About the Public Interest Technologist
The Public Interest Technologist is a new online publication aimed at helping the MIT community think together about the social responsibilities of students, faculty, staff and alumni who design and implement technologies of various kinds.
Hear from MIT community members and how they define public interest technology in their work, research, and beyond.
Featured Interviews
Public Interest Benefits through Public Interest Technologies: An Interview with Elisabeth Reynolds
Modeling More Equitable Energy Systems: An Interview With Nirmal Bhatt.
Combining Research and Action for Spatial Justice: An Interview with Eric Robsky Huntley.
Ethical Frameworks for Public Interest Technologists at MIT: An Interview with Caspar Hare.
Latest Articles
The Case for Creating a Biodiversity Data & Policy Agency for Latin America
Claudia Camargo Dobles. In a data-driven world, Latin America must capitalize on its potential information resources to enhance the well-being of its people, its ecosystems, and by extension, the planet.
Deceptive by Design: Data Visualization and The Ethics of Representation
Rubin Jones. Despite their tremendous communicative power, data are not neutral and design has no “correct” answer. Working with (and against) abortion data underscores the importance of ethical design and the need for transparency into data transformation.
Book Review: "From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship" by John Marks
Larry Susskind. In John Marks's new memoir, "From Vision to Action," he shares his principles for peacemaking and social entrepreneurship, and clarifies their implications for other social entrepreneurs.
Flipping the Script: How AI can be used for Social Justice in Latin America
Sofia Chiappero. Existing demographic datasets do not speak to the reality experienced by communities in Latin America, but a holistic and participatory approach to data collection and training provides a promising framework for change.
