Conferences, Fellowships, and Publishing Opportunities

Inaugural Ethics in Computer Science Research Award

Apply here: https://forms.gle/ja1Q8iM5Bprujm7r8

Application deadline: Tuesday May 31, 2022

Who can apply:

Students in computer science and data science.

What:

Khoury College’s first ever independent research program at the intersection of computer science and ethics (with faculty mentorship and peer group). Selected recipients receive a research award and an all-expenses-paid trip to TAPIA or Grace Hopper Conference.

Why do it:

Gain experience in research at the intersection of ethics of computer science. Meet peers with similar interests. Build relationships with faculty working in ethics of computer science. Receive monetary award to both fund your research and an all-expenses-paid trip to TAPIA or GHC.

Funding: Program provides a $900 grant for the summer and an additional $900 grant split between the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters. The program also provides full funding for attending a conference.

Hours: The program hours are highly flexible and can be adjusted according to the students’ schedule. The summer component of the program requires around 20-30 hours total. The Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters require 30 hours total, to be divided between the two semesters.

Program and Timeline:

In the summer, award recipients will attend an introductory seminar covering topics at the intersection of ethics and computer science. Readings and viewings will be discussed remotely (via Zoom) amongst faculty and other program participants weekly, July 5 – August 23 (Summer 2 term).

Students will be expected to apply to and attend a computer science conference in the fall. At the conference, they will find a line of research, the ethical implications of which interests them.

After selecting their topic, they will discuss their topic of interest with a faculty member in the program. With the guidance and assistance of their faculty mentor, they will narrow in on a research topic. Over the course of the fall semester, they will research and analyze the ethical considerations surrounding their topic. They will be expected to meet weekly with their mentor.

At the beginning of the spring semester, students will submit the final write-up of their analysis to both their mentor and a secondary reader. They will receive written and oral feedback. They will then revise their project as needed and present their final analysis in a group setting.

Award recipients will be encouraged to submit their research to conferences and publication venues.

In addition to the research project, students will be invited to apply to TA the Tech and Human Values course (Philosophy 1145) in the Spring semester. In doing so, they will deepen their familiarity with key questions and concerns at the intersection of CS and ethics. By working closely with an ethics professor and helping to guide undergraduate students, they will gain valuable experience with various methods of ethical analysis.