Patrick Lin

Patrick Lin is a Professor in the Philosophy Department at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), where he serves as Director of the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group, a non-partisan organization established at Cal Poly in 2007 to focus on the risk, ethical, and social impact of emerging sciences and technologies. He is frequently quoted in national publications on topics including ethics of autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, robotics, outer space, Arctic frontiers, military and policing applications, virtual and augmented reality, and smart cities.

Lin received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. His academic appointments include Affiliate Scholar at Stanford Law School's Center for Internet and Society, Fulbright Specialist at the University of Iceland's Centre for Arctic Policy Studies (2018), and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics in Australia (2010-2016).

Lin's research spans technology ethics broadly, with specific expertise in AI ethics, robotics ethics, autonomous vehicle ethics, space ethics, cybersecurity ethics, and military ethics. His work bridges philosophical theory with practical application, examining how emerging technologies challenge traditional ethical frameworks. His research demonstrates consistent themes across different technological domains: examining risk assessment methodologies, developing ethical frameworks for emerging technologies, analyzing social and political implications of technological adoption, and providing practical guidance for developers, policymakers, and users.

His publication record shows a progression from early work on nanotechnology ethics to current focus areas including space cybersecurity, AI kitchens, and ethical frameworks for autonomous systems. The articles reflect his interdisciplinary approach, combining insights from philosophy, law, engineering, and policy studies to address complex ethical challenges in emerging technologies.

• Cal Poly/Academic Senate, Distinguished Scholarship Award (2017)
• American Philosophical Association's Public Philosophy Op-Ed Award (2015)
• Cal Poly/College of Liberal Arts, Outstanding Scholarship Award (2009)

Lin has secured significant grant funding from organizations including the National Science Foundation, US Department of Defense, and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research for research on military AI risk assessment, AI kitchens and robot cooks, outer space cybersecurity, and autonomous vehicles. He has advised numerous students through his teaching and research activities at Cal Poly, where he teaches courses including Philosophy of Technology, Ethics of Science and Technology, and Introduction to Philosophy.

Lin directs the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group at Cal Poly, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on technology ethics. He also participates in several other research initiatives including his role as Research Director for the Consortium for Emerging Technologies, Military Operations, and National Security (CETMONS) and as a member of the Emerging Technologies of National Security and Intelligence initiative at the University of Notre Dame.