The Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems welcomes Arizona State University Professor Braden Allenby on the potential implications for society as technology crosses from military and security to civilian domains.

Abstract:
Throughout history, national security and power, military operations, and technological evolution have been linked to each other. Even when technological evolution is relatively quiescent, the relationship among these three domains, and the social and ethical issues that arise from that relationship, are quite complex. In an era of rapid and accelerating fundamental technological change, however, the challenges of managing the development and deployment of such technologies can be overwhelming, and the results of the evolutionary process counterintuitive and seemingly inexplicable. It is therefore worthwhile to understand some of the basic trends driving the evolution of these technologies, and develop frameworks that enable more rational analysis of the potential implications for society as such technologies cross from military and security to civilian domains.

About the speaker:
Braden Allenby is currently Lincoln Professor of Engineering and Ethics, and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and of Law, at Arizona State University, having moved from his previous position as the Environment, Health and Safety Vice President for AT&T. He is also a Batten Fellow in Residence at the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce. He has authored a number of articles and book chapters in his areas of expertise, which include design for environment, earth systems engineering and management, industrial ecology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, information and communication technology, cognitive science, convergence and technological evolution. He also writes a column for the Journal of Industrial Ecology. Dr. Allenby received a BA from Yale University, JD from the University of Virginia Law School, Masters in Economics from the University of Virginia, and a MS/PhD in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers University.

The 2010 - 2011 Sustainability Speaker Series is made possible with funds from the Jean-Lou Chameau and Carol Carmichael Endowment.