We live in a world of increasingly intelligent machines.
And like all human tools, technology can be used for good or for ill.
The 21st century marks a juncture in history where, as a society, we need to stop, take stock and reflect on what fundamental principles we will use to shape our emerging technology.
"The solutions we seek need to take into account infrastructure which is human and social, as well as physical and technical."
Verity Firth, Executive Director, Social Justice, UTS
Universities have a critical role to play in this inquiry. As institutions for public benefit, they provide a neutral space in which to examine and analyse the impact of emerging technologies. They also hold connections to community, industry and other institutions that help to facilitate an inclusive dialogue around this important issue.
UTS has partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on a three-year project to explore the human rights implications of new technology.
Convened through the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, our participation takes the inquiry across disciplinary boundaries to open up a holistic and inclusive dialogue. We will further explore the potential for emerging technologies to both affect and promote human rights.
The AHRC project will:
- Identify the practical issues at stake
- Undertake research and public consultation on how best to respond to the human rights challenges and opportunities presented by new technology
- Develop a practical and innovative roadmap for reform
Explore the future of human rights and technology
- Find out more about the project (links to an external website)
- Read the UTS submission to the AHRC consultation
- Learn about our proposal: A Technology Assessment Office
UTS is firmly committed to integrating human rights and ethics into the core of our education offerings and practices and see this as a critical foundation for promoting social justice and improving society.
We look forward to working closely with AHRC and partners to address the challenges, and to realise the opportunities of these dynamic times.
Academic contributors
Project Leads
- Dr Nicole Vincent (Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Professor David Lindsay (Faculty of Law)
- Monique Potts (Innovation & Entrepreneurship Unit)
Section Leads
- Dr Theresa Anderson (Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Professor Simon Buckingham Shum (Connected Intelligence Centre)
- Dr Phillippa Carnemolla (Faculty of Design Architecture and Building)
- Passiona Cottee (recent graduate of the UTS Master in Data Science)
- Dr Barbara Doran (Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Dr Kirsty Kitto (Connected Intelligence Centre)
- Giedre Kligyte (Institute for Interactive Media and Learning, Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Dr Susanne Pratt (Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Dr Hamish Robertson (Centre for Health Services Management)
- Kirsten Thorpe (Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research)
- Matthew Walsh (Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research)
Section contributors
- Dr Wayne Brookes (Faculty of Engineering and IT)
- Professor Simon Darcy (UTS Business School)
- Nik Dawson (PhD candidate)
- Dr Deborah Debono (Faculty of Health)
- Catherine Donnelley (Research Associate)
- Samantha Donnelly (Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building)
- Dr Jane Hunter (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
- Professor Jennifer Loy (Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building)
- Dr Simon Knight (Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation)
- Dr Sacha Molitorisz (Centre for Media Transition, Faculty of Law)
- Anjana Regmi (access:UTS)
- Dr Philippa Ryan (Faculty of Law)
- Rosemary Sainty (UTS Business School)
- Dr Olga Shimoni (Faculty of Science)
- Dr Linda Steele (Faculty of Law)
Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion project leads