Course Content

Digital technologies are rapidly re-shaping the way we interact with each other and the world, the way we conduct business, and how we govern our societies. The digital age presents powerful levers for the types of societal transformations needed to end poverty, reduce inequalities, and to tackle climate change.

In this seminar series, we will look at how digitalisation can and must be geared towards a sustainable world. We will explore the relations between technology and society, with a focus on the ethical, political, and environmental dimensions of technology and how these, in turn, intersect with society. We will do so while considering the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the UN, understanding "sustainability" as the three-pillar concept consisting of social, economic, and environmental aspects.
Objectives

The objectives of this seminar series are to:

• understand the complexity of the relations between technology and society
• discuss social, environmental, and ethical challenges in technology design and use
• discuss perspectives on the ethical responsibility of the information technology researcher/designer
• engage in critical and reflective discussions of new and emerging information technologies

Digitalisation shapes the future of our communities and planet. We will explore this role critically and creatively, always considering the 17 SDGs. In this seminar, we will creatively and collaboratively engage in various hands-on workshops. Throughout the semester, the students will work on an essay which we will draw upon in each lecture to critically discuss the lecture topics.