//introducing...
Our Philosophy
GeoTech's goal is to instill in students a degree of empowerment, confidence, and comfortability in approaching questions of technology policy. Technology inherently creates positive and negative externalities for society. It is a tool that often is dealt with reactively, instead of proactively when considering its impact on society.
We want people to be more creative about these technologies as a means of developing more proactive understandings of what our shared technological futures may look like. Essay contest winners will be integrated into the GeoTech community. They can participate in all our activities and our research (if they want), while feeling empowered to continue their creativity!
If all goes well, GeoTech will be a cross-campus community of tech policy thinkers.
Official Contest Rules
This year, the Geopolitics of Technology Initiative is hosting it's inaugural Science and Technology Scholar essay contest to encourage academic creativity in the ways we consider the structures that define our technological futures. As an addition to our ongoing research into the development of inclusive and responsible technology development, this essay contest aims to bring all areas of academic study together through a practice in collaboration, imagination, and thought.
Topic: With our current trajectory, what does society's technological future look like? New thought in Science and Technology Studies (STS) has often had no boundaries in medium, culture or topic. When thinking about this question, creativity is encouraged and preferred. Any form of writing (i.e. science fiction, academic, persuasive, prose/poetry, etc.) and any specified focus is welcomed. 1-3 pages is the recommended length, but there is no penalty in regards to formatting or length.
To consider: what is science and technology? What structures define learning, knowing, and innovating? What dictates technology?
Timeline (all due dates are at 11:59 PM EST):
Science and Technology Scholar Essay Deadline: March 3rd
Essay Winner Announcement: April
Prize:
1. $300 awarded to 1st place, $150 to 2nd, and $50 to 3rd
2. Access to travel, speaker, and research opportunities for 2024 GeoTech Fellows
3. Future Employment Opportunity within the GeoTech Initiative
Eligibility:
ALL MAJORS are encouraged to submit, including all STEM and Social Science fields. We hope to receive a variety of work (from Ecobrutalism to Afrofuturism, all are welcome). As this essay contest aims to seek out future GeoTech-interested students, we particularly are interested in underclassmen submissions, although all class levels are eligible.
It is recommended for applicants to be continuing education past the Spring 2024 semester to qualify. In line with Geo-Tech's joint-research initiative between William & Mary's Global Research Institute and Yale University's Yale Policy Institute, this essay contest will be offered to both William & Mary and Yale University undergraduate students.
Apply here at: https://forms.gle/28Dq8AyT4fzGm8nw6
FAQ
Do i have to submit to the application and the essay contest?
No. They are not simultaneously required nor are they mutually exclusive. The Essay Contest guarantees a spot in future GeoTech projects, but it is encouraged that everyone who applies to either applies to both!