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Public Interest Technology News
Read updates on the Public Interest Technology University Network, press releases, events and more.
Press Releases
Upcoming Events 2023
- [IN-PERSON – Boston, MA] Data: The Fundamental Particle of Interaction. Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. Tuesday, January 17, 11 am-12 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Research Spotlight Webinar featuring Dr. Enrique Armijo. George Washington University Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics. Wednesday, January 18, 12 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Tech to Gov Forum and Job Fair. Tech to Gov and U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Wednesday, January 18, 12-4 pm EST **not a PIT-UN member event
- A free virtual event for technologists, from individual contributors to executives, looking to transition to digital roles within government featuring more than 25 participating governments and organizations.
- [VIRTUAL] CITRIS Research Exchange: Verónica Ahumada on Inclusive Robotics. University of California CITRIS and the Banatao Institute. Wednesday, January 18, 12-1 pm PST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Charlottesville, VA] Addressing Algorithmic Bias and Disclosiveness: Minimax Fairness and Multiaccurate Proxies. University of Virginia School of Data Science. Thursday, January 19, 11 am-12 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Digital Policy Rounds: Health communications. McGill University Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and partner organizations. Thursday, January 19, 12-1 pm EST **not a PIT-UN member event
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Columbus, OH] Seminar: Dr. Huan Sun (computer science and engineering). The Ohio State University Translational Data Analytics Institute. Thursday, January 19, 1-2 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Women of Color Code Webinar: Himadri Chhaya-Shailesh. Michigan Institute for Data Science. Friday, January 20, 11 am-12 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Foundations of Biomedical Data Science Seminar Series: Leveraging Big Health Data to Answer Questions about Program and Policy Effects. University of Virginia Data Science. Friday, January 20, 12-1 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Washington, DC] Science on the Offense: Technology Assessment, Anticipatory Governance, and the Future US Innovation System. Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes at Arizona State University. Monday, January 23, 3-5 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Berkeley, CA] Blank Slate: Freedom, Connection, and Accountability in U.S. Virtual Schools. University of California Berkeley School of Information. Monday, January 23, 4:10-6 pm PST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Columbus, OH] Postdoctoral Scholar Seminar: Dr. Harshavardhan Bhat (race & responsible data science). The Ohio State University Translational Data Analytics Institute. Tuesday, January 24, 12-1 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] CITRIS Research Exchange: Spencer Castro on Human-machine Systems. University of California CITRIS Research Exchange. Wednesday, January 25, 12-1 pm PST
- [IN-PERSON – Berkeley, CA] U.S. CHIPS and Science Act: What It Means For the Future of, Well, Everything. University of California Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, Center for Security in Politics, and Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy. Wednesday, January 25, 4-5 pm PST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Columbus, OH] Data Points Lecture: Ideas on Data, Law, and Society, featuring Neil Richards. The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Program on Data and Governance. Thursday, January 26, 12:15-1:15 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Princeton, NJ] CITP Seminar: Diag Davenport – Human Bias and Social Algorithms. Princeton University Center for Information Technology Policy. Tuesday, January 31, 12:30-1:30 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] CITRIS Research Exchange: Michele Barbato on Hazard-resistant Infrastructure. University of California CITRIS Research Exchange. Wednesday, February 1, 12-1 pm PST
- [VIRTUAL] Research Spotlight Webinar featuring Jeffrey Lees. George Washington University Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics. Thursday, February 2, 12-1 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Princeton, NJ] CITP Seminar: Maria Apostolaki – It Takes Two to Tango: Cooperative Edge-to-Edge Routing. Princeton University Center for Information Technology Policy. Tuesday, February 7, 12:30-1:30 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] Digital Policy Rounds: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. McGill University Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and partner organizations. Thursday, February 16, 12-1 pm EST **not a PIT-UN member event
- [VIRTUAL] Biometrics Regulation: Global State-of-Play. Berkeley Center for Law & Technology. Wednesday, February 22, 5-7 pm and Thursday, February 23, 8:30-10:30 am PST.
