The discourse on technology and society points to an urgent need for communities to strengthen their capacity to make wise choices about technology. Building on concepts from Reflections on the Advancement of Technology and Society, this seminar will examine some requisite capabilities and institutional arrangements that facilitate this strengthening. Drawing on insights and case studies from the discourse, participants will be challenged to apply the framework for action to questions such as: what social forces reduce technological choice to either personal preference or institutional imposition? How can communities evaluate choices about technology? What institutional arrangements make such choices more or less amenable to revision in light of learning processes at the level of the community? Grappling with these issues in a focused environment will prepare participants to elevate conversations about technology in their home communities and begin a process of building the capacities examined throughout the seminar.
