ITIF Education Series: Tech Policy 202 Syllabus
Wednesday, March 4 – April 8, 2020 from 5:30-7:30 pm
27 D Street SE | Washington, DC 20003
This spring seminar course explores core emerging technologies that are reshaping our world and, in the process, creating public policy challenges and opportunities. It is designed to help Congressional staffers who already have a basic level of understanding of technology and tech policy to develop a deeper understanding of key emerging technologies and the policy issues associated with them. Participants 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. Participants must attend at least five out of the seven classes to receive a certificate. The course and certificate are free of charge.
Agenda
Wednesday, March 4: 5G and Spectrum
This session will give participants a deep understanding of wireless networks, the transition to the fifth generation (5G) of mobile networks, and how it intersects with a variety of policy issues. Advanced wireless networks represent a key platform for future innovation, and successful development and deployment of 5G represents a tremendous opportunity for economic growth.
Presenters:
- Doug Brake, Director, Broadband and Spectrum Policy, ITIF
Readings:
- ITIF Technology Explainer: What is 5G?
- 5G and Next Generation Wireless: Implications for Policy and Competition, (optional reading)
- Making 5G NR a Reality, (optional reading)
Wednesday, March 11: Gene Editing
The session will explain what gene editing is, how it works, how it was discovered, and what folks are trying to accomplish with it across a wide spectrum of applications in biomedicine, agriculture, and industry. The session will review different approaches to policy issues in different countries, including intellectual property and regulation. It will also examine lessons that should inform the direction of U.S. policy.
Presenter:
- Val Giddings, Senior Fellow, ITIF
Readings:
- The Wired Guide to Crispr
- Everything You Need to Know About Crispr Gene Editing
- Gene Editing, Government Regulation, and Greening our Future. (optional reading)
- Gene Editing, GMOs, and Fear-Based Marketing. (optional reading)
- CRISPR Babies and the Future of Gene Editing. (optional reading)
Wednesday, March 18: Quantum Computing
The session will explain what quantum computing is, discuss how quantum computing applications are being developed across a wide range of commercial sectors (from finance and manufacturing to biomedical innovation), and consider the telecommunications and defense/security implications of quantum computing. It will examine what types of policies nations have implemented in their quest for quantum computing leadership and discuss implications for U.S. policymaking around quantum computing.
Presenters:
- Ashley Johnson, Research Analyst, ITIF
- Arthur Herman, Senior Fellow, The Hudson Institute
Readings:
- ITIF Technology Explainer: What is Quantum Computing?
- The Wired Guide to Quantum Computing
- Quantum Computing Explained in 10 Minutes, (optional video, 10min).
Wednesday, March 25: Machine Learning
This session will explore trends in machine learning, including an overview of the technologies involved and their capabilities and implications, as well as the current state of research in the field. With this foundation to separate realistic concerns from the sensational, the class will then discuss relevant policy issues.
Presenters:
- Michael McLaughlin, Research Analyst, ITIF
- Austin Carson, Government Relations, NVIDIA
Readings:
- Machine Learning: An In-Depth Non-Technical Guide - Overview, Goals, Learning Types, and Algorithms
- You and AI – the history, capabilities and frontiers of AI - Featuring Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder for DeepMind, (optional video, approximately 1.5 hours)
- How Policymakers Can Foster Algorithmic Accountability, (optional reading)
- Why the United States Needs a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and What It Should Look Like, (optional reading)
Wednesday, April 1: Carbon Removal
This session will explore carbon removal pathways--sometimes referred to as negative emissions technologies--that capture and sequester carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. It will examine the role of carbon removal in addressing climate change, the status of natural and technological carbon removal pathways, and the role of policy in accelerating carbon removal approaches.
Presenters:
- Colin Cunliff, Senior Policy Analyst
- David Hart, Senior Fellow, ITIF
- Giana Amador, Managing Director, Carbon 180
- Erin Burns, Director of Policy, Carbon180
Readings:
- It’s Time to Start Pulling Carbon Out of the Atmosphere
- Innovation Gap: Carbon Dioxide Removal
- PowerPoint Presentation: Negative Emissions Technologies Sucking Carbon Out of the Air
- Carbon180 Fact Sheet: Direct Air Capture
Wednesday, April 8: Blockchain
This session will explain the fundamentals of blockchain technology. It will explain how blockchains and distributed ledgers work, examine their strengths and weaknesses, and highlight several applications of the technology. It will also discuss the policy implications of blockchain-enabled decentralization across various industries, including financial services to identity management.
Presenter:
- Hodan Omaar, Research Analyst, ITIF
- Garrick Hileman, Head of Research, Blockchain
Readings:
- What is “Blockchain” Anyway?
- Ledgers, Distributed Ledgers, and Consensus, (video lesson, free to join, 3 min)
- The Paper Blockchain, (video lesson, free to join, 3 min)
- ITIF Technology Explainer: What is Blockchain? (optional reading)
