Announcing the 2021 Kenan Summer Fellows

Posted on May 14, 2021May 24, 2021 by Niall Schroder

Congratulations to the 2021 Kenan Summer Fellows

What does it mean to live an ethical life?

Kenan Summer Fellows spend a summer exploring—in a variety of ways—the answers to the question: What does it mean to live an ethical life? A Summer Fellow might design a project at home, implement a community-based intervention, compose a musical, volunteer with an NGO, write a play, or curate an art exhibition. Summer experiences can and do provide a thoughtful, novel perspective of how to live an ethical life.

Read the Kenan Summer Fellows blogs

David Xu is a first-year undergraduate from Cary, North Carolina, planning on double-majoring in Economics and Neuroscience. In his free time he likes to read, play golf, run, and go to the beach.
For his Kenan Summer Fellows Project, David will be exploring how we can leverage the power of technology to empower individuals to live an ethical life. His project will define “living an ethical life” as contributing to a greater cause or mission that is in line with your morals and assisting a specific demographic, community, or population. The project will examine the current systems of state-sponsored censorship (exercised by countries such as China and regimes in the Middle East), which utilizes cutting-edge technology to influence public opinion and regulate the flow of information, and analyze how these systems restrict individuals from living an ethical life that deviates from the views of the censors. Through this project, which will be done through an internship with Ideas Beyond Borders, David seeks to both gain a better understanding of the current systems regimes use to censor their citizenry but also explore ways technology can combat these systems. He also hope to gain more knowledge on the lived experience of individuals who live in countries that exercise strict state-sponsored censorship. — David Xu
David Xu is a first-year undergraduate from Cary, North Carolina, planning on double-majoring in Economics and Neuroscience. In his free time he likes to read, play golf, run, and go to the beach. For his Kenan Summer Fellows Project, David will be exploring how we can leverage the power of technology to empower individuals to live an ethical life. His project will define “living an ethical life” as contributing to a greater cause or mission that is in line with your morals and assisting a specific demographic, community, or population. The project will examine the current systems of state-sponsored censorship (exercised by countries such as China and regimes in the Middle East), which utilizes cutting-edge technology to influence public opinion and regulate the flow of information, and analyze how these systems restrict individuals from living an ethical life that deviates from the views of the censors. Through this project, which will be done through an internship with Ideas Beyond Borders, David seeks to both gain a better understanding of the current systems regimes use to censor their citizenry but also explore ways technology can combat these systems. He also hope to gain more knowledge on the lived experience of individuals who live in countries that exercise strict state-sponsored censorship.

Huiyin (she/they) is a rising sophomore from the industrial hub of Dongguan, China. Passionate about the intersections of gender, ethnicity/race, class, and the environment, she has served in several community-based projects in China and beyond. At Duke, she plans to major in International Comparative Studies and minor in Environmental Sciences & Policy, with an Ethics or Documentary Studies certificate.

Her KSF project will be an organic combination of social media analysis, autoethnography and art. By looking at social media accounts of the various experimental farming communities in China – including Southern Life, All Grow Farm, To Good Farm, and so on – she plans to analyze media narratives of nature and labor and inquire into ethical relationships between labor, nature, and the market. In the process, she will uncover how social and agricultural experiments may reproduce, challenge, and/or offer new possibilities to neoliberal norms that produce disposable labor and natures. Through autoethnography and writing creatively about past experiences with nature, she hopes to produce a collection of reflective and reflexive writing pieces that inquire into her own relationships to labor, land, and nature – and unpack how these relationships have been constantly challenged and remade. — Huiyin Zhou
Huiyin (she/they) is a rising sophomore from the industrial hub of Dongguan, China. Passionate about the intersections of gender, ethnicity/race, class, and the environment, she has served in several community-based projects in China and beyond. At Duke, she plans to major in International Comparative Studies and minor in Environmental Sciences & Policy, with an Ethics or Documentary Studies certificate. Her KSF project will be an organic combination of social media analysis, autoethnography and art. By looking at social media accounts of the various experimental farming communities in China – including Southern Life, All Grow Farm, To Good Farm, and so on – she plans to analyze media narratives of nature and labor and inquire into ethical relationships between labor, nature, and the market. In the process, she will uncover how social and agricultural experiments may reproduce, challenge, and/or offer new possibilities to neoliberal norms that produce disposable labor and natures. Through autoethnography and writing creatively about past experiences with nature, she hopes to produce a collection of reflective and reflexive writing pieces that inquire into her own relationships to labor, land, and nature – and unpack how these relationships have been constantly challenged and remade.

John is a rising junior from Annandale, Virginia pursuing a Program II titled “Social Impact through the Moving Image” that seeks to examine how storytelling through the moving image can be leveraged to create positive change in society. A lover of people, stories, and community, he spends his free time playing Spikeball on the quad, discovering music on Spotify, and going on late-night walks in Durham.

