IEEE-SSIT
IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology
ieeessit.org
IEEE SOCIETY ON SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
The Society on Social Implications of Technology is the IEEE technical society devoted to
examining and understanding the impacts of technology on people, society, and the
world at large. We explore all areas of technology impact — health, social, economic,
environmental, political, policy implications, and more.
SSIT is concerned with technology’s effects on society, both positive and negative, and
how the application of technology can improve the lives of people around the world.
Who belongs to SSIT?
SSIT is the technical society that every IEEE member should belong to. It is highly interdisciplinary. Its
membership spans the range of IEEE technical areas. Many or most SSIT members are in the technical
disciplines — engineering, science, technology — but many also have backgrounds or additional interests in
such areas as the humanities, social sciences, law, or the health professions.
SSIT is for all those interested in the societal impacts of the continuing advance of technology. See the list
to the right for some examples of the wide spectrum of topics and issues SSIT addresses.
What does SSIT do?
SSIT’s activities include:
• IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, an award-winning publication,
with both general interest and peer-reviewed articles.
• The annual IEEE-SSIT International Symposium on Technology and
Society (ISTAS).
• Co-sponsorship of many other conferences related to the societal
impacts of technology, including the IEEE Ethics Symposium, the World
Forum on the Internet of Things, and the IEEE Conference on
Technologies for Sustainability
• Thriving IEEE-SSIT Chapters worldwide.
• Sought after Distinguished Lecturers who speak on a wide range of
topics on the intersection of technology and society
• Website: ieeessit.org. This website includes SSIT and T&S Magazine
information and resources, blogs, on line discussions, as well as links to
SSIT communities on LinkedIn, Facebook, and more, for members and
interested non-members to interact and discuss.
• Support and recognition of engineering ethics, e.g., via the IEEE-SSIT
Carl Barus Award for Outstanding Service in the Public Interest
• Cooperation with other groups concerned with the social impact of
technology.
Steve Mann
Why do we need you?
SSIT’s perspective is critical to IEEE and to
society as a whole. Your interest and
involvement in SSIT and its activities will help
IEEE and the world to understand and shape
the impact of technology in the 21st century
and beyond.
Join us! Visit http://ieeessit.org today and become a member
of the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology!
Some areas of SSIT focus
include social implications of:
• Humanitarian engineering,
international development,
poverty alleviation
• Health and healthcare
technologies
• Environment and climate
change (green
technologies)
• Sustainability, sustainable
design
• Reliable energy, off-grid
energy
• Security, privacy,
surveillance
• Smart grids, Smart cities,
• Social networks
• Ubiquitous and wearable
technologies
• Transhumanism
• Social aspects of
information and
communication
technologies
• Emerging
technologies
• Technology,
science, and
engineering
public policy
• Ethics in
engineering,
science, and
technology
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What is IEEE-SSIT?