Bonita Sharif and Mark van Roojen were selected to be part of the second class of faculty fellows in the Nebraska Governance and Technology Center.
The fellows are academics from across the university with an interdisciplinary inclination who are interested in the challenges of changing technology.
The program aims to develop a cohort of academics who are able to understand technology challenges in interdisciplinary terms: engineers who can talk supply chain management and the role of public engagement in federal regulation; journalists who can speak fluently with entrepreneurs and critically interrogate lawyers advocating for preferred policies; entrepreneurs who can ground technologists in the reality of what can be and push lawyers past their focus on what can’t be; and other permutations involving the law, humanities, sciences, and other fields.
Sharif is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering whose research interests include eye tracking related to software engineering, emotional awareness, and software traceability. Van Roojen is a professor in the Department of Philosophy whose research interests are in ethics, metaethics, and political philosophy.
This year’s programming will focus on communicating policy-relevant STEM topics to the public in an era of mis- and dis-information; the role of technology in responding to a rapidly changing world; and designing technology that is responsive to human needs and expectations. Fellows will participate in sessions, lectures, and networking.
Launched in 2020, the NGTC is focused on the changing relationship between law and technology and its effects on society.