For this project, he wishes to explore how international entities might ethically navigate barriers (cultural, societal, political, economic, linguistic, etc.) that inherently exist when interacting with locals in unfamiliar regions. Working remotely with Village Schools International, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering rural communities in Africa through education, John seeks to contribute towards the organization’s creative operations while providing the resources necessary for teachers in Tanzania to create a moving image product. He hopes that in pursuing these goals, his experiences will offer broader insights into how an organization or individual might work with people of different backgrounds without encroaching on their wants or needs, an issue that ultimately pertains not only to international development efforts but also the storytelling process as well." — John Kang
John is a rising junior from Annandale, Virginia pursuing a Program II titled “Social Impact through the Moving Image” that seeks to examine how storytelling through the moving image can be leveraged to create positive change in society. A lover of people, stories, and community, he spends his free time playing Spikeball on the quad, discovering music on Spotify, and going on late-night walks in Durham. For this project, he wishes to explore how international entities might ethically navigate barriers (cultural, societal, political, economic, linguistic, etc.) that inherently exist when interacting with locals in unfamiliar regions. Working remotely with Village Schools International, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering rural communities in Africa through education, John seeks to contribute towards the organization’s creative operations while providing the resources necessary for teachers in Tanzania to create a moving image product. He hopes that in pursuing these goals, his experiences will offer broader insights into how an organization or individual might work with people of different backgrounds without encroaching on their wants or needs, an issue that ultimately pertains not only to international development efforts but also the storytelling process as well."

Joy Reeves is a rising senior studying Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Visual Media Studies. She is interested in exploring the intersections of creative science communication, climate justice, and environmental ethics.

Bringing Comics into Environmental Education is a virtual comic project that aims to engage younger students on climate issues during the challenges of COVID-19. This summer, I will generate a 3-part series of 5-10 page webcomics (online comics) featuring characters designed to teach younger students about complex environmental issues ranging from solar technology to permaculture farming systems, with an emphasis on ethics and environmental justice. I will gear the majority of my comic episodes towards 2nd-6th graders. As an Environmental Science & Policy major and Visual Media Studies minor, I see this project as an opportunity to culminate my academic career and give back to online learning communities during COVID-19. Through environmental research and visual storytelling, these comics will bring to life characters who are underrepresented in STEM fields, encourage ethical discussion, and make environmental science more accessible to all. I hope to explore what it means to be an ethical artist and environmentalist, particularly analyzing “sense of place,” colonization, and the Anthropocene through comics. Comics and cartoons are often dismissed as a frivolous art form designed to elicit giggles and goofiness. I believe that their value transcends humor alone. Comics have the power to convey social messages, awaken heroism, and change minds. As an artist, I believe that living an ethical life means using art as a tool to meaningfully engage an audience on social justice issues. Art is not merely a quiet, relaxing hobby; it is a purposeful, powerful way to pursue good and expose injustice. I hope to generate a comic series that fulfills this definition of art! — Joy Reeves
Joy Reeves is a rising senior studying Environmental Science and Policy with a minor in Visual Media Studies. She is interested in exploring the intersections of creative science communication, climate justice, and environmental ethics. Bringing Comics into Environmental Education is a virtual comic project that aims to engage younger students on climate issues during the challenges of COVID-19. This summer, I will generate a 3-part series of 5-10 page webcomics (online comics) featuring characters designed to teach younger students about complex environmental issues ranging from solar technology to permaculture farming systems, with an emphasis on ethics and environmental justice. I will gear the majority of my comic episodes towards 2nd-6th graders. As an Environmental Science & Policy major and Visual Media Studies minor, I see this project as an opportunity to culminate my academic career and give back to online learning communities during COVID-19. Through environmental research and visual storytelling, these comics will bring to life characters who are underrepresented in STEM fields, encourage ethical discussion, and make environmental science more accessible to all. I hope to explore what it means to be an ethical artist and environmentalist, particularly analyzing “sense of place,” colonization, and the Anthropocene through comics. Comics and cartoons are often dismissed as a frivolous art form designed to elicit giggles and goofiness. I believe that their value transcends humor alone. Comics have the power to convey social messages, awaken heroism, and change minds. As an artist, I believe that living an ethical life means using art as a tool to meaningfully engage an audience on social justice issues. Art is not merely a quiet, relaxing hobby; it is a purposeful, powerful way to pursue good and expose injustice. I hope to generate a comic series that fulfills this definition of art!

Lily Levin (she/her) is a current sophomore at Duke University majoring in English. She is passionate about the intersection of storytelling and justice and using the arts to advocate for mutual aid and collective liberation.

Lily Levin will be interning for Solitary Watch, a watchdog that reports on stories of those in solitary confinement. She’ll be specifically writing articles surrounding those incarcerated in detention centers at the US/Mexico border. — Lily Levin
Lily Levin (she/her) is a current sophomore at Duke University majoring in English. She is passionate about the intersection of storytelling and justice and using the arts to advocate for mutual aid and collective liberation. Lily Levin will be interning for Solitary Watch, a watchdog that reports on stories of those in solitary confinement. She’ll be specifically writing articles surrounding those incarcerated in detention centers at the US/Mexico border.

