From Tech Support to Tech Ethics: following my conscience

SPEAKER

Professor Dr. Catherine Flick

AGENDA

18:30 - Event opens - welcome and introduction

18:40 - Hand-over to speaker

19:40 - Questions

20:30 - Event close.

SYNOPSIS

This is not going to be a classic “how do I get a career in X” type talk! It’s more of a reflection on my path and how working in industry caused me to rethink my chosen career path and the stumbling blocks along the way.

In it I will look back at the “wild west” of the tech scene during and after the dot com boom, how ethics changed from a much-maligned aspect of technology development into one that is far more frequently discussed (if not necessarily acted upon), and what the field of technology ethics looks like today.

Along the way I’ll talk a little about some of the interesting projects I’ve done, from looking at the ethics of natural language processing back before AI was a “thing”, to helping rewrite the Association for Computing Machinery’s Code of Ethics, to working with diverse communities in Leicester on what their visions for the future of technology might look like.

I’ll also talk about the future of ethics, and why I’ve focused on the world of video games as an emerging space for exciting discussions around how technology and society interact with each other.

From all of my experience, hopefully you’ll go (metaphorically) home with a view to how ethics can positively influence technology rather than simply act as road-blocks to innovation, and how you might get involved if thinking more philosophically about technology is of interest.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Catherine Flick is a Professor of Ethics and Games Technology who has a background in History and Philosophy of Science and Computer Science and a PhD in Computer Ethics, where she looked at informed consent in information technology.

Having played video games since she was very small, she has since carved out a specific niche area of research looking at the ethical and social impact of games. She also has significant expertise in the ethics of emerging technologies, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and social media, along with interests in online safety and online child protection, and responsible research and innovation.

She is currently vice-chair of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Committee on Professional Ethics, gives frequent and regular comment to the media on current technological affairs, is an Associate Editor for ACM Games: Research and Practice, and helps to lead the content team for the non-profit hacker/maker festival Electromagnetic Field.

Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.

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THIS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

BCS Leicester branch and BCS Coventry branch

Visit: Leicester branch | BCS and BCS Coventry

Image credit: Christopher Gower.