Stanford is a founding member of the PIT University Network, which defines PIT or Public Interest Technology as “the study and application of technology expertise to advance the public interest in a way that generates public benefits and promotes the public good, particularly for those members of our society least well served historically and today by existing systems and policies.”

A PIT initiative at Stanford generally…

• Makes its top priority to generate public benefits and promote the public good
• Relies on the study or application of tech expertise, which may be broadly construed
• Mitigates risks that may be caused by incompletion or unintended consequences
• Prioritizes humility and collaboration, especially across disciplines and communities
• Draws on diverse perspectives and centers community voices to shape the initiative
• Provides an accessible and inclusive opportunity to explore PIT for Stanford students
• Employs strategies to generate shorter-term engagement and long-term sustainability

Photography by: Christine Baker