Guest Speakers
We love inviting and learning from guest speakers. It helps us understand real world consequences of Tethics. All of our members appreciate the various perspectives we get to learn from.
JULIANA CHASE
PostDoc Researcher at UC Berkeley
Juliana Chase is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuroscience at UC Berkeley, specializing in learning processes and autism-related genetic mutations. With a PhD in Behavioral & Systems Neuroscience, her research integrates behavioral studies, computational modeling, and electrophysiology. Juliana is passionate about neuroethics, public engagement, ethics, and fostering interdisciplinary connections, including co-creating UC Berkeley’s first graduate Neuroethics seminar and engaging with Autistic communities through science outreach.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Thanks to Mrs. Chase, we've learned about "Ethics of Neurotechnology". Here are the key takeaways.
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Emerging Applications: Neuromodulatory devices like Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) are used to treat conditions like epilepsy and Parkinson’s, with ongoing development for mood-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.
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Ethical Concerns: Chronically implanted devices that monitor and manipulate brain activity raise ethical issues, including identity disruption, legal implications of neural data ownership, and societal impacts.
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Equitable Access: There are justice-related questions about whether patients who take on research risks (e.g., those with epilepsy requiring focal resection) should receive special consideration or whether the burdens and benefits are fairly distributed.
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Sense of Self: Neuromodulation may disrupt a user’s identity or sense of agency, potentially moving them away from their authentic selves. Weighing medical benefits against these side effects is critical for patients, their communities, and clinicians.
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Neural Data Ownership and Trust: Balancing the use of "objective" neural data with a patient’s subjective experiences raises complex ethical dilemmas, such as who owns the data and how it should influence decisions like driving restrictions or involuntary psychiatric commitments.
MARC TARPENNING
Co-founder of Tesla
Marc Tarpenning, co-founder of Tesla, has significant relevance to tech ethics due to his pioneering role in shaping sustainable technology and innovation. His work emphasizes the ethical responsibility of developing technologies that address global challenges, such as climate change, through renewable energy and electric vehicles. Tarpenning's insights often highlight the intersection of technology, sustainability, and ethical considerations, making him an ideal speaker to discuss how innovation can align with ethical goals to create a more sustainable and equitable future.
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The summary of the discussion is as follows.
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Gender Bias in Technology: Automotive design tends to be male-centric, prompting Tesla to adjust car designs and hiring practices to include more women, even ensuring women were always interviewed regardless of qualifications.
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Solving Problems: Developing safe and efficient battery systems and software features posed significant challenges during Tesla's early development. We heard the full story of how these hurdles were overcome by balancing technology, ethics, economy, and entrepreneurship.
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Consumer Preferences: People voluntarily choose smaller cars over larger ones, driven by a desire to be environmentally conscious and align with green values.
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Tesla's Marketing Approach: Tesla relies on word-of-mouth promotion, maintaining production limits and a consistent waiting list, without spending money to boost demand.
JACK BOWEN
Author and Philosophy Teacher
Jack Bowen is a dedicated educator at Menlo School, teaching both a freshman ethics seminar and an upper school philosophy class. As an accomplished author, he has published four books and is currently working on his fifth, contributing to the fields of ethics and leadership. Beyond the classroom, Bowen is a retired water polo Olympian and a two-time National Champion, now serving as a coach at Menlo School, where he continues to inspire students both academically and athletically.
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Here are the key takeaways. Thank you, Mr. Bowen!
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Key Questions: Explored how a robot friend might affect perceptions of morality, what defines humanity, and whether a robot with human-like emotions deserves the same recognition as a human.
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Imagine your friend was a robot, how does this impact your perception of their moral compass?
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How do you define humans? Is something that acts like a human in every way deserving of the title?
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How much does a robot with human emotions actually defer from a real human?
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Core Concepts: Addressed ideas of moral personhood, the implications of artificial intelligence in passing as human (Turing test), and ethical dilemmas like "cheating computers."​
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