Image credit: Sylvain Durocher

Current Issue – September 2024

Technology and Analytics for Global Development

Sustainable Global Development has been of great concern for decades, yet the world continues to grapple with this “wicked problem.” The United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) present a global agenda that is inherently complex, multifaceted, and socially embedded. As if the SDGs were not ambitious enough, the 2020s ushered in the age of policy crisis characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic, armed conflicts and forced migration, and catastrophic effects of climate change, such as unprecedented flooding, droughts, and severe weather events. No one is immune to the effects of these crises as millions of people and the planet are suffering. Urgent, informed action is required to ensure that human rights are protected, that people can live in good health and security and thrive in meaningful livelihoods, and that the planet continues to offer a hospitable environment for all living things in the planetary ecosystem.

Digital information and communications technologies are a powerful catalyst for sustainability. Through their ability to collect and process data, digital technologies can automate critical processes and complicated tasks to improve efficiency and inform better decision-making at all levels.

Free Online Content

• The Ethics of Product Development—Houston, Do We Have a Problem? by Colin Ashruf Posted in: Articles, Case Studies, Commentary, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Though it is hard to find accurate figures on how many products introduced every year fail to meet safety and… ...  Read More
• Call for EIC/Co-EICs of IEEE Transactions on Technology and Society by John Impagliazzo Posted in: Announcements, Articles, Blog Posts, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact, SSIT Announcements, Transactions - The Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) seeks applications and… ...  Read More
• Regenerative Agriculture and Sustainable Stewardship by Ann-Louise Davidson Posted in: Articles, Editorial & Opinion, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Regenerative agriculture involves improving, not depleting, the resources used. Cora and Mike’s methods emphasize the symbiotic relationship between the animals and… ...  Read More
• Technology, Society, and Generational Interoperability—An Incredible July 2024 by Luis Kun Posted in: Articles, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, President's Message, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Aging provides us the ability to look back and compare different time periods in our lifetime while using technology as… ...  Read More
• Food Security and Agriculture: Technology, Policy, Choices by Ketra Schmitt Posted in: Articles, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Case Studies, Editorial & Opinion, Environment, Ethics, Health & Medical, Human Impacts, Magazine Articles, Social Implications of Technology, Societal Impact - Food security and agriculture are complex systems that interconnect with many other issues, including poverty and environmental sustainability. These urgent… ...  Read More

NOTE: Most IEEE Technology and Society Magazine columns and department articles are publicly accessible at no charge. Click on the title of any non-refereed article to read.

SSIT membership (subscription) is required to access refereed articles (marked with asterisk).