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Princeton, NJ] CITP Seminar: Amy Bruckman. Princeton University Center for Information Technology Policy. Tuesday, February 28, 12:30-1:30 pm EST
- [VIRTUAL] 7th Annual Edge in Tech Symposium: Smarter Tech for a Resilient Future. University of California Edge in Tech Initiative. Thursday, March 2, 9 am-5 pm PST **Tickets range in price from $0-$50
- [IN-PERSON – Cambridge, MA] IDSS Distinguished Speaker Seminar: Robert Hampshire (University of Michigan). MIT Institute for Data, Systems, and Society. Monday, March 6, 4-5 pm EST
- [IN-PERSON – Stanford, CA] Women in Data Science (WiDS) Stanford Conference 2023. Stanford University Women in Data Science. Wednesday, March 8, 8 am-6 pm PST **Tickets range in price from $150-$400
- [VIRTUAL] Digital Policy Rounds: Mis/disinformation and the question of authenticity. McGill University Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy and partner organizations. Thursday, March 16, 12-1 pm EDT **not a PIT-UN member event
- [VIRTUAL] Talk: “What does feminist data science look like?” The Ohio State University Translational Data Analytics Institute and the Research Commons. Thursday, March 23, 1-2 pm EDT
- [VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON – Columbus, OH] Postdoctoral Scholar Seminar: Dr. Brett Zehner (art & data). Tuesday, April 11, 12-1 pm EDT
- [IN-PERSON – NYC] Data Science Day 2023. Columbia University Data Science Institute. Wednesday, April 19, 8 am-6 pm EDT
PIT UNiverse Newsletters
Read the Latest News: Editorial Features
In 2023, the bi-monthly PIT UNiverse newsletter will focus on
the following six areas of interest critical to the growing space.
March 2023: Institutionalizing PIT
This month, learn the hows and whys behind institutionalizing PIT on your campus from a range of experts across the Public Interest Tech University Network. We also have in-depth reports, a federal funding guide and upcoming opportunities and events. Program Manager Brenda Perea’s update includes our fast-approaching Network Challenge, and meet Sheetal Dhir, PIT-UN’s new MSI / Equity Fellow through our Q&A. Read more here.
January 2023: [News] The Public and Critical Infrastructure Issue
The Public and Critical Infrastructure issue explores how public interest technology and the work of PIT-UN members are developing solutions to a wide array of public and critical infrastructure issues, from smart cities to sustainable water purification. Read more to find more resources, student Q&As, and op-eds from PIT experts and practitioners.
Previous Years
January 2022: PIT-UN 2021 Year in Review
The Year in Review issue looks back at the field-building outcomes from PIT-UN members in 2021. In addition, six new 2021 Network Challenges grantees are announced.
February 2022: New Members & Member Recommitments
PIT-UN announces five new members and members reaffirm Their Commitment to field-building with a focus on equity and social justice.
March 2022: PIT-UN Partnership and a New PIT Book
In this issue, we look at the role each PIT-UN partner plays in MIT’s and UC Berkeley’s National Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics. Plus, a book excerpt from The Tech That Comes Next, by Amy Sample Ward and Afua Bruce.
April 2022: Network Challenge Evaluation Committee
PIT-UN is looking for experts to assess this year’s Network Challenge (Year 4) proposals by serving on the Evaluation Committee.
May 2022: Summer Student Video Contest
PIT-UN is inviting students to create a video to show what PIT means to them and get the chance to win a cash prize. Plus, the 2022 PIT-UN Convening is open for registration.
June 2022: Summer Speaker Series & Convening Preview
Learn more about the PIT Summer Speaker Series while getting a preview into the 2022 Convening. Plus, a look into the PIT Career Fair that connected value-aligned students and employers.
July 2022: UNConvening Preview & Summer Reading List
Discover the PIT-UN Convening Summer Reading List on Afrofuturism and Indigenous Futurism. Plus, take a look into the UNConvening Preview.
September 2022: PIT Student Contest & PIT-UN Convening
In this issue we share the open call for PIT students to join the Creative Arts Contest and hear from students discussing the PIT-UN Convening.
