Public Interest Technology

Public Interest Technology

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Public Interest Technology designs, develops, and deploys equitable and ethical technology for the public good. Among its many goals are facilitating public conversations, promoting engagement with stakeholders, and fostering partnerships with communities that center using technology in the best interests of the public. Solutions driven, PIT focuses equally on delivery of new services and systems and an investigation of policy and governance that ensures equitable impact.

Begin Your PIT Pathway

The first step in beginning your pathway is signing up for the Public Interest Technology Newsletter. If you are a First Year student, this is completed during the pathway selection process after subscribing to the general Pathways Newsletter. Second Year students can subscribe directly to Pathways-specific newsletters using the same form. Our team will send an email right to your inbox every other week detailing all Public Interest Technology related events happening around grounds. This newsletter will be your primary connection to our curated opportunities. Through these events, you can build connections in the field, gain experience, develop knowledge about key current events, and meet peers, faculty, and alumni interested in public service.

Some exciting examples of past events and guest speakers include:

  • Spectrum Slump: Exploring the FCC’s Challenges in 5G Leadership
    • Future and current FCC leadership will discuss efficient spectrum management is vital to American leadership in wireless innovation. However, under the Biden administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has failed to enact a comprehensive spectrum strategy, with no spectrum auctions or spectrum bands in the FCC’s pipeline.
  • Co-opting AI: Origins
    • NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge, Sloane Lab, and the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia invite you to a new discussion in the series “Co-Opting AI.” This event will “take a step back” and trace the origins of AI and the various inventions and technologies that comprise it.
  • The Labor of Reinvention: Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital Economy
    • The East Asia Center will be hosting Lin Zhang, Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of New Hampshire, for a speaker series lecture entitled "The Labor of Reinvention: Entrepreneurship in the New Chinese Digital Economy."
  • Datapalooza 2023: The Future
    • ​​​​​​​This year's conference will focus on "The Future," with a forward look at data science education, data science in education and other disciplines, and the future of AI in the teaching, learning and research space. 
  • U.S.-China Space Competition feat. Dean Cheng
    • ​​​​​​​A leading expert on China's space program discusses the U.S.-China rivalry in space.
       
Careers in Public Interest Technology

Public interest technology (PIT) encompasses a wide range of roles that involve using technology to address social, civic, and environmental issues. Students who graduate this Pathway can expect to pursue careers such as: 

  • Data Analyst for Nonprofits
  • Cybersecurity Analyst for NGOs
  • Technology Policy Analyst
  • Civic Tech Developer
  • Human Rights Technologist
  • Tech Education Program Manager

 

Advisory Board
  • Renée Cummings, Professor of Practice in Data Science, Data Activist in Residence, Criminologist; SDS
  • Jonathan Kropko, Assistant Professor of Data Science; Code for Charlottesville, Program Director, M.S. in Data Science Online; SDS
  • Reggie Leonard, Associate Director for Career Connections and Community Engagement; SDS
  • Garrick Louis, Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Environment; Director of the Small Infrastructure and Development Center; SEAS
  • Hannah Pede, Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development; SDS
  • Rupa Valdez, Associate Professor, Engineering Systems & Environment; Public Health Sciences; SEAS

 

 

Science and Technology Career Community

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