Brian Hedden, an accomplished scholar with a strong academic career, recently added another feather to his cap. Already an esteemed faculty member at MIT, Hedden was appointed as the co-associate dean of the Social and Ethical Responsibilities of Computing (SERC) on January 16. This new role represents a key expansion of the leadership team within MIT’s Schwarzman College of Computing’s SERC initiative.
With dual roles in both the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy and the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department, Hedden’s broad academic experience bridges the gap between philosophy and technology. His academic journey started with a BA from Princeton and eventually led him to earn his PhD in philosophy from MIT. Before joining MIT’s faculty in the fall of 2023, he had made his mark at other prestigious institutions like the Australian National University and the University of Sydney.
MIT’s dean of the Schwarzman College of Computing, Dan Huttenlocher, has high praise for Hedden, stating that Brian was a ‘natural and compelling choice’ due to his philosophical insights into the increasingly complex challenges in the contemporary education and research landscape, notably in the arenas of computing and AI. With immersion in fields like epistemology, decision theory, and ethics, Hedden is well placed to understand and respond to the implications of our data-driven world.
Hedden’s work doesn’t stop at academia. His scholarship focuses on practical applications and explores how individuals and institutions should form beliefs and make decisions. Through his work, he offers philosophical lenses on contemporary ethical issues, especially within the realm of artificial intelligence. He authored “Reasons without Persons: Rationality, Identity, and Time”, and his publications explore a wide range of topics, like legal standards of proof, algorithmic fairness, and political polarization.
In his new role, Hedden will work alongside co-associate dean Nikos Trichakis, the J.C. Penney Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, to chart SERC’s course in research, teaching, and public engagement. Hedden fills the shoes of Professor Caspar Hare, who will round off his term in September 2025.
SERC, launched in 2020, has been pivotal in emphasizing the importance of having sound “habits of mind and action” in those working at the forefront of computing technologies. The initiative champions interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages the development of technology that benefits the public.
Under the umbrella of SERC, several initiatives are working towards achieving these goals. The SERC Scholars program pairs students with postdoctoral mentors to deep dive into ethical issues in computing. An exciting annual competition prompts students to envision the future of computing. A biannual series of case studies sheds light on the ethical dilemmas in technology, offering crucial insights and increasing awareness.
In 2024, SERC went another step forward and introduced a seed grant program, opening doors for MIT researchers involved in ethical technology development. Since its launch, the program has supported 24 ambitious projects.
All of these efforts, coupled with Hedden’s appointment, underscore SERC’s commitment to integrating ethical reasoning at the heart of computing education and research at MIT. For the more detailed account of this appointment, you can peruse the original announcement.
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