PIT Scholars Mobilize to Inform National Science Foundation Roadmap
Recommendations for federal funding, workforce development and public policy
Blog Post
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Aug. 16, 2023
On July 27th, the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) submitted recommendations to the National Science Foundation via its request for information to inform the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) Directorate’s three year roadmap for future investment decisions. The recommendations are a distillation of the Networks core values and leading PIT scholars’ priorities for federal funding, workforce development and public policy. This collaboration demonstrates PIT-UN's ability to swiftly organize across its 64 member institutions to respond to pressing policy questions.
At stake in the NSF’s Request for Information is how the $24 billion in federal funding made available by the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act will be invested and operationalized. These funds will be deployed to address a number of pivotal issues that will define our technological landscape for generations to come, including U.S. competitiveness and national security, accessibility of STEM careers for marginalized groups and the development of artificial intelligence, environmental technology, nanotechnology and quantum computing.
The authors also outline specific actions that TIP should undertake, including strengthening the network of higher education institutions that offer sociotechnical, interdisciplinary education, and expanding career pathways across the private and public sectors. The authors argue that TIP should provide financial resources, data, relationships and programs to bolster employment opportunities across sectors, particularly for institutions pursuing public interest technology innovation.
PIT-UN’s recommendations include:
- Workforce training programs that utilize a public interest technology framework.
- Extending technology expertise across sectors, including government, academia, civil society and industry.
- Stronger efforts to understand the implications of emerging technologies on individuals and communities.
By prioritizing institutional focus on the impact of technologies, TIP can maximize opportunities and minimize risks, and ensure that technology serves the development of a more sustainable, just and equitable society.
Excerpts from PIT-UN’s comments are below.
The need for paid workforce development programs:
To truly prioritize diversity into the tech talent pipeline, there must be significant investment in paid fellowship and apprenticeship programs. These skills programs should be aimed at developing important capacities in the general workforce and encouraging the necessary parallel efforts in higher education to prepare all students for the workforce of the future.
The rationale for adopting a PIT framework:
A public interest technology framework that acknowledges digital harms and seeks to create a safer and more trustworthy future is essential in finding alignment and facilitating cross-sector collaboration.
Balancing the opportunities and risks of innovation:
Embedding a public interest technology framework into the digital ecosystem requires a multistakeholder approach that includes legal and regulatory frameworks, clear governance structures, human-centric by-design approaches to technology development and management, a robust civil society, and engagement with local communities. Every community is grappling with balancing the potential of innovation opportunities with the risks of digital technologies. But too often, one harmful innovation is replaced by another harmful innovation.
New America would like to thank the lead authors for their efforts. We look forward to continued engagement with NSF and other public policymaking bodies.
Kenneth R. Fleischmann, Professor in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin.
Latanya Sweeney, Director and Founder of the Public Interest Tech Lab at Harvard Kennedy School.
Charlton D. McIlwain, Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development & Professor of Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University.
Brian Gran, Professor of Law, School of Law, Case Western Reserve University.
Francine Berman, Stuart Rice Honorary Chair & Research Professor, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Susan A. Aaronson, Research Professor & Director, Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub, George Washington University.
Kathleen M. Cumiskey, Professor in the Psychology Department, and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, City University of New York.