Public Interest Technology

In the summer of 2025, Barnard College became a member of the Public Interest Technology – University Network, or PIT-UN, a project of the New Venture Fund. The organization defines public interest technology as: “the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest, generate public benefits, and promote the public good. Interdisciplinary by nature, technology expertise refers to a set of capabilities to create, apply, study, and use new technologies and an understanding of the core ethical, legal, policy, and societal dimensions of technological change.”

By joining PIT-UN, Barnard will establish a focal point in the CSC to cohere programs and events under the banner of public interest technology, raising awareness across campus for how computing can work for a public good. 

The CSC is uniquely positioned as a partner to Barnard’s Computer Science program (CS) and a collaborator across the College to provide pathways in public interest technology for a new generation of civic-minded technologists. We engage the community in learning about computing in meaningful ways, including thinking critically about the use of technology across disciplines and lowering the barrier of entry to its use. Through collaborations with Barnard centers, departments, and outside institutions, the CSC develops and refines strategies for supporting students, innovates computing curricula, promotes experiential learning, and provides opportunities for career development in public interest-related tech fields. Existing and current related initiatives include:

(1) twice-a-month workshops open to the Barnard-Columbia community and the public focusing on digital skill-building across disciplines with an emphasis on computing to promote public interests. 

(2) a Computing Fellows program that trains Barnard undergraduates as near-to-peer mentors and leaders in computing-related fields across disciplines;

(3) a Computational Storytelling initiative that provides journalism and computational training in collaboration with PIT-UN member Columbia University’s Journalism School;

(4) collaborations among Barnard Centers and Beyond Barnard, our career center, on PIT-oriented career development;

(5) partnerships with universities, organizations and community-led initiatives, such as All Tech is Human, Cornell Tech, CyberCollective, and CryptoHarlem, to increase diversity, access, and participation in using tech for social good; and

(6) participation as a team from the CSC, CS, and Center for Engaged Pedagogy in PIT-UN member Duke University’s 3C’s Fellows Program (Cultural Competency in Computing). 

As a PIT-UN member, we hope to build upon our good working relationship with Columbia University to collaborate on interdisciplinary activities that support students looking to enter public interest tech fields.