Muhammad Usama is a DKU sophomore, majoring in Political Science and Economics from Lahore, Pakistan. In his free time, he likes to read history, philosophy, and theology.

The project investigates the conditions of ethical rebellion against the state in the canon of Islamic political theology. In particular, the investigation focuses on jurisprudence as well as mystical sources within mainstream theology that seek to answer when can or must Muslims rebel against their rulers. The project focuses on neo-modern texts from the mid-19th century mostly, that are relevant to anti-colonial revolts led by theologians and mystics in South Asia and North Africa against the British and French, respectively. Key resistance movements include the Deoband movement in South Asia, the Qadiriyya, and Sanussi Orders (Mystic Orders) in Algeria and Libya that took part in armed resistance against colonial powers. The study would form part of a digital documentary archive featuring intellectual discourses, beliefs, cultures, and objectives of Islamist anti-colonial and independence movements as well as important figures involved in these movements. — Muhammad Usama
Muhammad Usama is a DKU sophomore, majoring in Political Science and Economics from Lahore, Pakistan. In his free time, he likes to read history, philosophy, and theology. The project investigates the conditions of ethical rebellion against the state in the canon of Islamic political theology. In particular, the investigation focuses on jurisprudence as well as mystical sources within mainstream theology that seek to answer when can or must Muslims rebel against their rulers. The project focuses on neo-modern texts from the mid-19th century mostly, that are relevant to anti-colonial revolts led by theologians and mystics in South Asia and North Africa against the British and French, respectively. Key resistance movements include the Deoband movement in South Asia, the Qadiriyya, and Sanussi Orders (Mystic Orders) in Algeria and Libya that took part in armed resistance against colonial powers. The study would form part of a digital documentary archive featuring intellectual discourses, beliefs, cultures, and objectives of Islamist anti-colonial and independence movements as well as important figures involved in these movements.

Delaney Eisen
This summer, Delaney will be spending my time trying to answer; how does one ethically recreate in the outdoors? She is hoping to understand how people think about their outdoor recreation with regards to living an ethical life. Delaney is exploring this topic through three distinct lenses: the government, private organizations, and outdoor enthusiasts. She will be looking into how the government thinks about wildlife areas, ethical conundrums with access to the outdoors, and other such history and facets of regulating outdoor spaces. Delaney will then be looking into how private organizations, like Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, teach and spread the word about ethical outdoor recreation. Finally, she will be asking outdoor enthusiasts about how they navigate the outdoors scene ethically and how they think about their outdoor habits. Plenty of people recreate in the outdoors without considering their impact and the ethics behind it, however Delaney has found that people that recreate most in the outdoors often do so following some sort of ethical guidelines. She will be investigating how enthusiasts create those guidelines for themselves and what those guidelines are. Overall, she is very excited to spend my summer diving into ethical outdoor recreation!

Announcing the 2021 ReMed and ReTech Fellows

Posted on April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 by Niall Schroder

Congratulations to the 2021 ReMed and ReTech Fellows!

Re-Imagining Medicine and Re-Imagining Tech are two innovative summer fellowship programs that allow students to explore the intersection of ethics and their respective fields.

ReMed will engage pre-health undergraduates in an exploration of the character and commitments required to address the field’s most pressing issues. Physicians, philosophers, and historians will work with students to explore foundational elements of change in medicine. Healthcare providers in a variety of fields will share their own training and experience to explore the moral purpose, practical wisdom, imagination, and practices needed to work effectively in contexts of healing and human suffering and to ensure the opportunity for optimal health outcomes for all. On ReMed’s faculty advisory committee are: Jeff Baker (Med/Trent/History), Neelima Navuluri (Med/DGHI), Warren Kinghorn (Med/Divinity), Jose Gonzalez (Classics), Alyssa Perz (Biology), Patrick Smith (Divinity/Trent), and Damon Tweedy (Med).

ReTech is designed to explore issues at the intersection of ethics and technology. The Fellows will meet throughout the summer to engage in conversation with experts and workshops pertaining to questions like: What historical and sociological understandings must inform our work to ensure technology is just, fair, humane and equitable? What does it mean to work with character, a sense of meaning and purpose, and to contribute to the public good? How do we design and make with thoughtful intent and cultural competence? On ReTech’s faculty advisory committee are: Jolynn Dellinger (Law), Owen Astrachan (Computer Science), and Ann Saterbak (Biomedical Engineering).

