Spring 2025 Courses
BRSL will support the following courses in Spring of 2025, each one taught by Prof. Andrew W. Reddie. We are particularly excited to announce a new class, Technology, Risk, and Security Colloquium, which will introduce students to a wide range of topics in security, highlighting the breadth of the field and introducing students to different career pathways. We encourage Berkeley students to register for these classes.
290 series: Technology, Risk, and Security Colloquium (1-unit)
Th12.30-2p, IIS 230 (Philosophy)
This interdisciplinary colloquium explores the complex challenges and opportunities that emerging technologies pose to national and international security. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, the course delves into how advancements in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, space technologies, and cyber capabilities are reshaping the global security landscape. Via a combination of expert lectures, case studies, and in-depth discussions, students will engage with leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from across the university and the broader community including government officials, industry leaders, and the nonprofit sector. The colloquium is also designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among students and serve as a jumping-off point for research articles, honors theses, and dissertations.
100 series: Game Changer? AI and Public Policy (4 units)
TuTh 3.30-5.00pm, GSPP 250
This course examines the public policy challenges posed by the development, deployment, and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. As AI reshapes industries, economies, and societies, policymakers face complex issues regarding regulation, ethics, equity, and governance. This class offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the policy implications of AI, exploring its impact on areas such as labor markets, privacy, security, healthcare, and democratic governance. Naturally, students will engage in key debates surrounding AI ethics, including algorithmic bias, data privacy, transparency, and accountability. They will explore regulatory frameworks for AI, comparing national and international approaches to governance, with a focus on the tensions between innovation, societal good, and potential risks. Case studies of AI applications in the public and private sectors will illustrate both the promises and pitfalls of AI adoption. The course will also critically assess the role of AI in exacerbating or mitigating inequalities, touching on issues of access, workforce displacement, and global disparities in AI capabilities. Students will be challenged to consider how public policy can balance innovation with public safety, democratic values, and human rights. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to analyze the public policy implications of AI technologies and develop informed, actionable strategies for governing their societal impact.
100/200 series: Progress? Technology and Public Policy (4 units)
TuTh 5.00-6.30pm, GSPP 250
In this course, you will explore the intersection of technology and public policy and learn how these two fields are inextricably linked. You will examine the impact of technology on society and how public policy can shape the development and use of technology. You will also delve into the ethical considerations surrounding technology, including privacy, security, and accessibility. By the end of the course, you will have a deeper understanding of how technology and public policy intersect and how you can use this knowledge to make a positive impact in the world working in fields as diverse as climate policy, security policy, and economic policy. As you might expect, technologies discussed during the course of the seminar include artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cybersecurity and privacy, renewable energy and geoengineering, biotechnology and genetic engineering, robotics and automation, virtual/augmented reality and spatial computing, blockchain and distributed ledger technology, 5G networks and wireless communication, and quantum computing.
