Important Conference Announcements and Updates

We are looking forward to seeing many of you at the 33rd Annual APPE International Conference in Cincinnati from Feb. 22-25, 2024.

Please read the following important announcements and updates, including upcoming deadlines:

• View the Full, Searchable Conference Schedule
• Book Your Hotel Room (Reservation Deadline Extended to Feb. 9)
• Register Here (New rates: $350: Members, $600: Non-Members, $165: Students)

• The APPE IEB® National Competition takes place on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 24 and all day Sunday, Feb. 25. We need judges and moderators, especially for the first four rounds, which continue through noon on Sunday. Sign up to volunteer.
• There is also a separate one-day conference on Feb. 25 titled "Privileged Logics: Interrogating Foundations and Practices in Research Ethics," which will be held at the same hotel as the APPE Conference. The NSF-funded conference is being conducted by the Western Michigan University Center for the Study of Ethics in Society. There is no registration fee but registration is required. Learn more.

New-to-APPE Presenter Webinar
Last week, APPE members Lukas Chandler and Dennis Cooley conducted a webinar for first-time APPE presenters. Watch the recording here (passcode: 89f6x!.u), which covers expectations and formats, tips for engagement, and in general, how to make the most of your time at the APPE Annual Conference. 

Vote for Our Next Book Club Selection 

We will be choosing two books (one fiction, one nonfiction) for our Ethically Curious Book Club to read in 2024, which will meet in the spring and the fall. Please help us choose our next selections!

We encourage you to vote for one fiction and one nonfiction book from this list:

• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer (nonfiction)
• The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure, by Greg Lukianoff (nonfiction)
• The Color Purple, by Alice Walker (fiction)
• Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro (fiction)
• The Overstory, by Richard Powers (fiction)

APPE Member Spotlight

Name: Robert V. Doyle, PhD
Title: Associate Professor of Religious Studies & Director, MA in Religious Studies
Institution/Organization: Felician University
APPE Member Since: 2010

You held the first Ethics Roundtables on AI in the fall and have two more scheduled this spring. What did you learn about AI ethics during the first roundtable?
The first Ethics Roundtable focused on how AI generates content. It was really illuminating to learn the “nuts and bolts” of content generation. From there, we delved into some of the ethical concerns about content generation, such as transparency: There is a growing consensus that understanding how AI systems make decisions is crucial, especially in applications that impact individuals' lives. We also discussed biases: The challenges of identifying and mitigating bias in training data and algorithms to ensure fair and equitable outcomes for all users. Finally, we looked at privacy: As AI systems increasingly process large amounts of personal data, there is a need for robust privacy measures to protect individuals and prevent unauthorized use of sensitive information.

Ethics Roundtables are held in partnership with Felician University and APPE, and anyone can join the virtual discussions for free. Can you tell us when the next two are, and what people can expect when joining?
Ethics Roundtables are really conversation based. There is a short panel presentation, but the bulk of time is spent engaging the audience in conversation. Students, faculty, and guests from around the country are free to ask questions and offer their own insights about the topic- in this case, AI. I’d describe them as informal gatherings during which you can participate over lunch!

The next two Ethics Roundtables build on the first one which addressed how AI content is generated. In March, we will gather to discuss the impact that AI may have on marginalized communities. In April, we will gather to discuss some of the uses and benefits of AI.

Again, the events are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary, so please feel free to stop by for the next two:

Inclusive Futures: Ethical Implications of AI for Marginalized Communities
Wednesday, March 20th | 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET
Zoom Meeting ID 816 3880 8320 (Passcode 123456)

Innovation with Responsibility: Ethics and the Applied Uses of AI
Wednesday, April 17th | 4:00pm - 5:00pm ET
Zoom Meeting ID 864 3772 4053 (Passcode 123456)

You're also a member of the Programming Committee. What can you tell us about the year ahead in terms of programming that might be available outside of the conference for APPE members and friends?
The Programming Committee is busy putting together some amazing events for the coming year. In addition to the Ethics Roundtables, we will be hosting the Ethically Curious Book club, with plans for two books – one fiction and one nonfiction. Plans are also in the works for an in-person Business Ethics gathering. Stay tuned!

Are you headed to Cincinnati for the conference? What are you most looking forward to?
Yes, I am excited to be in Cincinnati for this year’s conference. I am looking forward to connecting with colleagues with whom I have worked in the past. I am also looking forward to meeting new colleagues, attending some amazing sessions, and checking out Cincinnati (since I have never been there!).

It's still early in the new year...do you have any goals for 2024 you would be willing to share with us?
Sure! First, I’d like to read at least 2 books for “fun” this year. Any recommendations? LOL!
Second, I’d like to continue learning Spanish.
Finally, I want to keep practicing daily journaling.

Ethics in the News:

• Ethics Ratings of Nearly All Professions Down in U.S. (Gallup)
• Lawyers' Use of AI Spurs Ethics Rule Changes (Reuters)
• The Ethics of Astrobiology (Medium)
• Top Cancer Center Seeks to Retract or Correct Dozens of Studies (New York Times)
• He Hunts Sloppy Scientists. He's Finding Lots of Prey (New York Times)
• Rooting Out Scientific Misconduct (Science)

Member in the News:

• Member Ann Skeet, from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, writes in Fortune, "ChatGPT has revived interst in ethics. The irony is that we haven't been holding humans to the same standard." Read her perspective.

Jobs & Events

Have you seen our job and event emails? Limited free access to post jobs and events of interest in the weekly email (as well as in the Info Hub) is a benefit of membership. If you're a member and would like to submit something for consideration, just login to the Member portal, go to Job & Event Postings and click "add." Non-members can access the jobs and events by creating a login but must pay a fee to list positions and events. Reach out to contact@appe-ethics.org for more info.

We Want to Hear From You! To be featured as a member spotlight or if you have news to share, including books published, send us an email at membernews@appe-ethics.org.

Ethics Bowl Case to Consider

Romancing the Code (APPE IEB® National Competition Case Set, 2024)

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and that means for many people, love isn't just in the air, it's online, too.

"Dating sims (short for dating simulation games) are a genre of video games where the goal is for one player to romance (or “date”) a pre-scripted character," one of this year's Ethics Bowl cases explains. "These digital relationships are often emotionally engaging and fulfilling, giving players a sense of connection and affection for their 2-D lovers. These relationships may address players’ emotional needs and let them explore their ideas of romance and sexuality, without real-life consequences."

But are there real-life consequences? Do they lean on stereotypes and cause unhealthy obsessions?

Read the full case here (#15), then discuss the effects of dating sims on individuals, and our society.