This year’s diverse cohort represent an astounding 19 departments, majoring or double majoring in the following subjects:

Computer Science • Global Health • Mathematics • Evolutionary Anthropology • Electrical Engineering • Public Policy • Mechanical Engineering • Visual Arts • Aerospace Engineering • History • Neural Engineering • Education • Cultural Anthropology • Sociology • Chemistry • Biology • Psychology • Philosophy • Neuroscience

ReMed

Beles Abebe, a rising senior from Holly Springs, NC, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Chemistry and Global Health, enjoys taking photographs of loved ones and nature, adores children and working with them, and is interested in research pertaining to social determinants of health and addressing healthcare disparities. — Beles Abebe

Connor Blue is a junior Psychology major with minors in Chemistry and German from Denver, CO. He does research on how creativity intersects with organic chemistry and aspires to a career in international medical relief. — Connor Blue

Danielle Kapustin is a senior (philosophy major; biology & chemistry minors) from Charlotte, NC, pursuing a career in medicine. She loves group exercise classes, collaborative brainstorming, crafting, thin mint ice cream from the Parlour, philosophizing about her life purpose (for better or worse!), and spending time with friends and family. — Danielle Kapustin

David Moon is a junior majoring in biology. Born in South Korea and raised in Boston, he is currently researching cancer biology and enjoys playing golf and listening to music. In the future, he hopes to become a physician-scientist in oncology. — David Moon

Ethan Bott, a fourth year Psychology major from Soldotna, AK, is most passionate about issues of substance use/addiction, healthcare inequalities, and education reform, and he currently conducts research on Pompe disease. In his free time, Ethan enjoys exercising, watching sports, and spending time with his friends and family. — Ethan Bott

Evan Liu, a rising senior studying biology from Honolulu, HI, researches couples communication and racial implicit bias in healthcare, loves exploring cities’ food scenes, and is an avid basketball, football, and tennis fan. When not on Zoom, he is hiking, attempting to cook, playing spikeball, or sleeping on the beach. — Evan Liu

Gianni Lacey-Howard, a junior Sociology major from Durham, NC, is working toward a career in community or family medicine. She is a QuestBridge Scholar, B.N. Duke Scholar, Cardea Fellow, and a member of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. Her hobbies include beading jewelry, dancing, painting, and exploring new foods. — Gianni Lacey-Howard

Ishaan Kumar is a rising senior from London, England, majoring in Philosophy, with a Chemistry Minor and a Science and Society Certificate. He works as the technical manager for Bluesmith, the home of medical 3D printing at Duke, and volunteers at the Community Empowerment Fund, a local Durham non-profit. He likes jazz and citrus fruit. — Ishaan Kumar

Jack Mulcrone, a rising junior Philosophy major from Vernon Hills, IL, is passionate about Chipotle, his two dogs, and a future career as a urologist. His hobbies include photographing abandoned buildings, playing basketball and tennis, and reading true ghost stories. He has recently discovered a love for Il Forno at WU. — Jack Mulcrone

Jenny Liu is a senior from College Station, TX, majoring in Neuroscience. She studies adolescent ethanol exposure in the Swartzwelder Lab, is happiest hiking in the mountains, and dabbles in playing the piano and guitar. She has become quite good at embroidery since the pandemic. — Jenny Liu

Kristin Ankoma-Sey is a rising junior from Houston, TX, majoring in Cultural Anthropology who hopes to pursue a career as a physician. She currently conducts research in the Willis lab about mimulus guttatus and has previously conducted research about electronic medical records. Some of her hobbies include reading, travelling, and gardening. — Kristin Ankoma-Sey

Melody Gao is a junior from Folsom, CA. She is majoring in History with a concentration in American history and minors in Chemistry and Spanish. She loves visiting history museums and historic sites, volunteering with the elderly, and practicing Taekwondo. — Melody Gao

Michael Larbie is a junior Biomedical Engineering major originally from Ghana, now from Matthews, NC. He is passionate about football, prosthetics, and global health, and hopes to help close the gaps in healthcare available to people across the US and around the world. — Michael Larbie

Olivia Santos is a rising junior from Atlanta, GA, studying Evolutionary Anthropology and Religious Studies. She is passionate about reproductive justice and is working towards a career in women’s health. In her free time, she enjoys baking, playing music, and reading stories about women. — Olivia Santos

Rebecca He, a rising junior from AZ double majoring in biology and visual arts, loves to drink boba (bubble) milk tea. Her passion is to establish medical clinics around the globe to provide quality healthcare and to demonstrate the love of Christ. She also loves playing tennis, music, and advocating that pineapple is the BEST topping on pizza. — Rebecca He

Saagar Jain, a senior Biology major, is from Fort Lauderdale, FL. He enjoys playing basketball, traveling, trying new food, and playing with his dogs. He is involved in neurobiology research at Duke and is interested in the role of technology in healthcare. — Saagar Jain

Sreya Rahmanis a rising senior from Houston, TX,studying neuroscience and chemistry. She is passionate about addressing healthcare inequities, her research on chronic pain and itch, and baking bread. — Sreya Rahman

Stephanie Green is a rising senior studying Public Policy and Global Health from Metro Detroit, MI. She’s an avid Michigan fan, does child policy research, and is working toward a career as a child psychiatrist. She’s also a vegetarian foodie, traveler, and Disney enthusiast. — Stephanie Green

