About us
Technology and Society Initiative
Our mission
Our mission is centered around three foundational pillars:
1. Teaching and course development
Objective
Our goal is to prepare informed and ethical leaders who can drive innovation in the tech industry. We aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge to navigate and shape the digital landscape, both in their careers and personal interactions with technology.
Focus areas
Develop and deliver courses that integrate analytics, leadership, and economics principles, using a mix of pedagogical techniques including case discussions, panels, and project work.
Example of courses
We are developing a unique immersion course focused explicitly on understanding and improving the social impact of the technology sector. Students will engage with senior leaders across sectors and develop their own projects aimed at leveraging insights from research to mitigate digital harms and enhance positive impact.
2. Research
Objective
Our goal is to generate actionable insights into the impact of technology on society, and how business, policy, and consumer decisions interact to shape technology’s societal implications.
Focus areas
Our goal is to develop frameworks for companies, policymakers, and technology users to understand and improve the social impact of technology. Examples of focus areas include creating more inclusive and equitable technology platforms, understanding the impact of social media on public health, and assessing strategies to combat misinformation.
Examples of projects:
- Airbnb: In one project, we uncovered widespread racial discrimination on Airbnb. Our findings led the company to change the design of the platform, including implementing changes we had proposed. The CEO highlighted this issue as a priority area for the company.
- Facebook: In another project, we collected data from Facebook on public health advertising campaigns. This allowed us to shed light on the effect and cost-effectiveness of social media advertisements on public health behaviors.
3. Translation to practice
Objective
We aim to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application with the aim of fostering a vibrant, equitable tech ecosystem.
Focus areas
Disseminate findings through publications, conferences, and workshops, engaging with policymakers, industry leaders, and the public.