National Science Foundation Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) Program
Mapping AI Ethics Education Through Intervention Types, Faculty Perceptions, and Institutional Contexts
Grant Amount: $400,000
As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves, higher education institutions are working to prepare students for the ethical challenges it presents. However, AI ethics education varies widely across disciplines and institutions, with little research on how these programs compare or what makes them effective. This initiative aims to address that gap by conducting the first national study on AI ethics education interventions, faculty perspectives, and institutional priorities.
This program is focused on:
Curriculum and Pedagogy: Identifying common priorities, teaching methods, and assessment strategies in AI ethics education.
Faculty Perspectives: Understanding how educators design and implement AI ethics interventions.
Institutional Contexts: Examining how different types of colleges and universities approach AI ethics education and what resources they need.
Plan for Execution
This initiative will use a three-phase research approach:
National Survey: Conducting a comprehensive study of AI ethics education programs across diverse institutions.
Faculty and Administrator Interviews: Gathering qualitative insights on challenges, decision-making, and best practices.
Data Analysis and Knowledge Sharing: Triangulating findings to develop resources, reports, and recommendations for educators and policymakers.
National Science Foundation
Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) Grant
This grant supports projects that promote, enhance, and share responsible and ethical research practices in STEM fields. ER2-funded projects explore individual, organizational, and cultural factors that shape ethical conduct across career stages and research environments. Proposals may focus on improving research integrity within teams, institutions, or broader communities, as well as developing interventions that foster ethical practices in diverse settings. By addressing challenges that undermine responsible research and evaluating solutions, ER2 aims to strengthen an inclusive, equitable, and accountable research culture in STEM.
GRANT OVERVIEW
Educational Resources:
Reports, best-practice models, and policy guidelines available through the Center for Practical Ethics.
Expected Outcomes
Community Engagement:
Webinars, workshops, and collaborative events to foster knowledge-sharing.
Research Contributions:
Publications and conference presentations to support ongoing discussions in AI ethics education.
A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECT LED BY:
Principal Investigators
Associate Professor of Engineering
Director, Laboratory and Network for the Cultural Studies of Engineering & Technology (LANCSET)
Virginia Tech
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Qin Zhu is the Director of the Laboratory and Network for the Cultural Studies of Engineering & Technology (LANCSET) at Virginia Tech and a member of the Executive Committee of SEAC and the Board of APPE. His research focuses on engineering education, engineering ethics, and the ethics and policy of AI and robotics. His work explores how AI and robotics intersect with culture, ethics, and public policy, with an emphasis on responsible AI development and global perspectives on technology ethics. Through LANCSET, he leads research on AI ethics education, socially integrated robotics, and the application of non-Western ethical frameworks, such as Confucian ethics, in AI and robot ethics curricula.
Deborah Mower, Ph.D.
Director, The Center for Practical Ethics
Professor of Philosophy and
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hume Bryant Lectureship in Ethics,
Department of Philosophy and Religion
The University of Mississippi
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Deborah S. Mower is the founding Director of The Center for Practical Ethics and the inaugural Associate Professor of Ethics at the University of Mississippi. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) and the Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO), and is part of the Research Network for the National Institute for Civil Discourse. Specializing in moral psychology, applied ethics, public policy, and moral education, her work focuses on moral sensitivity, conviction, and civility.
Director of Undergraduate Studies and Instructional Professor of Philosophy
Texas A&M University
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Glen Miller is an Instructional Professor of Philosophy at Texas A&M University and a Texas A&M Cybersecurity Fellow. His research focuses on the philosophy and ethics of technology, engineering ethics, cyberethics, and the ethics and politics of artificial intelligence. He has played a key role in advancing applied ethics education, contributing to programs in engineering ethics, digital ethics, and AI ethics. His work explores the intersection of technology and ethical decision-making, preparing students to navigate the complexities of an increasingly digital world.