Opening Plenary

Ethical and Inclusive Innovation: Solving With, By, and For the Most Underserved

Where: Kresge Auditorium (W16, 48 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge MA 02139)

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2:00–3:30 PM

Technology has helped support positive developments in the last decades: reducing infant mortality rate and extreme poverty, connecting billions to the internet, information, and finance through smartphones, and more. However, technology is also a source of potential harm and growing inequality, especially when designed without thought for unintended consequences, ethical principles, or the problems facing the most underserved communities. From proximity to accessibility, hear from those on the cutting-edge of innovation for social and environmental justice about how we can design technology that advances humanity while also protecting it. You can learn more about designing for, with, and by people who are underserved on MIT D-Lab’s website.

Attendees are required to follow all MIT Covid-19 protocols. If you cannot attend in person, you can still watch the event livestream on our website (no registration required).

Featured Speakers

Yuval Noah Harari

Historian, Bestselling Author, and Co-Founder, Sapienship (Pre-Recorded)

Shirin Ebadi

Nobel Peace Prize Winner; Founder, Defenders of Human Rights Center (Virtual)

Noubar Afeyan

Co-Founder and Chairman, Moderna

Serhii Plokhy

Director and Professor of Ukrainian History, Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University (Pre-Recorded)

Azra Akšamija

Director, Art, Culture and Technology program, the Future Heritage Lab