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Research Sprints

The BKC Research Sprint program is an educational initiative that gathers experts and emerging scholars to address current social, ethical, and policy concerns in digital technology. 

BKC's Research Sprints employ an explicitly participatory model for approaching issues on the frontiers of rapidly changing fields, from education innovation to democratic reform. The Sprints’ model is educational and responsive: each Sprint picks a niche and moves fast, developing an in-depth, issues-focused dialogue among leading and emerging scholars. For example, a policy-focused Sprint might connect academia experts with public-sector partners to create viable approaches to policy change that include the voices of those whom the policy will affect.

For the eight to ten weeks of the sprint, student participants are put in active dialogue with senior academics, and practitioners. They then co-create outputs such as research reports, policy briefs, practitioner guidelines for participatory stakeholder engagement processes, technology oversight recommendations, Wikipedia entries, web dashboard mockups, and explainer infographics.

Since 2020 the Research Sprint program has embodied BKC’s investment in reimagining the "how" of research. The program propels an innovative format that includes as many and as varied voices as possible in one focused mission at a time. Sprints are often held in collaboration with partnered organizations and allow participants to generate real-world practical solutions constrained by the organization’s resources, timelines, and interests. Each Sprint delivers unique and actionable outputs fitted both to the stakeholders involved with the Sprint and to generalizable practices adaptable in the broader field.

List of Research Sprints 

 

 

 


 


Our Work 24

News
Jan 25, 2024

Visualizing Boston's Urban Spaces Using Open Data

Research sprint re-imagines new and trustworthy data systems in Boston

Technological tools that use city-based data are encoded with the value systems of their designers. How might data-driven systems be designed for the agency and safety of…

News
Mar 30, 2023

Digital Identity During Times of Crisis

What We Learned During the Fall 2022 Research Sprint

BKC hosted a 10-week Research Sprint from October to December 2022 investigating Digital Identity in Times of Crisis, in collaboration with partners metaLAB at Harvard, the…

News
Oct 13, 2022

Research sprint examines challenges of navigating digital identity amid crises

GLOBAL COHORT OF EARLY-CAREER SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS EXPLORES THE ETHICAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS OF DIGITAL IDENTITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS

The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, in collaboration with metaLAB (at) Harvard, the Edgelands Institute, and AccessNow, is welcoming 34 early-career scholars and…

News
Aug 18, 2022

Call for Participants: Digital Identity in Times of Crisis — Research Sprint

Applications are due September 5.

Applications are due September 5.

News
Jul 21, 2022

Toward Best Practices around Online Content Removal Requests

Recap and resources from the Lumen/BKC "Takedowns and Transparency" research sprint...

News
Nov 24, 2021

BKC incorporating "#GoodID" into research and programs

#GoodID, an effort to catalyze constructive conversation around digital identity, will be a part of the Center's research and programming in the coming year.

News
Aug 12, 2021

A New Approach to Experiential Learning: Scholars inform the City of Helsinki on ethical AI applications for schools during BKC’s AI Policy Research Clinic

Specialized global team of early career scholars examine ways to use AI technology to support public school students and teachers

A recap of BKC's AI Policy Research Clinic held in the summer of 2021

News
Jul 6, 2021

BKC Research Clinic Explores Challenges & Opportunities of Public Sector AI Policy in Partnership with City of Helsinki

Early career scholars from around the world navigate the legal, technical, social, and ethical dimensions of successful implementation of AI policy

BKC announces a new education program bringing students together to examine AI policy in a real-world context

News
Jun 25, 2021

What we learned about the future of education from COVID-19

What is learning and where and how does it happen? The pandemic let us consider these questions in new ways.

What is learning and where and how does it happen? The pandemic let us consider these questions in new ways.

News
Jun 3, 2021

[Video] Digital Self-Determination Research Sprint Showcase

Video from the final session of the Digital Self-Determination Research Sprint, which offered an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead.

