Francine Berman

Fran Berman
Research Topic
Francine Berman

My focus at UMass is to work across campus and beyond to build a Public Interest Technology program that incorporates synergistic education, research, practice and outreach components. Public Interest Technology focuses on social responsibility in a tech-driven world and how that plays out in both our professional efforts and our lives. Ultimately the goal is to maximize the benefits of the technologies we use to get things done and minimize their risks.
 
My research focuses on the social and environmental impacts of information technology, and in particular the Internet of Things (IoT) -- a deeply interconnected ecosystem of devices and systems that are transforming commerce, science and society. My work has also focused on data stewardship and preservation, particularly with respect to policy, practice and infrastructure. Ultimately, I'm interested in strategies that promote technology as a tool to advance (rather than exploit) humanity.