Keynote Address: To Achieve Social Equity, We Must Rethink Innovation Systems
Dr. Shobita Parthasarathy
For well over a century, technology has often seemed like the best solution to the problems of the world, from poverty to environmental degradation. But there is growing recognition that it can be at least as harmful as it is helpful. In response, we have seen growing efforts towards “tech for good”, and specifically designing technologies for equity. While such efforts are well-intentioned, in my talk I will argue that they are not sufficient, describing my own journey in understanding the complex relationship between technology and equity through genetics and biotechnology, intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and inclusive innovation across the world. I will suggest that to achieve social equity and justice, we must think differently about the whole innovation system, starting from who counts as an inventor and who gets to choose research priorities to how we evaluate technologies.
Dr. Shobita Parthasarathy is Professor of Public Policy and Women’s and Gender Studies, and Director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, at the University of Michigan. She investigates how innovation and innovation policy can better achieve social equity and justice. She has published widely on genetics and biotechnology, inclusive innovation for international development, artificial intelligence, patents, and the politics of science in policymaking. She is the author of Building Genetic Medicine: Breast Cancer, Technology, and the Comparative Politics of Health Care and Patent Politics: Life Forms, Markets, and the Public Interest in the United States and Europe. The former influenced the 2013 Supreme Court case that determined human genes were not patentable; the latter won the 2018 Robert K. Merton Award from the American Sociological Association. She regularly advises policymakers and has written for Boston Review, The New York Times, Slate, and Nature. She co-hosts The Received Wisdom podcast.
PLEASE JOIN US:
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
4:00-5:30 p.m.
Alumni House
Lecture followed by reception
Co-sponsored by Digital Studies