90-846 Societal Consequences of Tech Change: Looking ahead in Steel Valley Communities
3 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Date March 30 and April 6 In the Pittsburgh region, communities just a few miles outside of the Golden Triangle are still grappling with the impact of the decline of the steel industry in the 1980s. How will emerging technologies address the challenges of these communities This micro course would explore the potential consequences of Smart City technology, specifically autonomous and electric vehicles, on the outlying areas of the Pittsburgh region, with a particular focus on McKeesport and nearby municipalities that make up the Steel Valley or Mon Valley. Students will be exposed to the history of disruption in these steel communities and their particular challenges. Using a base understanding of the technological developments in automation e.g. autonomous and electric vehicles, advanced communications e.g. 5G wireless, and the sharing economy e.g. Uber, Lyft, theyll attempt to project potential consequences that could unfold for these communities, with specific emphasis on land use, economic vibrancy, and workforce preparation. Based on their projection, students will be required to propose interventions that could enhance opportunities or mitigate negative impacts of the technology as its adoption unfolds. This a real world public policy challenge for community leaders and municipal, county, and state government policy makers. The analysis and recommendations generated will be shared with them. Technological change and the disruption it brings frequently outpaces the ability of society and policy makers to respond. The idea behind the series of Societal Consequences of Technological Change courses is to prepare students to understand and respond to the disruptions and consequences through critical thinking and construction of policy responses.
Prerequisites: none listed
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