Reflections from Practice

Lecture

Guest expert: Meenakshi Mani

Title: The ethics of doing good: when engineering meets the messy realities of the world

Abstract: Education is often viewed as a social sector in which technology can make a difference, where engineering aspirations of doing good can be channelled into creating tools, systems, and innovations that enhance learning and promote equitable opportunities for all students. In this talk, I delve into my work with software engineers, machine learning scientists, product managers, and education specialists from India and the United States, most of whom develop ML-driven education technologies for children aged 4-17 who are from under-resourced, socio-economically disadvantaged communities in India. The focus of the lecture will be on the ethical tensions experienced by tech folk in their work, and how they navigate what are often difficult ethical terrains in balancing corporate interests, societal impacts, and personal values. Who should get to shape the education of millions of children? Does cultural context matter? Through activities, the lecture will explore the complexities of ethical decision-making, examining the trade-offs that inevitably arise, with the goal of promoting critical reflection on the values that get prioritised in the conceptualising and building of software.

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