ReTech

Ahana Sen is a rising senior majoring in computer science and mathematics. She has data science and software engineering experience from a variety of academic and professional projects and is broadly interested in the topics of data privacy, algorithm bias, and gender/racial equity in computing. This summer she will be working at Goldman Sachs as Technology Analyst in the Global Markets division. On campus, she is involved in Duke Student Government, the Duke Debating Society and the Association for Women in Mathematics. — Ahana Sen

Ameer Syedibrahim is a rising senior studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He enjoys exploring the intersection between software and real-world applications that impact humans. He is particularly interested in the use of machine learning in the medical realm. One prior work of his involves the use of deep learning to identify prostate cancer malignancies in patients. Through his pursuit of this endeavor and other software-oriented projects of his, he is striving to be more mindful of the ethical implications of the technology he is constructing. — Ameer Syedibrahim

Annika Allado is a member of the class of 2023 studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Visual Arts. Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, she is extremely passionate about inciting change back at home and other third-world countries through the intersection of art + design with engineering. She is interested in the field of product design/development with a focus on medical devices and conservation technology. At Duke, she is an engineering consultant at Design Hub, the Community Development Head for DTech, the Design Chair for the Street Medicine Dance Team and a researcher at the Aeroelasticity Department. In her free time she loves to dance, draw, analyze Christopher Nolan and WWII movies, and collect sneakers. — Annika Allado

Cathy Wang is a rising senior from Minneapolis, Minnesota studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is interested in tech for social good, software engineering, and data science. In her free time, Cathy can be found hiking, reading, or playing board games. — Cathylin Wang

Grace is an incoming senior from San Diego, California studying Neural Engineering through the Pratt IDEAS program. She is excited about applying technology to improve medicine and education, and she hopes to find her space somewhere at the intersection of biomedical engineering research, education, and industry. In her free time, she plays flute in DUMB (Duke University Marching Band), tutors local elementary students in science and math, and loves rock climbing. — Grace Dessert

Jacob is a rising senior from West Jefferson, North Carolina studying biomedical engineering. He is a member of the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program and a team lead for Duke Enable, an organization that produces prosthetic devices for people in Durham. After graduation, Jacob plans to pursue a career at a medical device company. — Jacob Key

Jacob Manders is a rising junior from South Jersey studying mechanical and aerospace engineering. Outside of the classroom, he is involved in campus research, Duke Motorsports, and Chabad at Duke. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, reading, meditation, and playing basketball. — Jacob Manders

As a prospective computer science major, I am constantly fascinated by the computational technologies but at the same time believe that our technological prowess comes with a need for responsibility and accountability. As a woman in S.T.E.M., I have always been personally empowered as I learn to code - I wish to give back and help extend such empowerment to more individuals and communities. I am committed to a better future where we design and implement technology with intention and a full consideration of its ethical and social implications. — Jiayi Hao

Hi, my name is Kara Lindstrom! I am a sophomore at Duke studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. Outside of class I am involved in the Duke Enable Club and the Duke RoboSubmarine Team, and I work at the Duke Innovation Colab. In my spare time I like to draw, rock climb, and play guitar. — Kara Lindstrom

Hello, my name is Major, and I’m excited to be a Re-Imagining Tech Fellow this summer. I am a native Memphian in the class of 2024. As an introspective and passionate learner, bridging different personal interests has always excited me. My desire to study STEM lies within my love for studying relationships and connections in our world. As a child, I spent significant time reading in my grandmother’s den, and my favorite topics to explore always concerned numbers or nature.

Currently, I intend on studying mathematics, computer science, and education while at Duke. I am a lover of classical studies and classical music, and I enjoy laughing, eating, dancing, and sleeping. As a product of a family of educators, I am also passionate about closing achievement gaps and examining the forces that create them. I plan on pursuing research opportunities throughout my time here, and I will either continue into graduate school or work in industry as a data analyst or software engineer. — Major Glenn

I’m a rising senior studying Electrical and Computer Engineering with a concentration in machine learning and a Science and Society certificate in Digital Intelligence! My interests are in machine learning research and regulation, specifically in the technical sides of model fairness, translatability, robustness, and explainability. My research has mostly been in healthcare applications, working with Dr. Nimmi Ramanujam on domain translation in a cervical cancer diagnosis model, and on models for pulmonary performance prediction and risk assessment in organ transplants. I also sing in Duke’s Chorale, am an RA, and help facilitate discussions for Duke’s Effective Altruism group. — Megan Richards

"Mohammad Ehsan Khatami is a junior ECE and Public Policy
major from Pittsburgh, PA. He's an entertainment and media fanatic who wants to develop and direct immersive experiences. He's spent countless hours playing video games and watching movies, but he loves creating them even more. You can usually find him at MMA practice, the arcade, or the Friday prayer." — Mohammad Khatami

