معرفی
Rider W. Foley is an Associate Professor in the Science, Technology & Society program at the University of Virginia's Department of Engineering and Society. He directs the Policy Internship Program and leads the '4C Project' on Cultivating Cultures of Ethical STEM education, collaborating with institutions like Notre Dame and Arizona State University. His research focuses on societal-technology intersections, including ethical STEM education, innovation governance, sustainability challenges, and urban techno-politics. Foley holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability from Arizona State University, a Master's in Environmental Management from Harvard, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of New Hampshire. Prior to academia, he worked in environmental consulting and emergency response for Triumvirate Environmental Inc. His work spans themes like responsible innovation, wicked problems, and policy interventions for equitable technological development.
- Education:
- Ph.D. in Sustainability, Arizona State University
- M.S. in Environmental Management, Harvard University
- B.S. in Environmental Science, University of New Hampshire
His research interests emphasize 'wicked problems' requiring interdisciplinary solutions, such as nanotechnology governance, smart city equity, and energy infrastructure ethics. He co-leads the 'Nano and the City' thematic cluster at Arizona State's Center for Nanotechnology in Society and collaborates with the Sustainability Science Education program at the Biodesign Institute. Recent projects include evaluating innovation ecosystems for wearable medical devices and analyzing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline's societal impacts through public values theory.
Foley's academic contributions bridge theory and practice, with a focus on pedagogy (e.g., concept mapping for learning outcomes) and participatory methods (e.g., community-governed network commons). He explores how education and policy can align technological advancements with societal needs, particularly in marginalized communities. His work on anticipatory governance frameworks aims to preempt ethical challenges in emerging technologies like geoengineering and synthetic biology.
His advising and grants include collaborations on the '4C Project' and 'Nano and the City,' leveraging partnerships between academia, industry, and policymakers. Current efforts involve refining methodologies for assessing student learning in engineering ethics and advancing frameworks for sustainable innovation in arid regions. Foley is affiliated with the Center for Nanotechnology in Society and contributes to initiatives like the Secure Affordable Sustainable Edge Clouds (SASEC) for smart cities.
