Ethics, Society and Technology -- Curriculum Development Grant 22-23

Purpose

The Ethics, Society and Technology Hub invites applications for funding to support the creation of new courses, or new modules within existing courses, that engage students in critical thinking about the ethical and societal consequences of scientific and technological developments. 

The Hub has been created as part of Stanford’s Presidential Initiative on Ethics, Society, and Technology.

Stanford has long been at the cutting edge of technology development and scientific research. The goal of the EST Hub Curriculum Development Seed Grant Program is to apply this same spirit of innovation to the study of the ethical and social dimensions  of science and technology. Assessing the ethical and societal implications of our actions requires an important set of reasoning skills. How do we teach students in any major to routinely ask and analyze questions about the social effects of science and technology: what are the potential impacts of developing a product or making a scientific discovery? What ethical dilemmas might be faced once a new technology or discovery is introduced to society? What societal implications will result from these advances? 

 One model of a successful teaching experiment is CS 182: Ethics, Public Policy, and Technological Change co-taught by 3 faculty in Political Science and Computer Science and an interdisciplinary team of 10 teaching assistants. Drawing upon philosophy, political science, and computer science, the course aims to shift the way students from all majors think about their role as enablers and shapers of technological change in society.  

Selection and Award Process

Proposals will be reviewed by the EST Hub governance committee composed of faculty from all seven schools. Applications that include the following objectives will be prioritized:

• Integrate considerations and discussions of ethical and societal implications of science and technology throughout the full duration of the course

• Demonstrate significant contributions to innovative curriculum

• Aim for ambitious experiments intending to engage a large number of students

• Use funds to pay graduate and undergraduate students to support the development or implementation of the course, e.g. a graduate student coordinator to coordinate a faculty team 

Information Sessions

The EST Hub Program Manager, Ashlyn Jaeger, will be hosting two online drop-in information sessions to answer questions about the initiative and the application process.  Please register to receive a zoom link. 

• Tuesday, April 12, 2022 from 12PM-1PM PST. Register HERE

• Wednesday, April 27, 2021 from 12:30PM-1:30PM PST. Register HERE