures), we aim to support a new wave of technologists who will: 1) understand social and historical context, 2) think more critically about the design and use of technology, 3) deploy cultural sensitivity to recognize when and how technology work may perpetuate or deepen inequality, and 4) create visions for more equitable systems across the technology sector and in related fields to ultimately build more responsible and ethical tools, applications, platforms, policies, and social norms.
Our work is made possible through the Responsible Computing Challenge, supported by Omidyar Network, Mozilla, Schmidt Futures, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Mellon Foundation, USAID, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Strategic Goals
Develop Models for Transformative Education: that unlocks the changemaking potential of every Penn student, ensuring they have the opportunity to realize their capacity to drive meaningful social impact
Advance Community Engaged Research: Engage community partners and mutual ownership of processes and products, focusing on solving community problems and improving practice. We prioritize the voices and visions of marginalized communities, nurturing organizations committed to equity.
Develop Robust Experiential Learning: We aim to cultivate civic-minded leadership by engaging students in real-world problem-solving, fostering understanding of cultural, historical, political, and economic contexts to prepare graduates for holistic technology design and use.
Foster collaboration and community across disciplines and boundaries eommunity working towards integrating social responsibility and ethics into computing curricula. This community of practice has a specific focus on pedagogy and teaching, with the aim to support a cross disciplinary group of people. If
Our Approach
Curricular Initiatives
Design and implement interdisciplinary courses that incorporate responsible computing principles. Collaborate across disciplines to embed new and revised course modules that integrate ethical, social, and legal considerations in technology education.
RC + Justice Fellows
We aim to pilot a new experiential learning model for undergraduate students across disciplines to engage in real-world problem-solving and empower students, fostering authentic relationships and promoting social change.
Community Engagement
Deepen Penn's relationship in West Philadelphia through partnerships with community groups and residents to co-develop experiential learning opportunities and engage in multidisciplinary projects that address social challenges locally and globally.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and integrating responsible computing principles, we aim to cultivate a generation of technologists who will lead the charge in building ethical and just technological ecosystems.