News
May 27, 2021

Building global open-access knowledge on Digital Self-Determination

Research Sprint advances understanding of digital self-determination through international collaboration

Research Sprint advances understanding of digital self-determination through international collaboration

News
May 27, 2021

A Deep-Dive on Digital Self-Determination

Rory Torres shares her experience as part of Berkman Klein’s latest global research sprint

Rory Torres shares her experience as part of Berkman Klein’s latest global research sprint

News
May 27, 2021

Open Access Resources on Digital Self-Determination

A living syllabus and a Wikipedia entry on digital self-determination allow the work of the Research Sprint live on and embody some of the key elements of digital self…

News
May 27, 2021

A New Kind of Newsletter

The Digital Self-Determination Research Sprint ran a weekly newsletter that pulled together insights from speakers, featured key quotes from students, and highlighted some…

News
Mar 19, 2021

Research sprint examines “digital self-determination” in increasingly interconnected world

Students from around the globe consider digital self-determination and its meaning and impact on individuals, peoples, cultures, and countries

Students from around the globe consider digital self-determination and its meaning and impact on individuals, peoples, cultures, and countries

News
Feb 16, 2021

Rethinking digital education in a ‘global classroom’

A Q&A with Sidharth Chauhan

A Q&A with Sidharth Chauhan

News
Feb 9, 2021

Call for Participants

Interested in real-world problem-solving, research with impact and networking opportunities? Join our Spring 2021 online research sprint open to Masters- and PhD-level students…

News
Feb 8, 2021

Research Sprint Recap: International Program on Digital Ethics Explores COVID-19 and Education

Global student program offers insight and recommendations for policymakers

Global student program offers insight and recommendations for policymakers

News
Feb 8, 2021

Ethics of Digitalization Research Sprint: COVID-19 and Access to Education and Learning Spaces – Evolving Resource List

A resource list of materials — including conference videos, policy papers, and online news articles — that participants in the BKC-hosted Ethics of Digitalization Research Sprint…

Publication
Feb 8, 2021

Digital Ethics in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 and Access to Education and Learning Spaces

A collaborative contribution by the participants in an “Ethics of Digitalization” Research Sprint

A collaborative contribution by the participants in an “Ethics of Digitalization” Research Sprint

News
Oct 29, 2020

Research sprint participants explore digital transformation in time of crisis with focus on education

Students from all over world join international dialogue on the ethics of digitalization

Students from all over world join international dialogue on the ethics of digitalization

News
Sep 30, 2020

Call for student applications

“Digital Ethics in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 and Access to Education and Learning Spaces”

“Digital Ethics in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 and Access to Education and Learning Spaces”

News
Aug 17, 2020

International Dialogue on “The Ethics of Digitalisation” Kicks Off in Berlin

BKC Joins German President, HIIG, Digital Asia Hub, and NoC to Launch Global Interdisciplinary Research on Digital Transformation and Policy

We are pleased to announce a new joint project by the Global Network of Internet & Society Centers (NoC) exploring ”The Ethics of…


People 07

Point of Contact

Team


Related Projects & Tools 08

The Ethics of Digitalization

Led by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society (HIIG), the Berkman Klein Center, and the Digital Asia Hub, and in collaboration with the Global Network of…

Past

Digital Ethics in Times of Crisis: COVID-19 & Access to Education and Learning Spaces

A global research sprint explores digital transformation at a pivotal moment in time

Digital Self-Determination Research Sprint

From March to May 2021, we co-hosted a virtual program that convened 25 student participants from 21 countries spread over six continents.

AI: Policy Research Clinic with the City of Helsinki

During the summer of 2021, the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society collaborated with the City of Helsinki’s Education Division and their subcontractor, Saidot, to explore…

Alternative Data Futures: Cooperative Principles, Data Trusts, and the Digital Economy

The New School's Platform Cooperativism Consortium and the Berkman Klein Center ran a Research Sprint to explore new pathways for democratic governance of collective data.

Network of Interdisciplinary Internet & Society Research Centers

A collaborative initiative focused on interdisciplinary research on the development, social impact, policy implications, and legal issues concerning the Internet.

Policy Practice

The Policy Practice is a public interest-oriented program that helps governmental, nonprofit, and private sector organizations implement best practices and turn principles into…

Youth and Media

Youth and Media (YaM) encompasses an array of research, advocacy, and development initiatives around youth (age 12-18) and digital technology.