Applications for the Responsible Computer Science Challenge in Kenya in 2023 are currently open.
Today, technologists wield tremendous power. The technologies they create influence everything from the news stories billions of people read to the personal data companies collect. While many of these technologies have facilitated new forms of connection and creativity, the benefits and harms of these technologies have not been distributed equally. Increased digital surveillance, automated discrimination, and recommendation systems that promote misinformation are a few examples of how existing inequities become embedded within and amplified by computing technologies. Often, those adversely impacted by these technologies are not aware of the underlying technological system. They are not aware that they have avenues for redress when they are harmed either.
Worth of Award
The Responsible Computer Science Challenge plans to award 10 grants from a pool of $250 000 USD to innovation hubs and accredited institutions of higher education in Kenya. These are institutions that embed ethics into computer science programs and curricula.
Eligibility
The Responsible Computer Science Challenge is open to accredited institutions of higher education and innovation hubs based in Kenya.
Institutions of Higher Education
The Principal Investigator (PI) listed on the award application must be an individual who is eligible to receive grants within
- a computer science,
- information science / technology,
- data science,
- sociology,
- science and technology studies and
- allied department or program.
The PI may work individually to execute the outlined concept if funded or with a collaborative, cross-disciplinary team with members both inside and outside of the institution of higher education. Such teams can include representatives from across departments, student researchers, industry partners and independent researchers.
As aforementioned, the Challenge is open to
Innovation Hubs
The Challenge also supports the development of educational materials or training workshops at innovation hubs . These are hubs that directly help students and builders incorporate social and political perspectives in the design of new technologies. Principal investigators from innovation hubs should be contracted staff members who are authorized to plan and execute events for the hub’s networks.
Cross-institutional teams are allowed (i.e. collaborations among multiple institutions of higher education and innovation hubs). However, if funded, award payments will only be made to the lead applicant organization. This is the organization with whom an award agreement will be signed.
Through Challenge, USAID and Mozilla are supporting the conceptualization, piloting, and scaling of curricula that integrate interdisciplinary perspectives with computer science training. This process will
- educate a new wave of technologists to account for the human consequences of technology design and use,
- to re-imagine our technology ecosystems, and
- to build a better future.
How to Apply
Apply online via the official website.
Click here for more details and to apply
Applications Open at https://mozilla.fluxx.io/apply/rcs