Contact & FAQ

Public interest technology (PIT) is the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest.  This includes all the goods and services communities rely on, like healthcare, education, housing, food, voting rights, security, clean water, healthy ecosystems and more. PIT involves many disciplines from computer science to art, and promotes justice, dignity and autonomy for all – especially those most impacted by technology’s harms.

For the Network’s purposes, we propose to define technology expertise very broadly. Technology expertise refers to a set of capabilities to create, apply, study, and use new technologies and an understanding of the core ethical, legal, policy, and societal dimensions of technological change. As technology becomes more of a governing force through its own design and uptake and its literal use by governments to govern, we need to cultivate a set of experts who can both wield the tools of the relevant technical domains and assess social and political implications. We think of this mix as a body of knowledge that enables the development, application, and study of technologies with attention to the social and political possibilities of their design and use, but that also can be applied analytically in the policymaking process.

Second, the definition is specific about the purpose sought by the application of technology expertise. The emphasis is on a notion of public interest or common good, as distinguished from the design of technology or technology policy to advance commercial or individual goals and interests.

The public interest—while difficult to define—is understood to reflect the welfare of society in general, rather than the welfare of a particular individual, group, or company. Government and civil society are seen as playing primary roles in advancing societal objectives, though other sectors often play a role as well. While this definition clearly includes the deployment of new technologies on behalf of public policy priorities, it also creates space for a shared recognition (by the private and public sectors) of the responsibility to critically assess the benefits and risks of the new technologies that are created and used, and to incorporate technical knowledge into the formulation of laws, regulations, and policies. This means that efforts to constrain the “bad” use of technology or to mitigate the harmful impacts of technology are also a part of the field.

Third, the definition specifically calls out a systematic way of studying technology in the world including unforeseen and adverse consequences and ways to harmonize technology and society. It is a study of the societal experiences imposed by technology design as well as ways to use technology design to harmonize and impact governance and society.

The Public Interest Technology University Network is a partnership that fosters collaboration among universities and colleges committed to building the nascent field of public interest technology and growing a new generation of civic-minded technologists. Through the development of curricula, research agendas, and experiential learning programs in the public interest technology space, these universities are trying innovative tactics to produce graduates with multiple fluencies at the intersection of technology and policy.

Launched in 2019, the Public Interest Technology University Network is a partnership that unites colleges and universities committed to building the nascent field of public interest technology and growing a new generation of civic-minded technologists. Through the development of curricula, research agendas, and experiential learning programs in the public interest technology space, these institutions aim to develop graduates with skills and knowledge at the intersection of technology and policy. Becoming a member brings many benefits to Network schools, students, and faculties including educational and networking opportunities, information sharing, and guidance.

List of current members here.

The PIT University Network Challenge is a small grants competition that supports the development of new public interest technology initiatives and institutions. It aims to support the development of PIT programs within academia by encouraging new ideas, fostering collaborations, and incentivizing resource—and information—sharing among Network members. Please note: Only Network members can apply for the challenge.

Glad you asked!

You can see a list of our current and past grantees here.

You can — and should — sign up to receive our monthly newsletter, PIT UNiverse, by clicking here.

We want to hear from all of our PIT-UN members as well as colleges and universities, students, and current PIT practitioners. We welcome story ideas, columns, blog posts, and other news about the PIT and PIT-UN worlds. You can suggest a story by filling out this form.