In 2019, New America’s Public Interest Technology program established the Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN).
PIT-UN is a collaboration among universities and colleges committed to developing curricula, research agendas, and experiential learning programs in the public interest technology space.
FIU’s PantherX Fellows were credentialed and deployed to work closely with local partners in the public and private sectors to engage in research and provide policy recommendations regarding the advancement of public interest technology.
What is Public Interest Technology?
Public interest technology (PIT) involves using technological expertise to address societal challenges and advance public welfare. It focuses on deploying innovations in ways that promote equity, improve government services, and empower communities. This field emphasizes ethical considerations, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that technological advancements serve the public interest, uphold ethical standards, and respect human rights. PIT draws from technical fields like computer science, data science, and engineering, along with law, public policy, movement-building, philosophy, the social sciences, the arts and humanities, and more.