Society & Technology Residential College

Can technological changes make you sick? Do pandemics change how and what we build? Will technology save society or bring about its end? At a time when digital media have connected us more efficiently than ever before, why are so many people feeling alienated and lonely? In the Society and Technology Residential College, we examine the ways technology influences and is influenced by ethical, economic and cultural challenges.

The college dives into the fascinating ways that technology, economics, science and public policy shape the ways in which we communicate, create and learn. You'll explore topics such as fake news and methods of identifying, obtaining and valuing good information; how technology will shape the future; the positive and negative aspects of AI and social media; and the most pressing challenges facing humankind today. You’ll join students from all majors as you engage in wide-ranging discussions of these and many other issues with faculty from across the natural sciences, humanities and the social sciences.

You'll also experience a variety of activities, with field trips ranging from the Bucknell Farm to destinations such as the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. You'll roll up your sleeves with hands-on work, too — in one popular activity, students identify a current challenge, design a creative solution and then present their solution to "Shark Tank" judges.