the ethi{CS} summer conference returns

We are excited to announce that the ethi{CS} summer project will return again this year! Led by Michelle Ciccone, Tang Institute Research Affiliate and graduate student at UMass Amherst, this year’s virtual conference will build off of last summer’s series and explore ways educators can help students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to actively contribute to building a world where technology and ethics are more intentionally intertwined. 

Creating a more ethical and just technology future requires the work of everyone — tech developers, educators and the public. That means that all disciplines, not just computer science, have a role to play. During the 2021 ethi{CS} summer project conference, participants and presenters from a variety of sectors and backgrounds will gather to probe meaningful questions and investigate compelling practices with the aim of bringing ethics and technology development into closer alignment. 

Register to join us for the conference!

We hope you consider participating in this four-part series to join a growing community that seeks to incorporate ethics into a variety of CS classrooms and learning environments. All educators and school-based professionals are welcome, regardless of discipline or ethics background knowledge. All sessions for this conference will be held over Zoom. Participation in this conference is free of charge.

Throughout the series, participants can expect:

• Presentations from researchers and practitioners

• Small group work in interdisciplinary teams to reflect upon our practices and build curriculum
• The opportunity to build a network with other like-minded educators aimed at ongoing learning and collaboration
• A collection of resources and tools that you can begin to use (or continue to refine) in your own classroom

Conference Schedule

Session I

Tuesday, July 27, 2021, 7:00 — 8:30 PM (EDT): Tech Ethics as Civic Engagement

This session will push participants to rethink established disciplinary boundaries. How can we reimagine — or remove — these boundaries to advance justice-oriented tech ethics education? 

Speaker: Sepehr Vakil (Northwestern University)

Session II

Friday, July 30, 12:00 — 1:30 PM (EDT): Tech Ethics in the CS Classroom

Explore what the tech industry and CS education can learn from other disciplines and traditions — including ethics, the humanities, and critical education.

Speakers: Meica Danielle Magnani (Embedded EthiCS, Northeastern) and Nick Zufelt (Phillips Academy)

Session III

Tuesday, August 3, 7:00 — 8:30 PM (EDT): Tech Ethics out of the CS classroom

Learn from experts who are exploring tech ethics within literary contexts to help young people become more informed and ethical digital citizens.

Speakers: Cliff Lee (Mills College) and Antero Garcia (Stanford University)

Session IV

Friday, August 6, 12:00 — 1:30 PM (EDT): Building our Network to Advance Tech Ethics Education

Hear from those working to promote ethics in the tech industry and who have built interdisciplinary professional networks as we map out how this community can continue to be a source of support and collaboration during fall 2021 (and beyond!). 

Speakers: Sam Daitzman (Olin College) and Mutale Nkonde (AI for the People)

We hope to see you (virtually) this summer! Please feel free to share the conference details and the link to register widely with your colleagues and networks — and don’t hesitate to reach out to make.​ethics@​gmail.​com with any questions.