Nikhita Gopisetty is a second-year student from the South Bay Area, California pursuing a double major in Biomedical Engineering and Global Health with a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She aspires to develop and implement accessible technologies in low-resource settings to improve quality of life for people around the world. She serves as a peer coach for adolescents and young adults living with chronic conditions and a community health navigator at Lincoln Community Health Center in Durham. On campus, she is involved with Engineering World Health, Bass Connections, and E-Team. — Nikhita Gopisetty

I am a junior from the San Francisco Bay Area studying Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry. I believe that engineering not only provides a set of tools to think about and solve problems, but also a medium to empower the underserved and to celebrate human creativity. I currently research self-assembling immunogens in the Collier Group as a Pratt Fellow and have studied injectable hydrogels for stroke repair in the Segura Lab as a Huang Fellow. Through the Science, Law, and Policy Lab, I also evaluated the ethical concerns around DNA collection from immigrants to the U.S. and the privacy implications of thermal facial recognition surveillance during COVID-19. In my free time, I am an avid cook and squash player. I hope that the conversations in Reimagining Tech will continue to nurture my interests at the intersection of engineering and ethics, sociology, and health policy. — Rishabh Jain

I am a rising junior from Marlboro, New Jersey studying electrical engineering and math. I am also passionate about the intersection of health and engineering. Specifically, I am interested in medical devices and robotics that improve the lives of patients and physicians. On campus, I am involved with the dance community. I am on the Defining Movement and Duke Dhamaka dance teams, and I teach classes to kids in the local Durham community. This summer, I am excited to discuss important ethical issues with like-minded students and faculty. — Rishi Salwi

Samarth Lamba is doing a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering & Computer Science with a minor in Psychology. Samarth has previous tech experience working at companies like Amazon Robotics, Tesla, and Cummins and leadership experience on campus working with DSC, DBS among others. Samarth is interested in the intersection of Tech and policy and how tech can be best used to enable all of us. — Samarth Lamba

I am a rising junior from Calabasas, California studying mechanical engineering. I am interested in international development, infrastructure, and product design and am excited to explore how ethical considerations can be effectively applied to engineering work. — Sophia Simms

I'm a rising senior from Durham, NC. I'm pursuing a double major in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science and am especially interested in robotics and embedded systems. After graduating, I hope to work in R&D or at a start-up and help build the next generation of cutting-edge technology -- which is why I'm excited to spend this summer exploring the ethics of technological development. In my free time, I like to tinker (building little robots or neat bits of software), go rock climbing, play with my dog, or eat good food at Durham's amazing restaurants! — Thomas Owens

The ReMed and ReTech Fellowships are programs of The Purpose Project. The Purpose Project, sponsored by The Duke Endowment, makes matters of character, questions of purpose and explorations of one’s life’s work signature features of the Duke experience.

Re-Imagining Medicine Fellowship 2021: Passion, Purpose, and Practical Wisdom

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Niall Schroder

Apply Now! Deadline April 9

The Re-Imagining Medicine Fellowship (ReMed), sponsored by the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine, Trinity College, and the Kenan Institute for Ethics, will offer 15 pre-health Duke students a virtual, interactive summer program exploring the intersection of medicine, virtue, and moral purpose.

ReMed seeks to foster the character, imagination, and practices needed to work effectively in contexts of human suffering and healing. Leaders across disciplines — history, ethics, spirituality, and expressive writing, as well as doctors and other healthcare professionals help students explore themes often absent in traditional medical education.

Fellows will meet weekly on Thursday evenings in June and July. Each Fellow will be paired with a medical mentor for additional engagement throughout the summer.

Fellows will receive a stipend of $1000.

Why Re-Imagine?

Virtually all graduates of US medical schools take some form of the Hippocratic Oath, one of the oldest covenants in history and an expression of ideal conduct for the physician. The ancients could not have imagined the complex moral landscape of medical practice today, from protecting patient privacy to responding to a global pandemic to addressing inequities based on race, class, and location.

In this Fellowship program, you are invited to imagine the ways that doctors and other healthcare professionals can use their specialized knowledge and skills with humility to care for individuals, cure and prevent disease and suffering, flourish in their chosen profession, and work toward the greater good.

This Fellowship is a program of The Purpose Project at Duke. The Purpose Project, sponsored by The Duke Endowment, makes matters of character, questions of purpose, and explorations of one’s life’s work signature features of the Duke experience.

The Program

ReMed will begin in mid-May with a virtual welcome event for introductions and orientation. In June-July, we will meet in the evening once a week for discussions and problem-solving activities focused on questions such as:

How do we move from what we can do to what we should do?
What does it mean in practice to “do no harm”? And how do we affirmatively “do good”?
What historical and sociological understandings must inform our work to ensure that healthcare is just, fair, humane and equitable?
How can we prepare to practice medicine with character, to develop a sense of meaning and purpose, and to contribute to society?
What skills are needed to be a “good” doctor, and where can we learn, develop, and see them in practice?

