NORMAL — A distinguished professor of law and philosophy from Duke University will be featured as the keynote speaker for the start of Science and Technology Week at Illinois State University.
Nita A. Farahany, who also is founding director of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society, will make a Monday visit to the Redbird campus in Normal.
She will speak at 7 p.m. Monday in the Brown Ballroom of the Bone Student Center, 200 N. University St., Normal. Her talk is free and open to the public.
Other programs scheduled for Science and Technology Week include Tuesday morning networking and lunchtime discussions in the Brown Ballroom, and at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, a public induction ceremony for the Academy of Achievement in the College of Applied Science and Technology, to be held at the Aaron Leetch Stadium Club at Hancock Stadium.
Science and Technology Week has been held annually since 2004 and previously hosted speakers such as chef Charlie Trotter, animal scientist Temple Grandin, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" and Emily Calandrelli of Netflix's "Emily's Wonder Lab" show.
In this article, The Pantagraph invited Farahany to answer several questions about science and emerging issues in neurotechnology.
What makes you most excited for aspiring scientists and other students who are studying STEM fields? What makes you most concerned?
What excites me most for students entering STEM fields is the incredible pace of technological and scientific advancement. We are in an era where the boundaries of what is possible are constantly being expanded, and students have the opportunity to contribute to these groundbreaking discoveries. But I worry about aligning these advances with human flourishing. As we push the boundaries of science and technology, we need to better align those advances with what’s best for our well-being.
Did any particular issues or life experiences inspire you to research and write your book, “The Battle for Your Brain: Defending Your Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology”?
"The Battle for Your Brain" was inspired by both professional observations and personal experiences. Watching the rapid growth of neurotechnology and its potential to transform our understanding of the human brain sparked my drive to write this book to raise public awareness and drive ethical progress. I've experienced firsthand how these technologies can offer profound benefits, but I’m keenly aware of the significant privacy and ethical challenges they present. This dichotomy, between the potential for great good and the risk of misuse, along with the potential for widespread public adoption of neural interface technology, drove me to advocate for safeguards that protect individual cognitive liberty.
In a TED talk last year, you mentioned neurotechnology has been applied toward helping people with PTSD, depression and epilepsy. Have any other emerging applications of neurotechnology stood out to you in the time since?
Since my TED talk, several emerging applications of neurotechnology have caught my attention. Beyond the treatment of PTSD, depression and epilepsy, we're seeing innovative integration of brain sensors into multi-functional devices like earbuds and watches. These integrations demonstrate the vast potential of neurotechnology to become integral to the human experience, but they also raise important questions about consent, privacy and the nature of thought and free will.
What does the term “cognitive liberty” mean to you?
Cognitive liberty is the fundamental right of individuals to think freely without undue interference or manipulation. It's about preserving privacy of our inner thoughts and ensuring that individuals have the autonomy to make their own decisions about their mental experiences. As neurotechnology advances, protecting cognitive liberty becomes increasingly important, as it encompasses not only the right to access and use brain-enhancing technologies but also the right to be safeguarded against their misuse.