The University of Denver has established a new Living and Learning Community within the School of Engineering and Computer Science that will focus on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Ethics in Technology. Ten first-year students are living together and taking courses together.
“The question is not, can I make it? Or not, how do I make it efficiently? But rather, should I make it? What kind of impacts will it have on society?” says professor Scott Leutenegger, who leads the living and learning community with professor Matt Gordon.
“The tech industry is not inclusive,” Dr. Leutenegger notes. “They create products that are codifying systemic racism and systemic sexism. We want University of Denver students to understand they can have profound impacts on society and the world when working in the tech space.
Serena Strawn, one of the 10 students in the initial cohort, stated that “computer scientists and engineers must take on the responsibility of developing a sustainable and proactive way of life for society. It is crucial that we are aware of the consequences of our work in today’s world and make decisions that will advance the technological agenda in a moral and ethical direction.”
