At Siegel we believe that to build a future where technology serves the public interest and improves people’s lives, we need more than just technologists—we need people who come from many disciplines and backgrounds and can apply their unique skills and perspectives to solving big problems that span tech and society.
We also believe that access to technology and the opportunities it presents should not be a matter of luck or privilege. To advance the meaningful participation and agency of communities to shape the development, deployment, use, and stewardship of digital infrastructures, we’ll need to democratize access to technology education and exposure, empowering the next generation to shape a future where technology serves humanity’s best interests.
That’s why we’re excited to announce that Siegel Family Endowment has teamed up with Roadtrip Nation to fuel a country-wide road trip for three young people to explore the exciting world of public interest technology.
“Our chairman David Siegel often says that he was ‘lucky’ to get into tech at such a young age. Siegel Family Endowment is excited to support this trip with Roadtrip Nation to help ensure that early opportunity and exposure to technology is no longer based on luck. Technology has implications on everyone’s career and we all have an opportunity to shape it. We hope to give the next generation of learners the power and tools to design technology that serves us, not controls us” says Siegel President and Executive Director Katy Knight.
During the project, the road-trippers will explore a wide range of careers in public interest technology through conversations driven by young people who are curious about how they can forge their own paths in this field, starting from a diverse range of set points and interests.
The three participants will be selected from a range of different backgrounds—across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, arts, and more—and share the common goal of wanting to discover paths where they can do good. They will hit the road together to meet people whose work is focused on issues in public interest technology—in research and academia, government and policy, nonprofits and foundations, and beyond.
The application to apply to be a public interest technology road-tripper is now open until June 2, 2024. You must be 18 by June 2, 2024 to apply. We hope you will join us in spreading the word about this exciting opportunity for young people to explore how they can be a part of shaping a future where technology serves the common good.
