Supporting the next generation of ethical technologists

The Responsible Computing for Just Futures Initiative (RC4JustFutures) has ambitious plans to undertake research to better understand how concepts of justice and equity are currently integrated into computing curricula across various disciplines.

Led by Miguel Willis, Innovator in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School's Future of the Profession Initiative(FPI), and law lecturer Claudia Johnson, RC4JustFutures is taking an active role in socially responsible computing and critical computing approaches in undergraduate curricula, reimagining how to address areas of new technology, policy, and community in undergraduate education while exposing students to a host of different careers possibilities in those spaces.

"At the heart of our rapidly evolving technological landscape, where artificial intelligence and digital innovations are shaping every aspect of life-from healthcare to education, and employment-lies a crucial intersection between technology and social justice," says Willis.

As one of the newest cohorts of awardees to emerge from Mozilla's Responsible Computing Challenge (RCC)last fall-receiving a grant typically given to engineering programs-RC4JustFutures is already building a unique foundation at Penn. The Initiative recently launched a new websiteafter a successful Spring kick-off with two community-centered events.

Willis stresses the importance that justice and community equity be central tenets in the development of public interest technologies or technologies that limit or prevent access to critical resources or public services, which can begin in undergraduate coursework.

In late March, Willis and Johnson gathered fellow scholars, students, technologists, activists, and West Philadelphia community members for a workshopthat planted the seeds for RC4JustFutures' work moving forward.

Following the success of the workshop, RC4JustFutures co-sponsored and advised on the second annual Philadelphia Social Justice Hackathonlast April, hosted at Drexel's Kline School of Law.

Initiatives like the hackathon provide experiential education opportunities that Willis calls one of the cornerstones of RC4JustFutures' approach.

"I strongly believe in giving students the opportunity to engage directly with the communities they will serve, particularly in West Philadelphia," says Willis. "Historically, decisions about what technologies to build have been made by experts-academics and researchers-without sufficient input from the communities affected by these technologies. To rectify this, it's essential to elevate community voices and ensure they are central to the decision-making process."

Read more at Penn Carey Law.