ISTAS is the flag ship conference of the IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology [SSIT]

The IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology (SSIT)’s Field of Interest according to its constitution is:

The impact of technology (as embodied by the fields of interest of IEEE) on society, including both positive and negative effects, the impact of society on the engineering profession, the history of the societal aspects of electro technology, and professional social and economic responsibility in the practice of engineering and its related technology.

The society was founded in 1972 as the Committee on Social Implications of Technology. It was given its current name in 1982.

SSIT operates as a Society under the IEEE Technical Activities Board (TAB)

2022 is the 50th Foundation Day of IEEE’s Commitment on Social Implications of Technology.

IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS), the flagship event of IEEE Society for Social Implications of Technology (SSIT), is a multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary forum for engineers, policy makers, entrepreneurs, philosophers, researchers, social scientists, technologists, and polymaths to collaborate, exchange experiences, and discuss the social implications of technology.

Please find below an overview of past ISTAS events:

YearDateLocationThemeChair(s)
1989Oct. 20 - 21Los Angeles, USAA Delicate Balance: Technics, Culture and ConsequencesChantal Toporow
1991June 21-22Toronto, CanadaPreparing for a Sustainable SocietyWalter Zessner
1993Oct. 22-23Washington, DC, USATechnology: Whose costs? Whose benefits?Bill Kelly
1996June 21-22Princeton, New Jersey, USATechnical Expertise and Public DecisionsClint Andrews
1997June 20-21Glasgow, ScotlandTechnology and Society at a Time of Sweeping ChangeSimon Burne
1998June 12-13South Bend, IndianaWiring the World: The Impact of Information Technology on SocietyKarl Perusich
1999July 29-31South Bend, IndianaWiring the World: The Impact of Information Technology on SocietyDavid Morton
2000Sept. 6-8Rome, ItalyUniversity as a Bridge from Technology to SocietyValerio Cimagalli, Marco Balsi
2001July 6-7Stamford, Connecticut, USAEthical and Social Issues Criteria in Academic AccreditationJerry Engel, Brian O’Connell
2002June 6-8Raleigh, North Carolina, USASocial Implications of Information
and Communication Technology
Joseph Herkert
2003Sept. 26-28Amsterdam, The NetherlandsTechnology, Crime Prevention, and SecurityHin Oey
2004June 17-19Worcester, Massachusetts, USAGlobalizing Technological EducationLance Schachterle, Rick Vaz
2005June 8-10Los Angeles, California, USAWeapons and Wires: Social Implications of ICT and Global SecurityPhilip Chmielewski
2006June 8-10New York, USADisaster Preparedness and RecoveryRoberta Brody
2007June 1-2Las Vegas, Nevada, USARisk, Uncertainty, Vulnerability, Technology and SocietyDr. David M. Hassenzahl
2008Jun 26- 28New Brunswick, CanadaCitizens, Groups, Communities and Information and Communication TechnologiesDr. Susan O’Donnell, Dr. Clinton Andrews
2009May 18-20Tempe, Arizona,USASocial Implications of Sustainable DevelopmentJoseph Herkert
2010June 7-9Wollongong, AustraliaSocial Implications of Emerging TechnologiesMark Gasson
2011May 23-25Chicago, USAInteractions of Technology SocietyMichael Loui, Mary-Sheila Tracy
2012Oct. 27-29SingaporeTechnology and Society in AsiaDr Michael Arnold
2013June 27-29Toronto, CanadaSmart World - living in a smart World - people as sensorsSteve Mann
2014May 23-24Chicago, USAEthics – a challenge to the scientific and engineering communityKeith Miller, Joe Herkert
2015Nov. 11-12Dublin, IrelandCulture, Ethics and the Knowledge SocietyPaul Cunningham (Chair), Miriam Cunningham (Technical Program Chair)
2016Oct. 21-22Kerala, IndiaEthics and Pervasive Computing TechnologiesCharles Despins, Jaafar Elmirgani
2017Aug. 9-11Sydney, AustraliaFrom Good Ideas to Practical SolutionsPaul Cunningham (Chair), Miriam Cunningham (Technical Program Chair)
2018Nov. 13-14Washington DC, USATechnology, Ethics and PolicyPaul Cunningham (Chair), Miriam Cunningham (Technical Program Chair)
2019Nov. 15-16Boston, Massachusetts, USATechnology, Sustainable Development and EthicsPaul Cunningham (Chair), Miriam Cunningham (Technical Program Chair)
2020Nov. 12-15Virtual (Phoenix), Arizona, USAPublic Interest TechnologyKatina Michael (Chair), Roba Abbas (Technical Program Chair)
2021Oct. 28-31Virtual
(Waterloo), Canada
Technology Stewardship and Responsible InnovationHeather A. Love / Rozita Dara (Chairs), Brandiff Caron, Ketra Schimitt (Technical Program Chairs)