Tech Policy 202: Spring 2025 Educational Seminar Series for Congressional Staff

About This Course

ITIF’s spring seminar course explores core emerging technologies and issues that are reshaping our world and, in the process, creating public policy challenges and opportunities. The course is open to congressional staff only. It is designed to help those who already have basic level of understanding of technology and tech policy develop a deeper understanding of key emerging technologies and issues and the policy factors associated with them. Participating Hill staff will be exposed to an array of complex tech policy issues confronting Congress, with the opportunity to discuss and debate the questions and policy challenges presented by new technologies with ITIF analysts and other experts. Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course if they attend at least four out of the five classes. The course and certificate are free of charge.

Topics to Be Explored in the Spring 2025 Seminar Series

• Floating Connection: Broadband and Space-based Technologies
• Next Gen Drug Development: AI and the Life Sciences
• Deep Dive into Deepfakes
• The Future, Today: Quantum and AI
• The Basics of Atomic Energy

Monday, March 3: Floating Connection: Broadband and Space-based Technologies

As thousands of satellites now orbit the Earth, the space economy is now an essential part of America's communications infrastructure. This session will discuss how current satellite technology addresses connectivity gaps and how policymakers can enable the next generation of technology to provide even greater benefits. Topics will include the various types of satellite constellations and how they provide broadband as well as how these innovative technologies are regulated from launch, orbital debris, spectrum sharing, and broadband funding.

Speaker:

• Joe Kane, Director, Broadband and Spectrum Policy

Monday, March 10: Next Gen Drug Development: AI and the Life Sciences

Will AI revolutionize the life sciences? This session will look at the many opportunities AI creates in the life sciences sector. From using AI to discover new molecules to accelerating literature reviews and transforming R&D productivity, recent technological advancements are already having an important impact on the sector. Participants will discuss how the U.S. compares globally in using AI in life sciences, steps to stay competitive in life sciences, strategies for supporting AI-driven healthcare suggestions, and the impact of data sharing and privacy on AI applications.

Speaker:

• Sandra Barbosu, Associate Director, Center for Life Sciences Innovation

Monday, March 17: Deep Dive into Deepfakes

A growing number of digital tools are making it easier than ever to create deepfakes—realistic audio, video, and images that depict people doing or saying things that never actually happened. While there are many nefarious uses of this technology, many of the techniques used to create deepfakes also have completely legitimate uses, such as for commercial video editing. Yet the increased presence of deepfakes creates many risks, including election misinformation and online abuse and harassment. Many different stakeholders will need to play an important role in preventing the spread of harmful deepfakes on social networks, identifying legitimate and illegitimate content, and protecting individual rights.

Speaker:

• Ash Johnson, Senior Policy Manager

Monday, March 24: The Future, Today: Quantum and AI

This session will explain what quantum computing is, highlight advancements in quantum applications across commercial sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and biomedical innovation, and explore its implications for telecommunications and national security. It will focus on the U.S. government's 2025 quantum policy goals, including maintaining global leadership in quantum research and development, fostering a robust quantum technology ecosystem, and securing critical supply chains. Participants will also examine the role of federal funding, workforce development, and public-private partnerships in achieving these objectives, along with the implications for congressional policymaking in advancing U.S. competitiveness in quantum technologies.

Speaker:

• Hodan Omaar, Senior Policy Manager, Center for Data Innovation

Monday, March 31: The Basics of Atomic Energy

This class will provide an overview of the current state of nuclear energy in the United States, highlighting its role in the nation's energy mix and the challenges facing large-scale nuclear expansion. The session will explore the promising potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a more flexible and scalable solution than traditional, large-scale nuclear power plants. Participants will gain insights into the technological advancements, regulatory landscape, and economic factors that make SMRs a viable option for future energy needs. This session aims to equip congressional staff with a comprehensive understanding of nuclear energy's evolving landscape and the strategic importance of SMRs.

Speaker:

• Robin Gaster, Research Director, Center for Clean Energy Innovation

About ITIF

Founded in 2006, ITIF is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate, evaluate, and promote policy solutions that accelerate innovation and boost productivity to spur growth, opportunity, and progress. ITIF’s goal is to provide policymakers around the world with high quality information, analysis, and recommendations they can trust. On the strength and influence of its work, the University of Pennsylvania has ranked ITIF as the top science and technology think tank in the world.While ITIF takes positions on many policy issues, this course is not intended to advocate for its positions. Instead, ITIF aims to further its educational mission by fostering rigorous discussion and examining various facets of contemporary tech policy issues.

Legal Compliance and Ethical Guidelines

ITIF has worked closely with counsel at Perkins Coie LLP to ensure these seminars comply with House and Senate ethics guidelines concerning events attended by congressional staff.