Hacking4Humanity
Hacking4Humanity is a tech and policy hackathon for undergraduate and graduate students, which offers students a new way to engage with real-world social problems that can be improved with novel technical and policy solutions.
Any undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at a college in the Pittsburgh region can participate! Students can compete in teams of 1-4 people can compete in either the tech track or the policy track, with multiple cash prizes available in both tracks! Prizes will be announced closer to the event.
Student Fellowship Program
Interested in the ethics and responsible use of technology? Want to gain real-world experience outside of a classroom setting? Each academic year, the Grefenstette Center awards a $2,500 tuition scholarship to four students, who are each paired with a research advisor to work on real-life ethical case studies, publish material, and participate in monthly seminars. Applications for the 2023-24 year have closed.
Applications for the 24-25 year will open in Spring 2024.
Tech Ethics Experiential Learning Opportunity (ELO)
Are you seeking an exciting on-campus experience to satisfy the Bridges Experiential
Learning requirement? Want to gain practical experience with AI, ethics, and the future
of technology? The Grefenstette Center is excited to announce its Experiential Learning
Opportunity (ELO) for the ‘24-'25 academic year that focuses on the ethics of technology
and, more specifically, the ethics of artificial intelligence.
In this ELO, you will meet monthly with other students in the program, create a poster
for the Fall symposium hosted by the Grefenstette Center, participate in the ethics
hackathon in February, and have lots of opportunities for networking and engagement
throughout the year! Applications open in Fall 2024.
Tech Ethics Poster Contest
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 receive a $75 acceptance award, and the best poster in each category (undergrad and grad) will receive a $400 cash prize!
Competition for 2023 is closed. 2024 competition will open in September!
2023-24 Courses
Artificial Intelligence Ethics (GREF 210) What does it mean to think ethically about technology, and especially about AI? What is the relationship between humans and technology, and what should it be? This course, hosted by Duquesne’s Carl G. Grefenstette Center for Ethics in Science, Technology, and Law, will examine a wide variety of topics in artificial intelligence, including algorithmic bias, machine learning, and transhumanism. The course will empower students to thoroughly appraise the ethical concerns in science and technology through a Catholic lens. Offered Fall and Spring.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (GREF 230) How is AI transforming healthcare? What will AI mean for doctors, nurses, hospitals, and the healthcare industry in general? What implications will this have for ethics, policy, and management decisions? This course explores the impact of AI in healthcare by examining current and future transformations of healthcare through emerging AI technologies. Aimed at assisting students looking to enter the healthcare industry, the course will examine the employment of AI in making medical decisions, the ethical implications of current and future AI usage, the proper management of AI in healthcare organizations, the effects of AI in the delivery of healthcare services, and the future of AI adoption in the healthcare industry. Offered in Spring.