Innovation Grant Leads to Establishment of New Campus Institute
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Truman’s newly created Human Futures and Ethics Institute will seek to explore the expanding capabilities of humankind while simultaneously weighing past, present and future ethical considerations. When fully operational, the institute will serve as an interdisciplinary hub for examining how histories of science and ongoing technological innovations shape contemporary society.
Established with a Truman Academic Innovation Grant, the Human Futures and Ethics Institute will examine singular topics on an 18-month timeline, allowing for multiple modes of discussion and exploration. While other universities across the country have similar programming, Kandice Grossman, assistant professor of sociology and author of the grant establishing the Human Futures and Ethics Institute, believes the interdisciplinary nature of Truman’s liberal arts and sciences mission gives the school a distinct advantage on the subject.
“Truman is uniquely positioned to be a leading voice on how societies can learn from history and respond to present-day ethical challenges,” she said. “Complex questions about science, technology, society and human experience are best explored through multiple, engaged knowledge disciplines and traditions. By bringing together faculty and students from the arts and humanities, business and professional studies, and science and mathematics, it will foster collaborative inquiry and inspire innovative curriculum development.”
Grossman envisions three distinct components of the Human Futures and Ethics Institute programming: public lectures from guest speakers, interdisciplinary courses designed with the current topic in mind, and a series of cross-campus dialogues designed to include various points of view.
As part of the initial planning stages of the Human Futures and Ethics Institute, an advisory board is being established. Grossman will serve as the director and the first-year faculty fellow. Among those who have expressed interest in participating, either on the advisory board or with institute programming, include representatives from interdisciplinary studies, nursing, mathematics, data science, sociology and anthropology, Pickler Memorial Library and the SKILLS Center.
Current goals for the Human Futures and Ethics Institute include creation of a website, developing an interdisciplinary course for the spring semester, establishing dates for potential events and scheduling a visiting scholar presentation. The first 18-month topic will be finalized and announced later this fall. Potential topics could range from the ethics of biogenetics to the use of AI in higher education or lessons learned from the eugenics movement.
“The hope is to establish a sort of societal barometer, and there really is no end to the list of possible topics to explore,” Grossman said. “Consideration of ethics can and should be included in the pursuit of humankind reaching its peak potential. As we continue to make scientific and technological advances, society can quickly be faced with questions it might not be fully equipped to answer. The institute can be a part of the discussion on how we achieve the greatest good while also maintaining our collective good.”
Created in 2024, the Academic Innovation Grants are an effort to advance Truman’s culture of interdisciplinarity and engage in academic innovation to collaboratively address emerging fields and societal needs that fit within the University’s public liberal arts and sciences mission. Financial support for the grants comes from multiple donors to the Truman State University Foundation. Grants are awarded through the Academic Affairs Office.
Established with a Truman Academic Innovation Grant, the Human Futures and Ethics Institute will examine singular topics on an 18-month timeline, allowing for multiple modes of discussion and exploration. While other universities across the country have similar programming, Kandice Grossman, assistant professor of sociology and author of the grant establishing the Human Futures and Ethics Institute, believes the interdisciplinary nature of Truman’s liberal arts and sciences mission gives the school a distinct advantage on the subject.
“Truman is uniquely positioned to be a leading voice on how societies can learn from history and respond to present-day ethical challenges,” she said. “Complex questions about science, technology, society and human experience are best explored through multiple, engaged knowledge disciplines and traditions. By bringing together faculty and students from the arts and humanities, business and professional studies, and science and mathematics, it will foster collaborative inquiry and inspire innovative curriculum development.”
Grossman envisions three distinct components of the Human Futures and Ethics Institute programming: public lectures from guest speakers, interdisciplinary courses designed with the current topic in mind, and a series of cross-campus dialogues designed to include various points of view.
As part of the initial planning stages of the Human Futures and Ethics Institute, an advisory board is being established. Grossman will serve as the director and the first-year faculty fellow. Among those who have expressed interest in participating, either on the advisory board or with institute programming, include representatives from interdisciplinary studies, nursing, mathematics, data science, sociology and anthropology, Pickler Memorial Library and the SKILLS Center.
Current goals for the Human Futures and Ethics Institute include creation of a website, developing an interdisciplinary course for the spring semester, establishing dates for potential events and scheduling a visiting scholar presentation. The first 18-month topic will be finalized and announced later this fall. Potential topics could range from the ethics of biogenetics to the use of AI in higher education or lessons learned from the eugenics movement.
“The hope is to establish a sort of societal barometer, and there really is no end to the list of possible topics to explore,” Grossman said. “Consideration of ethics can and should be included in the pursuit of humankind reaching its peak potential. As we continue to make scientific and technological advances, society can quickly be faced with questions it might not be fully equipped to answer. The institute can be a part of the discussion on how we achieve the greatest good while also maintaining our collective good.”
Created in 2024, the Academic Innovation Grants are an effort to advance Truman’s culture of interdisciplinarity and engage in academic innovation to collaboratively address emerging fields and societal needs that fit within the University’s public liberal arts and sciences mission. Financial support for the grants comes from multiple donors to the Truman State University Foundation. Grants are awarded through the Academic Affairs Office.
