Over the last few weeks, many of us have been struck by how the pandemic introduces a wide range of ethical, social, and political challenges that relate to the research of the 4TU.Ethics community. Examples include value conflicts, data and privacy issues, digital well-being, civic responsibility, knowledge transfer, and the mitigation of risk. New issues will surely emerge as the crisis develops and more of its consequences (which may outlast the pandemic itself) become apparent.
To coordinate a collective response to these topics, 4TU.Ethics is joining forces with the Delft Design for Values Institute to establish a working group on the COVID-19 crisis (WGCV-19). The working group will focus on the ethical challenges of pandemics and emergency responses, especially how these can be addressed by emerging technologies. It will explore innovative responses to acute challenges and collate solutions to future pandemics and other crisis scenarios, as well as share these solutions with policy makers, epidemiologists, medical professionals, and the general public.
The WGCV-19 website will act as a repository for relevant publications, link to news and media appearances, and list 4TU.Ethics and DDfV researchers whose work intersects with themes relating to the pandemic. As the activities of the working group unfold, we will keep you up to date through 4TU.Ethics communication channels.