Data & Society is currently looking to assemble its 2016-17 class of fellows!
Data & Society is a research institute and think/do tank based in NYC that’s focused on the social and cultural implications of data-driven technologies. The fellowship program brings together an eclectic network of researchers, entrepreneurs, activists, policy creators, journalists, geeks, and public intellectuals who are interested in engaging one another on diverse topics introduced by the increasing availability of data in society. We are looking for a diverse group of people who have a vision for a project that can inform the public or shape the future of society.
Our current fellows and researchers are tackling topics emerging from numerous fields, including criminal justice, education, finance, health, human rights, journalism, labor, and urban planning. We also have folks working on problems relevant to computer science, mathematics, media studies, and other academic disciplines. And we are always on the look-out for folks who push us to look in other areas or use unexpected techniques. For a taste of the questions that often come up at D&S:
- How can we increase public access to data while minimizing potential abuses? How do these dynamics shift if we’re talking about urban data, health data, or human rights data?
- What kinds of advice would help designers, entrepreneurs, and startups navigate the social, legal, and ethical dynamics of working with data? How can we build a structure to support these actors?
- How can we increase the public’s understanding of data and algorithms? What does it mean to increase data literacy? How do we empower educators, librarians, and cultural institutions to inform the public?
- How might we leverage different metaphors to help interrogate what’s unfolding? Data philanthropy? Data supply chains? Data fracking? How do these frames enlighten or obscure?
- How are the fields of civil rights, criminal justice, education, government, health, journalism, law, etc. changed by data? What frameworks would help ground understanding of data’s effects on those fields?
- What kinds of technical/social/legal/
economic interventions can help address new inequities that emerge because of predictive analytics? - How do we measure the impact of data collection and use? How do we measure the impact of regulations intended to protect or empower people?
For full program description, FAQ, and application form, visit: http://www.datasociety.
Let us know if you have questions. Inquiries about the fellowship should be directed to fellowsapp@datasociety.net. Questions about the program or process will not reflect negatively on your application.
The application deadline is December 1, 2015.
The work and well-being of the Data & Society Research Institute is strengthened by the diversity of our network and our differences in background, culture, experience, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and much more. We welcome applications from people of color, women, the LGBTQIA community, and persons with disabilities.