October 2022: PIT Network Challenge Evaluation Committee Members and Convening
Meet the 2022 Network Challenge Evaluation Committee Members and the 2022 Convening Schedule.
November 2022: PIT-UN Convening Recap and 2023 Host Announced
Discover the top highlights from the 2022 PIT-UN Annual Convening, learn more about the new host of the 2023 Convening and more!
December 2021
The co-founders of U.S. Digital Corps discuss their initiative and how PIT will look in the future. Plus, the University of Michigan’s PIT Knowledge Network brings underrepresented lived experiences under the spotlight with a group of BIPOC public interest technology (PIT) practitioners.
November 2021
This issue provides an inside look at the 31 2021 Network Challenge grantees working to build the PIT field by centering race, social justice, and ethics.
October 2021
In this issue, we launch the PIT in Practice Q&A series, which profiles PIT practitioners who are helping define the field to learn about their PIT journey and outlook, in their words. We also look at how the NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology came about, and hear from trailblazer Fran Bernamn about where the field is headed.
September 2021
This issue is edited by and for students. Learn what it’s like for students working on social impact projects, navigating the path to becoming a PIT practitioner, uncovering the emerging PIT job landscape, building a supportive community on Discord, and charting their own paths through an undefined (mine) field of interdisciplinary coursework, internships, first jobs, or a new mid-career direction.
August 2021
We talk to three members about the launch of pitcases.org, a case studies and resources for the PIT community. We also detail Miami Dade College’s GISEC project, a three-pronged approach to address underrepresentation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and to enhance technological applications of public interest. Plus, we provide a round up of must-reads and upcoming events from the PIT universe.
July 2021
The newsletter takes a brief pause for July. In the meantime, PIT-UN’s director, Andreen Soley, shares recent developments and project successes from the growing Network.
June 2021
We look at PIT practitioners who are working on a project to illuminate how the racial divide in New York City is itself a public health crisis. We also meet Network member Cal Poly State University, in San Luis Obispo, California, and speak to grantee Katie Cumiskey at The City University of New York’s College of Staten Island. Finally, Editor-in-Chief Karen Bannan talks to Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, co-founder of Code the Dream.
May 2021
Two New America public interest tech practitioners testify before Congress, we meet Network member Worcester Polytechnic Institute and speak to grantees at MIT, and Karen Bannan talks to Network members about their successful collaborations through PIT-UN.
April 2021
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Watch our book talk with the authors of “Power to the Public,” hear from grantees at UC Berkeley, learn about our new member University of Illinois at Chicago, catch up with PIT student leaders at Stanford, and read up on “America’s dirty secret.”
March 2021
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We welcome seven new institutions to PIT-UN, spotlight grantees at the University of Virginia, talk to Moya Bailey about her new book on misogynoir and digital activism, and recap PIT’s event at NYC Open Data Week. Plus, save the date for the 2021 Annual Convening Nov. 1-2!
February 2021
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#BlackTechFutures co-founder Fallon Wilson discusses fixing the leaky pipeline for Black students in STEM, we hear from grantees at Georgetown Law, spotlight the University of California, Santa Cruz, and learn about taking the “slow lane” in problem-solving from PIT fellow Sascha Haselmayer.
January 2021
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Coding it Forward co-founder Chris Kuang shares his “Digital Corps” proposal, we profile grantees at The University of the South, turn our spotlight to Nazareth College, hear from former Presidential Innovation Fellow Clarice Chan about “corporate civic responsibility,” and sit down with TechCongress founder Travis Moore to learn about the Congressional Innovation Fellowship.
December 2020
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We recap several panels from the Annual Convening, including discussions on racial equity in PIT, pursuing a PIT career, and insights from our Network Challenge grantees.
November 2020
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We preview the 2020 PIT-UN Virtual Convening, spotlight The George Washington University’s PIT programming, talk to new 2020 Network Challenge grantees, and hear from the founders of Impactful.
October 2020
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A look at policy questions around facial recognition, the public interest potential of natural language processing, election integrity, and more.
September 2020
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This month, our Launch Pad feature story examines the many ways your university can work with local governments, providing tips to help you do so more successfully.
