Automation
With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and automation, the nature of work is changing at an unprecedented pace. This Praxis Lab explored the societal implications of automation, from the replacement of cashiers with digital kiosks to the predicted obsolescence of entire professions in the coming decades.
Students examined the complexities of automation across various industries, considering both the technological possibilities and the social desirability of these changes. Through interdisciplinary discussions and hands-on research, they investigated local automation trends in the Salt Lake Valley—tackling topics such as adaptive transportation systems, user experiences with smart technology, and the effects of automation on workforce skills.
By critically assessing automation’s impact on our communities, this lab encouraged students to envision a future where technology is human-centered, ethical, and beneficial for society as a whole.
Instructors:
Frank Drews, PhD
W. Pratt Rogers, PhD
More Praxis Labs
Infectious Disease on the Run
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.
How We Die
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
Education, Incarceration & Justice: Punishment and Opportunity in an Era of Mass Imprisonment
Erin Castro
Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.