[STS-Africa] 4S 2025 Panel: AI Ethics in Uncertain Times: Navigating the Dual Role of Scientists in a Polarized World

[Yousif Hassan]

Dear colleagues,

We hope you are all doing well!!

We would like to invite you to consider joining us at 4S 2025 Seattle for
this important conversation about AI ethics and academic integrity,
largely, amid these uncertain times.
Please consider submitting an abstract and share and circulate as you may
see fit.
4S will be accepting abstracts until January 31st and our panel is #243).

** Please consider submitting abstract and feel free to share and circulate
to your networks **

-- 

· Submission Instructions:
https://www.4sonline.org/call_for_submissions_seattle.php

· Deadline for Abstract Submissions: 31 January 2025

· Conference 3 – 6 September 2025





4S 2025 Seattle - Open Panel



AI Ethics in Uncertain Times: Navigating the Dual Role of Scientists in a
Polarized World



This panel engages Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars and other
stakeholders in a critical dialogue at the intersection of artificial
intelligence (AI), ethics, and academic integrity amid political and global
uncertainties. The discussion will focus on the ethical responsibilities of
scientists in developing AI applications to address global challenges,
particularly in contexts of war and peace.

While AI is often heralded as a solution for advancing fields like
healthcare, environmental sustainability, disaster response, and conflict
prevention, this panel aims to critically examine the notion of AI as a
tool to “save” humanity. It will investigate the practices of scientists in
navigating AI risks and potential harms. Against the backdrop of the recent
U.S. elections, the panel will also explore how shifting political dynamics
impact academic integrity and the responsibilities of scholars operating
within an increasingly polarized society. Furthermore, the race for global
AI dominance between China and the U.S. raises complex issues of ethics and
integrity under the guise of national security. The panel will thus address
the dual role of scientists in driving innovation while critically
examining its societal implications, particularly in areas such as
autonomous weapons, misinformation, and surveillance. By adopting an
interdisciplinary lens, the discussion will emphasize the need for robust
ethical frameworks in AI development and advocate for a renewed commitment
to academic integrity as the foundation of socially responsible research.

Contributions are sought that advance conversations on AI’s role in shaping
collective responses to global challenges, offering actionable
recommendations for academics, policymakers, and practitioners.

Convenors:

Laila Hussein Moustafa (University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign)
Yousif Hassan (University of Michigan)
Kwame Edwin Otu (Georgetown University)
Kebene Wodajo (ETH Zürich)
Jia Hui Lee (University of Bayreuth)

Yousif Hassan (he/him/his)
about.me/yousifhassan
<https://about.me/yousifhassan?promo=email_sig&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email_sig&utm_campaign=edit_panel&utm_content=thumb>
Twitter: @yhassan
<https://e672c964.streaklinks.com/CR8yXYEGxtO83b6mzwii6rjg/https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fyhassan>
*New Articles!* "The Politics of Memory: NLP Models as Liberating Artifacts
<https://e672c964.streaklinks.com/CR8yXX_tbZL9rIbO5wgyKuog/https%3A%2F%2Fjournals.sagepub.com%2Feprint%2FVVYJEUDQX2KGJQC7PEJK%2Ffull>
"
"Machine Learning as a State-building Experiment: AI and Development in
Africa
<https://e672c964.streaklinks.com/CR8yXX_PT4yS3Pj4-gRpl5UZ/https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.1093%2Foxfordhb%2F9780197653609.013.27>
"
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