Rhodes Forum on Technology & Society 2023
Embracing a new era of technology, the second annual iteration of the Rhodes Forum on Technology and Society delved into the heart of purpose-driven technology in the 21st Century, where impact has value for people, the environment and society. In an age where technological strides continuously redefine our boundaries, the 2023 Forum sought to unravel the interplay between innovation and intention.
Forum Highlights
The world is changing fast. AI handles everything from simple tasks to creative feats, biotech is revolutionising healthcare, and technology is reshaping defence strategies. In this era of rapid progress, we're shifting the focus from just speed and size to a technology with a clear sense of purpose.
Purpose-Driven Technology in the 21st Century
Purpose-Driven Technology in the 21st Century
The 2023 Technology & Society Forum was the first thematic forum to take place in the newly re-opened Rhodes House, and it was terrific to see the new spaces full of excited chatter, innovation and the chance to meet new potential collaborators.
Forum Handbook
Forum Handbook
See the list of speakers and sessions.
Videos
A full set of recordings of the Forum sessions can be found further down this page.
Sophia the Robot
"I hope more and more technology can provide a platform for dialogue and understanding." Sophia the Robot highlights need for a harmonious coexistence between humans and intelligent machines.
Anna Brailsford: Code First Girls
"When you lower barriers to entry you are far more likely to get under-represented ethnicities involved" Code First Girls is on a mission to close the gender gap in the tech industry and teach a million women to code.
Advancing the UN Sustainability Goals
Hila Cohen, Gina Lucarelli, Swati Mylavarapu and Zikho Pali discuss the pivotal role of technology in eradicating poverty, fostering clean energy and promoting responsible consumption.
Perspectives
Is There a Case for Optimism in Technology?
Is There a Case for Optimism in Technology?
"The panel on 'Public Interest Technology' was a much-needed dose of thoughtful consideration during a Tech & Society forum that was looking forward to the exciting potentials offered by advancements in generative AI, robotics, and other emerging innovations."
- Peter Andringa (Virginia & Exeter 2021)
My Front Row Seat to the Future of Purpose-Driven Tech
My Front Row Seat to the Future of Purpose-Driven Tech
"These thought-provoking discussions among researchers, activists, entrepreneurs and investors demonstrated technology’s uncharted frontiers brimming with possibility. By channelling moral imagination, I left convinced our dazzling technological horizons could profoundly empower society - if guided by the heart as much as the mind."
- Yuan Zhang (China & St Peter's 2020)
Inspirational Women Using Technology to Make the World a Better Place
Inspirational Women Using Technology to Make the World a Better Place
"These remarkable women, collectively fighting for a better world, became my new sources of inspiration. Their commitment to people first and then leveraging tools for the greater good stirred a profound sense of purpose within me."
- Monique Cooper (New Zealand & St Cross 2022)