SFIS Newsletter – October 2020

Return to the Newsletter Archive

Aerial view of the new ISTB-7 building at Arizona State University.

ASU launches Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory with audacious goals: Transforming the world for a better future

The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, building on a strong tradition of commitment to shaping a sustainable future for all humankind through innovation, will encompass the new College of Global Futures, as well as a major research institute and a practice arm devoted to solutions, each significantly enhanced by and integrated with global partnerships.

Photo of ball, representing the Earth, on top of a COVID mask with vaccination syringe inserted in the Earth.

Should drugmakers patent a COVID-19 vaccine?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to sicken people globally, countries and companies around the world are racing to develop safe and effective vaccines. A recent webinar co-sponsored by ASU’s Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes brought together two experts to debate whether patenting a vaccine will help end the pandemic — or whether patenting a vaccine would limit vaccine access to those who can afford to pay market-rate prices.

Research

Graphic showing a DNA helix being modified by removing a piece and other individuals climbing like a ladder.

Who should have a say on editing DNA?

Researchers from around the world, including CSPO Associate Director Mahmud Farooque, are calling for the creation of national and global citizens’ assemblies tasked with considering the societal implications of DNA editing.

World map graphic showing people's views on climate and energy.

Global citizen deliberation: Case of world-wide views on climate and energy

As the global environmental issues are increasingly coordinated through international negotiations, new methods are needed to engage citizens worldwide in the policy-making processes. SFIS Associate Professor Netra Chhetri and HSD student Rajiv Ghimire have published an article drawing insight about citizens’ views on issues of climate and energy through quantitative analysis of the data from World Wide Views.

Headshots of Associate Professor Laura  Hosman, Clinical Assistant Professor Faheem Hussain, and Clinical Associate Professor Mary Jame Parmentier.

Applying novel digital strategies in development education and engaging offline communities

Clinical Assistant Professor Faheem Hussain, Clinical Associate Professor Mary Jane Parmentier and Associate Professor Laura Hosman recently conducted a webinar with USAID. “Digital Strategies for Offline Communities: Cases and Lessons from the Field,” shared research-based insights and lessons learned from various approaches to digital engagement in education and with vulnerable populations, including refugees and rural communities. Watch the webinar.

Recognition

Headshot of Carole Mars.

Master of Science and Technology Policy student Carole Mars has earned the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship to research sustainability in emerging technology and learn about federal policymaking and implementation.

Headshot of Ben Gansky

Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology PhD student Ben Gansky spoke at the Institute for the Future’s Ten-Year Forecast (virtual) conference on “Data Power: Politics Meets the Digital World.”  

Assistant Professor Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty has been appointed to the board of advisors for World View, a stratospheric balloon company in Tucson. 


Kiki Jenkins, associate professor and HSD doctoral program chair, joined Play Like a Girl LIVE to share how sports can help strengthen girls’ leadership skills and prepare them for STEM careers.


Assistant Professor Darshan Karwat has been named principal investigator on a new Lemelson Foundation grant to ASU under its new Engineering for One Planet (EOP) Initiative. The two-year program is focused on instilling environmental and sustainability principles across all disciplines of engineering education.


Associate Professor Jameson Wetmore was part of a Silicon Valley Autoware Meetup panel on automated vehicles, “Back to the Future: The History and Future of Autonomous Vehicles.” 


The Journal of Responsible Innovation (JRI) has had several big developments this year. JRI has received its first impact factor, a very respectable 3.059. JRI is also strongly positioned in four academic subject category rankings: history and philosophy of science, ethics, social issues and management. Beginning in 2021, the journal will be a fully open access (OA) title. JRI was recently approved for inclusion in ERIH PLUS, the European Reference Index for Humanities and Social Sciences. Several SFIS faculty and alumni work on the journal, including Erik Fisher who serves as editor-in-chief, Diana Bowman and Andrew Maynard who are on the editorial board and HSD student JP Nelson who serves as an editorial assistant.

Alumni

Headshot of Ryan Treisman.

Global Technology and Development alumnus Ryan Treisman was named to the Sun Devil 100 class of 2020. The Sun Devil 100 celebrates the achievements of ASU alumni who own or lead successful, innovative businesses. Treisman is a partner and CTO at the information technology company Adopt Technologies.

Events

October 7:  PIT Colloquium:“We Can’t Put This Off Any Longer: The Time to Preserve Our Privacy and Security, by Design, is Now!”

October 16: CSI Skill Tree

October 19:  21st century Global Development Pioneers: Reimagining Global Development with Indigenious Wisdom

Publications

Lee Gutkind 
The Risky Writing Life
Publisher’s Weekly
August 28, 2020

Katina Michael
Perspectives on Humanistic Knowledge
STEM Futures: The Future Substance of STEM Education 
September 15, 2020

Zuzana Skvarkova
Don’t Waste Your Hype On The iPhone 12: Apple’s Groundbreaking Augmented Reality Glasses Are Coming
Medium
September 15, 2020

Mahmood Farooque
Global citizen deliberation on genome editing
Science
September 18, 2020

Netra Chhetri, Rajiv Ghimire 
Global citizen deliberation: Case of world-wide views on climate and energy
Energy Policy

In the Media

Elisabeth Graffy
Silicon Valley billionaires want to geoengineer the world’s oceans
New Scientist
September 1, 2020

Joey Eschrich
Extreme heat is here, and it’s deadly
High Country News
September 1, 2020

Darlene Cavalier 
Americans are observing nature during the pandemic, helping scientists with research 
National Geographic
September 8, 2020

Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty
Space Governance Innovation Contest 2020 Winning Team Share their Experience
Space in Africa
September 8, 2020

Jennifer Brian
Barrett faculty participate in National Scholar Strike for Racial Justice
The State Press
September 8, 2020

Nicole Mayberry
‘Medical school for the Earth’: New ASU lab to focus sustainable solutions for the future
AZCentral

Lee Gutkind
Examining Male Aging
The Senior Zone
September 14, 2020

Timiebi Aganaba-Jeanty 
Who Owns the Universe? And Who Gets to Use It?Kiwanis Club of Tempe
September 24, 2020

Katina Michael
Five big remaining questions about the UK’s contact-tracing app
The Telegraph
September 24, 2020

Jameson Wetmore
Nanotechnology and Society
The National Nanotechnology Initiative
September 28, 2020