On April 29, 2010 three ASU professors met in the Art Café in the Memorial Union to present their work in CETMONS to ASU undergraduates and encourage undergraduate participation in CETMONS. Professors Joel Garreau, Clark Miller, and Brian Smith are each leaders of different research group in CETMONS. At this particular event they each presented the content and significance of their group’s research impressing on the students the need for undergraduate involvement in CETMONS and giving the students concrete ways in which they could participate in the future.

Joel Garreau presented his research group’s work on the Seven Horizons website. This website is constructed to allow people to discuss new technologies which are being developed. The website is a wiki thus providing the platform for participants to add information updating the other participants about new technological developments as well as insights into ethical dilemmas regarding the new technologies. Prof. Garreau showed the ASU students how they could be involved with the wiki and furthermore how his project relied upon the kind of information that people their age and with their familiarity with technology could provide.

Prof. Miller discussed his group’s research regarding the impact that new technologies have on civil society. He provided a number of fascinating examples of the technologies now being developed including how scientists are currently researching the way that salamanders can re-grow detached limbs in order to see if humans could be outfitted with similar abilities. Prof. Miller presented some of the ethical dilemmas that arise from these kinds of technologies which have clear benefits but also worrisome applications both in warfare and in civil society. Finally, he told the students that he is available to help them start their own research into these matters. If they want to write a paper for one of their classes or even would like to do a senior thesis concerning these questions, he would be ready to help and guide them.

Prof. Smith presented his group’s research which focuses on the training and education of the people using, or those potentially using, new technologies. He noted how little attention email received in the early 1980’s when it first emerged and how now it is the cornerstone of communication. Therefore, it is essential to become aware of new technological developments and be prepared for their impact both on the military and on civilians. He pointed out that the students could be a tremendous help to his group because they are often the first in civil society to become aware of, and acquainted with, new technologies. Prof. Smith encouraged them to get involved with his group, not only because of the information they could provide, but also because the consequences of these new technologies will affect them profoundly.

We hope to continue such events in the Fall semester as interest on campus among undergraduates has grown since our first event which took place in March.

Reported by:   Zachary J. Goldberg, CETMONS assistant and philosophy graduate student