On October 23, 2019, Waterloo’s Council for Responsible Innovation and Technology (CRIT) held a University-wide summit to explore bringing together individuals working in ethical innovation.
Through keynote presentations, lightning talks and collaborative workshops, spanning research, pedagogy, outreach and connection, participants, including faculty, staff, students and members of the community, envisioned how a responsible future of innovation and technology could transform our culture at Waterloo.
CRIT would like to acknowledge Kathryn S. Plaisance, B. Courtney Doagoo, Chloé St. Amand, and student facilitators from Knowledge Integration for their outstanding contributions to this event.
Agenda
8:30 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
9 a.m. |
Opening Remarks Charmaine Dean, Vice-President, Research and International |
Introduction and Mandate of Waterloo Council for Responsible Innovation and Technology (CRIT) Kathryn S. Plaisance, Associate Professor, Knowledge Integration |
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9:30 a.m. |
Keynote: Bridging Ethics, Robotics and AI in Engineering Practice - Notes from the Field Jason Millar Assistant Professor, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Ottawa, and Canada Research Chair in Ethical Engineering of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence As an engineer and philosopher, Jason Millar is an expert in ethical engineering and the emerging ethical issues associated with robotics and artificial intelligence who encourages the integration of ethical thinking into daily design workflow. In his keynote presentation, Professor Millar will consider the promise and perils of robotics and AI and how integrating ethics into the design of such technologies has thus gained a sense of urgency. For him, the question remains: "How should we integrate ethical considerations into engineering and computer science practice?" Answers to that question are not obvious. With this in mind, Professor Millar will discuss his research on the ethical engineering of robotics and AI, focusing specifically on some of the approaches, tools and methods that he has found useful. In particular, he will explore the use of Metaphor Hacking and Social Failure Mode Analysis as fun and promising ethical tools that can help connect ethics and engineering practice. Keynote: Who the computer sees: Visions of bias in AI Moderated by: B. Courtney Doagoo, AI and Society Fellow, University of Ottawa, Centre for Law, Technology and Society Carla Fehr, Associate Professor, Philosophy, University of Waterloo and Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy Carla Fehr studies how diversity within research communities and teams promotes excellent scientific and technological research. Her work benefits from the support of the National Science Foundation, the National Science and Engineering Research Council, and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council. Professor Fehr consults widely on improving the climate in academic departments and she is an award-winning teacher. In her keynote presentation, Professor Fehr will discuss the following: Rather than providing the objectivity suggested by the cool logic of machine learning, algorithms abound that produce predictable, yet likely unintentional, racist and sexist outcomes. Why? Because they mirror the current and historical biases in our culture—biases that are often built into our educational, research and development, and types of workers that are likely to benefit and be hurt by the coming entrepreneurial institutions. Professor Fehr will explore how addressing the culture of these human biases will help make better tech. |
11:00 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
11:30 a.m. |
Table Topics & Catered Lunch An audience-led discussion on critical questions in the design, development, and application of responsible innovation and technology |
12:45 p.m. |
Lightning Talks with Waterloo faculty and students Anita Layton, Professor, Applied Mathematics, Canada 150 Research Chair in Mathematical Biology and Medicine, Chair, Waterloo's Research Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council
Joel Blit, Associate Professor, Economics, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance and Innovation
Marcel O’Gorman, Professor, English Language and Literature, University Research Chair, and Founding Director, Critical Media Lab
Maura Grossman, Research Professor, Cheriton School of Computer Science, and Director, Women in Computer Science
Kuil Schoneveld, Undergraduate Student, Knowledge Integration and Philosophy, and recipient of the Global Undergraduate Award in Philosophy
Alexander Wong, Associate Professor, Systems Design Engineering, Canada Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence and Medical Imaging
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1:45 p.m. | Coffee Break |
2:15 p.m. |
Breakout Sessions Hands-on sessions to provide input on shaping the direction of responsible innovation and technology at Waterloo |
3:30 p.m. |
Town Hall Bringing together diverse perspectives to advance responsible innovation and technology and transform the culture at Waterloo |
4:15 p.m. |
Reception and Networking Join us for light refreshments and an opportunity to network and build connections |
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