As we consider these questions in the context of professional life and current events, we will focus on the broader implications of the work of healthcare professionals for society as a whole and how they contribute to a just and equitable society and human flourishing more generally. We will work to cultivate student creativity, compassion and humility. We will practice ethical reasoning in context. We will also explore civic virtues—justice, inclusion, and service—and the moral and intellectual virtues that promote contributions to the public good: autonomy, judgment, honesty, and empathy.

The Fellowship will also connect students with mentors in the health professions. When we return to campus in the fall, ReMed will conclude with a Summer in Review conversation and a final (hopefully in-person) event to celebrate completion of the program. Enthusiastic participation in all aspects of the program, May-October, is required.

Apply Now!

To apply, please complete and submit the application, including your résumé and contact information for a faculty member who will serve as a reference, by April 9, 2021. Fellows will be selected and all applicants notified no later than April 21. The program will begin in mid-May with Orientation and end in October with a closing event. Participants do not need to reside in Durham during the summer.

The Re-Imagining Tech Fellowship 2021: Creating a Future Worth Wanting

Posted on March 16, 2021March 23, 2021 by Niall Schroder

Apply Now! Deadline April 9

The Re-Imagining Tech Fellowship, sponsored by Kenan Institute for Ethics, Trinity College, and Pratt School of Engineering, will offer 15 students pursuing (or intending to pursue) majors in engineering and computer science at Duke University an interactive summer program exploring the intersection of ethics and technology.

Fellows will receive a $1,000 stipend; meet weekly on Wednesday evenings in June/July for 12 program events featuring speakers, discussions, hands-on activities and community building; and participate in a 1:1 mentorship program.

Why Re-Imagine?

In her book Technology and the Virtues, Shannon Vallor investigates what it will take to create “a future worth wanting.” As engineers and computer scientists, you have the capacity to contribute to this future by designing, building, and implementing ethical, human-centered technologies and putting data to work for good. In this Fellowship program, the Kenan Institute for Ethics invites you to explore the ways that engineers and computer scientists can use their education and skills to affect the common good—to consider what that looks like in practice and to think critically about the consequences of building things that exist in the world and affect people.

This Fellowship is a program of The Purpose Project. The Purpose Project, sponsored by The Duke Endowment, makes matters of character, questions of purpose and explorations of one’s life’s work signature features of the Duke experience.

The Program

We will kick off our program in mid-May with a welcome event for introductions and orientation. During June and July, we will meet in the evening once a week with guest speakers from industry, government and civil society for discussions and problem-solving activities focused on the following questions:

How do we move from what we CAN do to what we SHOULD do? What does it mean in practice to “do no harm”? And how do we affirmatively “do good”?
What do you do when you are asked to do something you think is wrong at work?
What are strategies to manage work in gray areas, problems with more than one “right” answer,” and problems that cannot be “solved” in an objective way?
What historical and sociological understandings must inform our work to ensure technology is just, fair, humane and equitable?
What does it mean to work with character, a sense of meaning and purpose, and to contribute to the public good?
How do we design and make with thoughtful intent and cultural competence?
How should we describe the broad skillset needed to be a “good” engineer or computer scientist?

As we consider these questions in the context of professional life and current events, we will focus on the broader implications of the work of engineers and computer scientists for society as a whole and the importance of creativity, the human element, and reasoning in context. We will explore civic virtues—civility, justice, inclusion and service—and the moral and intellectual virtues that promote contributions to the public good: autonomy, judgment, honesty, and empathy.

The Fellowship will also connect students with industry mentors and offer opportunities for mentor engagement during the summer. When we return to campus in the Fall, the Program will include two events, a wrap-up Summer in Review conversation and a final (hopefully in person) event to celebrate the conclusion of the program.

Apply Now!

To apply, please fill out the short application form and submit it, together with your resume, by April 9. Fellows will be selected and notified not later than April 21. The program will begin in mid-May and conclude by October 2021. Please contact Jeremy Buotte with any questions.

Fostering Online Community: RJ Fellows go virtual this spring!

Posted on March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 by Niall Schroder

While social distancing presented all kinds of challenges for gathering, the Restorative Justice Fellows adapted their efforts this spring with zoom circles for students to build community, for a RJ house course, and for a variety of their own projects in and outside of Duke. Check out the returning and new fellows below who will be circling up online this semester.

Returning Fellows include:

Ale Gomez
Ale is a senior from Miami, FL. She is studying Public Policy and Education with plans to teach after graduation (in Durham hopefully!) before doing a master’s in education policy. She’s interested in restorative justice work because she’s used it in classroom settings. This semester she’ll be working with other RJ Fellows to supports students at the North Carolina School of Science and Math interested in bringing RJ to their school.

Ali Hurst
Ali is a junior from Dallas, TX, studying Biology and African American Studies, with hopes of attending law school and working in criminal justice reform.. This semester she’ll working with other RJ Fellows to introduce a series of “teach-ins” on the history and possibility of RJ in education, criminal justice and our everyday lives. When she isn’t doing schoolwork or participating in campus organizations, Ali likes to read, hike, and listen to music.

