Citizens' Think-Ins: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach To Community Engagement With STEM
Year Awarded
2021
Amount
€49,612
- Organisation:Dublin City University (DCU)
- Audience:General Public
- Format:Non-formal Education
- Location:Dublin, Kerry, Kildare
- Topic:Technology
Project Summary
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most transformative innovations of our time. Our interactions with technology are now highly personalised due to the vast swathes of data we leave behind as we navigate the online world. AI has numerous societal benefits from automating tedious tasks to helping diagnose medical conditions. However, AI and data innovation also present ethical and societal challenges, such as inherent algorithm bias or the use of technology for surveillance.
It is widely documented that to effectively tackle grand societal challenges such as digital transformation, climate change and the future of work, a multidisciplinary approach and a diverse mix of voices and perspectives is required. By design, ADAPT’s Citizens’ Think-Ins facilitate conversations, create debate and critical engagement between members of the public, researchers and other stakeholders.
Citizens’ Think-Ins are tried and tested public forums which bring people together to discuss and deliberate the benefits, risks and potential issues facing us in the digital age. The next phase of the project will specifically address AI and data innovation challenges through idea generation, co-creation, transparent public deliberation, discussion and reflection.
The Think-In format has demonstrated success when applied in a public engagement with research (PER) setting. We aim to build on this success by applying the Quadruple Helix (QH) framework to bring multiple stakeholders together (representing civil society, academia, industry and government) to co-create Think-In ideas and content, thus expanding opportunities for discussion and dialogue about AI, its related technologies and societal implications.