Lawrence Technological University has received a $6,800 grant from Michigan Humanities to support the “Humanity + Technology Lecture Series,” a continuing series of public presentations on the human implications and effects of technology—past, present, and future.

“The lectures will be given by visiting humanities scholars researching technology's effects on society, culture, and politics,” said Paul Jaussen, associate professor of literature at LTU and co-director of the lecture series. “Our speakers range from philosophers and historians to psychologists and literary critics, all united by a common interest in technology's human side.”

Confirmed topics for the 2019-20 series include the psychology of video games, a history of the concept of technology itself, the politics of the Flint water crisis, and the legacy of renowned science fiction author Octavia Butler.

Jaussen said that the humanities “continue to play an important role at LTU as we pursue our vision for transformative STEM and design education—fields like philosophy, history, and ethics help our students evaluate and understand the various technologies they engineer and design. Since technology shapes everything, from the way we work to the way we engage in democracy, this lecture series also offers a service to the community at large, supporting citizens as they participate in our increasingly technologically rich society. Now, more than ever, we need to understand the meaning of technology, in all of its forms, and the humanities can help us in that task. We are so grateful to the Michigan Humanities Council for sponsoring this public conversation at LTU.”

The lecture series is co-directed by Franco Delogu, associate professor of psychology at LTU, and is hosted by the LTU Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication. Partners in the lecture series include LTU’s Marburger STEM Center, the College of Architecture and Design, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Southfield Public Library.

LTU’s grant was one of 16 approved by Michigan Humanities from a field of 48 applicants.

About Michigan Humanities

As one of 56 state and territorial humanities councils in the country, Michigan Humanities was founded in 1974 by federal legislation. Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Michigan Humanities also actively seeks grants, sponsorships and individual donations to support cultural programming for Michigan communities.