Deb Donig

Deb Donig is a Professor at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), where she teaches courses in digital humanities, ethical technology, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She co-leads the Ethical Technology Project and hosts the Technically Human Podcast, which examines human-technology relationships through interdisciplinary lenses.

Her research integrates philosophy, technology ethics, and social justice, focusing on applying humanities frameworks to product development. She investigates strategies for building inclusive tech teams and analyzes science fiction narratives (particularly utopian themes in Star Trek episodes like 'The Measure of a Man' and 'Far Beyond the Stars') as societal mirrors. Her work bridges consequentialist and deontological ethics to address real-world dilemmas such as the trolley problem in autonomous systems design.

No scientific awards were documented in the source material. While specific advisees or grant details remain unreported, her leadership in the Ethical Technology Project drives practical applications of ethical frameworks in technology creation. The Technically Human Podcast serves as a key platform for disseminating insights on industry diversity challenges, philosophical ethics, and science fiction's role in shaping technological futures, connecting academic theory with industry practice.