Panel Discussion Library

Day 1

PANEL 1: Partnering within and between Universities

Public interest technology is interdisciplinary by nature and requires us to build partnerships across academic departments and institutions. In this panel, practitioners will discuss how the frameworks and methods of public interest technology have spurred new partnerships within and across institutions that unlock new possibilities in the design, deployment, and governance of technology.

PANEL 2: Partnering with Civil Society

PIT requires that we pay close attention to the impact of technology on human lives and communities, particularly to those most vulnerable and marginalized in society, and invites us to engage those people and communities throughout all stages of a technology’s life span, from the identification of which community needs technology can respond to, to the design, development, testing, deployment, and governance of that technology. In this panel, members and friends of PIT-UN will discuss how they have established and grown collaborative partnerships with nonprofits and civil society organizations to foster individual and community rights, advance justice, and build resilience.

Day 2

PANEL 3: Partnering with the Private Sector

Public interest technology invites us to develop business models that put people first. From new design tactics such as ethics and privacy by design, to more revolutionary open innovation and open business strategies, companies have a unique opportunity to both support community well-being while also creating profitable and sustainable firms. What alternative models for organizing capital and labor can we learn from – and what new models can we seed and grow – to create a just, inclusive, and equitable tech ecosystem? In this panel, members, friends, and funders of PIT-UN will discuss existing and emerging business models that place public interest at the heart of technology and the role of private, philanthropic, and venture capital in seeding and spreading these new models.

Keynote Conversation: Institutionalizing PIT

The long-term success of public interest technology depends upon building and sustaining institutional support to undergird and operationalize the values of community, collaboration, equity, and justice that are the core of PIT. In this conversation, we’ll hear from leaders across the field about how they have developed institutional support for PIT, how they’ve navigated political questions and relationships, and what steps members can take to build relationships and activate resources on their campuses.

PANEL 4: Partnering with Government

Government is a key stakeholder not only in the governance of technology but also in its development and deployment, from publicly-funded research labs and grants to digital public services and infrastructure. How can universities collaborate with elected officials, local and federal government agencies, and policymakers to ensure that our evermore technological society supports innovation, access to justice, quality employment opportunities, environmental protections, and the flourishing of people and communities?

PANEL 5: Priorities for PIT Funding

Philanthropy has played a key role in organizing, formalizing, publicizing, and funding the field of public interest technology. Five years on from PIT-UN’s inception, we have a number of successes to celebrate, from proof-of-concept projects to interdisciplinary research centers to PIT degree programs and more. As we look forward, what priorities should guide funders’ next steps as we seek to leverage the networks and infrastructure that have emerged in order to grow and expand the field? In this panel, funders from across the public interest technology ecosystem will discuss key learnings from their grantmaking journey so far, and what values and priorities should guide the next phases of philanthropic investment.