Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law
What does it mean to be ethical in a world of AI?
The Carl G. Grefenstette Center leverages Duquesne University’s commitment to ethics
in order to promote partnerships with leading institutions and to become a transformational
force for both Duquesne and the global community. The Grefenstette Center is the first
in the world to bring Catholic, Spiritan values and ideals in an ecumenical framework to grapple with the growing challenges
presented by science and technology in society. Our vision is to enrich the conversations
and practical implementations of ethics in digital technology by incorporating religious
ethics into future discussion and development. The Grefenstette Center hosts an annual symposium each Fall, a student-focused hackathon (hacking4humanity) every Spring, and regularly hosts scholars at the intersection of ethics, technology,
and faith on campus.
Engagement Opportunities
There are many ways to connect with the Grefenstette Center throughout the year, whether
you're a student, faculty, or member of the public!
Save the date! On October 17-18, 2024, the Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology,
and Law will host the 5th annual Tech Ethics Symposium: “How is AI Transforming Our
Communities?”. This 2-day symposium, co-sponsored by the Institute for Ethics and
Integrity in Journalism and Media and the Center for Teaching Excellence, will focus
on how generative AI is transforming our daily lives and our communities. It will
also explore how AI has already changed our region and will continue to alter our
world in the next decade. How do major stakeholders like journalists, educators, and
tech workers use AI to shape our community? How have professional communities in
tech, journalism, and education been impacted already by AI?? What is the role of
politics in responding to AI’s influence on, and through, these impactful stakeholder
communities? What has AI changed for communities of faith, artists, people with disabilities,
and historically marginalized communities? What can each of us do to utilize –or avoid–
AI to ensure strong, healthy human communities?
This 2-day symposium will include an undergrad and graduate student “AI in the Community”
poster competition. Poster submissions are due Thursday, Oct. 3, with cash prizes
for the winners. The symposium will also include a faculty “AI Teaching Innovation” poster competition,
with abstracts due by September 30.
Stay tuned for updates on the 2024 Tech Ethics Symposium by signing up for our email
list!Stay up to date!
Interested in the ethics and responsible use of technology? Want to gain real-world
experience outside of a classroom setting? The Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law is proud to
offer an undergraduate scholarship program for four Duquesne University students each academic
year!
Scholarship recipients work closely with center staff to build their research interests,
present a poster, enter the hackathon, and engage in monthly conversations on tech
ethics throughout the year! No previous experience with tech or tech ethics necessary.
Students from ALL disciplines are welcome! Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are now open! Deadline is June 14! Apply Now!
The Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law at Duquesne
University invites any faculty (full time or part time) from any college or university
in the United States to apply for the Grefenstette Faculty Scholars program for Academic
Year 2024-2025. The Grefenstette Center seeks scholars from all academic areas and
all backgrounds to contribute to the conversation around the responsible use of digital
technology and its intersection with religious and/or theological studies, broadly
construed. In keeping with the central mission of the Center to interrogate modern
technologies through the lens of the Catholic faith tradition, the Center is particularly
interested in Catholic theological responses to modern technologies, such as generative
AI, but also welcomes applications from scholars of other Christian traditions, scholars
of non-Christian traditions, as well as scholars of the sociology or philosophy of
religion.
The goal of the program is to cultivate a research cohort, to provide peer support,
and to generate new and innovative research paths in the intersection of technology
and religious studies, especially given the recent development of generative AI. All
Scholars will receive a stipend of up to $2000 for the year and benefit from the feedback,
accountability, and encouragement of a research cohort.
Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort are now open! Deadline is June 14!
Each Fall, Duquesne University hosts a national conference on one aspect of technology
ethics. All undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit posters on any
aspect of responsible AI or technology ethics! All accepted posters will be printed
for free, and there will be cash prizes for the best posters in each category, plus
cash prizes for crowd favorites!
Posters for the 2024 Tech Ethics Symposium, "AI in the Community," will be due on
October 3, 2024!
How does AI affect those in poverty? How can AI help create a more equitable world?
On April 17, theologians Levi Checketts and Elonda Clay, machine learning scientist
Ehi Nosakhare, and Grefenstette Center director John Slattery, came together on campus
to discuss Dr. Checketts' latest book, "Poor Technology: Artificial Intelligence and
the Experience of Poverty'!
The Grefenstette Center takes an unflinching look at the ethical intersections of
science and technology by working with partners at Duquesne, in Pittsburgh, and across
the world.
Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law
