Tech Spotlight 2020

Recognizing projects and initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to tech and public purpose

Tech Spotlight 2020

2020 2021

About

In 2019, we launched the Tech Spotlight to highlight efforts that are working to address the dilemmas of technological change. In our first year, we reviewed over 200 nominations from 18 different countries. Each nomination was evaluated for their demonstrated impact, innovation, and commitment to public good. In October 2020, we published the Inaugural Tech Spotlight Casebook and hosted the Inaugural Tech Spotlight Ceremony to recognize the 2020 Runners Up and Spotlight Recipients.

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Case Studies

Case studies detail how the recipients of this years’ Tech Spotlight are making an impact.

All Case Studies Download the Casebook

Virtual Ceremony

Featuring

Ash Carter

Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; 25th U.S. Secretary of Defense

Nicholas Thompson

CEO, The Atlantic

Spotlight Fireside Chat

Selection Committee

Picture of Ash Carter

Ash Carter

Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; 25th U.S. Secretary of Defense

Picture of Nancy Gibbs

Nancy Gibbs

Director, Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School

Picture of John Holdren

John Holdren

Professor of Environmental Policy; Co-Director, Science, Technology and Public Policy Program, Harvard Kennedy School

Picture of Sheila Jasanoff

Sheila Jasanoff

Professor, Science and Technology Studies, Harvard Kennedy School

Picture of Travis McCready

Travis McCready

Executive Director, US Life Sciences Market, Jones Lang LaSalle

Picture of Jen Pahlka

Jen Pahlka

Founder, Code for America

Picture of DJ Patil

DJ Patil

Senior Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School; Former Inaugural U.S. Chief Data Scientist

Picture of Katie Rae

Katie Rae

CEO and Managing Partner, The Engine

Picture of Nick Sinai

Nick Sinai

Senior Advisor, Insight Ventures; Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School

Picture of Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson

CEO, The Atlantic

Picture of Tim O’Reilly

Tim O’Reilly

Founder and CEO, O’Reilly Media

Picture of Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

Dean, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Reviewers

William Anderson

Senior Lecturer, Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University

Maria Barsallo-Lynch

Executive Director, Defending Digital Democracy Project, Harvard Kennedy School

Chris Bakerlee

PhD Candidate, Molecules, Cells and Organisms, Harvard University

Arjun Bisen

Policy Advisor, Google

Afua Bruce

Chief Program Officer, DataKind

Kade Crockford

Director, Technology for Liberty Program, ACLU of Massachusetts

Angela Depace

Associate Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School

Joan Donovan

Director of the Technology and Social Change Project, Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School

Jessica Fjeld

Lecturer on Law and the Assistant Director of the Cyberlaw Clinic at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society

Dipayan Ghosh

Co-director, Digital Platforms & Democracy Project & Shorenstein Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School

Oliver Lewis

Co-founder, Rebellion Defense

Chris Lynch

Co-Founder, Rebellion Defense

Pradeepan Parthiban

AI and Modern Slavery Research Fellow, United Nations Centre for Policy Research

Kathy Pham

Fellow and Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard Kennedy School

Vanessa Rhinesmith

Associate Research Director, Technology and Social Change Project, Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School

Emily Roseman

Research Assistant, Harvard Kennedy School

Steve Strassmann

Senior Architect, Kyruus; Former CTO, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Alexander Titus

Independent Consultant, Titus Analytics

Andre Uhl

Founder Council on Extended Intelligence

Julia Voo

Executive Director, China Cyber Policy Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School

Lauren Zabierek

Executive Director, Cyber Project, Harvard Kennedy School