Researching Technology’s Impact on the Human Condition
About the Tech for Humanity Lab
The Tech for Humanity Lab is a transdisciplinary laboratory at Virginia Tech, focusing on the impact of technology on the human condition. Our lab emphasizes issues of human security broadly constituting political, medical, social, economic and environmental securities. The lab utilizes transdisciplinary research, combining practices from political science, international affairs, law, computer science, humanities, engineering, business, biology, public health, and area studies.
Our mission includes investigating the impact of technological advances on a broad spectrum of security issues. Early research initiatives include surveillance, censorship, data manipulation and misuse, and misappropriation for the purposes of impacting human security across and within multiple disciplines. The lab provides access to resources including High Performance Computing; mobile and IoT technologies; servers, software and simulations for modeling infrastructures; augmented and virtual environments; and a range of digital devices. The lab places concerns of human security at its core and seeks to develop technical- and policy-relevant research that might guide future innovation in ways that minimize negative impacts and enhance a comprehensive approach to technology and human security.
Lab Meetings
Hume Colloquium Presentations
CCI Research Presentations
Aaron F. Brantly – Director
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM (GIA) SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
- HEAD OF RESEARCH, CENTER FOR EUROPEAN UNION AND TRANSATLANTIC STUDIES
- AFFILIATED FACULTY, HUME CENTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
- AFFILIATED FACULTY, NATIONAL SECURITY INSTITUTE
Nataliya D. Brantly – Lab Deputy Director
- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM (GIA) SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
- PROGRAM DIRECTOR, EASTERN PARTNERSHIP RESEARCH PROGRAM CENTER FOR EUROPEAN UNION AND TRANSATLANTIC STUDIES
Latest Blog Posts
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Reflections on The Atlantic Council’s Cyber912 Strategy Challenge
CONTINUE READING: Reflections on The Atlantic Council’s Cyber912 Strategy ChallengeBy Ethan Dettman and Halima Binte Islam Special thanks to the Hume Center for National Security and Technology for providing financial support to our team. Introduction During the first weekend of March, we had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the Cyber912 Strategy Challenge. Hosted by the Atlantic Council, the event saw 40 teams from 36 schools compete to…
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To What Extent Do Different Countries Facilitate the Illicit Sale of Cocaine to the United States on the Dark Web?
CONTINUE READING: To What Extent Do Different Countries Facilitate the Illicit Sale of Cocaine to the United States on the Dark Web?By Nolan Russell and Emma Shanahan The trafficking of drugs through dark web markets has become very common. To access the dark web, users use the TOR browser, which encrypts the user’s traffic through three random nodes to hide any identifying information, such as names or IP addresses. This allows anyone visiting the dark web…
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Digital Evidence Chains in the Legal System
CONTINUE READING: Digital Evidence Chains in the Legal SystemBy Ishaanvi Saini Abstract Digital evidence has become a pivotal point in modern legal proceedings, influencing verdicts in criminal investigations and civil litigation. Courts are increasingly dependent on data from surveillance systems, mobile devices, and algorithmic tracking tools. Digital evidence chains are critical for establishing the authenticity and subsequently the admissibility of digital artifacts into criminal proceedings.…
Tech for Humanity Lab
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Major Williams Hall 117