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Upcoming Roundtable Events: July 9, 2010: Privacy and Emerging Technologies

August 13, 2010: Synthetic Biology: What's the Agenda?
    
Intern Opportunities  
 
Comment from Nigel Cameron

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Comment from Nigel Cameron, C-PET President and CEO
 

Good News from OSTP: Emerging Technologies Emerging

  
Dr. Nigel Cameron 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recent news that the Office of Science and Technology Policy had established an inter-agency working group on emerging technologies was tantalizing - and potentially important. Its announcement by means of the OSTP blog means that we know about it but not very much. It was described as "part of an effort to give special attention to technologies so new - such as nanotechnology and synthetic biology - that their policy implications are still being gauged." A somewhat curious statement, which implies that the policy implications of older technologies are already gauged (oil exploration?! internet/ IP/ privacy . . .?) - and also that nano and synbio are "so new," when they were in the news a decade ago. Indeed, Bill Clinton's memorably Caltech speech that launched the National Nanotechnology Initiative was just over 10 years ago.

 

These may be quibbles, but they point to substantive issues of neglect that, perhaps, are at last being made good. We shall see. Inter-agency groups are both the most necessary and the most demanding (problematic?) of federal activities. The pervasive and cross-sectoral impacts of emerging technologies may prove the ultimate test of our capacity to develop policy responses through our silo-driven mechanisms. So the

Emerging Technologies Inter-Agency Group is a promising initiative. Its parties comprise OSTP with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Office of Management and Budget. We shall watch its efforts with interest.
 
 
 

Deborah Theobald and David Goldston join the C-PET Board of Directors

 

We are honored to welcome to our distinguished Board of Directors the CEO of a robotics/AI company and the former Staff Director of the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology

 

Deborah Theobald is Chairman and CEO of VECNA Technologies, a robotics/IT company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

 

She obtained her master's degree in Aerospace Engineering with a concentration in robotics and the human factors of space travel, including impact on human physiology and health maintenance. Her master's thesis included testing of a custom built haptic robot-human interface in varying environments including NASA's KC-135 microgravity simulator plane (or Vomit Comet). Deborah co-founded VECNA Technologies in 1998 and has acted as Chairwoman and President/CEO continuously through the company's growth and transition from a services oriented IT company to a multifaceted divisional company offering hardware, software and IT services to clients across strategic industries. Deborah provides key strategic vision, executes tactical directives and designs next generation product solutions. Deborah is the proud mother of four children.

 

 

David Goldston is Director of Government Affairs for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He served for six years (2001-2006) as Chief of Staff of the House Committee on Science under Chairman Sherwood Boehlert of New York. As Chief of Staff, he oversaw a committee with jurisdiction over much of the federal research portfolio, including the civilian research activities of the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, Goldston was Boehlert's Legislative Director during the years when Boehlert led a coalition of moderate Republicans that was pivotal in blocking environmental rollbacks. In that role, he played a part in debates on a wide range of environmental issues, including clean air, forestry and endangered species. Since 2006, he has taught at Princeton and Harvard and writes the monthly column "Party of One" on science policy for the journal Nature.

 

Goldston graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in American history from Cornell University in 1978. He completed the course work for a Ph.D. in American history at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993.

 
Emerging Technologies Roundtables

July 9, 2010 - Privacy and Emerging Technologies

Privacy is emerging as one of the hottest topics of the 21st century, as emerging technologies revolutionize our experience of communication, security, business, and every other aspect of our lives. Recent controversies have focused on Facebook and Google. Do these technologies inherently challenge our notions of privacy? Are we ready for lives that involve far more public disclosure? Eric Schmidt's much-quoted statement "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place" set off a firestorm of comment. The Electronic Frontier Foundation responded: "Google, governments, and technologists need to understand more broadly that ignoring privacy protections in the innovations we incorporate into our lives not only invites invasions of our personal space and comfort, but opens the door to future abuses of power." It might have added: it also invites consumer rejection and fundamental challenges to the acceptance and success of our technologies.

This is the first of a series of C-PET Emerging Technologies Roundtable events to focus on the privacy debate. Space is limited: please RSVP promptly to secure your seat. There is no charge for participation, and lunch will be provided.

Friday, July 9, 2010
at the Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies
10 G Street NE, Suite 710
Washington DC, 20002 

11:45 - 1:30 (lunch provided)

Speakers include:

Jules Polonetsky, Future of Privacy Forum; former Chief Privacy Officer, AOL
Daniel W. Caprio, Managing Director, McKenna, Long and Aldridge; former Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Commerce
Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, Speech, Privacy, and Technology, ACLU  
Erica Newland, Policy Analyst, Center for Democracy and Technology
 
Moderator: Nigel M. Cameron, President and CEO, C-PET
 
 
 

August 13, 2010 - Synthetic Biology: What's the Agenda?
 

Friday, August 13, 2010
at the Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies 

10 G Street NE, Suite 710
Washington DC, 20002 

 
11:45 - 1:30 (lunch provided)
 
More information to follow
 
 

Now Accepting Applications

Apply to intern for C-PET!
 

The Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies (C-PET) is offering a limited number of internships to undergraduates, graduate students, and postgraduates. C-PET is uniquely situated to lead the discussion on the implication of emerging technologies and interns will have the opportunity to assist in a variety of projects. Interns can expect to work on research, event planning, general office tasks, and outreach focusing on such issues as the future of the internet, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and nanotechnology. 

C-PET's office is located in Washington, D.C. - ideally located in the heart of Capitol Hill, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Hours can be flexible and part-time to give interns the opportunity to take advantage of the many interesting and educational offerings of our Nation's Capital, but interns should be able to commit at least two days per week.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis and the dates of internships are flexible in order to accommodate various school schedules and can be extended. In general, summer internships run from May through August, fall internships run from September through December, and spring internships run from January through May. Internships with C-PET are voluntary and unpaid and interns will need to secure their own housing arrangements.

To apply, please provide the following materials:

  • A cover letter detailing your areas of interest and background.
  • An up-to-date resume.
  • An approximately 500 word writing sample on a relevant topic. (It may be an excerpt from a larger paper or a piece written specifically for this application. This is an opportunity to showcase your analytical abilities as well as your background in your areas of interest.)  
  • An unofficial electronic copy of your transcripts (this can be information copied from your registrar's website, or a scanned .pdf file of your paper transcripts). 
  • Two referenceswith names, email addresses, and phone numbers

All applications should be emailed to:   Melissa Silvers at: Melissa (dot) Silvers (at) c-pet (dot) org  Attn: Internship (Note: Please send all application materials at one time, incomplete applications are not guaranteed to be processed.)