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At a Glance
The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) is a partnership among colleges and universities with a focus on using technology in a way that puts public interest at the forefront. This offers the UVA community the opportunity to use data in the best interest of the public by DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, and DEPLOYING responsible, equitable and ethical technology for the public good.
"Public interest technology refers to the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest, generate public benefits, and promote the public good."
David Eaves, Kennedy School, Harvard University; Ed Felten, Computer Science and Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University; Tara McGuinness, New America; Deirdre K. Mulligan, School of Information, U.C. Berkeley; and Jeremy Weinstein, Political Science, Stanford University
In the News
What UVA Faculty Think About PIT
The first season of Toward Public Interest Technology series featured 3 thought-provoking conversations, each shedding light on the multifaceted ways technology intersects with society. From media studies and engineering to dance and sociology, the speakers offered distinct perspectives on how innovation can better serve the public interest.
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Professor Siva Vaidhyanathan
Professor Siva Vaidhyanathan opened the series by emphasizing the importance of collaboration among technologists, policymakers, and ethicists. Drawing on his experiences as a journalist, he highlighted how definitions of “public interest” vary by context, from smart city initiatives in urban centers to privacy concerns in rural regions. Vaidhyanathan also shared the societal implications of surveillance, data ownership, and power concentration, calling for early and inclusive discussions about how technology shapes everyday life.
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Professor Garrick Louis
In the second event, Professor Garrick Louis traced his path from Howard University’s engineering programs to global work in public interest technology. He stressed that equitable and sustainable solutions require methodical, systems-based thinking. His work illustrated the importance of community engagement, sustainability in access to services, and the ability for engineering to promote social impact at both local and international levels.
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Professor Mona Sloane
Professor Mona Sloane brought a unique background of dance and sociology to her understanding of design, inequality, and technology. Having observed architects and designers as “sociologists” in their own right, she argued that framing everything as an “ethics” problem in AI often overlooks deeper structural inequities. Drawing on international experiences, she highlighted how definitions of the “public” vary widely and how cultural contexts shape perceptions of technology. She expressed her hope for more genuine cross-disciplinary collaboration, particularly between AI researchers and those who study physical spaces, and for more resources to support risk-taking, integrative research.
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Together, all three events showcase the breadth of public interest technology, spanning questions of accountability, sustainability, design, and equity. By bringing together diverse disciplinary insights, the Toward Public Interest Technology series highlights the collective responsibility in ensuring that technology development remains rooted in the voices of all communities.