Roger Blumberg

Roger B. Blumberg is a Lecturer at Brown University's Department of Computer Science and a faculty member at Rhode Island School of Design's (RISD) History, Philosophy and Social Science (HPSS) program. He has taught courses on technology's societal impact since 1998, including Data, Ethics and Society (DATA 0080) and Data & Society (DATA 2080) at Brown, and Technology and Contemporary Life at RISD. His work bridges philosophy of technology, ethics, and posthumanism, informed by his role as an institutional review board (IRB) member at Brown. Blumberg's academic career spans multiple institutions, including Columbia University's Science and Humanities programs, and he was a Senior Hypermedia Researcher at Brown's Scholarly Technology Group (STG), where he created MendelWeb and organized the 1996 Conference on Hypermedia, Technology and Education.

Education:

• Graduate of Columbia College (English and Comparative Literature)

Research Interests: Blumberg explores technology's societal implications through diverse lenses: from ethical considerations of digital surveillance and data privacy to philosophical debates about posthumanism and technological determinism. His teaching engages with non-neutral views of technology, influenced by thinkers like Heidegger and Ellul, while examining how digital tools reshape human identity and education.

Technological Engagement: While no formal scientific awards are documented, Blumberg's contributions to educational technology (e.g., MendelWeb) and his interdisciplinary courses at Brown and RISD demonstrate his commitment to making technology's societal consequences accessible. He has also contributed to Mendelé's Blog and participated in academic discourse through publications in journals like The Sciences and Techné: Journal of the Society for Philosophy and Technology.

Labs & Collaborations: Blumberg was a Senior Hypermedia Researcher at Brown's Scholarly Technology Group and contributed to the university's role in the US Department of Education's RTEC NetTech program. His work with RISD's HPSS faculty and Brown's IRB highlights his interdisciplinary approach to technology's ethical and pedagogical challenges.