Elisabeth Sylvan

Elisabeth Sylvan is an academic and researcher with affiliations as Senior Fellow at ITS Rio, Visiting Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Brown University, and Lecturer in the School of Politics and Public Policy at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). She also serves as Senior Director at the Global Network of Internet & Society Research Centers (NoC). Her work focuses on sociotechnical systems, emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and their ethical implications, particularly in education and public policy.

Dr. Sylvan holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the MIT Media Lab, where her research addressed sociotechnical systems supporting shared knowledge and group action. She has received fellowships from the Highlands and Islands and Media Lab Europe. Her professional background includes roles at The Tech Interactive, Foothill College, and TERC.

Her research interests center on the ethical and governance aspects of AI, digital identity, and education technology. She leads initiatives such as the NoC Museum Project and advises governments on AI's social impacts. Key projects include the Co-Designing Generative Futures initiative and work with the OECD on Digital Identity.

Dr. Sylvan has been supported by grants from the U.S. NSF, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, MacArthur Foundation, and others. She contributes to academic communities as an associate editor of Critical AI journal and reviewer for conferences like IDC, CHI, and others. Her advisory roles include the World Economic Forum's Digital Identity Initiative and the Stanford d-school Build Lab.

In education, she focuses on design engineering and museum integration at Brown, and teaches Critical Thinking in the Time of Generative AI at TUM. She has advised governments globally on digital self-determination and youth-related tech issues through her work with BKC and other institutions.

Her future work continues to explore AI ethics, equitable tech access, and collaborative governance models, aiming to bridge policy, education, and technological innovation.