IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2017 - 5

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Paul Cunningham

Operationalizing
SSIT's 5 Pillars

EEE Society on Social
Implications of Technology volunteers are
making significant
p r o g r e s s on S SI T
Pillar 2, which is dedicated to Ethics, Human Values and Technology.
SSIT has a critical role to play in
supporting achievement of IEEE's
tagline: Advancing Technology for
Humanity. Advancing Technology
for Humanity requires consideration
of socio-cultural differences around
the world, as well as consideration of
ethical, socio-cultural, and socio-economic implications of technology adoption addressing societal challenges.
Pillar 2 is focused on professional
and research ethics, ethics in the
development of technologies, ethics in the context of Sustainable
Development and Humanitarian
Technology, as well as engineering
ethics education.
A recent and significant development for our society is approval by
the SSIT Board of Governors that
SSIT becomes actively involved in
the development of ethics-based
technic a l st a nda rds a s well a s
ethics-based refinements to existing standards. A SSIT Standards
Committee chair has been appointed and we are now looking for volunteers who both have existing
standards related experience (e.g.,
ISO, IEEE, CEN, ETSI) as well as volunteers with an interest in the standardization process who are willing
to learn through doing.
SSIT's conference portfolio has
a strong center of gravity, especially

Pillar 2: Ethics,
Human Values, and Technology
in the case of the IEEE Ethics and
IEEE Norbert Weiner conferences.
SSIT's flagship event, the IEEE International Symposium on Technology
and Society (IEEE ISTAS) while reflecting the broad interest of our community always has a strong focus on
ethical implications of the issues being
addressed. Contributors to the Closing Plenary Panel for IEEE ISTAS 2017
(Sydney, August 10-11, 2017), "Trust
and Social Implications of Technology" discussed ethical implications of
technology, data, and privacy.
As is the case for each of SSIT's 5
Pillars, SSIT can provide compelling
keynote speakers and panelists at
events who can share insight, expertise, and perspective. SSIT is interested in developing relationships
to co-design ethics, human values,
and technology related sessions and
panels in thematically focused conferences organized by other societies
or regions around the world.
The challenge and opportunity for
SSIT is to work closely with other IEEE
Societies and other relevant communities to help all key stakeholders
broaden and deepen their sensitivity
and awareness of ethical issues.
SSIT continues to build our bench
of Distinguished Lecturers (DLs).

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MTS.2017.2728733
Date of publication: 7 September 2017

SEPTEMBER 2017

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IEEE TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY MAGAZINE

Remember that SSIT DLs do not
have to be based in the same region
as the conference, panel, or meeting at which they will be invited to
speak. If a speaker is traveling a long
distance, please consider working
with your Section to organize an
"SSIT DL Roadshow," with a number of public lectures complementing a conference keynote or panel
contribution, to strengthen SSIT
brand awareness.

Call for Volunteers
SSIT volunteer opportunities related
to Ethics, Human Values and Technology include:
■ Join your SSIT Chapter Committee to operationalize local activity.
■ Volunteer to host SSIT Distinguished Lecturers.
■ Submit relevant articles or review
submissions to T&S Magazine.
■ Submit papers or review submissions to the annual IEEE International Symposium on Technology
and Society (ISTAS), SSIT's flagship event, or to other SSIT supported conferences such as IEEE
Ethics, IEEE Norbert Weiner, and
IST-Africa Week.
(continued on page 8)

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2017