Educate & Act spring series will center on topics of technology and democracy, the Kansas Legislature and climate legislation
LAWRENCE — The Educate & Act series at the University of Kansas, led by The Commons and the Center for Service Learning, will host three virtual events this semester for students, staff and faculty. This series offers opportunities to learn about the relationship between specific domains and U.S. democracy through research and resources around civic participation.
The first session, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 11, led by The Commons, will explore questions related the relationship between the tech industry and democracy in the United States. Speakers include John Symons, professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Cyber-Social Dynamics; Eric Thomas, lecturer in the William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications and columnist for the Kansas Reflector; and students Lily Webb, Wambui Ngunjiri and Eli Cochrane, all members of the University Honors Program and student design team members for the program's January symposium on human rights and technology.
Discussion will center topics such as the relationship of the tech industry to democracy and the First Amendment; the effects of algorithms on online activity; the ethical standards applied to emerging technologies; current policies that apply to data privacy; and understanding the biases of news sources.
The second event, led by the Center for Service Learning, will take place at 5:30 p.m. March 11. This session will focus on understanding the roles and activity of the Kansas Legislature, including policies and protocols adopted during the new session; the roles of different people in the Legislature; the types of activity that members of the public participate in — such as lobbyists, interns and interested citizens; how legislators engage their constituents during session; and how residents experience the effects of legislative decisions.
A final session will take place at 5:30 p.m. April 8 in conjunction with Worldwide Climate and Justice Education Week.
Anyone needing special accommodations may contact The Commons for assistance at thecommons@ku.edu.