Arya Patel
Arya is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina studying Public Policy and Economics. She has participated in various Kenan programs that have integrated Restorative elements including the Focus Program, the Kenan Refugee Project, and Project Change. Arya is particularly interested in Restorative Justice because of the power it has to strengthen communities through an inclusive and humanistic approach. Arya would like to apply restorative practices in her daily life to strengthen her relationships and communications skills. Professionally, Arya hopes to apply restorative practices in her future career in international development and peace and security to elevate marginalized voices and help create equitable policies.

Chris Klasson
Chris is a senior from Rome, GA. He is a history major with chemistry and biology minors , with aspirations to be a physician. He is interested in the ways that the humanities can be included in spaces they are traditionally not addressed, such as medicine, to emphasize the importance of community through shared experiences and empathy. He has used restorative justice for community building in his organizations, and teaches a course that introduces Duke students to restorative practices and principles from both an intellectual stand point and personal perspective to incorporate into their own lives.

And introducing new Fellows:

Cydney Livingston
Cydney is a junior from Wadesboro, North Carolina. She is majoring in biology and history with interests in pursuing graduate work in the history of science, technology, and medicine. Cydney writes for Duke’s Research and serves as a peer advisor. She is interested in restorative justice because it provides a rare means to create vulnerable, connectives spaces that foster community and the ability to speak one’s unfiltered truth. Cydney believes this sort of committed listening and intentional reflection and introspection is critical to address intergenerational harms, confront institutionalized inequities, and provide bridges between seemingly disparate peoples. She hopes to make RJ more accessible on Duke’s campus and within the Durham community to address self-identified areas of need. In her free time, Cydney likes to enjoy nature, read, write, and spend quality time with friends and family.

Dominik Unger
Dominik is a junior from Luxembourg. He is majoring in Public Policy with a minor in Economics and certificate in Markets & Management. After being introduced to Restorative Justice through the House Course in a previous semester, Dominik became aware of the opportunities in which RJ could be used. He is particularly interested in applying RJ practices in spaces where they traditionally have not been used such as Family and Relationship Dynamics. He hopes to use Restorative Justice to build community in the organizations he is involved with on campus.

Kathryn Silberstein
Kathryn is a senior from Delray Beach, Florida, and she is majoring in neuroscience with minors in biology and global health. Kathryn was first introduced to restorative justice in a workshop for the student-led Sexual Assault Prevention Team on campus, and is enthusiastic about how restorative practices can be used across many spheres on campus. As a student in the Restorative Justice housecourse, Kathryn was inspired by how restorative practices foster authenticity and genuine human relationships, even in the absence of face-to-face contact.

Yvonne Bonsu
Yvonne is a first-year student from the Bronx. She is currently undecided, but has interests in social justice, Black leadership, and community engagement. She has a vested passion in restorative justice because constant harm has been done to people, and students of color in specific. Black and brown students deserve a space where they can be heard and open up in ways they aren’t usually able to. Through her work at Harlem Youth Court, she gained skills on circle keeping which she used in her high school’s Fairness Committee as an outlet to avoid rising suspension and detention rates. Restorative justice is about restoring harm done and creating community after wrongdoing takes place. She plans to raise awareness about the usability of RJ in racial spaces so that as a community, people of color can begin to unpack and heal some of the trauma they hold.

What is RJ?

Restorative Justice is an ethical framework based on the fundamental premise that people are happier, more cooperative, more productive and more likely to make positive changes when they work with others in authority to address concerns. The restorative practices model provides a guiding philosophy to foster community that proactively builds positive relationships, creates shared values, and manages conflict by acknowledging and repairing harms. In so doing, social wellbeing, belonging and civic participation increases while misbehavior, harassment and violence decreases—such outcomes have been well documented in K-12 and criminal justice settings and suggest similar results would be seen in other settings like university campuses.

Now Accepting Applications for Ethics & Global Citizenship Living/Learning Community

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Niall Schroder

LLC students have the opportunity to engage with contemporary ethical challenges—from climate change to health inequality to global migration through activities both on campus and in the community. Through the annual student designed research service learning trip and on campus dinners, social events, a half-credit course in the fall, and discussions with faculty and guests, The Ethics and Global Citizenship LLC provides unique networking opportunities. All undergraduate students are eligible to apply. Joining the community does not preclude other affiliations and past participation in a KIE program is not a requirement.

The living community is ideal for students interested both in ethical questions of all kinds and what it means to be an ideal citizen. Residents will have the opportunity to shape discussions through leadership roles and personal ethical interests.

The Global Citizenship and Ethics Living/Learning Community does not charge dues, so students only incur the usual costs of room and board.

Please contact Suzanne Shanahan (suzanne.shanahan@duke.edu) with inquiries.

Application is due at Noon on March 1st.

APPLY NOW!